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Computer Buying Tips

Is it better to buy a store-bought computer or build one yourself?

Results so far:

Buy
58% 424 votes Total: 735 votes
Build
42% 311 votes

by Imran D

I must say that buying your own computer would be the best option. If you are going to build your own computer you will need a number of expensive and utterly hard to put in pieces of equipment and chips:

__ Operating System
__ TX tower (or mid-tower) case
__ ATX Motherboard
__ CPU (with heatsink/fan)
__ RAM
__ Graphics/video card

__ Sound card
__ Hard drive(s)
__ Speakers
__ Keyboard
__ Mouse
__ Wrist rests for Keyboard/Mouse (optional)
__ Monitor
__ CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or CD-RW or CD-RW/DVD-ROM
__ Surge Protector
__ Floppy Drive (optional)
__ Zip Drive (optional)
__ Network Interface Card (optional)
__ Modem (optional)
__ FireWire/i.Link (IEEE 1394) Card (optional)
__ Printer (optional)
__ Scanner (optional)
__ Webcam (optional)

IS that $10,000 or what? In order to buy these products, you need to find a reliable source. not Amazon; not EBay, but a compant that deals in RAM, CD/DVD Drives with/with not burner, you will need to buy an Operating system, Surge Protector, Monitor, HARD DRIVES (IMPORTANT), and so much more that you will pass out after building it.

The good thing about buying a laptop or desktop is that you don't have to work after going to work... and it's fairly cheaper. If you want a basic computer, $400, ship in 2 days, set-up and you are ready to get on with your life without spending 2 years trying to put the Motherboard together!

Here are some good deals for buying:

Inspiron 14" Notebook- $699
Intel Pentium Dual Core T2370 (1.73GHz/533Mhz FSB/1MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic Edition SP1
Jet Black Color with Matte Finish
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 Dimm

Apple Certified Refurbished iMac
(aluminum)

Refurbished iMac 20-inch 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo- $949.99
20-inch glossy widescreen display
1GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVDR DL/DVDRW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory
Built-in iSight Camera

HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Notebook PC series - specifications and warranty- NEW AND CHEAP
Operating system installed
Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
Processor
Intel Centrino processor technology
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7500
2.20 GHz , 4 MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz FSB
Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection & Bluetooth
Standard memory
2048 MB
Memory type
DDR2 System Memory
memory layout
2048 MB (2 x 1024 MB)
Internal drives
Internal hard disk drive
240 GB
Hard disk controller
SATA Hard Disk Drive
Hard disk


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Is it better to buy a store-bought computer or build one yourself?

Buy
  • 1 of 31

    by Kirsten Petersen

    Whether to buy or build a computer depends on how you plan to use it. Users with special requirements, such as gamin...read more

  • 2 of 31

    by B. L. Babb

    In the attempt to save money, many may wish to try to build their own computer but there are many factors to consider...read more

Build
  • 1 of 42

    by Taggart Bowen-Gaddy

    When buying a computer, you are paying for a company to guess the best parts for you and assemble the system for you;...read more

  • 2 of 42

    by Derek Draven

    The attractive prices of pre-built computer systems seen in retail outlets such as Best Buy and Future Shop prompt ma...read more

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