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When buying a computer, you are paying for a company to guess the best parts for you and assemble the system for you; however, if you want the system to fit your exact needs and to cut costs, building could be a better option.

To build a system, you're going to need at least a very basic knowledge of and exposure to computers (or a willingness to learn). But if you are willing to do some research and follow some instructions, then building a computer is not a very difficult task.

VARIABILITY:
When building a computer every aspect is variable. You can browse hundreds of parts and decide on which best fits your needs. When buying a computer, you are tied into 1-5 different options for certain aspects of the machine.

COST:
When buying, you have to pay for the assembly, however, when building, you buy individual parts. You can usually cut the cost of your machine by a good chunk.

STYLE:
Stock computers are never very interesting looking - it's pretty obvious when you're sporting a store-bought computer. When building, you can build a big flashy computer, a small simple computer. You can make your computer look like whatever you want with whatever interior you want.

THE PROCESS:
If you're interested in computers, the process may be enough of a reason to build a computer. You learn about power consumption, software installation and compatibility, hardware installation and compatibility, cooling, hardware choice. It's a good first step towards a technical career or hobby.

KNOWLEDGE:
After you have built your machine, you know exactly what's going on with it. If your computer starts acting up and you have something you bought in a store, technical support may not help you at all if what they're saying means nothing to you. When you build, you know exactly what you have in your computer, what you have installed, because you were the one to put it all together.

While building a computer may not be for everyone, it is a definite advantage for those that are up to the task.

Learn more about this author, Taggart Bowen-Gaddy.
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