Custom Built PC?

TheViper · Oct 20, 2014

Just wondering if any of you guys own or thought about building your own PC? I know that very soon I will be purchasing the parts to build my first PC. Getting really excited about it and just hope I won't get a faulty ram or something. What do you guys think about custom built computers?

joshposh · Oct 21, 2014

I built my first desktop computer back in 2005 or 6. It was a crappy AMD. Back then it was a cheap mid tear cpu. After that I would make frankenstein desktops with left over part of dell and gateway computers. That was fun. Making a desktop functional with parts from different computer makers.

I still look at computer parts til this day, and I get jittery thinking about building one again.

jurew2 · Oct 21, 2014

I always build my own PC (well I didn't build my own once), because this way you know what your computer is capable of and you know that you don't pay too much money for your computer. When I got a pre-build computer the first time I wasn't really satisfied with it, but I endured it for some years, after that I needed a new PC. I searched everywhere to find a PC that I want for a reasonable price, but had no luck. I decided to build my own computer after that and that is what I keep doing since then. I recommend to anyone to build their custom PC and not to buy a pre-built one.

RadialPerson · Oct 21, 2014

I always build my own PCs, you get a far better system price wise compared to buying a pre-built one. Plus it's so much more fun to build your own system, every part is chosen specifically for what you need and maximize the performance for whatever you do with it, gaming, video editing, programming, etc. Just make sure you do plenty of research and make sure all the parts are compatible, especially motherboard and CPU compatibility.

Saffy · Oct 21, 2014

I have always wanted to get a custom built pc but never have. I don't have the $ to do so but maybe the next time we need a computer we'll have the money for it. My brother has done that many times though but he now has all macs

techbeast34 · Oct 21, 2014

Saffy said:
I have always wanted to get a custom built pc but never have. I don't have the $ to do so but maybe the next time we need a computer we'll have the money for it. My brother has done that many times though but he now has all macs

There are a lot of pretty good build outlines that would cost about the same as an 8th gen console, and perform just about as well too. There's this one build from DIY Tryin, a YouTube channel dedicated to DIY projects. You can see the video here:

Scarsz · Oct 21, 2014

I've built five now, the first one being mine and the rest for friends and family.

chiwasaki · Jun 30, 2015

I am actually saving some money to purchase a custome built desktop. I am researching now on a very affordable and very good quality of RAM, HDD and graphics card. I want to invest on a 4k monitor as well. Hopefully, I will be able to save some money so I can build my dream PC.

\\Vexel · Jun 30, 2015

chiwasaki said:
I am actually saving some money to purchase a custome built desktop. I am researching now on a very affordable and very good quality of RAM, HDD and graphics card. I want to invest on a 4k monitor as well. Hopefully, I will be able to save some money so I can build my dream PC.

What specs are you looking into if you don't mind my asking.

I like checking out peoples rigs, something about having a rig you build yourself just feels right.

RivaCom · Jul 1, 2015

chiwasaki said:
I am actually saving some money to purchase a custome built desktop. I am researching now on a very affordable and very good quality of RAM, HDD and graphics card. I want to invest on a 4k monitor as well. Hopefully, I will be able to save some money so I can build my dream PC.

Although this was a huge necro of a thread. A 4k computer isn't a pipe dream. Just learn to shop smart, wait for deals, wait for EoF and New Product sales etc. Your biggest cost is going to be Monitor(depending on size), Gfx card, and CPU. But this also depends on how much you want to future proof it.

chiwasaki · Jul 1, 2015

\\Vexel said:
What specs are you looking into if you don't mind my asking. I like checking out peoples rigs, something about having a rig you build yourself just feels right.

I am still looking for further technical advice but I want an i7-4500 processor, probably 8gb memory, GT 740M 2G graphics. I am not particular with storage and I want a 4k monitor but not sure if it is worth it.

\\Vexel · Jul 1, 2015

chiwasaki said:
I am still looking for further technical advice but I want an i7-4500 processor, probably 8gb memory, GT 740M 2G graphics. I am not particular with storage and I want a 4k monitor but not sure if it is worth it.

Like RivaCom said, make sure you shop around and wait for some deals. Especially when it comes to CPU, you can often pick up a motherboard/cpu combo for cheaper that you would get separately. The monitor really depends on what you will be doing with it.

Michael · Jul 1, 2015

I've thought about building a custom PC but don't feel like saving up for a thousands. I have a horrible spending habit. Whenever people send me money, I always find a way to spend it. But, time will tell.

RivaCom · Jul 2, 2015

2 Additional little tidbits.

If you have a Fry's or Microcenter near you. They often do great bundles where the mother board is basically free with purchase of cpu. or CPU/MB/Ram for a discounted rate.
Custom built means you can slowly upgrade. So you could start with the essentials and build as the money comes in. Buy the Case, Power Supply, CPU, Motherboard, Ram, and HD, and you could technically start using your pc(with a OS). If you don't have the money for that beefy video card, pick up a used one or lower end one for cheap and upgrade a month from now to a better one.

Lex · Jul 5, 2015

I'm also considering building my own PC somewhere in the next month once I have accumulated enough cash. I'm thinking about choosing the motherboard based on AMD FX-6300 (FM3+ socket), maybe an M5A97 or any cheaper alternatives I can find, it will have 8GB of RAM (2x4GB, or maybe I'll buy one 8GB and add another 8GB later when I can, making it 16GB). I also don't care a lot about 4k gaming since I never experienced it and I don't want to either because then I'll want it badly, so 1080p cuts it for me at the moment, so that's the monitor I'd get. I want to focus my money on the graphics card more than anything. Possibly on an R9 290x, but if I find myself unable to afford it, I'll get an R7 260x, should last me for years with 1080p gaming on high settings for years to come hopefully.

Patrick · Jul 5, 2015

Lex said:
I'm also considering building my own PC somewhere in the next month once I have accumulated enough cash. I'm thinking about choosing the motherboard based on AMD FX-6300 (FM3+ socket), maybe an M5A97 or any cheaper alternatives I can find, it will have 8GB of RAM (2x4GB, or maybe I'll buy one 8GB and add another 8GB later when I can, making it 16GB). I also don't care a lot about 4k gaming since I never experienced it and I don't want to either because then I'll want it badly, so 1080p cuts it for me at the moment, so that's the monitor I'd get. I want to focus my money on the graphics card more than anything. Possibly on an R9 290x, but if I find myself unable to afford it, I'll get an R7 260x, should last me for years with 1080p gaming on high settings for years to come hopefully.

I'd go with a GTX 970 over the 290x any day. Same price, much better performance.

chiwasaki said:
I am still looking for further technical advice but I want an i7-4500 processor, probably 8gb memory, GT 740M 2G graphics. I am not particular with storage and I want a 4k monitor but not sure if it is worth it.

That's a mobile GPU. You'd find it in a notebook, not a desktop. You certainly won't be doing very much (if any) 4K gaming with that. IIRC 2GB isn't adequate for 4K textures. You may want to revise that and look for something a lot stronger.

Hux · Jul 5, 2015

When I bought my computer, I had some financial issues so I had to pay monthly for a mediocre pre-built system. It wasn't too bad, i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 1TB storage. When I ended up saving the money I then added to it, new PSU, GTX 760 GPU etc. In general, if possible, always build a computer or have someone build one for you as you'll get what you pay for.

deadbroke · Jul 5, 2015

I built my own gaming PC some months ago and it works like a charm! I really suggest you to build some PC own your own as you learn a lot while doing it about the hardware of a computer and you get also some manuality

It will be a bit costly tough but I guess it worth the effort. My built PC components are: 8GB RAM, GTX980, Intel i7,etc... let me know if you decide to build a PC own your own, I might give you some advices ^^

RivaCom · Jul 7, 2015

The idea is , if your short on cash. Is to buy some of the main components that are upgradable in the future. So you don't need the best CPU, most RAM, or Best Video Card. But get a motherboard that can handle more memory and better CPU so you can sell the old hardware and buy new hardware.

NecroWolf · Aug 3, 2015

I have built or mostly built every PC I have owned since I rebuilt my 8088 IBM XT just to see how far it would go. (OMG where do the jumpers go on this thing?) Everything is mostly jumperless and switchless nowadays. So much easier believe me.

One great place to pick and choose parts based on prices is pcpartpicker.com. You can configure a PC from parts without buying a thing and it will tell you if your parts you picked are compatible. It also shows prices for each item from several online stores so you know where to order it the cheapest. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned already. (If it was I missed it.)

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