this should be a poll =P

I built my last few. Ive come in to a few "quirks" like switching around PCI slots and buying bad RAM. Buy ram from respectable vendors and read up on the hardware you buy

true satisfaction can only come from one that you do on your own.

Just be mindful of the costs involved and you can come out even with a decent prebuilt deal.

If only you could give yourself a $400 rebate or something.

I DO know where to get my parts.....and all of my systems are overclocked. (blame that first 300A Celeron for that.... )

I like to build my own systems for the customization, and so that I get quality components. I get to 'save' on the softwarez as well.

It's hard to beat one of those couponned/rebate DELL deals though. Konichiwaneko.... i was REALLY tempted by that deal.... (hmmm.... though the one i saw was for a 2.8C)

Also a system builder, and a case modder to boot. I never seem to finish a project though...

The only Dell I own is my laptop, and I'm happy with it so props to Dell for that.

nice page Yaki, you can check mine at www.coldelysium.com

I like your art section.

I always built my own, and for friends a few times also. I've had many systems in the past, but my current system is as follows:

Soltek 75FRV KT400 motherboard, AMD Athlon XP 1800+, Thermalright SLK-800(A) all-copper heatsink with Panaflo 80mm 24cfm fan, 300watt Enermax power supply, Samsung 512MB DDR333 RAM, 3Dfx Voodoo 5 5500 PCI 64MB, Viewsonice PF775 17inch .25 aperture grille monitor, 2 x 3Com 3C905C-TX-M 10/100, Creative Sound Blaster Live X-Gamer, Logitech Z-560 4.1 THX-certified speakers, 2 x 100GB Western Digital Special Edition 7200rpm 8MB, 1 x 30GB Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 8, LG 8400B 40x12x40 CD writer, and generic 18inch case.

Like the previous guy said, timing is everything. You can score yourself awesome rebates, or just get a nice jump on lowered priced. Most of the stuff in the above system was sold at my purchase price from my mainstream sources many months after I had purchased them, so I knew I was paying a reasonable price at the time of purchase.

Built my first one this winter, worked out fine and I plan on building all my future computers:)

2500 xp barton, radeon 9500 pro, 512 crucial pc3200, epox 8rda+ mobo and a nice antec full tower:) not a single problem, highly recommended you have someone experienced guide you through your first time though!

This is my first computer build. Its everything I dreamed of and more. It took me 6 months to build and a good worth of loot but it kicks the crap out of anything pre-built for the $$$. I bought pretty much the best I could at the time which is why it took me so damn long to build. The hard part was saving the money. Now that it is finished...I'm happy.

built the ones i use with parts from newegg.com
got a new 19" philips monitor off ebay for $130 shipped
:D

This is my second box i have built for myself. Have made a couple others for other people as well.

I buit my current one.

Shuld build the next one. But just can't be bothered this time. So I am going to order all the bits, and get the shop to put it all together. Mainly lazy, I guess.

Philip

i've built 2. goin' to build a 3rd once i get a HD and case or something....Gotta figure out what to use my computers for.

I like building them, but i don't really have a need for them.

I've built about 3 computers, and also maintain them.

I think it's better to build them yourself if you know how, because you can customize it however you want. you can pick your own parts and not accept whetever parts an oem installs. you know more about your computer and installing hardware, upgrading, fixing, etc is easier.

I bought my first PC and have built the last 2.

Whenever I or one of my friends builds a machine we make a party out of it. Going over to the others house, building the system and having a little lan action to test it out.

I built mine and it roxxorz the hizzouse

but seriously, the only time that is a wise financial decision is when you can get high quality oem parts a lot cheaper than retail, and you're using top of the line components.

I have built all but one of my four systems, and several others for family and friends. I am extremely picky and accept nothing less than Asus mainboards and Antc cases, so I avoid the OEM systems like the plague (damn, just remembered I wanted to try to use "Captain_Tripps" for a username here if it was available)

i'm currently building my own right now:)

specs:
asus a7n8x mobo
athlonxp 2700+
80 gb west dig 7200rpm
512mb ddr400
geforce4 ti 4200
52x cd read

i need to get it up and running, then im going to get cd-rw, dvd-rw, etc

I've built about 5 or 6 now for myself and friends, once you do it you'll never go back to buying those prefab crap computers :)

bought my first couple pc's. have been building my own the last few years.

it is nice because you know exactly what you are getting. you can get exactly what components you want.

i just finished upgrading mine (again)

2.4ghz p4 (533mhz)
512 meg ram. once i can afford another ram chip ill be dual channel. but untill then.
albatron 865pe pro II mboard (its loaded with shit, got it because of overclockers.com review. like 2 firewire, 8 usb, 7.1 channel sound built in, optical in/out etc. raid controller, serial ata controller, blah blah. its pretty cool :)
60gig 7200 hd / my old 10gig (lol)
dvd burner
cd burner
geforce ti4200 (64meg ddr)
ati radeon dual head pci (64meg)
wintv card :)

it works for me, no issues yet. (knocks on wood)


i got a prebuilt one for my parents, you dont need much to search the internet and hook up a digicam. no issues either. ;)

Wow this was totally unexpected. I ordered a laptop from dell when it was on really good deal mode, but because of problems with their server they said the order was cancelled. Well guess what came in today.

Introducing my new laptop, and replacing the computer I just built.

Here are the specs -

P4-M 3.06
512 megs DDR
15.1" UXGA 1600x1200 screen
Radeon 9000
40gig HD
802.11G wireless
8x DVD

All for only...$1225

the problem is now I have to sell the machine I just built. If any tfp'ers looking for parts, email me. I don't want to advertise, but I wouldn't mind giving you a very fair price over ebay or anything else.

well damn, i'm behind in the times...I've *wanted* to build a comp but 1) haven't had the time, and 2) haven't had the money

But soon enough, my plans will fall into place, yes...<evil laugh>

I will always stand behind my "Frankenstien" machines...

I like to "tweak" and modify too much to buy a pre-built machine...

Have a 19 inch monitor already...

Just got the case, CPU 2400 AMD Athalon.. dual 256 DDR.. the new stuff :D... a 30 Gig HD (old one) and a new 160 Gig HD, some fans... and I'm about to go get a GFX 5900.. Ultra isn't in town, so no need thinking about it.. can't wait for price to lower as my old card died in.... the accident :( hehe. But so I should hopefully be building her tonite!! :D:D:D:D

ive built my last 3 as well as 2 for my dad, 1 for my mom, and 3 for other friends

I've built about a dozen pc's, for myslef, friends, and work, and I guess I have been lucky because I haven't yet had to RMA a part. Its probably becauses always buy from newegg and get quality parts (ASUS, ABIT, Antec, Crucial, etc.) Might cost more, but it saves alot of hassle

Okay guys, get ready for me to preach about Dell's Deal again.

I just bought a Server that had an interesting upgrade....Get a 3.2/800fsb p4 chip for $199 more.

So I just upgraded the main cpu in my system for $199. I bought the server total for $550 after shipping and sold the machine for $350 replacing the 3.2 with a 2.4 from another system.

Dell can make things happen you wouldn't believe.

Building for years, had the occasional hiccup, but i'll never buy OEM again.

42,653.123 at the last count!!

My first was a 386-25 sx with 1 meg ram and a 4 mb harddrive.
I've built coupla dozen since. Latest was AMD 1900xp, 256 mg ddr, GeForce4, SB 5.1, 2 HD (20mb/40mb dual boot), cdrw, dvd. It's over a year old, now. I'm getting the urge.....

I have quit building machines for my boss' auto parts store. His last 6 I told him to buy Dell. He hasn't paid more than @$600 each crammed with a shitload of software. I couldn't compete, economically. The latest was a 2.4 P4, 256 DDR, 40 mb HD, video, sound, speakers, LAN, modem, cdrw, and a 15in FLAT SCREEN! SHEESH!
Last year I had to build him a "special" with a slow celeron (under 1 gig) to accomodate a program for flashing GM OBDII pcm's. Played hell finding that processor! And I still spent as much as he did for the Dells.
I've always badmouthed the "packaged" systems. I especially hate the way they lock up their "proprietary" software. But if I had to recommend a system for a tight budget... Dell. (I believe there's a thread fomewhere about "bad aftertaste" somewhere around here.)

I've built 8 or 9 systems in the last couple of years. I try to use top notch components and I keep Newegg in business.

There is nothing so satisfying as the moment you are all done assemblying the system, hit the switch and she boots up sweet as can be.

Building your own is so much more satisfying, plus you know you're not being given crappy components by some PC dealer that just wants to give out the highest Mhz figure he can to the punters!

I think im on the 9th one... something like that.

Dell is the Walmart of the PC world.

Oh yeah, I build my own. I'm a nerd, what can I say. It's just satisfying. Plus after a while, you can morph all your old parts into other computers. It's so mad scientist.

If someone asks me to build them a cpu, I ask them how much they're willing to spend first. IF it's 500 i'll just say get a dell. But i've built some recent systems including this for a friend (He had a bit of $ to spend on it).


Abit NF7
AMD Barton 3000+ (2.73GHz) <--Not sure of the multiplier, it was close to that.
512mb Kingston PC 3200 DDR400 x3
ATI 9800 256mb
DSP-500 Headset (usb, built in sound card)
60GB Western Digital 8mb cache
Lian-Li pc-60 (I think, not sure)
Volcano 7+
6x panaflo 80x80 37cfm fans

My system comes nothing relatively close to this, this was one of those systems I just wanted to run away with =P.

I built my current system, researched it for about 3 months before I bought anything...it was a great experience and I want to do it again..I'm hooked :) it was like getting my first tatoo, I want to build lots of computers now :)

I'm about to build me own once a few more paychecks come rolling in the door, but this is what I'm looking at.

2.88 P4
1024 DDR PC2700
some nForce2 mobo, forget name offhand.
ATI Radeon 9500 128mb (No point spending double for a few extra FPS)
SB 5.1
80 gig 7200rpm
No fans, spent 5 bucks for a 12 inch fan from a dollar store
Optical mouse, wireless keyboard

For I think $1050.

Come on Thursdays!!!

i built 3 out of my 7