How many people here build their own PC's?

[Jand3rson]

I'm just about to finish building my second computer, and I was just curious how many of you guys built your own rigs. I've always preferred building my own system rather than buying a rebuilt comp, like a Dell or something. Then I always know exactly what's in it, what all the settings are, and if something goes wrong, I know is has to be something I did.

Here's what I've got so far:

Raidmax ATX-Midtower case
Antec 350 watt SmartPower V2.0 power supply
Intel D865GLC Socket 478 Motherboard w/ 865G chipset
ATi Radeon 9600SE GPU
SoundBlaster LIVE! 5.1 sound card
Maxtor 30 GB (7200 RPM)
Western Digital 80 GB HD (7200 RPM)
Lite-On 52X CD-RW

Coming in a few weeks:

Intel Pentium 4 3.0 MHz Prescott
Corsair ValuSelect PC3200 RAM (512 MB)
Sony 16X DVD-ROM

(Just a footnote, I don't want to hear about how I don't have the greatest graphics card, or motherboard, or whatever. It's not some hardcore gaming rig, I just watch videos, listen to music, play the occasional game, and do lots of Photoshop work. I'm just curious to mix with the other PC builders on the forum.)

[Charlie]

I've built all my own desktops since my first 386's back in 1988.

Now I build servers and shit on a daily basis and order laptops for my own usage.

It stops being fun when you have to do it as a job.

-Charlie

[hamann318is]

I built mine. My last computer died because of a shittay p/s, and I replaced it with the laptop for college.

[Jand3rson]

It stops being fun when you have to do it as a job.

-Charlie

Exactly the reason I don't want to do it for a job. Also exactly the same reason I have no desire to become a BMW mechanic, like some of the other members (nothing against you at all, if you are).

I've built my last 3 computers, the first I did during my job as a work-study IT tech at the local community college. It was part of my job, to build a computer on my own, with as little help as possible. I later built a second rig, and with the old parts from my first, I built a computer for my mother.

[e30 gangsta]

I've built all my own desktops since my first 386's back in 1988.

Now I build servers and shit on a daily basis and order laptops for my own usage.

It stops being fun when you have to do it as a job.

-Charlie

+1 thats why i stopped working it.

[EverWiser]

I've been doing my own for at least the last ten years...So far we've got 4 desktops and 2 laptops in the house all connected to our home network (4 of them wirelessly) running DSL at between 1.5 to 3.0Meg. No lag on UT2004 even when everyone's on. I'm upgrading my son for his birthday this week to a P4 CPU, board, and DDR333 RAM. You can get better deals on the hardware building one for yourself...It's the software that'll cost you.

[Jand3rson]

You can get better deals on the hardware building one for yourself...It's the software that'll cost you.

The price alone is one of the best reasons to build your own. You can build a system twice as fast as any of the faster Dell's for about half the price.

[Schniddy]

It's the software that'll cost you

Not if you have a lot of computers in your house. We have 5 computers and only a 2-3 copies of windows XP. Same with everything else, just re-use it all.

I build my own computer a couple years ago with my own money. Cost me about $500 bucks. I wanted to go crazy modding on it... thank god I found the E30 instead.

[decay]

It stops being fun when you have to do it as a job.

-Charlie

^^^^^^^^^^

hence why i quit today. that was my last IT job, i don't care what i do next.

"f--- you, f--- you, F--- YOU, you cool, f--- you, i'm out."

i don't do recent games either, so this computer i went cheap and tiny.

one of those shuttle breadbox-sized cases, a single 1g stick of kingston memory, Maxtor 6Y080L0 80g hd, ATI radeon 8500, and an extra sound card so i can use an external mixer when i need to (mmm... traktor).

it's about as portable as you can get for a customizable machine. here's some guy doing a casemod on one just like mine:

http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/234/1

[e30sd]

i was a comp geek in hs, but my buddy is sys admin for a molecular bio lab at UCSD. he takes care of everything for me now.

[Sean]

I've built all my own desktops since my first 386's back in 1988.

Now I build servers and shit on a daily basis and order laptops for my own usage.

It stops being fun when you have to do it as a job.

-Charlie

I work IT now. Let me tlel you - it's a bitch to come home and have family members beg for help. lol

I hope my computer lasts me thru college, cause the next one I build, won't be for a while.


Thank god I found my E30 too! 8)

[Bimmerfanatik]

I built mine a few years back - used (at the time) some of the best stuff. I've built lots of comps for myself and friends/fam, but I like this one best.

Currently it has:

P4 2.4 Intel Pentium
Asus P4S8X mboard
512 mb DDR RAM
80 gb Samsung 7200rpm HD
HP CDRW
floppy drive :)

and it's all wrapped up into this real beautiful slick black Antec case - cost me $150, I think it's called the "silent" model or some shit like that - has a glossed mirror finish to it, blue LED's on the front next to the USB ports, and rubber isolator mounts for the HD to keep it quieter. Makes a difference. The case is the only thing I'd hang on to if I were upgrading probably, though the MB is good - can go up to the 3.0 p4.

[LikeCDoos]

I've built a few in my day...currently my system is:

-Koolance Watercooled Case with matching koolance waterblock
-Pentium 4 Socket T (LGA 775) 3.4 Ghz
-1 GB DDR500 Ram (Dual Channel)
-PCI express Radeon X700 Pro
-Western digital Raptor 74GB HD

it's been awhile thats all i can remember off the top of my head. Building your own computer is way nicer than buying one pre-made. I always like knowing what exactly i've got.

[nd4speedm1]

built mine in november

Athlon 64+ 3500
Gigabyte k8ns939-Ultra mobo (might switch for SLI or regular PCI-E)
1gb pc3200
200gb 7200rpm HD
Radeon 9800 pro 256MB (might go pci-express waiting for new ATI's)
19inch CRT 1600x1200 (looking for a 2nd Mag 996pf2-b if anyone got one i want it please)
Audigy2 w/ front panel thing
generic CD drive
16x DualLayer DVD Burner

[nando]

I used to be pretty hardcore into PC building/tuning. but then I got sick of spending $500 every 2-3 months on upgrades and misc shit, and now all I care about is if my computer fucking works. If and when I upgrade though I'll definetly build my own (it's been a while, still using a dually P3 1.2ghz).