BUILD YOUR OWN
 

i built mine also...p4 1.8 gig...runnin 2 sticks of 512 ddr...with a 60 gig hard drive..radeon card...my best advice to anyone who intends to do the same...be really careful where you get your components...internet sites my look great as far as pricing...but if you have a problem with a cpu or motherboard...it could be a huge problem tryin to get it returned or replaced..they want your money...not your complaints...i recommend buying form a local retailer...if somthing fails...just walk in and talk to living breating human being..walk out with a new componet...may not sound important now...but could be huge later...BUYER BE WARE....BUTCHER

One instance when I will fully agree with butcher.. also your local retailer may even cut you some deals and throw in extras. Had some work done on my computer and the guy threw in a new power supply and 2 cooling fans... never know where you'll get some extra stuff.

eatitbey
 

thats a great point....you wont get any extras from a internet site...if you buy all the components at one time its very likely the retailer will throw in a few goodies...my guy did...extra fan...also gave me xp home edition for for 99.00....dont be afraid to say it like this...if i buy all these things from you right now...whats in it for me....lol...you might be surprised...BUTCHER

I bought all of my components online from reputable vendors, this is a necessity where I live because the local vendors will rape you (ex $25.00 cheapest usb cable). I have not had any problems to date.


swordfight:

I always build all my PCs and Servers

Current systems in my home all built except the raid box

My PC
P4 2.53
1 Gig RD1066
Ti4600

My video box
P4 2 gig
1 gig RD800
GF500

daughters box
AMD 1900XP
512 DDR 2100
GF2

other daughters box
AMD 2000XP
512 DDR 2100
GF2

web server
Dual P3 1gig
2 gig of ram PC133
matrox 450
Hardware raid 0,1 (4) SCSI 36Gig drives 10K rpm

ftp and file server (did not build)
NAS box
512 PC100
Hardware raid 5 (4) SCSI 36Gig drives 10K rpm
no video card

MP3 / home video file server
P3 1 gig ( dual board but only one CPU)
2 gigs PC100
Matrox g400
Hardware raid 0, 1 (2)WD120 gig IDE drives

Throw in a laptop for the wife and some other misc, boxes. here and there. and a pile of parts all over the house.


Remember static electricity is your enemy. Be very careful and use a grounded wrist strap. if you say I never had a problem, your lucky most are not.

Exactly! I can buy usb cables online for 2-3 dollars a piece. Even with shipping being $5, it is worth it. My friendly local dealer want $30 for his usb cables. They are gold plated though. oOo:

The trick is, if you buy online, make sure it is a reputable dealer (NOT flybynight.com). Some of my worst experiences were with a local dealer. Crooked, but local. I am in the process of researching building a computer and it would cost me almost twice as much to buy locally. That means if only half my stuff comes in with no problems, I still save money.

2 things:

1) Always use a credit card with online transactions, so you have recourse with the card company in recouping your hard earned cash, if someting goes wrong.

2) In the last 10 years of shopping, mostly by price, online, I've rarely run across problems. In fact, the only one that comes to mind is OCZ and their crooked and/or inept people. (subsequently disbanded, I believe)

Hoonose

A PROBLEM
 

this story is what promted this post,,,,friend of mine got a great price on a mother board,,,when he got it..inside the box it had no pink antistat wrapping...thats the first problem...he called and told them about it...they said to install it ...it was fine...it wasnt....he called again...they said send it back...he did...he called to make sure they received and how long before he got the replacement....THEY SAID....SORRY,,,,ITS BEEN USED...NO EXCHANGE OR REPLACEMENT ON USED EQUIPMENT....he bought another motherboard local,,,hes fine....most of the time when it works out...its great...when it dont...IT REALLY SUCKS...by the way...this whole story start to finish took like 3 months,,,cables and things of that nature might be fine....but if your doin motherboard and cpu...no shot i buy those things online,,,BUTCHER

For silly periphery things like cables there's no denying that online is way cheaper. But you can't beat the local guy for the big stuff ie. vid cards, mother boards and processors. Because you know exactly where that guy will be tomorrow or the next month if something craps out on you.. you don't know where that website will be or even if they'll take your stuff back.

Hey Rude you got too much money....you can send some my way.

Re: eatitbey
 

Not necessarily true. Y'all should buy online from http://www.newegg.com they have an awesome reputation. If you buy refurb items there, they adverstise them as barebones then send you all the cables and what not with em. Take a look around there...they usually have super low prices too! (honestly, I dont work for em, but do buy from em)

I guess someone has to pay retail. ed:

REFERB
 

if im going to build a new computer im not doin it with any thing that says REFERB on it,,,especially online referb...if that aint a nightmare wattin to happen i never heard one...your better off to wait until you have the money to di it right...youll be happier in the end..i cant imagine tryin to return a used motherboard or cpu,,,WOW,,,BUTCHER

Are you rich?

No, Been in this industry way too long. Also helps to have friends at certain companies.