Building a PC or Upgrading: Where to Start

[HTM|Assraker]

Note: This is taken from an original post I made in the forums of a clan I was a former member of. I have updated it & thought it would be helpful here as well.

If it's time to build a new computer, several things have to be considered. It is almost like buying a car & deciding what custom options you want on it, and a computer can be just as expensive depending on what you want.
Just like cars, when looking for computer parts it is nice to read non-baised reviews (if they can be found, and they are out there) and to see what other people are "driving" as well as they're opinion on it. I thought I would take this time to show everyone where I read reviews, shop & compare prices. I build 4 or 5 systems a year for people who know me, and here is where I get my information.

Here are some interesting system builds from low tech to high end:

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=2378

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/system-guide-200506.ars/2

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/MVGSBG/article.php/3521496

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/MHGSBG/article.php/3520601

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/EGBG/article.php/3494656

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/system-guide-200506.ars/3

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/system-guide-200506.ars/4


Here are some good review sites to check out components:

http://www.tomshardware.com/index.html

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/

http://www.pcstats.com/

http://www.overclockers.com/

http://arstechnica.com/index.ars

http://www.anandtech.com/

http://www.trustedreviews.com/index.aspx

http://www.viperlair.com/

http://www.frostytech.com/

http://www.procooling.com/

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/ (There are some nice custom cases & mod projects here)


If notebooks are your thing (yes they are buildable too), then check out these sites:

http://www.rjtech.com/

http://notebookforums.com/


Here are some sites I sometimes buy from:

Good all around pricing & fast shipping.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/

I generally buy monitors at PCNation. They have zero pixel defect guarantee on some of the LCD's they carry.
http://www.pcnation.com/

Outpost generaly has very good prices on high end RAM that is not listed on Pricewatch.
http://www.outpost.com/

NewEgg is nice too, but beware they do charge sales tax in some states (such as mine now, so I cannot get good deals there anymore because of it). One of the cheapest sites I've found, if it weren't for the taxes, grr... I use it for comparison
http://www.newegg.com/

EWiz has some good specials running all the time.
http://www.ewiz.com/

I buy some of my things at Directron now. The price is right & I get some good discounts in their newsletter.
http://www.directron.com/


Here are some sites for some neat mods and hard to find items (if you like your machine to stand out in the crowd like me):

http://www.xoxide.com/

http://www.frozencpu.com/

http://www.crazypc.com/

http://www.circotech.com/

http://www.casecooler.com/

http://heatsinkfactory.com/

http://www.coolerguys.com/

http://www.performance-pcs.com/

http://www.mycableshop.com/


If you do purchasing for nonprofit organizations as I have done in the past, go here for super low pricing:

http://www.techsoup.org/ (Purchases can only be made through a 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations)


As for an OS (Operating System) I suggest you buy OEM, for it will save you an average of $200 hands down. The only difference between OEM and the retail versions is that the retail version comes with a fancy box & users manual. Who needs a box & users manual? In Windows there is this thing called "Help" you can click, hehe...

Last but not least, always compare price before buying a component. When you have found the component you want, take the manufacturer's part number & search for good pricing using the sites below:

http://froogle.google.com/

http://www.google.com/

http://www.pricewatch.com/


This is the where why & how of me building PC's. It's not a difficult thing to do. Once you build your first machine, you will never buy another turnkey system from any of the major PC manufacturers.

Another thing that's nice about building them is you don't have all the "bloat ware" loaded on the machine (you know, all the BS programs you never use that waste space you cannot delete). You get a truely fast, clean machine which is easy to upgrade & maintain. You are no longer forced to buy a part from HP, Dell, Gateway or any of the others.

When I built my system 1 1/2 years ago, I spent roughly $2800 monitor & all. Alienware.com wanted to sell me the same system for $5000. Be a frugal shopper as I am and you shall save a boatload of money too.

If there are any questions, feel free to ask me & I'll help you if I can.

Edit: Updated 7-31-05

[{F8}Slaide]

I'm not HTM, but nice post!

[frogger]

great post..a few sites i haven't been to before.

[HTM|Lunch_Meat]

Very nice man. :)

Wish I would have known you in December. Would have shortened my search time.

Gonna save this list. 8)

[HTM|Assraker]

Maybe we can get a *cough* tech support type forum thread & make this a sticky.

I'll keep the list updated.

[HTM~Spas]

Maybe we can get a *cough* tech support type forum thread & make this a sticky.

I'll keep the list updated.


I'd like to see a gallery with some rather nice.............um..........ladies in it, then that'd be a sticky.
:lol:

[frogger]

Maybe we can get a *cough* tech support type forum thread & make this a sticky.

I'll keep the list updated.

as you wish..

/princess bride

[HTM|Assraker]

ROFL!! Thanks Frogger!

[{SBD}SJAndrew]

Two more links:

Great reviews:

HardOCP (http://www.hardocp.com)

Another good e-tailer (I haven't bought from in the last year or so, but they're still around and I've not had any bad experiences with them):

Allstarshop (http://www.allstarshop.com)

[HTM|mike_bolton]

I remember this one - great thread, thanks.

[HTM|YellowDog]

Thanks, SJ

Love that avatar, Mike..... I sure would hate to be that fax machine.

[HTM|Hyjynx]

hey i have that avatar hmmm :shock: