One of the first steps in deciding what computer system is right for you is to honestly evaluate your computer needs. For example, do you need a power-gaming system with an insanely fast graphics card, high-resolution monitor, tons of memory, and/or a cutting edge, super-fast processor? Or are your needs more modest? Perhaps you just need a PC that's great for checking email, browsing the Internet, and running office applications? Or, maybe your needs fall somewhere in between? Your decision here will have a huge impact on the final price of your new DIY PC. Depending on your needs, you could end up with a system costing just a few hundred dollars to a system costing several thousands of dollars.
Throughout my Build Your Own Computer site, I will help guide you on your path to choosing the right computer. I'll help you to identify your requirements and enable you to make an informed, sensible decision about your computer purchase and how to build your own PC to suit your needs.
Store Brand vs. "Custom Built"
So, let's get started by examining your options. Obviously, you're here because you're considering building your own computer, but for some of you, this will either be too time-consuming or difficult a task. You should seriously consider the advantage/disadvantage of building your PC by purchasing a new or used program. When you build your own computer, you gain a sense of accomplishment and accomplish something that store-bought programs can deliver. And if you design your DIY PC system properly, you will likely end up with a system that is well suited for upgrades in the years to come.
Choosing Compatible Components
Many would-be DIY PC builders have anxieties about not knowing which PC components are compatible with each other. This is a justifiable concern--there are many, MANY options available to anyone who chooses the build your own PC path, but I'll walk you through the process, step-by-step. I also highly recommend that you take a look at my example configurations above detailing the parts you'll need to build your own PC. Here I've done a lot of the legwork for you and choose components that are compatible with the latest versions of Windows and Linux, have readily available drivers, and are upgradeable for the future.
Technical Support when Building Your Own PC
With a name-brand system, you'll most likely have technical support available to you if you run into any issues, but depending on where you purchase your computer, your experience with technical support may vary greatly. When you build your own computer, you're not going to have a toll-free number to call for all-in-one support, but if you're resourceful, you can find just about any solution to your problem by posing questions to various forums on the Internet. There are many knowledgeable engineers out there that will be are more than happy to answer your questions and help you through the process to build your own computer.
Warranty Concerns with a DIY PC
A store-bought system will likely include a warranty of some sort. You will not get this all-encompassing warranty with a DIY PC system. However, if you choose good quality products from well-known resellers (such as Tiger Direct), you will receive the warranty coverage of each product's manufacturer.
DIY PC Costs
Now for the big question, am I going to save money by building my own PC? Well, the answer is a resounding "possibly." PCs are cheap nowadays, but sometimes they're cheap for a reason. PC manufacturers may outfit your new system with standard parts that you, as a DIY PC builder, would choose not to use due to low-quality construction or limited compatibility and/or upgradeability. You have a good chance of saving money when you build your own PC, but don't expect incredible cost savings. What you can expect by building your own pc is to get familiar with a lot about the internal operations of your PC. You will also end up with a system customized to your exact specifications--no more, no less. So, is it worth it? I definitely think so...
Operating System and Software
If you've ever purchased a PC before (especially recently), you know that a store-bought, the pre-assembled system will most likely be pre-loaded with an operating system and a suite of software. The operating system will likely be highly customized by the PC manufacturer and will be pre-loaded with a lot of software that you will NEVER need. You'll also find free trials of software that vendors have paid the PC manufacturer to load onto their systems in the hopes that you'll be enticed enough to buy the full versions. This practice often gets out of hand, and the customer ends up with a system so bogged down with "crapware" that it runs horribly slow right out of the box. Needless to say, when you build your own PC, you have total control over what is installed on your new DIY PC. This is one of the HUGE benefits you realize when you build your own PC.
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