Thetownend.com

Afternoon TEF,

Looking at getting a gaming PC - i've looked on a few sites and the base unit i'm looking to get is around £700

I'm just wondering how easy/hard it to source the components yourself and build a PC?

I know we have a few tech's on here. Any help would be fantastic? Any cheap sites?

Thanks all.

Easy peasy, all is easy until there is a problem then its not so easy, I normally get about 5-10% failed products when building and its pretty much pot luck, research it on the net and make sure that the parts are compatible and away you go.

Lots of sites for cheapish parts such as

http://www.ebuyer.com/
http://www.dabs.com/
http://www.aria.co.uk/
http://www.scan.co.uk/
http://www.overclock.co.uk/

Take your pick and source the cheapest best bits.

Any probs PM me for any advice etc.

Avoid Ebay parts.

www.overclockers.co.uk is another excellent site.

Is it really any cheaper? I stopped doing this in 2002 because I couldn't make any money out of it.

FWIW, what I've usually found in the past (although not done a self-build for the past couple of years) is that there's little if any financial saving in a self-build over buying off the shelf. The advantage is more in terms of being able to spec exactly what you want, a small amount of satisfaction and having an unholy mess of cables inside that no proper system builder would ever tolerate (if you're anything like me!)

I make about £20-£30 for it but I can put one together in about 20 mins and install Windows in 30 mins so £20-£30 for an hours work aint bad.

On a £700 PC I recon you will save about £60-80 on pre built but the more you spend the more you save, you would save about £100 on a £1,000 PC.

Used to get all my bits and bundles from Novatec as they are just done the road from me - always found them ok.

I'm an IT geek and I wouldn't spend more than £500 on a PC. I'll save myself the effort. Thanks.

On a related note...I've got about 2 or 3 old pcs in the loft. Should I just bin them, or should I flog the bits or upgrade them? What does everyone else do with their old pcs?

Cheers for all the help on this. I've been looking on dinopc.com and found a gaming pc i like with all the specs i want. Has anyone experienced any problems with them before?

problems with gaming PCs? yes, don't blow the PSU like an idiot I know did the first time he tried to build his own PC.

ahem

That's quick!!  :)

Quicker than reinstalling Windows ;)

Has anyone experienced dealing with dinopc.com before?

Not me but I don't deal with pre build PC's as I always build my own and their component parts seem about 10% - 15% higher than most other sites I use.

You pays your money you takes your choice.

Of course. Just not confindent in building my own that's all!

Honestly, if it's something you want to do it really is a piece of piss. Youtube it.

its like lego for grown ups (geeks)

As these lads state it is not difficult and there are hundreds of online tutorials.

I'll watch some videos and swat up on it all before i commit to it.

Thanks for your help guys.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/how-to-tech/build-a-computer.htm

I've never heard or dealt with DinoPC but that doesn't mean they are bad

I deal with Overclockers and Ebuyer daily (I sell to them) and also people like Novaech, Dabs, Scan etc....

I've been building my own PC's for years but had one built for me by Overclockers literally last week coz I wanted to see what the build quality was like

Have to say I am really impressed - their website is pretty good and allows you to spec your own parts - if they are not listed you can just phone them and they will build to order

Alternatively they have per-built systems for among already on site so one of these might be good enough for your needs ?

It's definitely a little more expensive than building your own but has the guarantee that it will work out of the box and if you have any problems it's for them to sort out rather than you.

i've used Overclockers in the past and had trouble with RMAs, coupled with the fact their forum is populated by people who make the mongs on thisis seem like intellectual geniuses, i steer clear now.

never had a problem with Ebuyer although when i purchased the components for my current PC, Scan worked out a fair bit cheaper so went with them.

I've always bought components from Scan and Ebuyer.

Only had to RMA once to Ebuyer for a PSU that was DOA and they were very good at sending a replacement.