OT: Buying vs. building your own computer

[rdouglass]

Just my $.02

For my home computers, I've built them myself for years and saved a lot shopping around. Just be sure you're buying compatible parts. It really is not that difficult anymore, at least not the way it used to be.

I've always found good deals (lots of rebates and stuff) on parts, 'barebones' machines, refurbs, and accessories at TigerDirect.com and they have a lot of stuff there to assit in putting it together. Been having very good luck with them for years.

[El_Phil]

That has always amazed me, the compatability of parts. You can get a processor fabbed in Ireland put on a motherboard from South Korea, chuck in some Taiwanese RAM and a power supply from down the road and it will work. There is no other industry where every single component can be made by a different company and you know they'll all work together.

As long as you get the standards right.

[Thermodyne]

For a first time builder the biggest problem comes when you get a DOA part. It can be extremely hard for a newbie to find where the problem lies.