Curse

Eskimo Bob · May 10, 2005, 06:15 AM // 06:15

I am looking to get a new computer but I don't know any good sites where you can fully (well almost fully) customize your own computer. I would preffer it if the site was in Canadian dollars. Thank you.

Principa Discordia · May 10, 2005, 07:27 AM // 07:27

In my opinion websites like those are usually overpriced, but I'm not going to tell anybody not to use them as, overpriced or not, they're good for people who hate actually building their owns system but want it customised to their specifications.

I'm in England, so I'm affraid that the only one I know of is Alienware. But if you can, I would reccommend that you build it yourself, it'd save you a lot of money.

Eskimo Bob · May 10, 2005, 06:51 PM // 18:51

Build it myself. Hehe, I don't know squat about how to build comps. If I knew how I would. Maybe someone has a list of every single item you need for a comp and a tutorial of how to do it.

Ramus · May 10, 2005, 07:04 PM // 19:04

My best advise, screw building it, screw overpriced places.

Go with dell.

www.dell.com

I got an awesome computer there for 1.7k, i'd say its 300 dollars overpriced then what I would have payed if I built it myself. But its made up with the fact that they fix everything if I have a problem, and I dont have to worry about shit dying on me all the time. I would end up spending 500+ extra on my computers to fix things.

EnDinG · May 10, 2005, 07:09 PM // 19:09

I'm not a fan of Dells personally. I perfer Gateways. Known people who have bought them, and they are pretty friendly. I've only had to repair a couple of them in the last few years the people have owned them.

I suggest Googling computer stores near your area and if you want, post the list up for us to look at. Most stores after you select your products, call them with what you want, will build the computer for you at a little extra charge. Its the cheapest way for a person to go that hasn't a clue about them.

Ramus · May 10, 2005, 07:32 PM // 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnDinG

I'm not a fan of Dells personally. I perfer Gateways. Known people who have bought them, and they are pretty friendly. I've only had to repair a couple of them in the last few years the people have owned them.

I suggest Googling computer stores near your area and if you want, post the list up for us to look at. Most stores after you select your products, call them with what you want, will build the computer for you at a little extra charge. Its the cheapest way for a person to go that hasn't a clue about them.

Gateway is not too bad either, but my #1 preference is Dell.

Principa Discordia · May 10, 2005, 07:37 PM // 19:37

I just hate using a PC I've not built, I guess I have a maternal complex when it comes to PCs.

Original poster... If you've never built a PC before and don't have an experienced friend to help, best not to try. I don't personally like companies such as Dell or Gateway, but I won't tell someone not to use them when they're suggested. Might be the perfect choice for you.

ZennZero · May 10, 2005, 08:16 PM // 20:16

I am pretty Anti Dell. Their customer service has fallen dramatically over the last few years (basically since they outsourced everything to India) and they are generally unhelpful (and even rather rude). Also, they often use proprietary parts in their systems (power supplies and motherboards most notoriously), making upgrading on your own a pain. Finally, they don't carry AMD processors, which is a big negative in my book. Now having said all that, they are quite inexpensive -- especially if you get a deal (coupons + refferal discounts + etc.).

I would actually throw my vote in for a local place. Find a mom and pop shop that has been around a few years and has a good reputation. If you have a problem, they are a local call or short drive away and you are supporting local business (rather than a 95% outsourced faceless behemoth company).

Alternately, building computers is actually really easy. Anyone can learn most of the important stuff in a few hours of research online. It will save you a few hundred dollars and you will learn a useful skill in the process.

Scturi · May 10, 2005, 09:09 PM // 21:09

www.voodoopc.com

Canadian Company. Very nice computers.... and you'll pay for it too.

Eskimo Bob · May 10, 2005, 09:17 PM // 21:17

I had checked out dell a few days ago and didn't like them. For a good gaming system it is $1700-$2000 Canadian, that is including a monitor and everything. I found a post that had a link to a site where you can customize your own comp. It is http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/ . I went through and customized my own computer for under $1500 Canadian. Is that a good site or is it overpriced? Is it reliable?

Well the specs of the computer I customized are:

X-BLADE II Med-Tower Case 450W (SILVER)
(939-pin) AMD ATHLON64 3200+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology
(939-pin) MSI RS480M2-IL ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Chipset Mboard
1GB (512MBx2) PC3200 DDR400 Memory (Major_Brand)
Seagate 80GB 7200RPM Serial ATA 150 8MB Cache
NONE - 2nd Hard Drive
NVIDIA Geforce 6600 GT 128MB 16X PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD-- Powered by Leadtek
NONE - Video Card
16X DVD ROM (BLACK)
NONE - CDRW
FujiPlus FP768 17" 12MS Response Time Gaming TFT LCD (2TONE - BLK/SIL)
HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
(SILVER)JUSTER NEON LIGHT SUBWOOFER STEREO SPEAKERS
NONE - modem
1.44 MB floppy drive
Microsoft XP home edition w/ service pack 2
Professional Wiring for All WIRINGs Inside The System Chasis
OPTI-UPS SS1200 AVR Voltage Stabilizer

Cost: $1158 USD, about $1450 Canadian.

Is there anything useless in that build or anything that should be upgraded higher? The one thing that I do not know is good enough is the motherboard.

Eskimo Bob · May 10, 2005, 10:46 PM // 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scturi

www.voodoopc.com

Canadian Company. Very nice computers.... and you'll pay for it too.

Those computers are expensive. They are a little out of my price range. And I though alienware was a little overpriced.

EDIT:

I just checked out gateway and the comp I customized was more than the one from www.cyberpowersystem.com . In fact it was $500 US more and it was basicly the same besides it was a ddr2 and had antivirus.

Willow · May 10, 2005, 11:22 PM // 23:22

If you're looking to do some research, www.pricewatch.com is a goldmine.

I knew very little about computer hardware, but I was able to order the parts piecemeal for my computer and assemble it. It helps if you have computersavvy friends (in real life) that you can talk to and get advice from.

I saved a bunch of money, and learned alot about how computers work. It was a good time.

Eskimo Bob · May 11, 2005, 12:01 AM // 00:01

Minor problem with that idea, I don't know anyone that knows how to build a computer. If I did know someone, I would have asked them already. Is there a website that gives you a detailed tutorial of how to build your own pc?

Vorkronor · May 11, 2005, 09:35 AM // 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskimo Bob

Minor problem with that idea, I don't know anyone that knows how to build a computer. If I did know someone, I would have asked them already. Is there a website that gives you a detailed tutorial of how to build your own pc?

http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+build+a+PC

With a little bit of research you can build your own

ZennZero · May 11, 2005, 01:27 PM // 13:27

Bob,

If you do decide to go the prebuilt route, Cyberpower is probably a pretty good choice. They have been around a while and have a pretty good reputation for building decent systems at reasonable prices.

Also, looking at the specs for the system you put together, I would consider a little beefier video card if the price difference isn't too much. Perhaps a Radeon x800 XL to compliment your ATI mobo? Mixing manufacturers certainly won't hurt (heck I do it with my nForce4 + x800XL), but I recall seeing some benchmarks a few months ago on that particular motherboard and it seemed to perform a bit better with ATI cards. Perhaps they have them better tuned for compatibility and performance.

Phantium · May 11, 2005, 02:02 PM // 14:02

Just get a computer store to build you one, or you'll end up with a system you might not like as much. Tell them what you want to use it for, and so on.