Hello fellow avsimers...

I’m pondering an upgrade in the next little while and I constantly read that building is much cheaper than buying a pre-built. I’m not so sure about that, I went to newegg and would pick out a couple pre-built packages, I would then individually price the components and the math doesn’t add up that it’s noticeably cheaper? Example, A pre-built I was looking at was roughly 2k. The Gpu in the system alone is 1000-1100$? Then you have to add In the time it takes to build Which essentially can be worth something as well.
 

How is building cheaper than buying a pre-built on say newegg? I must be missing something.

I'm also considering an upgade with what would be my 4th home built machine.

thanx for alerting me to the fact I may not be saving much with the DIY approach.  I too will be interested in looking at this...

 

Jeff

5 minutes ago, FLNG said:

I'm also considering an upgade with what would be my 4th home built machine.

thanx for alerting me to the fact I may not be saving much with the DIY approach.  I too will be interested in looking at this...

 

Jeff

Please do a couple test runs, choose a pre-built package, then price the components individually using the same service(supplier) cause maybe I’m doing something wrong in my method of pricing this. 

Edited August 23, 20205 yr by flyinpilot212121

In the UK you can buy a prebuilt system, you can configure the build yourself and when i include my home build specs they don`t come out the same lot more expensive. 

Most of the prebuilt machines cut corners on things like power supplies, memory, fans, SSDs etc.

When I build I get to choose quality, known components, like high quality name-brand Platinum or Gold-rated PSUs not running too close to their rated capacity, memory that isn't high frequency but high CAS latency bait-and-switch stuff (note that very few builders advertise RAM specs beyond just the memory frequency), hydrodynamic or maglev bearing PWM fans vs sleeve bearing constant-speed noisy and comparatively short-lived cheap DC fans, Samsung SLC or MLC SSDs with proven fast, reliable controllers vs off-brand OEM stuff hidden under the M2 cover, etc.

And when I mount a CPU cooler on the CPU, I do it with care and good quality thermal paste...some of the sloppy messes I've found under the cooler on pre-built rigs was really hideous--excess paste laid on as if with a trowel and slopping over the side of the IHS, or insufficient to fully cover the mating surfaces.  One I took apart for a friend still had the protective plastic anti-scratch cover stuck to the CPU cooler plate!

I probably don't come in much less, if less at all, than a pre-built, but I am getting things I value in exchange for the trouble of building it myself.  If you want it done right, do it yourself or be prepared to pay a premium to a builder with a reputation for quality design and build.