Buy a new PC or upgrade?

BaileyB

I really want/like a new PC.

And is it cheaper just to go and buy a Dell off the website or build a tower myself?

I only need a tower and already have a dvd writer which i added a few months ago.

But would like 2gb ram, external graphics, dual core and 500gb hdd.

What would you do?

richt71

Mr_Kennedy wrote:

I really want/like a new PC.

And is it cheaper just to go and buy a Dell off the website or build a tower myself?

I only need a tower and already have a dvd writer which i added a few months ago.

But would like 2gb ram, external graphics, dual core and 500gb hdd.

What would you do?

I'd not build one myself. The savings aren't worth it anymore TBH and I used to build pc's for a living.

Blacksheep1979

external graphics - wow that would be something to see....

What will you be using the computer for?

crox

Mr_Kennedy wrote:

But would like 2gb ram, external graphics, dual core and 500gb hdd.

I thought external graphics cards were for laptops? Why would you want an extra box lying around?

superscaper

crox wrote:

I thought external graphics cards were for laptops? Why would you want an extra box lying around?

I'm presuming the OP meant separate graphics card (ie non-integrated).

fivepound

I agree with richt71, you may as well buy 1 from Dell etc, unless you want the fun (?) of building it yourself it's not worth it from a cost point of view.

nullogik

I'll second that.

Really the margins that computer manufacturers are on are so slim that they hardly make much profit on a single machine.

Unless you like the challenge of building your PC, then there is little money to be saved between buying a ready made one of building it yourself.

Omertron

Building your own is the best route if you have high quality components that you want to re-use. For example case, power supply, memory, etc.

It starts to break even if you only have to replace the motherboard and CPU as you can get better specs than buying the whole PC and reuse your current components.

Idiophreak

Personally I think I'd build.

As a lot of people have said, it's touch and go, or possibly even cheaper to buy pre-built now.

But when I buy prebuilt I always have to reformat them straight out of the box to get rid of all the junk they pre-install.

And it always seems awkward to get a prebuilt one that meets my exact specification.

And you have more control over what it looks like, what bits you need, how it's configured etc.