Depends on what you are looking for, but From what i noticed its hard to beat dell laptops for price/performance when they have sales. Usually dell has really good deals on laptops every 3 months are so. I bought a e1505 with T7200 coreduo2 and all the top upgrades for about $1000 a few months ago.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
How much is the going rate for someone to build a computer?
- Thread starter fxp125
- Start date
Depends on what you are looking for, but From what i noticed its hard to beat dell laptops for price/performance when they have sales. Usually dell has really good deals on laptops every 3 months are so. I bought a e1505 with T7200 coreduo2 and all the top upgrades for about $1000 a few months ago.
I agree here. It is really easy to do. For the Motherboard (Mainboard) just follow directions on connectors to hook up. You get better components for the $ and it's customized to your needs. Dell sucks.
Quote from nitro:
I used to believe that until I tried to build a machine with a particular chipset and a particular graphics card, with the right number of PCIe x16 slots. I couldn't find a pre-built machine that had those parametes for less then $1.5K, and I can build a similar machine, that is not even available, for about $700 less! [With no OS installed, so really $450 less]
If the machine you are building is just a POC (plain old computer) what you are saying is true. As soon as you deviate even a little from the typical spec, it is worth doing it yourself imo.
To the original poster: It takes an experienced person about an hour to do it right, but can take longer if the case you bought is a real pain to work with. Notice that time is for just putting the components together in the case, not for loading OS etc. No one that I know would do it for less than $65/Hr.
FWIW, I think you should buy the components, and learn to build it yourself. You may make a mistake, but so what? Try again then. It may take you two days to build your first one, but the second one will take waaay less than that. For a beginner, the most important part is to get a case that dismantles every which way, so that you have easy access. That sometimes means an expensive case, but not necessarily so.
The only other tools you need is a screw driver (preferably electric,made to work inside computers, so it has to be smallish) and patience.
nitro
There are many plus and minuses to building your own computer. Many have been spelled out here.
You just have to decide for yourself.
Building one yourself will mean you get to customize it the way you want it. But that can be done at a white box store.
The reason you gave for doing it yourself is to save money (get parts cheap), but you will spend the savings on labor. So its a wash.
If you do want it built, send me a PM, I used to be an IT guy...
You just have to decide for yourself.
Building one yourself will mean you get to customize it the way you want it. But that can be done at a white box store.
The reason you gave for doing it yourself is to save money (get parts cheap), but you will spend the savings on labor. So its a wash.
If you do want it built, send me a PM, I used to be an IT guy...
fxp125, if you are going to build-it-yourself, do it because you want to learn and you believe enjoy the process.
If you are doing it just to save money I think you will disappoined with how little you save vs how much time you invested to get it done. If you pay someone else put it together it you will almost certainly not save money overall.
I'm not going to get into another (http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88690) debate on the quality of parts of PC manufacturers vs what you can buy or the performance differences but to summarize for a trading PC I just don't see the benefit of going build-it-yourself.
In short, if go the DIY route, do it because you will have fun with it, not because of financial or performance reasons. My 2 cents.
If you are doing it just to save money I think you will disappoined with how little you save vs how much time you invested to get it done. If you pay someone else put it together it you will almost certainly not save money overall.
I'm not going to get into another (http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88690) debate on the quality of parts of PC manufacturers vs what you can buy or the performance differences but to summarize for a trading PC I just don't see the benefit of going build-it-yourself.
In short, if go the DIY route, do it because you will have fun with it, not because of financial or performance reasons. My 2 cents.
Quote from m4a1:
where can you build your own laptop?
There's quite a few places. PM me if you're interested. I don't sell them, but there's guys on here with an agenda to pass a constitutional amendment banning the construction of a personel computer without the proper license or the last name Dell.
Nitro you're saint.
I bought an HP once, nothing but problems.
Iv'e built 3 computers since then without any issues.
The problem with systems from the big companies like Dell and HP are:
1. As mentioned earlier, they don't match mobo, pcu,
and memory correctly, causing bottlenecks
2. Eventhough the mobo and memory may be a brand name it's
usually made with generic wafer board to reduce cost
3. Limited access to BIOS (they won't give you the ID string)
4. Proprietary software and hardware.
I know exactly what I getting when I buy the parts myself.
Cost wise, I can build a better computer cheaper.
What I can't do is beat their price including a LCD monitor.
It takes more time and effort to shop around and buy the parts (online) that it does to put it together.
a few of build tips:
don't use the thermal compound that comes with the PCU, buy good stuff
install the pcu and heatsink on the motherboard outside of the case so you don't crack the mobo, should come with a foam pad to use
when installing the mobo, don't tighten the screws too much or you might crack it.
Iv'e built 3 computers since then without any issues.
The problem with systems from the big companies like Dell and HP are:
1. As mentioned earlier, they don't match mobo, pcu,
and memory correctly, causing bottlenecks
2. Eventhough the mobo and memory may be a brand name it's
usually made with generic wafer board to reduce cost
3. Limited access to BIOS (they won't give you the ID string)
4. Proprietary software and hardware.
I know exactly what I getting when I buy the parts myself.
Cost wise, I can build a better computer cheaper.
What I can't do is beat their price including a LCD monitor.
It takes more time and effort to shop around and buy the parts (online) that it does to put it together.
a few of build tips:
don't use the thermal compound that comes with the PCU, buy good stuff
install the pcu and heatsink on the motherboard outside of the case so you don't crack the mobo, should come with a foam pad to use
when installing the mobo, don't tighten the screws too much or you might crack it.
Quote from hopback:
I bought an HP once, nothing but problems.
Iv'e built 3 computers since then without any issues.
The problem with systems from the big companies like Dell and HP are:
1. As mentioned earlier, they don't match mobo, pcu,
and memory correctly, causing bottlenecks
2. Eventhough the mobo and memory may be a brand name it's
usually made with generic wafer board to reduce cost
3. Limited access to BIOS (they won't give you the ID string)
4. Proprietary software and hardware.
I know exactly what I getting when I buy the parts myself.
Cost wise, I can build a better computer cheaper.
What I can't do is beat their price including a LCD monitor.
It takes more time and effort to shop around and buy the parts (online) that it does to put it together.
a few of build tips:
don't use the thermal compound that comes with the PCU, buy good stuff
install the pcu and heatsink on the motherboard outside of the case so you don't crack the mobo, should come with a foam pad to use
when installing the mobo, don't tighten the screws too much or you might crack it.
Those are good tips thanks.
if your going to build one, without question learn to "build" one your self.
snap the cpu into the board, screw the board into tower, screw the powersupply in, connect some wires, connect some cards..viola.
my suggestion is to make sure to get brand name memory. i think some people when building will use cheap memory, if it causes conflicts then you have no idea why.
i always go with crucial for RAM and enermax for a powersupply.
snap the cpu into the board, screw the board into tower, screw the powersupply in, connect some wires, connect some cards..viola.
my suggestion is to make sure to get brand name memory. i think some people when building will use cheap memory, if it causes conflicts then you have no idea why.
i always go with crucial for RAM and enermax for a powersupply.