I was looking on alienware.com and customizing a system, i wound up with an xp 2200, gf4 ti4600, 512 ddr ram. i want to know if those components work well together. If they dont work that well i would like to know the best components that do.
*groans* look buddy, how do you think we learned to build computers? You have to start somewhere...Open the boxes, read the manuals, look at the perty pictures, then assemble the thing. Just go slowly, check every step, and make sure you don't force any part together...excessive forcing is BAD
Hey I don't have a steady income either cause I'm not old enough to work full-time and I'm gonna build my comp soon maybe. I have about $1500 and my parents will give me another $1000. Canadian dollar mind you. I'm still collecting more money and I'll probably be able to have a $2000USD computer soon. I probably won't be needing a new monitor cause I've got 3 already. (2 19" Trinitrons and a 17" ) Hopefully I'll be able to get a Hammer or Prescott computer for that price.
What's the deal with lampshades, I mean it's a lamp, why would you want a shade?
Learn how to build your own, someone is always willing to answer a question and you'll save big dough. Assembling is easier then you think. If you can install a game you can install an OS.
In my experience it's usually *more* expensive to build a computer yourself. But the pre-built computers usually come with at least one or two sub-optimal parts (i.e. crappy chipset, slow video card, etc). So I still prefer spending a bit more but doing it my way.
I understand you, but maybe there is a 3th way. First, buy the components at some reliable on-line store. Don't worry about config or store. Here you can ask about and people will help you a lot, and also will learn about what is going on on the computer world.
Second, if I am not wrong, there are some places where tech's build for a reasonable fee your computer. They know what they do, and you can learn the way to do it, so another day can do it by yourself. And also, I'm sure you will save some money.
1. If you are buying from Vodoo, or Alien, Falcon NW it is cheaper to build yourself.
2. If you are buying from Dell, HPQ, Gateway. You are screwed because you can't even put the same equipment in the system. You can't pick the mobo, the PSU, the Case, the keyboard, the mouse; the brand of RAM, video card, and in some cases sound card. If you were to build the equivalent system they sell you it will undoubtedly be cheaper unless they use equipment that they have exclusive large purchase contracts for. And they usually get those types of contracts on crap equipment that I wouldn't piss on if it were on fire.
In my experience it's usually *more* expensive to build a computer yourself. But the pre-built computers usually come with at least one or two sub-optimal parts (i.e. crappy chipset, slow video card, etc). So I still prefer spending a bit more but doing it my way.
When you build a system which is identical to the prebuilt one it is always cheaper.
You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months. If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.