Build or buy?

Callan

I have a friend looking for a new computer. He just wants to use it for the internet and MS office. He'd like it to last a good few years. Would it be a better option to buy a dell or to build one myself? If I do build one myself is it possible to claim vat back?

Here's a spec I did myself:

Upgrade Kit AMD 64 2800+ 1,8Ghz Epox EP- PC3200 DDR 512MB, Fan
Chieftec BX Tower with door, Black Case 360W PSU
Sony CD recorder 52x/32x/52x IDE black OEM
Sapphire Radeon 9200SE Atlantis 128MB AGP, ATI 9200SE, TV-Out, Lite-Retaill
Hitachi Deskstar 7K250 160GB S-ATA 8MB cache 7200RPM
Trust Power Plus Keyboard English, UK, PS/2, Retail
Microsoft Intelli Mouse Optical ver 1.1 Mouse PS/2 & USB, Bulk
Samsung 17" CRT Syncmaster 793S TCO99 Monitor
Logitech X-120 (speakers), Stereo 2 Desktop speakers, 5 W RMS
HP Photosmart 7260, Inkjet 

Creamy Goodness

you can only claim vat back if it's used within a business.

i've had many mates asking me to build a computer and i always turn them down for the main reason that you become their tech support FOREVER whereas if they buy dell all you have to say is ring them up and they'll help you.
:rolleyes:

Callan

The computer will be used within a business.
I think i'll go ahead a build the systems my self.
Could someone give me their opinon on this spec (check I haven't left any parts out):

From overclockers.co.uk
GeIL 512MB PC3200 Value CAS2.5 (GE5123200B) (MY-003-GL)	
Abit KV8 (Socket 754) Motherboard (MB-045-AB)	
AMD Athlon 64 2800 (Socket 754) - Retail (CP-084-AM)	
Samsung SW-252F 52x/52x/32x CD-ReWriter (Black) - OEM (CD-014-SA)
Asus ATI Radeon 7000/T 64MB DDR TV-Out (AGP) - Retail (GX-031-AS)
Hitachi Deskstar 7K250 80GB SATA 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-018-IB)
Logitech X-120 Speakers - Retail (SP-018-LG)
Genius Comfy KB-06X Black PS2 Keyboard (KB-002-GU)
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 4.0A - OEM (KB-003-MS)
Microsoft Office 2003 Basic Edition - OEM (SW-007-MS)
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition - OEM (OS-001-MS)

I'll get a antec sonata and this monitor from elara.ie aswell.

He needs a printer aswel so any suggestions would be welcome.

PiE

Get a DVD/CD Burner, they're cheap enough and it'll future-proof the system a little more.

gaizka71

Dells are ok but they used a special PSU that only fits their boards, this means that if in the future you want to upgrade and change the motherboard, you have to change the PSU too...
just a quick note...

Fenster

Well personally I had a hellish experience when I tried Dell, so I built mine myself.

Dell are way, way overpriced also, imo. I was able to build a better system than what I wanted from Dell for nearly 600 quid less.

On the flipside, being tech support for your friends can be a pain, especially when they go surfing to porn sites and get their machine bogged down with adware, spyware and a trojan or two for good measure or try to install random utilities from magazine cover discs.

Pick whatever is the lesser of two evils for you.

Callan

PiE wrote:

Get a DVD/CD Burner, they're cheap enough and it'll future-proof the system a little more.

Good idea I'll order a NEC ND2510A instead.
Should I get another heatsink for the processor or it the stock one ok?

duridian

Callan wrote:

Good idea I'll order a NEC ND2510A instead.
Should I get another heatsink for the processor or it the stock one ok?

If you can afford to go for them then Thermalright or Zalman make the best coolers(they ain't cheap though), they would be very worthwhile though if you plan to overclock.
Good idea getting that NEC dual layer dvdwriter rather than the Samsung cdwriter. Samsung would not be a very good choice of cdwriter anyway from what I've heard.

Col_Loki

Another option would be to pick up a pre-built one from www.jes-computer.de they have fantastic machines at great prices..........

There also very good for getting parts aswell, check them out.

Explosive_Cornflake

Do you really need a 512/ A64 2800+ for office work?
I think if you do the sums, for low end computers, its easier to get a dell.
On a side note, as mentioned above, if its a an office where other people are using it, and say theyr'e not as computer freindly as you and they bork it, you'll be fixing it
For mid to high range, home built is better?

OfflerCrocGod

I agree with Explosive_Cornflake for a low end one go for a Dell and save yourself the hassle of fixing it if it goes pear-shaped and you are also putting too much power/storage into it if it's only going to be used to browse and do light office work - it's overkill

CyberGhost

Cr3m0 wrote:

you can only claim vat back if it's used within a business.

i've had many mates asking me to build a computer and i always turn them down for the main reason that you become their tech support FOREVER whereas if they buy dell all you have to say is ring them up and they'll help you.
:rolleyes:

YES!

damn! they will keep ringing you forever! and bugging you, and if something happens to their pcs, they will be blaming you!

tba

friend: "you know that new hard drive you put in about a year ago, well I think its crashed my computer"
you: "but it worked untill recently?"
friend: "oh yes, but I haven't done anything to it at all"
you: "eh no, but every hacker in the world has been at it since, not to mention the legit compaines after "research material" , top that off with the fact you will not stop using, internet explorer, what do you expect?
friend: "em, for you to fix it?"
you: "fine I'll be around later"
friend: "great I owe you a pint!"

plus I never get the pints! :mad:

gobby

What exactly will these machines be used for? If its just for general office work well then I think that they are just a little overspec'd... If you are gonna get more than one then maybe Dell would give you a better deal. Personally if it was a home pc then the spec you have mentioned would be perfect but if it is just for office and the internet then its deffo overspec'd.

daggeredge

there's no point in building somethin "cos you can " if your going to get hassled and the system's full capabilities aren't used....microsoft word won't require that much power at all (or Internet explorer/outlook express, the most used apps in the office)
Not worth the hassle of being rung at 9am to answer some stupid question about why wont the comp work (of course "free" programs are usually involved and the user has NEVER heard of CTRL -ALT -DEL - Task manager ,whats that??? :rolleyes: )

seems to me you just want to build a computer regardless of who its for (I'm noting the disregard you have for what everyone said here when I say that, seems like you wanted us to say "Yeah Go build It" )
It's only going to end up more expensive for your mate!!! and no doubt you'll be taking a percentage

If yuo wanna build a computer ...go away and build 1 for yourself!!! cos your only going to have to give the one your talking about away!! (like losing a pet!)