I buy the absolute best core parts I can afford(which isnāt that great to be honest) - chassis, PSU, CPU, Mobo. Everything else is upgradable so I only have to settle for older (i.e. re-use existing GPU) or cheaper stuff as I slowly improve my PC. I consider it leveling-up for the PC with more & more uncommon/rare equipment being looted & placed on the build.
I started with a new Fractal Node 304, 1x8GB G.Skill, 550W FSP Raider, Gigabyte H87N ITX mobo, i5 4570 with stock cooler, 240GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD & used my existing HDDs (2 x 1TBs) & GPU (HD6950)
The only thing that remains in my current PC is the 240GB SSD! But I still consider it the same PC! Like the Dwarven battle Axe that passes from mother to daughter, when the handle breaks, a new shaft is fitted, when the head wears out a new blade is forgedā¦but itās still the same axe. (Apparently known as the Ship of Theseus Paradoxā¦ The more you know.)
I canāt remember when Iāve built a new computer from scratch. I canāt afford to do it all at one time, and I donāt want to go in debt to do it, so I mainly just upgrade pieces of it at a time. Sometimes Iāll upgrade the CPU, RAM and board, sometimes the GPU and PSU, sometimes hard drives or peripherals. I try to save up money here and there, and from birthdays and Christmas, so about once a year I have enough to safely do something. When that time rolls around, I usually just get the thing I need most, and whatever is the best version of it available in my budget.
This year, Iām really wanting to upgrade my graphics card. I think I have enough for a 1070, maybe even a 1080, and Iām hoping sometime later this fall or winter I can get one when they are more available and maybe a little less.
I read a lot, try to learn what I want my computer to do and get some advise from friends. This last build I did get some not really bad advise but could have been better, turns out some of the cheaper CPUās rate better than my 6 Core i7 for gaming and the board suggested to me was not the best for gaming either, more of an overclockers board.
I am very dedicated to Newegg.com they have treated me very well over the years and I like to buy everything from the same place as I have gotten the old āOh well the problem is with what you got from the other guysā and then get the same reply from the āother guysā saying that they parts I got are bad from the first place. By buying from the same place there is no way that game can be played.
Oh and I do not buy pre-build PCās build my own. Well have friends help, I am trying to learn but have some hand problems that require assistance with screws on the left side or anything that requires fine motor movement on the left but I am learning more and more with each build.
Step 1. get a loan Step 2. buy cheap things step 3. play step 4. cry every time while returning the loan step 5. game on XD
I usually go with NewEgg or Amazonās credit card for the sweet no interest deals for 1 year. It makes payment a bit easier.
I just save until I can afford it without credit.
Mr. Responsible over here. I like earning my sweet sweet credit card rewards.
Thatās why the key is save the money, use the card for rewards, pay it off right away, ???, no debt.
Or pay on Credit Card with 0% interest if you pay the account off in full each month; then that money is instead being used against your mortgage until the end of the monthā¦
Fuck I hate the adult Iāve become.
In my opinion saving the cash is always better than payments. Save for a year and buy what you want. That way if something happens where you need that money you have the option to use it versus having debt. No interest debt is still debt. But everyone handles money differently and has different philosophies. Do what works for you!
I spec out every component option. I make a list of component models and possible substitutes. I look for deals within a certain time frame. Then I put it on a rewards credit card and pay it off almost immediately with the cash I saved for the project. Then if I forget something I can use the rewards from the credit card to buy it or something else I might want for it.
I spec out every component option. I make a list of component models and possible substitutes. I look for deals within a certain time frame. Then I put it on a rewards credit card and pay it off almost immediately with the cash I saved for the project. Then if I forget something I can use the rewards from the credit card to buy it or something else I might want for it.
ShiftySatchmo save money i donāt know those words together, i wonder how does that feel like. lol
Haha the trick is to only spend money on what you need. If you donāt have money left after that, you just shouldnāt buy extra stuff. It sucks, I know, but itās the only way to get out of debt. If you canāt even buy what you need then it is even more important to be careful.
ShiftySatchmo hehehehe well i have lost 11 pounds just for not being able to buy enought food for me hahahaha sooo this server it doesnāt allow tricks or hacks or anything
teh_g usually I take the time to make a detailed specification for my PC build, starting from the purpose of PC and components (usually end up with 2-3 variations for build) ā¦ I use part picker only as a reference for the purchase price ā¦ As for the specification of components usually start from the very manufacturers of IT equipment ā¦ by studying the products and technical detailsā¦ I give priority to brand with whom I have previously positive experience ā¦ but in the selection of components for my build , important to me is the feedback on the product, from ordinary people and friends who use similar or same products ā¦ I donāt trust too much guys like Linus and Co. and i donāt care too much for marketing or fight blue vs. red vs. green team ā¦ (from my perspective it is guerrilla marketing only, If you remember fairy tales from Gaming Tribe ā¦ and posts on AMD like that one one from Angel ā¦ )
regarding pre-built PC / notebook hmm i donāt buy them (because I am an IT professional with many years of service in the IT industry) ā¦ but but I can recommend a couple of them ā¦
my personal part picker is a list like this one this is how I start select components xD
teh_g I will get them for my build, because I see my PC. And damn thing must look good inside out xD ā¦ only I will make LED PWM controller by my self on arduino uno R3 ā¦ I like to play with electronics
I goto PC Partpicker, and do some research on prices and performanceā¦ price is my biggest thing, and then I ask around cause performance has to come secondary to me as price has to be first.
I figure out what the build will be used for mainly (in my case gaming) and spec certain items out from that idea.
I figure out the GPU first and then the CPU to match (usually get the best I can afford and make sure it is a good over clocker to help extend its replacement life cycle).
Everything else falls into place after that.
I like to make NCIX and Newegg battle it out on their ālowest price guaranteeā thing. I find the same item, tell one that the other has it at such and such a price and they match it. Tell them matching is kind of lame and I will just buy it there, they usually beat it by 10%. I tell the other guys they have dropped their price for my purchase and they match tooā¦ rinse and repeat.
A fair number of times they donāt go for it, but a surprising number of times they do.