I've decided it's time for a new computer. I checked out prices of components on Ebuyer with a view to building my own. However, the total isn't really much different from buying a similar spec machine from Evesham, Mesh, etc. Software isn't a problem.

I'd like the challenge of building my own but would welcome comments from members as to whether they think it's worth it.

Thanks in advance

Build one!

then you can allocate spending to the parts of the computer in relation to what you want to do with it.... ie better graphics card to play games, more memory/hdd for multimedia

Build one!

then you can allocate spending to the parts of the computer in relation to what you want to do with it.... ie better graphics card to play games' date=' more memory/hdd for multimedia[/quote']

You could leave your to Bert in your will as seen as your death is iminent

I got a "barebones" system from

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/home.html

the motherboard,memory and processor all installed and tested you just add what HDD ,graphics boards etc that you want

marc

Build one!

then you can allocate spending to the parts of the computer in relation to what you want to do with it.... ie better graphics card to play games' date=' more memory/hdd for multimedia[/quote']

:iagree:

Though I would try and dissuade you from e-buyer, as I know quite a few people who've needed to make returns and found the customer service infrastructure for it to be...well, as good as non-existant!

Rob.

I'm gonna need a new one soon, and am tempted to use an offer from the person above me. Rob. I'll only need a box as I'm happy with my monitor and other bits. Trouble is money is tight and until I have some more... :(

The thing I'm dreading is finding out my Athlon 750 can't cope with 1MB broadband and the speed crashes it all the while... Then I'll be on to you like a shot, Rob.

The thing I'm dreading is finding out my Athlon 750 can't cope with 1MB broadband and the speed crashes it all the while...

Should be alright - have run considerably lower spec machines on 1Mb and it works fine...

Rob.

Broadband will not cause a PC to crash.

As for build/buy , for a newbie then a Barebones system would make sense and allow the rest of the spec to be chosen according to need.

depends, is it over a USB modem? IIRC Athlon boards around that speed era based on the via kt133 chipset didnt like running for a long time under constant drain.

Should be alright - have run considerably lower spec machines on 1Mb and it works fine...

Rob.

Shouldn't be saying that, from a sale point of view.

"No, there's no way it'll cope, you need a 2700 processor, 512MB SDRAM... etc etc"

Well, as a guide I was 70 kb/s download cable at university, and it coped most of the time, but if I tried to download and say, browse as well, it would just freeze up the whole PC - was quite annoying, so I had to get myself a program that remembered what you'd downloaded in the event of cutting out.

Shouldn't be saying that' date=' from a sale point of view.

[/quote']

Better margins on older equipment...so if anything that Athlon 750 is probably running too fast for the broadband connection...

Rob.

depends, is it over a USB modem? IIRC Athlon boards around that speed era based on the via kt133 chipset didnt like running for a long time under constant drain.

I remember that.. when the old alcatel "war of the worlds" adsl modem... suffered from the very same problem, the kt133 boards couldnt supply the power to run it so they crashed out the usb.

ahhh them were the days..... i became a pro at the pencil trick

I was using an ethernet card for modem -> pc connection, but it didn't matter. lol.

Still - Wouldn't mind an uprated tower with decent graphics - am I right in saying if you fill up a 2nd hard drive with data, remove it from one machine and plug into another using it as a slave, that data will be there to access on new PC?

am I right in saying if you fill up a 2nd hard drive with data, remove it from one machine and plug into another using it as a slave, that data will be there to access on new PC?

It's just when you have operating systems involved it gets a bit trickier...

Rob.

So a windows 98 formatted drive + data, won't read on a Windows XP machine?

Colin, they were brilliant days. Remember the death of that pc was the CPU, just kept resetting and there was a heavily burnt bit on the top over one of the bridges Old reliable AMD .

BertJ, I'd build one. As has already been said, you have more flexibility in that you can allocate percentages of the budget exactly on what you need. If you have a precise requirement, you'll be able to get it most efficiently as you won't need to fork our for other "expensive" bits just to reach the platform level you need for that particular component.

I'm sure other people will happily help, but if you're anywhere down south, I'll help you put one together if you want. Nice experience and you get to see how it all works.

In terms of resellers, I'd agree with Rob, ebuyer being so large may not have particularly good support or CS. There are litterally hundreds of IT suppliers and as long as you go for a reputable one or a small local independant, you should be fine in sourcing the bits you need.

scan.co.uk (although I've personally had terrible CS), aria, komplett, cpucity (my recommended), dabs... Take your pick

yes it will read, its just the other way, you cant read an NTFS XP formatted drive in a 98 machine - without tools

So a windows 98 formatted drive + data, won't read on a Windows XP machine?

Yes , it will be readable , although after you have connected it up you would be best copying off all the data and formating it.

If both machines have network cards as well you could just connect them with a crossover cable and transfer the data that way , then sell the old machine as a complete working system

In terms of resellers' date=' I'd agree with Rob, ebuyer being so large may not have particularly good support or CS. There are litterally hundreds of IT suppliers and as long as you go for a reputable one or a small local independant, you should be fine in sourcing the bits you need.

scan.co.uk (although I've personally had terrible CS), aria, komplett, cpucity (my recommended), dabs... Take your pick [/quote']

I order a lot of kit off ebuyer and have never had any problems sending faulty stuff back. It has always been sorted out quickly.

Dabs on the other hand took 3 months to replace a faulty router and sent a number of abusive emails when I complained about them

If you build it yourself then you'll know exactly how to fix it if it goes wrong, not so easy with a system someone else has built up.

I must admit i'm a fan of ebuyer, good prices and always good service so far. I have never had to send anything back however, if i did, I'd do it in person as they're just down the road. Officially its a no no but they seem to sort you out if you turn up on the doorstep.

Yes ' date=' it will be readable , although after you have connected it up you would be best copying off all the data and formating it.

If both machines have network cards as well you could just connect them with a crossover cable and transfer the data that way , then sell the old machine as a complete working system[/quote']

This would be a good option, yes. Assuming new PC has a mammoth hard drive to take everything of course.

I vote, build your own. Very easy and can be done for less than 300 notes if you know what you want and where to get the bits from.

I have a Pentium 1 233MMX with 32MB Ram Toshiba Libretto that works perfectly well on broadband as long as you dont want streaming video that is, and its even using a wireless pcmcia card to connect to the router. Dont use it that much though.

Thanks to everyone for your really quick advice and offers of help. Where would we be without this forum? (don't answer that!)

I think I'm convinced already to build my own - that won't be a problem as I've upgraded several machines in the past. For various reasons I've 'only' got a Sony laptop at the moment with no left over bits from old PC's.

The main uses of a new PC would be for DVD mastering/copying as well as processing thousands of digital photos plus the usual MS Office functions. I'm not into games or fancy sound systems.

I would like a really good 17" or 19" TFT monitor and I think 1024mb RAM would be a good idea. I'm really stuck on which MB and processor to use and would again appreciate some advice. The rest of the components are no problem.

I would like a really good 17" or 19" TFT monitor

Would recommend Relisys - they make screens for a lot of more "expensive" brands, but don't have the same price tag...

and I think 1024mb RAM would be a good idea. I'm really stuck on which MB and processor to use and would again appreciate some advice.

Personally, I'd say get a P4 - Intel stuff is so much easier to fit, and you don't have to get physical with a screwdriver to get the heatsink on (note. most retailers check for screwdriver damage first on returned mobos... )

Socket 478 is on the way out, and is being replaced by Socket 775. Therefore, you have the choice to buy an older Socket 478 processor/motherboard which will be nearish to clearance price, or invest in an entry level Socket 775 and be able to upgrade easily for the next few years if you should want to...

I'd say avoid the cheapest brands of motherboards (PC Chips are one example that springs to mind), but most of them around the