Anna wrote:
>>Problem is, I don't understand all the initials and numbers about the 
>>parts, what goes with what, and have no one to help me with this part - 
>>deciding what to order - and I'm in a rush.  I am going to pay someone to 
>>help me put this thing together, but I don't know what parts to get and I 
>>don't want to be "guided" to buy parts from the person who will putting 
>>it together for me.>>


I'm wondering why you want to go to all this hassle and risk. It probably 
won't save you much, if any, money. Often the cost of the whole is less 
than the total of the separate components. Like cars.

Let me state my recent experience:

Like you, though I wasn't in a hurry, I thought it might be rather fun to 
build my own. And, like you, I didn't really have too much idea about what 
parts would optimise the performance, though I have a fair idea about what 
each separate component is capable of.  But how they would perform as a 
"team" would be anybody's guess.  I did some internet shopping and added up 
an approximate cost for what I wanted.

I then went to 3 local small computer shops which specialise in building 
custom clones and found that their price for a superior system generally 
was about $30 more than my total. In other words---they take all the risks, 
build the thing ready to be picked up next day, for $30 more than doing it 
myself.

That's about 1 week sooner than I would have taken just to order and 
receive the parts. Then it would have probably taken me several days to 
hook it all up (I believe the shop tech does it in less than an hour) plus 
I get a 2-year back-to-shop warranty on everything.  As they use a good 
range of fairly standard components, if there's any serious problem they 
just replace any faulty component while you wait.  That's better than 
sending it back to the manufacturer in Singapore or Timbuctou and waiting 
days or weeks for the next camel train to arrive.

I know several techies who, over the years, have built their own 
systems.  They tell me that now, they can't build a system for the cost 
that a small specialist shop can do it.  And you can be sure that the shop 
will know pretty well what works with what---they don't want the hassle of 
returned systems. There should be no problem using your existing 
hardware---just take it in to them and they'll know pretty well what you 
can use with modern equipment and what might give trouble.

Plus, as Tom rightly says, if any of your hardware is defectived, they have 
the equipment and knowledge to test it on the spot---something that might 
take you days of troubleshooting, always supposing you have the right 
diagnostic tools in the first place.

You say that you're prepared to pay someone to help you anyway, so why not 
go shopping in your nearest city. You might get a pleasant surprise. Can't 
do any harm, anyway.

Of course, you want to be reasonably sure to avoid any shonky deals. It 
should be easy enough to make a few enquiries with local computer clubs, 
who they recommend.  Favour a shop that's been around a fair while.  The 
crooks don't usually last long, it's far too competitive a market.

My impression, at least here in Australia, is that the old days of shonky 
computer shops are well and truly over. After all, most of the equipment 
today is pretty standard and well tested.  Especially if you do a bit of 
enquiry, as you are doing by writing to this journal, and have a fair idea 
about which motherboards, memory brands, etc have a good reputation, such 
as Asus, Gigabyte, etc.  Avoid the unknown brand names for parts unless you 
are prepared to research them well (Google for reviews, ask around, etc). 
If you google for Asus motherboards, you'll get 1/2 million hits. Google 
for HumptyDumpty motherboards, and you might get 10. That tells you 
something.  Go to your local library and look up recent computer magazine 
motherboard reviews. They're usually a good guide as to what matches with 
what for optimum performance. When they test mobos, they'll state what 
other equipment they are using. Your new computer will only be as good as 
the weakest link, so you are certainly asking the right questions.

You could quite easily end up with a system that looks great on paper, but 
performs like a dog---all because of a minor mismatch somewhere along the line.

I agree with your thinking to avoid the major brand names and big computer 
superstores---they're usually overpriced and what you see on the shelves is 
often obsolete. And, of course, you can't recycle your own parts.

Of course, if you want the fun and satisfaction (and heartache) of doing it 
yourself, and you have plenty of time to fix things that go wrong (and they 
probably will first time up, often for reasons obvious to an experienced 
techie, but less so to you or me), then go to it by all means.  I wish I 
had half your courage.

But if you are doing it solely to save money, then consider the above 
alternatives. As to saving time, my guess is that it will take you far 
longer doing it all yourself. It only needs one faulty or mismatched 
component to screw the whole thing up.

Don Penlington



 From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
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