I agree that upgrades and trouble resolution and system add-ons, the labor
intensive tasks, are where you will find the greatest savings.  Also, armed
with knowledge of the components and compatibility, you will likely make
better upgrade and add-on decisions than you might if you only go to your
original distributor or local shop.  My relatives save a great deal of
frustration and cash by consulting me (at no cost and I enjoy the
conversations anyway) instead of trying to locate a trustworthy and
price-competitive local shop.  Initial system build is perhaps 10% savings
at most when you include shipping cost and delay (delay = devaluation).  My
last system was an 8% save by my estimation, my brother's recent upgrade was
23%.  My brother's upgrade was 41% less than what he would have bought at
comparable performance (pardon the statistics but I find numbers relaxing).
Martin Kurr
email [log in to unmask]
> > #1)  Just how much can one expect to save by buying components
> >      and assembling a computer yourself?
>
>   The first machine that I built from components was a 486 DX2/66.  I got
> excellent deals on many of the components, often 20-30% below retail by
> shopping around, chasing down loss-leaders, and so on, and I was quite
> proud
> of the result.
>   But when I added it all up, I found that I'd spent about as much as an
> assembled system from a cheap storefront would have cost.  Sure, I had
> probably,
> on average, used better quality components, but I'd also spent time and
> gas
> money and so on.
>   My conclusion was that AT THAT POINT, I had not really saved any money.
>   Where I began to see the payoff was as I began to upgrade that system,
> and
> those of other family members.  The knowledge I'd gained and my growing
> stock
> of spare slightly-used already-paid-for parts made upgrades generally
> fast,
> cheap, and fun.
>   I'm certain that I have saved money *in the long run*.
> David G

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