Why Build Your Own Computer?

There are many reasons to build your own computer instead of buying a pre-assembled machine:

• Customization - Only you know your exact needs, and when you build your own computer, you can customize it to run optimally for you.
• Quality - By handpicking the exact components that go into your system, you have complete control over the choice of manufacturer and level of quality. In a race to cut costs and maximize profits, big computer manufacturers use the cheapest components that will pass basic standards and nothing more.
• Value - If you're just looking for a dirt cheap computer, building it yourself is not your best bet. However, you definitely get more bang for your buck when you do it yourself. Because big manufacturers usually use generic parts, their costs are much lower, but so is their quality. The best value is definitely to build it yourself. This is especially true for higher-end computers.
• Upgradability - Have you opened up a computer made by a big manufacturer before? Proprietary components and fittings abound, and it's almost impossible to add a PCI card or replace a component without running into a hang-up.
• Fun - Similar to (but far less complex and expensive) than putting together a hot rod, building a computer has a similar sense of accomplishment and pride of ownership for a tinkerer.
• Education - For some (myself included), learning how things work is a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. By building a computer by yourself, you learn things that the average computer user would have no idea about. By spending time with the technical side of computers you can learn how to prevent problems, and fix them quickly when they do arise.

On the flip side, why should you not build a computer?

• Cost - It will cost you much more in time, research, and troubleshooting than it's worth to learn how to build a computer just to save a few dollars.
• Business Deployment - If you plan to give your first build a vital role in a business setting, or in another demanding environment, please reconsider. It's much better to learn on, tinker with, and make your rookie mistakes on a recreational machine than to have the headaches associated with problems on a computer with a vital role.
• Tech Support - When you build a computer, the only warranty it comes with is signed by you. If you are not comfortable with spending some time troubleshooting problems and researching solutions, you should probably stick with a pre-assembled system - and make sure to buy the upgraded warranty.

So what are you waiting for? Check out some sample systems and get started building computers today!