Any Computer Builders Here?

[INTJ]

I am not a computer enthusiast, but I figured out a while ago that PCs are easy to build, you get more bang for your buck, and you avoid all the bloatware that comes with new PCs.

In 2015 I built my first machine. I used an Intel i4790k CPU in a Gigabyte Z97 motherboard. I should have built one step higher because though I didn't know it at the time, I built on a motherboard platform that was about to become obsolete. I realize all computer components rapidly become obsolete, but by buying the Z97 motherboard I limited my ability to upgrade the CPU and limited myself to DDR3 RAM.

January of this year I built my wife a new PC for her business. I used an Intel i7-9700 8 core CPU and a Z390 motherboard among the other components. It is fast and reliable and she is very happy with it.

We decided it was time to build a new PC for me a couple weeks ago and I have just ordered all the parts. I was just going to duplicate what I built for her but using slightly upgraded parts--prices are lower now. My self imposed limit was around $400 for the CPU. That usually gets one that is near the top but avoids the high cost of the true enthusiast level CPUs. I was about to pull the trigger on an Intel i9-9700 and the same Z390 motherboard when I realized that the Z490s had just come out.

The Z490 motherboards were about the same price. I researched, upgraded the motherboard a couple steps, and wound up ordering an Intel i7-10700k CPU. That CPU had the best performance in the $400 price range. The next step was the i9-10900 at $750. I should be able to upgrade later of needed, but since I don't do any gaming or video rendering, what I have ordered should last another 5+ years.

My i4790k will go to my oldest daughter. It has an outstanding case and power supply, so if she wants to upgrade the components she will be able to.

 

[Evan]

Best way to save money is to build your own! I'm running my 4790k still too. It's been a solid computer for years now!

 

[jelenko]

I built my first one with an AMD K5.
Probably built ~ 60, including ones torn down and rebuilt with new CPU/Memory/motherboard.

My latest is 4-5 years old but has a motherboard mounted M.2 main memory.

Last I looked, it looked like you didn't save a lot building your own. For me, a key benefit is, by building your own, you avoid the custom construction like integrated power supply, CPU heatsink, case fan.

 

[jepp2]

and you avoid all the bloatware that comes with new PCs.

I don't disagree they come loaded up with junk. But you can just do a clean install and accomplish the same thing.

I've been building our desktop machines for many years. My driving force, is I can build the machine I want, which I can't buy.

 

[INTJ]

I built my first one with an AMD K5.
Probably built ~ 60, including ones torn down and rebuilt with new CPU/Memory/motherboard.

My latest is 4-5 years old but has a motherboard mounted M.2 main memory.

Last I looked, it looked like you didn't save a lot building your own. For me, a key benefit is, by building your own, you avoid the custom construction like integrated power supply, CPU heatsink, case fan.

I think you save 10-15%, or build with much higher quality components.

My current build:

i7-10700k

Gigabyte Z490 AORUS MASTER motherboard

64 Gig DDR4 Ram

M2 1 TB SSD

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Graphics Card

Cooler Master 212 CPU cooler

Corsair RMx 750 PSU (850s were out of stock)

Corsair 750D Airflow case

Two additional 140mm fans

ASUS optical drive

Header for front mounted USB-C and SD card reader

I don't think you can even find an off the shelf unit with my motherboard and 64 gig RAM. I shouldn't need water cooling with this big case with lots of airflow.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Started back in the Athlon days. Who remembers the pencil trick to unlock, overclocking, and 60mm CPU fans screaming at 70db?

Currently on my last build from ~3 years ago... i7-7700k/32gb/1080ti.

Waiting for Zen3 to launch (eta 1 month), and hopefully to find a 3090 in stock somewhere. I think I need a new PSU to run that, but otherwise g2g.

I work in the tech industry, so it's not as enjoyable to spend as much time outside of work geeking out on specs like I used to (eons ago now).

That said, some of the games these days are downright amazing; it can be fun to play with your buddies.

 

[dfrosch]

My first was a 300 Celeron OC'd to 450. That was smokin' at the time. The last was an early I7 3770K, but it's had several upgrades... vid card and ssd. It's in a Lian Li server case that weighs about 30 pounds.

 

[group therapy]

I think you save 10-15%, or build with much higher quality components.

My current build:

i7-10700k

Gigabyte Z490 AORUS MASTER motherboard

64 Gig DDR4 Ram

M2 1 TB SSD

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Graphics Card

Cooler Master 212 CPU cooler

Corsair RMx 750 PSU (850s were out of stock)

Corsair 750D Airflow case

Two additional 140mm fans

ASUS optical drive

Header for front mounted USB-C and SD card reader

I don't think you can even find an off the shelf unit with my motherboard and 64 gig RAM. I shouldn't need water cooling with this big case with lots of airflow.

why don't you guys just get a Mac and be done with it FLAMESUIT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MikeMcCasland]

why don't you guys just get a Mac and be done with it FLAMESUIT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why don't you just go shoot a 6.5 creedmoor and be done with it?

 

[group therapy]

as a matter of fact, I DO!!! shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor!! also explains why I use mac's, I prefer the better things in life, obviously

 

[old_heli_logger]

I HATE COMPUTERS!!!! I tried to smash my foot off cutting timber in Alaska and they retrained me. I'm retired now, but I designed motherboards for Intel for 21 years.

 

[Rodney]

OMG, I’ve been building my own rigs for years, I’m running a 4790K too. Can’t believe this thread is on this forum of all places. Glad to see AMD giving Intel some competition again. Prices will get real again.

 

[Outrider27]

as a matter of fact, I DO!!! shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor!! also explains why I use mac's, I prefer the better things in life, obviously

Or at least the more expensive things, lol.

 

[dskogman]

It’s too easy now!
In the “good old days” you ordered parts out of a magazine and soldered them together yourself. Software came on floppy disks and you had 64k of memory if you were lucky.

 

[Evan]

My first was a 300 Celeron OC'd to 450. That was smokin' at the time. The last was an early I7 3770K, but it's had several upgrades... vid card and ssd. It's in a Lian Li server case that weighs about 30 pounds.

Lian-Li and Silverstone make some wonderful cases. Works of art! Although In Win has been making some really nice stuff too, once you get above their budget line.

why don't you guys just get a Mac and be done with it FLAMESUIT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahaaha! Or you could go to the source and use BSD! Ultimately I just don't like apple devices much anymore. The ergonomics and quality don't stand out compared to the competitors like it used to. I feel like everybody else caught on, caught up, and now Apple is left with an average product at an inflated price, selling to people attached to the luxury brand name. Reminds me of zee Germans too. BMW just isn't making cars that stand out like they used to.

Personally, I run Artix and i3 and love it. Tiling window managers are the best!

OMG, I’ve been building my own rigs for years, I’m running a 4790K too. Can’t believe this thread is on this forum of all places. Glad to see AMD giving Intel some competition again. Prices will get real again.

If my computer kicked the bucket tomorrow, I'd be looking pretty hard at the Ryzen 3400G. I don't game like I used to so it makes it difficult to justify buying a dedicated gpu, but I like having some horsepower to drive my 4k curved Philips monitor. I've been very pleased with AMD's resurgence and the competition it has brought to the market.

 

[jelenko]

and you had 64k of memory

In 1992, 1 megabyte of ram was $1000.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Last 3 I built I built from parts I dug out of the bone yard at work all running XP
I still use one of the laptops to program pic chips. After XP was phased out I lost all interest in Computers ‍

 

[hoz53]

I don't disagree they come loaded up with junk. But you can just do a clean install and accomplish the same thing.

I've been building our desktop machines for many years. My driving force, is I can build the machine I want, which I can't buy.

you cant just do a restore to do that, so you have to buy a copy of windows right? Im still using Win 7 cause I never liked win 10, but i suppose ill have to move on one of these days.

 

[INTJ]

Started back in the Athlon days. Who remembers the pencil trick to unlock, overclocking, and 60mm CPU fans screaming at 70db?

Currently on my last build from ~3 years ago... i7-7700k/32gb/1080ti.

Waiting for Zen3 to launch (eta 1 month), and hopefully to find a 3090 in stock somewhere. I think I need a new PSU to run that, but otherwise g2g.

I work in the tech industry, so it's not as enjoyable to spend as much time outside of work geeking out on specs like I used to (eons ago now).

That said, some of the games these days are downright amazing; it can be fun to play with your buddies.

Now that I think about it, I did put together a computer in 1993ish. The first desktop PC I bought was in 1991, a 386SX16 with a 106 meg HD. I don't remember how much RAM. In 1993 remember buying a 486DX50 on a motherboard in a case with perhaps 512k of RAM from CDW, then I moved the other parts over.

 

[INTJ]

why don't you guys just get a Mac and be done with it FLAMESUIT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While one can build a screamin' high quality PC have have everything work well, that's not always the result when trying to build a MAC. They call them "Hackintoshes" and results vary.