Making the (up)Grade
Houston, Houston, we have 512MB RAM! Yes, that's right. I opted for the upgrade route, rather than the new PC route. So today I went out and bought another 256MB RAM and a 128MB ATI Radeon 9200SE video card. After a bit of a hiccup, wherein I did not firmly insert the RAM into the sockets, the PC is up and running faster than ever. Unfortunately I can't locate my screwdriver, so the video card update will have to wait until tomorrow.
All this got me thinking. Why buy a new PC? Especially from those non-standard-motherboard-using no-goodniks at Dell? Why not build my own? I found a great Enermax case with a 350 watt power supply for $83. It has 7 expansion slots, 4 external 5.25" bays, 2 external 3.5" bays, and 4 internal 3.5" bays. It also front side slots for 2 USB 2.0 connectors, 1 firewire connector, and an audio in/out. Add to that an Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor with 800 MHz bus speed, an ASUS P4C800 Deluxe motherboard, and 1,024MB DDR SDRAM. I would cannibalize my existing 12X DVD-ROM drive, my CD-RW, my 40GB hard drive, and the new video card I just bought. My mom promised me that when I give her my old case with the processor, motherboard, and Turtle Beach Voyetra sound card, she'd give me her Audigy 2 Soundblaster sound card. Eventually I'd put a DVD burner on it and add a second, larger hard drive, but for now the system would cost me around $550. Although this isn't something I'd do until a few months from now. But still, yee ha!
Comments
"the system would cost me around $550."
I have seen deals on new, high speed computers (not Dell) around $400.
We recently canibalized two computers to make one better one, and I must say, I miss tech support. A lot. Not because I can't diagnose and repair problems, but because I'd rather not have to. It's a time consuming pain in the arse.
Posted by: Anne | January 4, 2004 08:52 PM
Good job.
Just remember .
The longer you wait the cheaper it gets.
Building your own will be a good experience.
Kinda like making homemade soup vs. opening a can.
Posted by: BT | January 4, 2004 09:02 PM
Anne, I've seen those deals too, but the system I'm talking about building would be much more powerful than those. As for tech support, I have to say, since Dell outsourced theirs to India, I've had language barrier problems. They all speak English, but not idiomatic American English. Besides, I have two very good friends who are techies.
Posted by: Lesley | January 4, 2004 09:50 PM
Oh and the other thing about tech support - You have to spend an hour on the phone having them tell you to do all sorts of things yourself anyway. When my system fan started making ugly noises, I figured I needed a new system fan. The machine was still under warranty, so I called Dell to get it replaced. After an hour in which the technician had me opening the PC and trying any number of different things, he finally agreed to send over someone with a new system fan. In retrospect, it would have been easier to go out and buy the system fan myself and replace it. It would have taken me less time. The same thing happened to me when I was getting hard drive errors with my previous PC. Forever on the phone, while they try to figure anyway to not have to replace the hard drive. Only then I didn't even have at-home support. By the time they finally agreed that I needed a new hard drive, I had to ship the thing back to HP and wait two weeks to get it back. With the prices of hard drives these days, I'd have been better off buying a new one and installing it myself.
Posted by: Lesley | January 5, 2004 07:41 AM
be still my heart
Posted by: wag | January 5, 2004 12:27 PM
I guess I should read through all your posts before I jump in and start typing.
Building your own is a good way to go (unless there is a super unbeatable deal on software packages you have to have).
You teach yourself more about tech support than you will ever get over the phone with those techies in Idaho speaking idiomatic American.
Posted by: Justin | January 5, 2004 12:48 PM
God I dig it when women talk all sexy...
Posted by: Rick DeMent | January 7, 2004 08:46 PM