Building a PC

[Taz]

Having thought about my options for a laptop and considering the good advice from the forum, Ive decided a small form PC is probably the way to go so options are:

Buy one or build one.

Always fancied a go at building something so how hard is it and how do you get to pick the correct components ?

Any advice gratefully received.

TIA.

 

[robinthehood]

It's not overly tricky, but been a long while since I've done it. Most components will only plug in one way ?

I guess it depends what you want to do with it. Like most things it can be as cheap or exspensive as you like.

I looked at building a micro system to run plex and some other media stuff, but ended up buying a cheap ex business small form factor with an i3 an 8gb ram off eBay for peanuts as it was more than adequate. All I did was swap the spinning disk for an ssd.

 

[GreiginFife]

Build for sure. Save money, get better components, choose your own config.

Not difficult at all, parts are pretty much modular and keyed anyway.

Set a budget and a use case and don't get carried away by fancy tech if it doesn't add value.

Personally, I wouldn't go the used route as you have no idea how the components have been treated and so carry a risk for a minimal saving.
That is just personal preference though.

 

[Taz]

Build for sure. Save money, get better components, choose your own config.

Not difficult at all, parts are pretty much modular and keyed anyway.

Set a budget and a use case and don't get carried away by fancy tech if it doesn't add value.

Personally, I wouldn't go the used route as you have no idea how the components have been treated and so carry a risk for a minimal saving.
That is just personal preference though.

who / where would you recommend to start looking ?
if I work out what size case is best fit and then see what components i can get in there ?

 

[GreiginFife]

who / where would you recommend to start looking ?
if I work out what size case is best fit and then see what components i can get in there ?

Small Form Factor will limit your choices. In addition there is small and then there is small. I finished one yesterday that was 15 x 15 x 8 cm so pretty small, likewise a 20 x 30 x 15 is also considered SFF.

It depends where you want to use it. My sincere advice is avoid Intel Atom and Celeron options as they are just terrible IMO.

I say the options are limited but there are still plenty of configs you can choose from.

 

[Taz]

Ive two options, tower style, 25(H) x 24(w) x 50 (d) or could go up to 30 (h).

Or desktop style width would be 24 (w) with 50(d), guess height not an issue in this configuration ?

 

[GreiginFife]

What are the cases you are looking at? Power Supply also a consideration.
What will you use it for?

 

[jim8flog]

The biggest thing for a private individual building a PC these days is the cost of the operating system eg windows 10.

It is one of the major reasons I gave up building my own some years ago.

You could look at ebay for cheap licences and you can install Windows 10 direct from Microsoft (it ensures you get the latest build -1909)

I now go down the reasonably new second hand route from the guy who maintains our club systems

I used to buy my components from ebuyer.com they are good starting place to look at the cost of components as well as a good idea of pre built with or without operating system.

 

[GreiginFife]

The biggest thing for a private individual building a PC these days is the cost of the operating system eg windows 10.

It is one of the major reasons I gave up building my own some years ago.

You could look at ebay for cheap licences and you can install Windows 10 direct from Microsoft (it ensures you get the latest build -1909)

I now go down the reasonably new second hand route from the guy who maintains our club systems

I used to buy my components from ebuyer.com they are good starting place to look at the cost of components as well as a good idea of pre built with or without operating system.

Windows can be used unregistered, all you have is a watermark and some limitations in customisation. Nothing Major.
Ebuyer are probably the least competitive these days, occasional offers mean they are cheaper on some stuff but with delivery charges it makes them less attractive when only buying one component and then the rest from others.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

When I were building my pc’s, I often used the computer fairs that cycled around the county using school halls or similar buildings. If you knew what you were looking for, they often worked out quite good price wise