This is a long running argument over PC users, is it cheaper and more worth while buying all of your custom parts and assembling them or just to go to [Insert superstore name here!] and buy a pre-boxed, pre-built computer, let’s find out. For this ‘investigation’ I will mainly be using ebuyer.com, possibly the UK’s biggest online computer store, I have used ebuyer because we have long term history with them, they are reliable and also reasonable value for money, so if you’re going to find cheap parts this is pretty much where to go.Right let’s get started, what hardware do you need for a computer…

• A CPU
• A CPU cooling fan
• A Motherboard
• A Graphics Card (GPU)
• A Sound Card
• A Hard Disk Drive
• Memory (RAM)
• And Finally A Case

So as you can see the list isn’t short. Let’s start with the CPU, you’re probably going to want to go with an AMD processor, unless you REALLY must have and Intel one. I chose AMD because AMD is cheaper for more power. I found a 2.8 GHZ Dual Core, 64-bit AMD Athalon Processor for only £60 (comparing specs, an Intel processor with less specs is around £120, see my point). As for the motherbaord, any one that will work with AMD will do as far as I’m concerned, This motherboard is the one that stood out for me. The bit that I really care about is the GPU, the bigger, the better. I find that if you are buying an AMD processor it’s probably best to get and ATI graphics card, sue to the fact that AMD make the ATI cards. If you’re into gaming there really is no point in buying a card less than 512 MB ,unless it’s a special GPU, as the hardware will be out of date VERY shortly. This looks like a decent one. Next onto the sound card, the often neglected part of the computer, unless you want to get a dedicated card, there’s one integrated on the motherboard. RAM is a very important part of the machine, I wouldn’t recommend getting any less than 1GB, but if you want good performance, go for 2gigs, it doesn’t cost much more, honest. This kingston RAM looks just the job. You’re going to need a cooling fan, on the processor reviews everybody is recommending this Arctic Cooling Freezer64 Pro, so let’s add that. Hard drive, I’n greedy so I’m going to go for a 500gig, you’ll need a SATA one for the motherboard so let’s have this Samsung HDD. Finally, the case. we want a case with a power supply to keep the machine running so here’s a good one. I think that’s it… Let’s sum up.

• AMD Athalon 64 X2 5600+ - £59.99
• Arctic Cooling Freezer64 Pro - £12.25
• MSI K9N6SGM-V Motherboard - £29.74
• Sapphire HD 2650 512MB - £40.99
• Sound card included on Motherboard - £0.00
• Samsung SpinPoint HD501LJ 500GB - £44.29
• Kingston 2GB Ram Kit - £28.49
• Coolmaster Elite 330 - £44.98
• Total - £260.73

That total doesn’t seem too bad if you compare it to other machines, I’ve seen computers for nearly half these specs go for £300. But wait, there’s one last thing to add on.Windows, instantly add £200 to that total just for windows Vista, this is why no where near as many people are building their own computers anymore. The hardware is nothing, you can get that for only £260 but to get the OS to run on it is nearly worth as much as the actual computer. So once you’ve taken off the expense for vista on all the pre made computers, they don’t seem to bad value at all, most mid range clocking in at just over £150 pounds. I think I still perfer to make my own gaming machines :)Total - £460.73Thanks For ReadingHappy Surfing