Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth it?

[froggyboy604]

I think if you know how to build a PC, or know someone like a friend or relative who can help you build a Desktop PC, Pre-built desktops from Dell, HP, and other brands are not worth it because the prices can be expensive, and you don't really know the quality or brand of the parts you are buying. Some local computer stores can help you build a desktop PC for an affordable price if you buy the parts from them.

A lot of pre-built PC from Dell and HP seem to come with lower quality motherboards, cooling fans, RAM, and power supply compared to picking and choosing from trusted brands like Gigabyte, Asus, Kingston, Micron, Cooler Master, Antec which you can buy for affordable prices online, and at smaller local computer stores.

 

[Hometutor]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

Depends on what you want to use the computer for. I'm an in home computer tutor and virus removal specialist here in Honolulu Hawaii. Most of my computer clients just use a computer to surf the web and check email.

Rick

 

[Kindle]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

Depends on what you want to use the computer for. I'm an in home computer tutor and virus removal specialist here in Honolulu Hawaii. Most of my computer clients just use a computer to surf the web and check email.

Rick

You should recommend them to get Chrome Books.

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

Depends on what you want to use the computer for. I'm an in home computer tutor and virus removal specialist here in Honolulu Hawaii. Most of my computer clients just use a computer to surf the web and check email.

Rick

I made a topic at viewtopic.php?f=70&t=122418 on building a $200 PC, and also pasted a list of parts to make a "good" Mini-ITX $198 PC with AMD E1-2100 Dual-Core APU, 4GB of RAM which should be good enough for surfing the web, watching HD video, and checking e-mail on Windows 7-8.1, and Ubuntu Linux.

I think it is rather difficult finding a good $200 PC since a lot of PC from Dell, HP, and other companies come with bloatware/bundled software like toolbars, un-needed programs, and trial software which can slow down a computer with less RAM, and a slower CPU because the bloatware runs in the background using up RAM, and CPU. The CPU on cheaper computers are also usually Intel Celerons, and Atoms which are not very good.

 

[Quizzys]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

I would say definitely not. Most of those computers are very restrictive and dont leave any room for upgrading. Custom built PCs can be built for a lot cheaper and the motherboards/processors you can get are so extensive it just gives you way more options. Most pre-built PCs aka Dell, HP, Compaq, ect. Usually cant be upgraded past 8GB of Ram and sometimes have other restrictions + they come installed with tons of bloatware. Build a custom PC look for good deals on Newegg, Tigerdirect, Mwave and there are a few others. If your patient you will be able to build a much better PC that can continue to be upgrade over the upcoming years so you can keep up with the times.

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

I would say definitely not. Most of those computers are very restrictive and dont leave any room for upgrading. Custom built PCs can be built for a lot cheaper and the motherboards/processors you can get are so extensive it just gives you way more options. Most pre-built PCs aka Dell, HP, Compaq, ect. Usually cant be upgraded past 8GB of Ram and sometimes have other restrictions + they come installed with tons of bloatware. Build a custom PC look for good deals on Newegg, Tigerdirect, Mwave and there are a few others. If your patient you will be able to build a much better PC that can continue to be upgrade over the upcoming years so you can keep up with the times.

The models which use less restrictive cases, and parts are sometimes not very good as well. I recently had to upgrade the RAM on an old HP desktop, and the case was so small that the wires from the power supply, hard drive, and optical drive covered the RAM slots, so I had to unplug so many wires just to install 2 sticks of RAM. The PC only had 4 RAM slots, so it can only upgrade to 4GB because each slot only accepts 1GB of DDR2 RAM.

I notice a lot of computers from Dell, HP, etc now uses smaller cases where there does not seem to be much space to fit a full size video card, and it would probably be harder to upgrade the Power supply to a better one because most power supply are the larger ATX power supply size, and the smaller power supplies are lower wattage which would limit your choice in video cards because video cards can use a lot of power.

I read on blogs that some PC makers like Apple now use soldiered on RAM and video chips which are not user upgradeable.

 

[Austin01]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

I would say definitely not. Most of those computers are very restrictive and dont leave any room for upgrading. Custom built PCs can be built for a lot cheaper and the motherboards/processors you can get are so extensive it just gives you way more options. Most pre-built PCs aka Dell, HP, Compaq, ect. Usually cant be upgraded past 8GB of Ram and sometimes have other restrictions + they come installed with tons of bloatware. Build a custom PC look for good deals on Newegg, Tigerdirect, Mwave and there are a few others. If your patient you will be able to build a much better PC that can continue to be upgrade over the upcoming years so you can keep up with the times.

The models which use less restrictive cases, and parts are sometimes not very good as well. I recently had to upgrade the RAM on an old HP desktop, and the case was so small that the wires from the power supply, hard drive, and optical drive covered the RAM slots, so I had to unplug so many wires just to install 2 sticks of RAM. The PC only had 4 RAM slots, so it can only upgrade to 4GB because each slot only accepts 1GB of DDR2 RAM.

I notice a lot of computers from Dell, HP, etc now uses smaller cases where there does not seem to be much space to fit a full size video card, and it would probably be harder to upgrade the Power supply to a better one because most power supply are the larger ATX power supply size, and the smaller power supplies are lower wattage which would limit your choice in video cards because video cards can use a lot of power.

I read on blogs that some PC makers like Apple now use soldiered on RAM and video chips which are not user upgradeable.

Pre-build computers are not meant for upgrading, so you typically won't be able to fit a graphics card. If you are looking to do such things, a custom build would be best.

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

I would say definitely not. Most of those computers are very restrictive and dont leave any room for upgrading. Custom built PCs can be built for a lot cheaper and the motherboards/processors you can get are so extensive it just gives you way more options. Most pre-built PCs aka Dell, HP, Compaq, ect. Usually cant be upgraded past 8GB of Ram and sometimes have other restrictions + they come installed with tons of bloatware. Build a custom PC look for good deals on Newegg, Tigerdirect, Mwave and there are a few others. If your patient you will be able to build a much better PC that can continue to be upgrade over the upcoming years so you can keep up with the times.

The models which use less restrictive cases, and parts are sometimes not very good as well. I recently had to upgrade the RAM on an old HP desktop, and the case was so small that the wires from the power supply, hard drive, and optical drive covered the RAM slots, so I had to unplug so many wires just to install 2 sticks of RAM. The PC only had 4 RAM slots, so it can only upgrade to 4GB because each slot only accepts 1GB of DDR2 RAM.

I notice a lot of computers from Dell, HP, etc now uses smaller cases where there does not seem to be much space to fit a full size video card, and it would probably be harder to upgrade the Power supply to a better one because most power supply are the larger ATX power supply size, and the smaller power supplies are lower wattage which would limit your choice in video cards because video cards can use a lot of power.

I read on blogs that some PC makers like Apple now use soldiered on RAM and video chips which are not user upgradeable.

Pre-build computers are not meant for upgrading, so you typically won't be able to fit a graphics card. If you are looking to do such things, a custom build would be best.

I agree a custom built pc with a full size tower case seem to be best for fitting in a bigger graphics card like the Nvidia GTX 980, or a regular size graphics card like the Nvidia GTX 750. I think there are custom motherboards which let you install 2 or more graphics cards.

A lot of pre-built also come with low wattage power supplies which may not able to provide enough power to power a standalone graphic card like a Nvidia GTX 980 which uses a lot of power.

some of the pre-builts from Dell, HP, etc may even have problems fitting those slim PCI and PCI-Express video cards.

 

[Austin01]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

I agree a custom built pc with a full size tower case seem to be best for fitting in a bigger graphics card like the Nvidia GTX 980, or a regular size graphics card like the Nvidia GTX 750. I think there are custom motherboards which let you install 2 or more graphics cards.

Some mid size tower cases will fix them as well, just have to find the right one. All motherboards have support for at least two graphics cards, most support up to 4, so long as its an ATX or bigger. Micro ATX will hold at least one, I think.

 

[TechWiz18]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

Short and sweet? No Pre-Built Desktops are not worth it, unless you plan to replace it after a year and a month because of the extremely garbage parts that the manufacture's put in them to make the computers cheap and their margin bigger.

 

[Deleted member 5665]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

I spent almost $1,500 for my computer and it is better than the Alienware computers offered by dell right now, so no. Pre-Built Desktops are not worth it. Spend less and get something that can last longer and works better or Pay more for a Alienware that might just last 2 years? Yah no. 😛

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

Short and sweet? No Pre-Built Desktops are not worth it, unless you plan to replace it after a year and a month because of the extremely garbage parts that the manufacture's put in them to make the computers cheap and their margin bigger.

I read posts on computer building forums that a lot of pre-builts from eMachine, HP, Dell come with 250W Bestec and other lower quality power supplies which sometimes fry the motherboard, and other parts when the power supply fails. Manufacturers are kind of greedy by using such poor quality power supplies since a better quality 400W power supply for $40 from a better brand like Cooler Master.

 

[MwsFan]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

What's the difference between prebuilt and custom built computers? I've been using computers for years, but I'm not exactly what you'd call tech-savvy.

 

[Cosmic]

Re: Are Pre-built Desktop computers from Dell, HP, etc worth

I've built a PC before. It was a pretty good experience, and the machine worked pretty well. Definitely if you are interested in that kind of thing it's the way to go. If you're not much of a technology enthusiast, though, you probably don't need to.

What's the difference between prebuilt and custom built computers? I've been using computers for years, but I'm not exactly what you'd call tech-savvy.

You assemble it yourself. All of the components inside a computer are designed to be interchangeable, and can be easily assembled and reassembled. When you buy a desktop from the store you are just paying Dell, etc, to do the assembling for you. When you build a custom machine, what you do is buy the components and then assemble them together yourself.