choosing a brand?

[Skeithex]

How do you go about choosing a computer brand over another?

[froggyboy604]

I mainly buy whatever is on sale, and have good reviews.

But, I feel custom built computers are the best since you can pick the parts, and case.

[Skeithex]

Custom built gets really pricey quick though even though the best is going into it.

[froggyboy604]

I agree Custom builds cost more. But, custom builds are an investment where you maybe using the same computer everyday for over 10 years sometimes.

Custom builds can last many years longer than pre-built computers which may use lower quality parts like a cheaply built motherboard or power supply which can break sooner. The power supply on cheaper computers can fail, and also electrocute the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and PCI cards.

If you don't repair your own computer, paying a computer repair shop to repair your cheaper PC maybe very expensive if the repair place has high prices, and your cheap PC breaks a lot. Some PC repair stores may sell parts for more expensive prices to earn more money.

Custom builds also come with bigger cases where it is easier to work on your own computer because the case has more room to easily move your hand around to install RAM, and expansion cards. The larger case improve the cooling and airflow of your computer as well.

[Skeithex]

only problem is most places won't touch a custom build should something go wrong. Since custom builds hold a lot more wiring and special setup.

[froggyboy604]

I find well designed custom builds easier to fix than computers from Dell and HP which sometimes use small cases where you can't easily move your hand around to install small things like RAM, and the BIOS/CMOS watch battery on the motherboard. Plus, Dell's smaller desktop sometimes use small power supplies which you can only buy from the internet or Dell.

Fixing custom builds are sometimes simpler to fix small repairs like replacing a hard drive, cd drive and sound card because they don't use complicated clamping systems where you need to know which switch to lift up, and unpopular screw sizes where you may need to go out to buy a screwdriver.

[Skeithex]

I find well designed custom builds easier to fix than computers from Dell and HP which sometimes use small cases where you can't easily move your hand around to install small things like RAM, and the BIOS/CMOS watch battery on the motherboard. Plus, Dell's smaller desktop sometimes use small power supplies which you can only buy from the internet or Dell.

Fixing custom builds are sometimes simpler to fix small repairs like replacing a hard drive, cd drive and sound card because they don't use complicated clamping systems where you need to know which switch to lift up, and unpopular screw sizes where you may need to go out to buy a screwdriver.

This is true, specially when a brand name laptop like HP or Dell make it impossible to open up the case.