Talk me out of building pc...

[G51989]

Thanks for all the advice, I'm currently just researching right now. Still patiently waiting for the refresh, so we'll see what turns up. Crazy though how much is out there for building, a bit overwhelming.

Nah, its not overwhelming. Its called choice

 

[Melbourne Park]

With a properly done build, you'll never see a BSOD. Did he overclock it? Is his PSU from a good brand and able to supply enough power (1000W means nothing if it's a crappy PSU)? Is something faulty? Check what error code the BSOD spits out, look it up and find out what's wrong.

Well ... how does one know what is good, and what is not?

The PSU is a CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold 1000W.

He cannot find anything useful in the error codes by the way.

He only uses the computer for games and Facebook. hardly tough stuff. He uses a Powermac for essays and assignments at Uni (he's getting first class honours and second calls honour grades too) but he's recently switched to uni lecture notes a new iPad.

A couple of days ago he paid a packet for Norton ...

I suspect ot the screen cards, or the motherboard, and a driver may fix it. perhaps its a comms clash, or its the motherboard.

And if I add up all the components to make an iMac, with a similar screen, it cheaper to buy an iMac. I looked at a Dell 27", and it wasn't cheap. But at least it had current Intel motherboard technology.

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Custom-Built PCs enable consumers to construct unique computers at a good price. There's a thriving ecosystem of manufacturers with varying degrees of quality and support.

OEMs construct PCs, often out of the same parts that custom-builders do, and package the resulting systems with software, warranty, and support. Many OEMs undertake in-house customizations and testing to reduce incompatibles, decrease cost, or change the aesthetics of the product. Apple is an example of an OEM (as are Dell and HP).

If you require a PC that performs better than what OEMs have available, you are able to build one. If you require a PC that possesses features that OEMs do not offer, you can build one. If you simply desire the experience of building a unique PC, you can. For all other purposes, you are typically better off purchasing a system from a reputable OEM.

Ask yourself what you're going to be using a computer for, as it will usually lead to what type of computer you should build/buy. If an iMac suits your needs currently, then a new iMac should suit your needs as well.
F

Your definition is faulty. An OEM is a something made in one factory, that is multi-branded.

By your definition, all the world's cars are OEMs, because they all use Bosch fuel injection and anti-lock brake system and traction systems. Or because they buy tyres from one of only a few companies.

A Toyota is 25% supplied from Nippondenso, an entirely separate company (who has a higher Return on Equity too). Toyota buys other technology from other companies too, and makes it itself under license. But its cars are Toyotas.

You might argue that Apple Macs are OEMs because they use Intel CPUS and which need motherboards which conform to Intel design rules. But the fact is that Apple Macs used to use CPUs supplied by another organisation - Motorola, which had entirely different architecture. And for some considerable time, the "Classic" environment could run - on an Intel processor Mac - the Motorola applications. At one time, Apple supplied computes which had either Motorola or Intel CPUs. The iPhone which ran an Arm processor, shipped with a version of apple's Unix based OS X.

Macs are far from OEMs. You may as well say that every electrical component in the world is an OEM. If you want to use OEM, then look to real OEMs. Like HP computers and Compaq computers. But if you think that coming out of a factory in China are HP servers, and alongside are the tower computer labelled "server" you buy at the shop next to your supermarket - think again.

 

[28Fiend]

Nah, its not overwhelming. Its called choice

Very true.

 

[battlekid]

Well ... how does one know what is good, and what is not?

The PSU is a CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold 1000W.

He cannot find anything useful in the error codes by the way.

He only uses the computer for games and Facebook. hardly tough stuff. He uses a Powermac for essays and assignments at Uni (he's getting first class honours and second calls honour grades too) but he's recently switched to uni lecture notes a new iPad.

A couple of days ago he paid a packet for Norton ...

I suspect ot the screen cards, or the motherboard, and a driver may fix it. perhaps its a comms clash, or its the motherboard.

And if I add up all the components to make an iMac, with a similar screen, it cheaper to buy an iMac. I looked at a Dell 27", and it wasn't cheap. But at least it had current Intel motherboard technology.

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Did you read my post? I threw together one with Windows, and it was $100 cheaper than the iMac.

 

[forty2j]

Nah, its not overwhelming. Its called choice

A lot of what turns "the masses" off to technology is choice for choice's sake. They don't want to have to make a decision that they have no chance in being properly informed about, without burning cycles they'd rather use watching TV or tending the garden. That's why closed ecosystems like Apple's do well.

Now, if you're talking about a college student wanting to conjure a PC out of thin air.. choice is much more appropriate.

 

[russofris]

Your definition is faulty. An OEM is a something made in one factory, that is multi-branded.

While I do not feel that I provided a definition of "OEM" to debate, I will concede the fine differences between OEM, HAR, VAR, etc, and that I was using OEM in a general and broad sense to avoid having to post 30 lines of babble.

Example:
Me: It's a quarter to four
You: Actually, it's 3 hours, 47 minutes, 27seconds, 22 milliseconds, using PST, if you are both persistent and completely stationary, and sufficiently warm enough, and not in a state of quantum entanglement with a moving object.
Me: You are correct, though I don't feel that the additional extrapolation was necessary given the context of this thread.

F

 

[Melbourne Park]

While I do not feel that I provided a definition of "OEM" to debate, I will concede the fine differences between OEM, HAR, VAR, etc, and that I was using OEM in a general and broad sense to avoid having to post 30 lines of babble.

Example:
Me: It's a quarter to four
You: Actually, it's 3 hours, 47 minutes, 27seconds, 22 milliseconds, using PST, if you are both persistent and completely stationary, and sufficiently warm enough, and not in a state of quantum entanglement with a moving object.
Me: You are correct, though I don't feel that the additional extrapolation was necessary given the context of this thread.

F

Or:

An iMac is not a PC.