Computers - Brand Name Versus Custom Built

It's definitely easier to buy a name brand computer. You just go to your local electronics store and choose one. However, if consumers realized just how much better a custom-built computer can be, brand name manufacturers might lose a lot of customers.

Brand name computers are designed so that when technology advances, you have to buy a new computer or just live with the old one. The parts inside these computers are made as cheaply as possible to hold down costs. If one of these parts fails, you have to buy a replacement from the manufacturer because the computer is built so that other parts won't work. The manufacturer charges more for replacement parts because the consumer can't purchase them from anywhere else. This means you will have to pay more when you need computer service.

These manufacturers often cut corners on features that consumers wouldn't normally think to ask about like cache memory size, bus speed, and hard drive speed. For example, a manufacturer may advertise a 3.2 GHz processor, but won't mention that it only has 1 MB of cache memory, which effectively makes the machine slower than a 2.6 GHz processor with 4 MB of cache memory.

The power supplies in the brand name systems are usually inadequate. They usually come with a power supply that is just strong enough to run the system as it is in the box, without giving the consumer any extra power for when he adds components or upgrades to the machine. Inadequate power supplies can cause your system to crash.

These manufacturers also load your computer's new hard drive with bundled junkware. This software slows down the performance of your PC, as much of it runs in the background, and takes up space on your hard drive. This bloatware uses nag screens to try to get you to upgrade to the fully functioning version. This shovelware can be time consuming to remove. That's why Best Buy charges $40.00 to remove it for you.

Custom built computers, on the other hand, can be upgraded and enjoyed for approximately 3 to 5 years. They contain higher quality parts that are easily replaced if they fail. You can purchase parts from a variety of different manufacturers, and each of these parts has a 1-year warranty. If it fails, you can return it for repair or replacement.

Computer repair can be obtained from anywhere, as the system is filled with universal parts that are easily found. You can customize each piece and buy exactly what you need without wasting money on features you don't need.

The hard drive is clean and free of crapware. They also contain a full retail version of Windows with product license and full Microsoft technical support. There are also so many beautiful cases and case modifications to choose from. Your computer can truly look, and be, unique when you custom build.

The downside to purchasing a custom-built computer is that you either have to build it yourself or find a local computer shop that builds them. There are also some quality places to buy custom builds from online.

Custom builds also cost a bit more, and it usually takes a week or more for the computer to be built. In addition, most custom builds are desktops. It is possible to custom build a laptop, but it is more difficult to find places that do it.

However, in spite of the downside, once you have used a quality custom computer, it's difficult to settle for anything else.