[OT] Computer geeks: Hardware help requested

[Mark Roberts]

John Francis wrote:

>Nowadays I don't think it's worthwhile putting your own system
>together unless you want something really out of the mainstream.
>Just let HP (or Dell, or ...) build it for you; it comes with
>a warranty, and might even be cheaper than the cost of all the
>individual components (especially if you want a copy of Windows).

I think it's been years since building your own computer was 
advantageous from a financial standpoint. But it's still the way to go 
if you want to choose your own components, know exactly what you're 
getting and have full documentation of every part. 

I'll probably buy the motherboard and CPU, memory and a power supply, 
keeping my current case, two hard drives, CD-RW drive, DVD-RW drive and 
floppy-drive/memory-card-reader. I expect I'll still save money over 
buying such a system new.