Got parts?

Building your own computer has become more and more common as the economy has forced us to look for cheaper solutions. Where can I buy computer parts though? Is it cheaper online or offline? The answer is that it’s definitely cheaper to buy computer parts online from many of the trusted companies. This article will introduce you to 3 companies that have notable reputations among online computer component buyers.

Newegg.com

Newegg is the premier stop for all of your computer part needs. With warehouses located all over the country, Newegg is able to offer great prices and shipping times on any parts you may need. Notable advantages to buying from Newegg include there Newegg Deals, mail-in rebates and great prices. That’s why they’ve declared their slogan “Once you know, you Newegg”. Newegg has over 26000 reviews on resellerratings.com and a 9.85/10 rating and an A rating on the Better Business Bureau website (BBB). If you’re looking for a highly reliable and popular website, look no further than Newegg.com.

Tigerdirect.com

A competitor of Newegg, Tigerdirect has become another popular website to buy anything from computer parts to TVs. Tigerdirect offers back to school specials that students may find especially appealing as they’re much discounted. In addition to offering discounts for students, Tigerdirect often has deals on parts and sets just like Newegg. Like Newegg, Tigerdirect often includes mail-in rebates on many of their products saving you money. Tigerdirect has 6000 reviews with a 9.16/10 rating on resellerratings.com as well as an A rating from the BBB.

NCIX.com

NCIX.com is a lesser known vendor, but that doesn’t mean it is any less powerful than Newegg or Tigerdirect. A defining feature of NCIX.com is the ability to create your computer and pay an extra $50 to have NCIX assemble it for you. This makes NCIX the choice for casual buyers who don’t understand how to put a computer together. NCIX often has specials of the week or month that offer lower prices on pre-built computers, and even bundle deals for certain computer components. NCIX has 600 reviews with a 9.76/10 rating on reseller ratings and an A rating from the BBB.

When build your own computer, these three websites can offer you any parts you need as well as fantastic service. You can also take advantage of their great deals and services such as computer building making them a much better choice than going to your local computer vendor.

Photo Credits: ctitze

Originally posted 2009-11-18 03:55:07.

Things to Remember When Buying a Gaming Computer

* RAM-Ram or Random Access Memory is one of the biggest problems that many people face when trying to create a PC that can run high end video games. The good news is that RAM is probably the least expensive hardware cost that you will spend, being about $150 at most. Make sure if possible that the RAM you buy is DDRM3 and not 2 because DDRM3 will be faster. It’s important to have at least two gigabytes of ram if you’re running Vista, but you should shoot for four.

* Graphics Card-Your GPU or graphics card is probably the most important part of your purchase when buying a gaming computer. It’s important to note what memory associates your GPU. You should ideally shoot for about 512 MB along side of your card, but it’s completely acceptable to buy a 256 card. It’s extremely important to realize that you should never buy any computer utilizing an integrated graphics card if your purpose is playing high-end 3D games.

* Processor-Processing data and multitasking is very important for gaming computers because it plays a part in determining the speed of your computer. If you get a duo or quad core processor you’re splitting up the work done by your computer making it much more efficient. Processor speed is measured in Ghz and a 3.0Ghz duo core processor is probably the most value you can get for your money. While quad core processors are new and flashy, they aren’t fully utilized in gaming yet, though you may want to purchase one for the future.

* Hard Drive- Making sure that your computer has enough hard drive space is very important when you’re playing video games since many games now can cost you up to 10 gigabytes in hard drive space. This isn’t as important for in-game performance, but hard drives are still a important part of your computer that is required.

When buying your new gaming computer be sure to question your needs while trying to minimize your cost. If you consider the above parts carefully you can construct a very powerful computer that can last you for the years to come.

Photo Credits: Steve Crane

Originally posted 2009-12-03 03:23:07.

Build your own computer.

Cost

Building your own computer from parts is much cheaper than building your computer from a company store or buying it from retail. It’s very easy to go to a website like Newegg and build a computer with similar specifications as a retail computer for half the price. It also requires almost no special equipment either. All you will really need are a few screwdrivers and you should be able to assemble the pieces no problem.

It’s Easy

The first thing that pops into your mind when someone suggests that you should build your own computer is “that’s hard isn’t it?” Well it’s actually very easy to put together your own computer. The parts that you can buy from online component sellers are preassembled; all you need to do is assemble them like Lego pieces. You may argue that Lego pieces come with instructions. Instructions are easy to find, the internet is loaded with resources that have detailed instructions and even YouTube videos of how to assemble a PC.

You Get What You Want

A common problem with buying a PC from a retailer is that they often mix and match odd pieces to create a computer with weird specifications. If you’re one assembling the PC, you can control exactly what specs you want to focus on and spend your money accordingly. Another problem with store built computers is that they come preloaded with loads of ad like software that you would have to spend your time locating and uninstalling.

It’s Fun

Though it may not be apparent at first, building a PC is fun. It can be very frustrating during the building process, but the second you actually get it to work and you hear it roar as it starts up you feel an incredible sense of accomplishment. There are many PC building enthusiasts who don’t have any interest in doing it as a profession but love to build PC’s.

Hopefully this article has convinced you to consider building your PC instead of buying it prebuilt at the store. There are nearly no cons to building a PC yourself and reward far outweighs the risk. So what are you waiting for, get out there and start building!

Photo Credits: lazzarello

Originally posted 2009-10-23 03:22:00.

What is important for you in a computer?

Why is it used, really?

This question may seem silly, as it appears to be one of those implied obvious questions, but the seller may not tell you if you don’t ask. It’s not even ludicrous to ask them to boot the computer up right in front of you. It’s important to ask details such as this because many used computers don’t come with warranties, and if the seller can get the computer out of his hands, than he’s not responsible, nor will he care if it’s broken or if it’s not. Perhaps the CPU was overheating, this problem wouldn’t be displayed until after you had already purchased the computer and used it for a while. This is why it’s always important for the buyer to check and to double check with the company that the computer is ready for use again.

Computer Specs

This is really important no matter what, whether the computer is used or new. Always make sure you check the essentially specs and make sure that they’re up to snuff with your standards. Most casual users need only to have a good processor speed and preferably over 2 gigabytes of ram. If you’re a power or multimedia user you may also want to check the video card and make sure that extra USB plugs and other features are readily available. It’s always important, though, to keep your range of specs in perspective. If you’re a casual user, don’t pay for a more expensive computer with features that you will not need.

Is This Computer Stolen?

Quality and your needs aren’t the only things to check when purchasing a used computer. It’s also important that you question if this computer is genuine, or that all of the parts inside of it were obtained by legal means. It’s very easy for companies and people to steal parts and plant them into a computer to make a cheap profit. This could unintentionally get you into legal trouble, which is the last thing that you want to happen.

Remember when buying a new computer that it’s most important that you verify the authenticity of the computer and that it meets the needs that you require. Don’t be afraid to ask the essential questions, or to demand proof that it’s fully functioning or genuine.

Photo Credits: Pacfolly

Originally posted 2009-12-02 03:18:08.