Poll: Did you build your own computer?

[Saulkar]

So aside from a poll that is an obviously jab at a rather humorous trend gripping The Escapist did you build your own computer and do you have some stories to share?

I personally built my computer from scratch and assembled it all without assistance and few hiccups. It was built a 3D workstation first and top of the line gaming rig second. It took a little over an hour to build and in the end worked fabulously... well not quite.

Funny story time!!!

My computer has 64GB of ram to completely eliminate the need for a scratch disk and the copy of Windows I bought was Windows 7: Professional. I installed the 64Bit version and booted the bugger up. After doing some test renders I noticed that up to 95% of my RAM was being used up. I checked the Windows Experience Index and noticed that it told me that only 16GB out of 64GB of RAM was available and I panicked. After doing some research and asking for help it appeared that my CPU's pins were bent. After examining my CPU, checking every stick of ram, and begging internet forums for help one person simply asked: Do you have the Home Premium version of Windows 7?

Lol and behold it was true! The cover said Professional but the disk said Home Premium! Bringing it back to Staples I asked for another copy but it turned out several copies of W7: Professional had a Home Premium disk in it when checked! In the end they gave me a free upgrade code and I got my full system RAM.

But then my computer bugged out because I had bought 2 32GB RAM kits instead of 1 64GB kit causing instability issues! Asking for more help I was told to increase the voltage and keep the frequency on auto. Problem solved and now it is smooth...

Nvidia Driver Error: Fuck me!!!

So did you build your own computer and how did it go?

CAPTCHA: move mountains - Yes it can!

 

[Eleuthera]

I assisted my roommate in putting mine together. My previous systems were always prebuilt, so I thought it might be a good idea to let someone with a bit more experience do the heavy lifting first time around.

Since then I've replaced nearly everypart of my rig, so I'm quite sure I could build my next one myself.

No real funny putting it together stories, a few 'funny' breaking down stories, mostly due to incredibly bad timing. Most recently my PSU dying and taking my main (not backed up) hard drive with it. Just as we were starting a 3 day lan-party...

 

[Zoe Castillo]

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[Saulkar]

yes I built and paid for my computer when I was 16, i worked 10 h a day for 6 months as for less them minimum wage but I eventually saved up around 7 thousand dollars and I?ve been using the same PC since .

when I first turned it on half the cabals caught fire and when I turned in on a second time one of the fans spun out of control hitting of the cooling pipes causing the fluid to leak .

What was the CPU?! A HEMI?!

 

[mParadox]

Yes. I built my own PC. Feels good man.

Looked for the most bang for the buck components, ordered. They were delivered the same. I assembled it carefully and slowly. No need to rush it. And now? I can play GTA IV at the highest settings with a very small stutter.

I don't know about you but that speaks loads about it. >,>

 

[Bagged Milk]

I built my computer almost 2 years ago. It's a budget build, but it can run most games fine on mid to max settings. I spent about 600 dollars on it and the hard drive was salvaged from my old, crappy, pre-built computer. My story is more about my insane stupidity, when I first plugged it in and turned it on, my screen stayed black and wasn't receiving anything from my gpu. I thought that I had just gotten a bad card. So I took it out and used the integrated chip. a week later, I realized that I plugged the vga cable into the wrong plug. I facepalmed so hard.

 

[Zoe Castillo]

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[Sightless Wisdom]

My current build was constructed a few months back for around $1200. Nvidia GTX 560 with 1Gb DDR5, AMD Phenom X4 3.4Ghz, 8Gb RAM, 120gb ADATA SSD for OS install and games running from a WD 7200 RPM 1TB drive. Works quite smoothly and I put it together with little to no trouble, certainly not the first pc I've built though.

 

[Crises^]

Got my first pc when I was 14. Bought a dell not knowing much about PCs back then. So wasn't happy when i found out that integrated graphics is a bad thing ^^. Since then I have built my last 3 PCs(I'm 25 now), all have been budget PCs first was pentium 4 3ghz and a geforce 6600 then I dropped a 7900gtx and then got an e6600. now using a q6600 with an hd4870.

I'm planning to build a i5 2500k or 2nd gen ivy when it comes out with probably 670gtx or 700 series gpu at end of year as I have never had top end gear before well except the 7900gtx but that was with a pentium 4 :/

 

[Scarim Coral]

Well the current PC I'm using is the first PC I've built (with some help).

Last year my old pc was slow as hell and I wanted a new one to play Guild Wars 2. I also won a graphic card for being second place (and a few others were also second places) so I took that as a sign to get a new one. My mum ask if I want a new pc since she notice that it was slow which I agree to so they agree to paid for it as my Christmas Present (I got my new pc on December).

Anyway I did had help for choosing the parts, mainly my mate (PC expect) suggested the parts to buy while my uncle (also another pc expect) oversee the parts if he agree with the choices, mainly my aim was to have new pc that was around £500.

When I order and got all of the parts, my uncle was too busy to come over to help me assemble the parts together. I took it upon myself to assemble what I can as I have been watching several tutorial videos on how to put it together. I did everything except for the tiny pluig things at the bottom of the motherboard so I leave it that (I was contect at what I had put together) so that my Uncle can put in the finish touches.

A week later he came over, put in the final plugs and turn it on. The overall cost was around £560 (I saved like £70-£80 for already having a graphic card and save more for buying my mate harddrive since the HD were expensive cos of the Taiwan flood and his HD is in good condition). Also I have been playing Guild Wars 2 with no problems, so overall I have been loving my new PC and intend to take good care of it (like I have been cleaning it on a montly basis).

 

[MrTub]

I've built my wc pc, my server and my htcp. I started building my own computers with help from my brother when I was around 13-14

 

[Burig]

Technically? No. I chose the parts for it from a website, and they built it for me (£700ish for top-of-the-range computer at the time). I could have, but my father and brother both said it wasn't worth my time enough that I couldn't be bothered to try and find places to buy the parts from for cheap. Although, as it would have been my first build, it lets me swap out parts and learn it a bit at a time, rather than being thrown in at the deep end, so to speak.

I want to build a computer from scratch (well, with the parts), but so far this one works fine.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Yep, I've built every computer I've owned since I was 17. Great feeling, every time.

 

[Angry Camel]

Actually building one right now, almost ready for the initial bootup. First PC I've ever built so I'm a bit nervous. I'll let you know if any stories come from it.

 

[Sacman]

Yeah, I build plenty of computers... though the last one that I made had some compatibility issues with the drivers and caused the black screen of death, and soon followed by the blue screen of death... but I fixed that right up, despite the fact taht it took longer than it should have... though that was more a combination of thickness on my side and busy schedules and issues following directions on the other...<.<

 

[Henkie36]

It is custom, but I'm a butterfingers type, so I let a small store put it together for me. Meh, it wasn't cheap but it was worth every penny. I don't remember what I put in, but whatever it was, it's good stuff, because it's still running high end games on full.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

My laptop was pre-built with a graphics card upgrade, but over the years either myself or a workmate have upgraded or replaced various parts.

 

[RicoADF]

This is the 3rd machine I've built (not including the upgrades I do in between major rebuilds or the PC's I upgraded before I built my first one from scratch), not including friends and family.

This one is:
i7 2600K 3.2Ghz
8GB Corsair DDR3 1600mhz RAM (anymore than 8GB is completly wasteful and as you've proven, more trouble than its worth)
250GB SSD (Corsair) with 510mb/s write and 550mb/s read
700GB main western digital HDD (cant remember R/W)
Gigabyte Z68-UD5-B3
Sapphire Radeon 6950 HD 2GB

My previous machine is the backup/send PC I have one my other desk, for when friends come over/any issues on this PC etc. Althought last week I got a Samsung Series 5 laptop with an i7 etc etc etc, so the older PC is awaiting my decision on what to do with it.