Anyone else notice how cheap new prebuilt systems are?

Atomic77 · Nov 13, 2021

Wow I have never seen a laptop like that before with a 2nd screen on the touch pad. I however have heard ASUS is a questionable brand.

glasskuter · Nov 15, 2021

badrobot said:
I am not too happy with it except for the fancy touchpad that also serves as a second screen.

That's the coolest feature I've ever seen. I didn't even know that existed. The only problem I see with it is the expense if you ever have to replace it. Bet it ain't cheap.

badrobot · Nov 15, 2021

glasskuter said:
That's the coolest feature I've ever seen. I didn't even know that existed. The only problem I see with it is the expense if you ever have to replace it. Bet it ain't cheap.

If that happens, I will take it as a sign for another upgrade.

I don't tend to attach myself with mobile devices for too long. If they started acting up. So be it.

badrobot · Nov 15, 2021

glasskuter said:
That's the coolest feature I've ever seen. I didn't even know that existed. The only problem I see with it is the expense if you ever have to replace it. Bet it ain't cheap.

It is not just a touch pad and a second screen, it is also a launch pad for apps. Maybe like a secondary taskbar ( or a touchbar

).

https://imgur.com/a/DO1c9E1

jvickers · Nov 15, 2021

I've been building my own rigs for decades. Can't say I'm any good at it, but they last a long time. However, I try to select good brands when people I know are buying a system. I typically go with Dell. They seem to have solid systems. You have to be careful to look at the hardware they put into the systems, though. If you're getting it on the cheap, it probably doesn't have great hardware.

PerpetualCycle · Nov 18, 2021

exploder said:
I recently picked up a new Dell XPS desktop for half price because someone had removed the graphics card and NVME. Seemed like a good deal at the time but in reality it's a total piece of garbage! No VRM heatsink, junk processor heatsink and fan, cheap junk RAM in single channel, no airflow to speak of in the case, front of the case blocked off with junk and a tiny rear case fan that did nothing.

What a mess! The thing throttled doing a virus scan! I have fixed it to a point that it is usable. Bought a VRM heatsink, decent cpu heatsink and fan, replaced the RAM with 2 sticks of quality RAM, replaced the rear case fan with a larger Noctua fan and removed all the garbage blocking the front of the case. I still needs a 3D printed adapter to install a decent front case fan though.

I benchmarked it before and after the changes and it is massively improved but sometime down the road I will end up replacing the motherboard and put everything usable in an NZXT case I have with a decent power supply.

I brought home a fairly new HP desktop to fix for a co-worker and it is even worse! It's like picking up an empty box! Same problems as the XPS but an even tinier cpu cooler! No wonder the thing doesn't work! I have to have the user bring in the power cord before I can work on it because it is proprietary! All the major brands seem to using as much proprietary crap as they can!

My original idea was just to pick up something cheap that would support Windows 11 when it is released as final. My Precision workstations are older but built way better than the newer systems they sell. I will continue running Windows 10 on them until EOL. The XPS is usable now but I am not crazy about the cheap motherboard, it still uses some older caps! The platinum rated proprietary power supply bugs me too. It may or may not hold up and it sure looks cheap in my opinion.

I am in the process of moving. The back of the apartment building I was living in started to collapse! Most of my cash will go towards the move to the new building. Can someone recommend a decent motherboard for an 11th gen Intel processor? I have everything else to rebuild this piece of junk luckily but I want a recommendation from real user's here!

My recommendation from experience is do not waste your money on a new prebuilt Dell or HP, you would be throwing your money a

I always found them that way. You get what you pay for basically. That is why I started building my own.

You left out power supply unit. There are more often than not of a very low quality,

BunnyJ · Nov 18, 2021

jvickers said:
I've been building my own rigs for decades. Can't say I'm any good at it, but they last a long time. However, I try to select good brands when people I know are buying a system. I typically go with Dell. They seem to have solid systems. You have to be careful to look at the hardware they put into the systems, though. If you're getting it on the cheap, it probably doesn't have great hardware.

I build my own because I get to pick out the parts. Worst case I can find someone to put it all together for me. I really don't like OEM desktops.. from the reviews I've seen many are just too doggy. I would consider anything from Asus.

PerpetualCycle · Nov 18, 2021

If you want a decent prebuilt, for which you can specify decent parts, Puget Systems has a good reputation:

Homepage

Puget Systems specializes in tailor-made computing solutions for all business needs. We build quality workstations and servers for your unique workflows.

www.pugetsystems.com

jvickers · Nov 18, 2021

BunnyJ said:
I build my own because I get to pick out the parts. Worst case I can find someone to put it all together for me. I really don't like OEM desktops.. from the reviews I've seen many are just too doggy. I would consider anything from Asus.

This is exactly why I've been building my system since the mid-90s. I remember having to go to a computer parts warehouse to get the parts. Nowadays, it's so simple to get parts. Well, maybe not graphics cards that are reasonably priced!

ShamrockRig · Nov 18, 2021

To be fair its all contextual, If you're just a normal pc user with no real needs for anything specific, Then a prebuilt or a laptop would suffice most.
There are good prebuilts out there, Just gotta make sure you check the places in the spec they usually cheap out on, PSU's, Mobo's if theyre going to. Also sometimes when the spec is good, On the face of it, Sometimes its also lower end or less desirable brands you will get. Again i have seen prebuilts that haven't been cheaped out on. But you do see things like "3080" and "11700k" and people think yay thats what im wanting, Not to discover its a sucky Mobo, Poor power supplies and sometimes unbranded ram.
I'd always custom build from now onwards though, I know what i need and what i want and how to go from there and get it up and running.
All comes down to you're product knowledge on what it is you're looking for.
If i was looking to get into something or buy something i knew nothing about, I'd research it til i did.
Budget also comes into it too. I spec a new pc probably everything 3 years give or take either side, Can be anything from £1500 to £2000 which is around $2000 to $2700. So none of these are issues in that regard anyway.

PerpetualCycle · Nov 18, 2021

Sorry if someone already posted this. Here is another good resource for building your own:

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share. - PCPartPicker

pcpartpicker.com

jvickers · Nov 18, 2021

geneo said:
Sorry if someone already posted this. Here is another good resource for building your own:

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share. - PCPartPicker

pcpartpicker.com

I don't think anyone posted this.

Well, I ran my system through the system builder just to see what it would cost now. It would cost $3085.04 to make the system.

That's not taking into account my second video card. (You could add two.) I had to add a cheap, smaller Acer monitor than what I have. I also added a cheaper internal SSD instead of the external 2TB SSD I have because I couldn't find the drive I have. Overall, that's a lot more than what I built it for. Granted, the case and video card are a lot more, but that just seems like a lot to me. I'm sure it probably has to do with inflation and the chip shortage. I also upgraded over time, so I probably don't have an accurate estimate in my head.

I don't think I'll be telling my wife how much the build costs. :wink:

Thanks for the resource!

EDIT: Despite having 3 23" monitors lying around, I still want a 24" to match the monitor I have on the left of my 25" monitor. My wife might notice all those monitors lying around, though!

PerpetualCycle · Nov 18, 2021

I don't think my wife knows what mine cost including sound and monitors, it is a pretty penny.

jvickers · Nov 18, 2021

geneo said:
I don't think my wife knows what mine cost including sound and monitors, it is a pretty penny.

Ahh... the guilty pleasures of people who build their own systems!

PerpetualCycle · Nov 18, 2021

Yikes, just updated my list of components and costs, $9k. Geez, was a little shocked on how that accumulated. Biggest ticket item was the Eizo monitor, 27% of the total.

badrobot · Nov 18, 2021

geneo said:
Sorry if someone already posted this. Here is another good resource for building your own:

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share. - PCPartPicker

pcpartpicker.com

You will only need this if you are a first time builder just to make sure that all of your components are compatible. I've used this on my very first build back in 2014. Very helpful for first timers. You don't normally include monitors or other generic peripherals. Just the main PC component like CPU, mobo, power supply, RAM, etc.

jvickers · Nov 18, 2021

geneo said:
Yikes, just updated my list of components and costs, $9k. Geez, was a little shocked on how that accumulated. Biggest ticket item was the Eizo monitor, 27% of the total.

PerpetualCycle · Nov 18, 2021

badrobot said:
You will only need this if you are a first time builder just to make sure that all of your components are compatible. I've used this on my very first build back in 2014. Very helpful for first timers. You don't normally include monitors or other generic peripherals. Just the main PC component like CPU, mobo, power supply, RAM, etc.

I did post that with first time builder in mind apropos this thread. I haven't used it in a while.

But it does more than that. You can also use it to register interest in a part and see its price history and what seller has the lowest prices at the moment, with some level of usefulness ( you can just google the part I reckon, but it also has price alerts).

PerpetualCycle · Nov 18, 2021

jvickers said:

That includes everything - all audio, desk etc. 81% reusable for next build, which is pretty far off into the future.

badrobot · Nov 18, 2021

geneo said:
It does more than that. You can also use it to register insterest in a part and see its price history and what seller has the lowest prices at the moment, with some level of usefulness.

It doesn't matter because it depends on whatever is available in your area or country in terms of prices. I used it strictly for compatibility. If the item with a good deal is available locally, then that's great. Otherwise, you will have to pay for high shipping fee.