computer custom cost.............?

Question

I want to build a basic computer from scratch but I have three old computers that are scrap but have one or two good parts.
what am I going to on average have to pay if I buy new pieces for the most part to build a computer.

Answer 1

That really depends on how fast and how high end of a computer you want to buy.

A mother board and CPU Combo:
socket 754: @$75.00
socket 775: @$150.00 to $500.00
socket 939: @$100.00 to 200.00

Memory:
DDR 1GB: @$90.00
DDR 2GB: @$170.00
DDR2 1GB: @$80.00
DDR2 2GB: @$170.00

Video Card:
AGP 128MB: @$50.00
AGP 256MB: @$60.00 to $150.00
AGP 512MB: @$140 to $260.00
PCI-E 128MB: @$50.00 to $200.00
PCI-E 256MB: @$100.00 to $200.00
PCI-E 512MB: @$150.00 to $250.00

Hard Drives: (ATA or EIDE 7200RPM)
80GB or less: @$45.00
120GB to 160GB: @$60.00 to $90.00
200GB to 320GB: @$70.00 to $120.00
400GB ++: @$150.00 to $300.00

Media Drives:
CD/DVD-RW Dual Layer Burner: @$50.00 to $120.00

Keyboard:
@$20.00 +

Mouse:
@$15.00 +

Answer 2

An Alienware Aurora R4 built to its maximum specs, as close as possible to the above, will cost a mere $5,838.00, excluding warranty and shipping, according to the product configuration page below. It's VERY simple to virtually build a computer at most manufacturers websites - I don't know why you didn't try that first. Regardless, NO processor is going to last you "10 years". Upgrade to a more powerful Xeon processor (or even better, a dual Xeon setup such as what I have in my computer), and it might get you by for four or five years. In addition, you don't specify the version of Windows you want, so I assumed Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, which aside from Macintosh OS X, is the only mainstream OS which can handle that much RAM. Last, by "Shell" [sic], I assume you mean what is normally referred to as a "case" or "enclosure".

Answer 3

Whenever I look at doing this I usually have no donor parts worth saving. This makes the cost of making a computer similar to buying a new computer from Dell with a warranty.

I would figure the price to build your computer as:

Best price of a similar new computer fully assembled
+Improvements (RAM, bigger PS, sound, video card, etc)
-Donor parts cost if purchased
-Donor operating system software OEM cost if purchased
-Donor DVD burner software OEM cost if purchased
------------------------------------------------------
= Your ballpark cost to build a new computer.

Note
If you use a top end video card, many require on the order of 30+ amps at 12 volts. Make sure your power supply can supply this current required for you card plus the current for all the other 12 volt devices. You must look as PS current ratings. Watt ratings can be meaningless.

Check Dell Outlet Prices before you go ahead
http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

Also Tiger Direct sometimes has deals on refurbished systems
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Overstock/overstock_slc.asp?CatId=6&category=Desktop%20Computers

Answer 4

The better way is to say how much you are wiilling to spend, and then I can let you know what you can get for that. But for a basic computer, I would say $1000-$1500 would be a pretty good estimate.

Answer 5

For a good board & processor... prob. about $150.00. Gonna need an OS though unless you got a clean install disk. Most PC's get "Restore" disks that only work on orig. hardware.

Answer 6

Motherboard: 100-200
CPU: 125-175
RAM: 150-225
HDD: 60-140
GFX Card: 80-190

Those are just average prices. They can go lower and higher.