Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Your Thoughts on BareBones Kits.
Hey guyz, I'm looking into getting a new computer within the next few months or so (all depends how bills are 2 me:P) But I'm really trying to brush up on my info here And I found on newegg & tigerdircet computers called barebone kits. An I'm just woundering if its worth getting? Pros-Cons. You guys know how it is.
The BareBones kits come & go every few weeks so I cant really link one that I would buy cause next month it probly wont be here but If i cud get one 2day I'd get this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856158036
Or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856272001
I really have never built a computer, An I understand these come in parts? lol So it was either this or buying a computer from IBUyPower as I really seem to like them.
Comments
Man both of those are a ripoff.
The first one is just a shinyy case a motherboard and a mediocre power supply. for 500 bucks (that amount can almost build an entire pc)
The second includes a 350w power supply, which is too small for anything useful these days.
Barebones kits typically are a MB CPU and RAM. the basic things you need to have a working computer, others will have the case and PSU.
You are better off buying the individual components (unless you can find a good deal on CPU +MOBO combos), as a lot of these bundles will cheap out on a part here or there leaving you with less quality than you would of paid for putting it together yourself.
How much do you want to spend total? i assume by mentioning ibuypower your over the 1k range (which is way more than enough to build yourself an awesome computer). ?
Once you have a budget you can pick the parts you need, if you dont know the parts to buy lots of places exist online to tell you the best things and second best things for what your plans are (reddit buildapc is a good spot to look).
DO NOT though buy those barebones kits (the ones listed anyway not all are soo terrible or way overpriced)..
It really depends on the barebone system.
There are two types. The first is like that ASRock which is purpose built by a hardware manufacture to meet a design goal. That ASRock is not a good pick because the design goal was small form factor so it won't have any graphics power.
The second type is a system with the base components already assembled. These ones are typically designed cheap making them a poor choice. They would be better than a Dell or HP, but not against many other options. Especially in the same price range. Whats an AMD3000? Last time I saw something with that designation was the Ati 3000 onboard chip from 2008.
If you go into buying an iBuyPowerPC as a barebones kit, then it could be a good system as they commonly use standard pc parts that we commonly pick for assembling our own.
Building a computer is an overstatement of the skills needed to put one together. Assembling a computer requires an appropriate sized phillips head screwdriver, a pair of pliers and an ESD wrist strap. If you can use those and can figure out that plug A goes into socket A in a specific way and not socket B then you can assemble a computer. There are a few other tools that will make it easier like a small light source, small part retriever, wire ties and wire cutter. Those tools are rarely required.
Controlling static electricity is the greatest concern when assembling a computer.
There is knowledge needed to know general things like an AMD central processing unit wont fit in an Intel CPU motherboard and vice versa. But asking such questions here will get you a lot of good advice.
This forum is a good one to ask such questions. The regular contributors are mostly capable of being vendor neutral. At the least they are willing to state their preferences as such instead of being the only way to do things. You'll do well here as long as you ignore those few who will proclaim their way is the only way to make a system. Then again those types only tend to drop in every once in a while get overwhelmed by facts and logic and then disappear into the woodwork again
Getting a barebone computer is like combining the disadvantages of buying a complete computer to disadvantages of building a computer from parts:
-Like complete computer packages, you're unable to choose all parts individually and easily end up with bad choices. Like complete packages, the package usually costs more than the sum of its parts
-Like building the computer yourself, you'll still have to assemble things, and like with other self build computers, if it's broken you can't just return it to shop and demand its repair under warranty, you'll have to use your psionic powers to determine which part is broken and ask warranty repairs only for that part.
Controlling static electricity is not difficult and does not require an ESD wrist strap. Sure, it is the right tool for the job, but I haven't used one in over ten years of handling electronics.
The easiest way to "ground" yourself is to touch the case. I put in in quotations because it isn't really grounded unless you either plug it in (stupid) or have a professional electronic workbench with a grounding station. By touching the case, you are putting yourself at the lowest common potential for the components going in the case.
Aside from that, don't touch the components on the circuit boards. Handle the boards by the edges when possible or use the large metal pieces (PCI cards especially) when the component has them. The most sensitive component is the CPU followed by the socket. Don't touch the pins and handle the CPU by the edges and you'll be fine.
If you like to rub your feet on the carpet while wearing nylon stockings and rubbing a balloon on your head, you probably shouldn't be handling electronics.
To answer the original question...
Barebones kits used to be good deals. Now, they're just a way for vendors to get rid of junk components that nobody wants to buy.