Is it even possible to build a desktop cheaper than buying one?
 

I was considering building an inexpensive desktop. I want to do it mostly for hobby purposes. Still, I was hoping to have it be at least the same price as one I could buy.

Last year I picked up a mid-tower case on sale for something like $20. I also picked up a power supply on sale cheap.

However, looking at how cheap desktops are, and the thin margins that manufacturers make on them, is it possible to build a desktop for the same price or less than a new one? Especially considering sales and rebates?

I still need an ATX motherboard & CPU, memory, and a hard drive. As well as a video driver and sound card.

My low-end Compaq cost $199, not counting the AGP video card, extra memory, extra drives, and sound card I installed.

If I wanted a low-end gaming desktop, could I get the rest done for, say, an additional $400 without cannibalizing my existing desktop? Not counting the monitor?

I already have an extra mouse and keyboard.

FYI, here is the case I bought. The form factor is ATX mid-tower.

A big question is whether you intend to put Window$ on it.

I'd say if you're talking the lower end, you should be able to get a motherboard, processor, memory, hard drive, and DVD burner for $250. I don't know what video and audio card prices are looking like these days; for my needs the integrated stuff is almost always more than adequate.

I was thinking more like a pair of folding sawhorses and a unbored solid core door slab. About $50 max.

I'm still thinking about everything. My games are all PC, so I would possibly go with XP.

If I just wanted a spare computer, I would buy a cheap motherboard and go with Linux.

If I wanted a mid-range gaming computer, the motherboard would be something like this.

Considering that I can get a budget laptop for $500, is it worth putting that kind of money into a desktop for anything other than gaming?

There are too many choices.

I have a question My parents want to buy a computer for my daughter for christmas she is 6 and need some ideas on what we would need for her to play educational games.

Thank you
for any help

Macs are easier to use, in general, but there's a lot more software available for Windows -- that includes educational software.

Most educational games don't tax the graphics card, so any good-quality PC will suffice.

You may want to look for a child-size mouse or trackball, though.

Also, check out starfall.com. My son still really gets a kick out of that site. It has all kinds of fun stuff for reading. Games, books, etc.

Is it possible to build a desktop cheaper than buying one. Yes, if you buy low-end parts.

But the real reason to build one is to pay $100 more than for a similar Dell or whatever, is to avoid the things they skimped out on when they put theirs together.

I'm building a new one. Around $750 so far, With no OS.