Build a computer or buy a HP workstation

LuckyStudio 13

LuckyStudio 13

The Tapeless One
A friend told me that if you want reliability, do not build your own PC because all those diff components might not work 100% together. Money is a consideration because a pro workstation like the new HP Z820 is $$$$$$$$$. I am planning to go either with Media Composer or CS 6.
 
You don't want an onboard GPU, get a MB with as many x16 PCI slots as you can.

Also make sure that your power supply is beefy enough. 1000W and up minimum with multiple Nvidia cards.
 
LuckyStudio 13 said:
A friend told me that if you want reliability, do not build your own PC because all those diff components might not work 100% together.
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If you know what you're doing a custom built PC will ALWAYS be more reliable than a pre-built PC, for two reasons:

1) You get to pick the best brands and components for every part. Manufacturers will pick cheaper and lesser-known RAM and PSU brands and such to save money (while still touting "8GB" or "750 watts" or whatever it is without mentioning what brand the part is). You, on the other hand, can be smart and buy top-quality in every part because every part can cause the whole system to fail. As a result, a well-built custom PC is ALWAYS better than a pre-built.

2) Since you know every part in your computer, any required maintainance is really easy and you don't have to deal with customer service. If a part fails, just replace it yourself.

All that is predicated on your being knowledgable about, for example, what makes one 4GB stick of RAM better than another 4GB stick of RAM. If you aren't, and aren't willing to learn, then a custom-built can be much more trouble than a pre-built.
 
The biggest problem with building your own is that most people don't think they need to bother with an anti-static strap and mat. They build computers without those things, and "they work just fine". What they don't realize is that the static has weakened some of the electronic components. So weeks or months later, the PC starts to behave strangely. They assume they have a virus or some sort of software incompatibilities, but nothing seems to fix it. What's really happening is those weakened components are slowly -- ever so slowly -- beginning to fail.

Personally, I've bought HP workstations, added memory and video cards, and edited away quite happily. Usually that's a lot less pricey than building a PC -- buying Windows is quite expensive. But you certainly can build a perfectly good editing PC. Just make sure you use the anti-static strap and mat.
 
David W. Richardson said:
The biggest problem with building your own is that most people don't think they need to bother with an anti-static strap and mat... Personally, I've bought HP workstations, added memory and video cards, and edited away quite happily. Usually that's a lot less pricey than building a PC -- buying Windows is quite expensive...
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Well, I've never used the strap or mat and never had any problems. I do, however, make sure to touch metal and properly degauss myself or whatever it's called before touching computer parts.

I've never heard anyone claim that building one yourself is a lot more expensive than buying a pre-built. I've found just the opposite to be true in my own experience and many others agree with me.
 
Yeah, since HP has no magic sauce, they have to use the same of-the-shelf parts as everyone else does.
Critical components are

Board - make sure you got enough PCI lanes and RAM slots
RAM - make sure you got the right one (double/triple) and the timing and specs are right for the board.
Power: at least 800w, 1000 if you want to run two graphic cards.
RAID: If you want a RAID, get a card for that, onboard chips work only to some degree.

When you install your OS - download all drivers and board software - the stuff on the CD is mostly outdated.
Also update your BIOS.

Hand massage your OS. Turn off everything you don´t need.
When you have a perfect running system with all programs and all, mirror it to a spare drive.
So you can always go back if the computer is acting up, without spending a whole day on that.

Frank
 
There is no need to pay high prices on prebuild products like HP, these day's your needs are different and day to day work changes , products update on a monthly or even daily with prebuild product s then today faster upgrade paths are locked in and cost a lot more than a self build PC . if you use Avid and Adobe then go to Avid forums and see what hardware the users use and for Adobe look at http://ppbm5.com/ for now , fined similar or same spec hardware.
 
Jester2138 said:
I've never heard anyone claim that building one yourself is a lot more expensive than buying a pre-built. I've found just the opposite to be true in my own experience and many others agree with me.
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What makes it cost more is the need to buy a full copy of Windows to install on it.

In the good old days, you could just move the hard drive from your old PC into your homebuilt with the latest motherboard, processor, etc. But these days if you bought a PC off the shelf, the version of Windows it's loaded with is extremely hardware-specific. Which means it very likely won't work if you put that hard drive into a new machine with a different motherboard, processor, etc.

Mind you, this all assumes the builder is buying all new parts -- case, power supply, motherboard, processor, RAM, hard drive, DVD burner, media card reader, sound card, video card, network card (if it's not integrated), etc. The more of this stuff you take from your previous computer, the less your new build will cost -- naturally.

RAM is cheap. Hard drives are cheap. But a full version of Windows 7 Home Premium can run from $100-$180 just by itself. The 64-bit Professional version goes between $140-$250. These are Amazon prices -- no doubt you can do a little better elsewhere. Still, the cost of purchasing a full version of Windows is a factor.
 
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For my last PC, 3 years ago, I started with a $500 Dell box.

That got me a running tower case with an i7 920 with 6 GB of RAM, Win 7, Raid controller, a 640GB HDD, etc.

I added multiple hard drives and a graphics card. I just added 24GB of RAM in 3x8GB, for a total of 27GB for $180.

I have never paid more than $500 for a base PC. I usually buy a name brand at a great price, because they get a quantity price discount on the CPU and the Win 7 OS, as mentioned.

Recently, for example, there was a Dell XPS 8500, i7 3700 Ivy Bridge, with a 24" IPS monitor for $1,000 - $150 rebate, or $850 net.

The CPU at New Egg alone costs $350. Add in the $150 mentioned above for the OS and $350 for the monitor, and you basically get everything else for free - case, motherboard, power supply, DVD+- drive, base RAM, etc. (I actually know a guy who is building a box with the same CPU, and he is going low end on a number of items to keep it under $1,000 without a monitor.)

Now obviously you will want to add a graphics card, RAM, HDD's, and maybe a bigger power supply (depending on the graphics card.) But it is definitely worth the time to watch the deals and wait for the right offer , instead of paying retail for the components.


From Techbargains 2 weeks ago. Watch for a similar deal:

*****************************************************

Dell XPS 8500 Core i7 Quad-Core IVY BRIDGE Desktop + 24in Ultrasharp IPS LCD +
$150 GC $999

AMAZING DEAL! Dell Home has the Dell XPS 8500 Intel Core
i7-3770 Quad-Core Ivy Bridge Desktop Computer for a low $999.99 Free Shipping.


Tax in most.

BONUS $150 Dell Gift Card with purchase (arrives in
10-20 days via email, carries a 90-day exp)

BONUS Dell UltraSharp U2412M
24

**************************************************************

Good luck!

Best,
Michael
 
I was going to build my own but decided against it since 100% functionality was quickly needed and I didn't know how to fine tune componets for maximum efficiency. I got my system built by avadirect.com to use with Edius. The folks on the Edius forum helped me spec it out then ava added their technical expertise. My system using high quality components was around $1,600.
 
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