Want to start building as a hobby

terley · 18 Jan 2015 at 18:37

Looking on starting to build as a hobbyist, I dont really do much in my spare time and i do get a reasonable amount of enjoyment from building nice pc's and making them look nice.

Can anyone recommend any hardware range i should be starting at that wouldn't break the bank and could probably not devalue at a full build level (im not particularly looking to sell on)

Im guessing AMD would be better value for money if im not looking on building a monster.

This is really just to become a spend over time side project that may eventually be used as a media pc.

I know i want the PC to either be an ATX or EATX build.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Budget is flexible

stulid · 18 Jan 2015 at 18:38

AMD are good if you dont have much to spend, APUs or the FX6300 are good little chips.

What budget do you have in mind?

What do you want this PC to do?

Radec · 18 Jan 2015 at 18:41

You can do it if I can.
Only thing I find though, is that it doesn't take very long, unless it is a proper monster machine.

D1craig · 18 Jan 2015 at 18:49

when you say "AMD for budget building" that has to mean just the cpu. the gpus are pretty good and very comaparable especially with the prices they are at now. and tbh i think the AMD cards look a lot nicer than the nVidia 900s. all the 970s and 980s are boring.

Legend · 18 Jan 2015 at 19:05

I'm curious, is it possible to do this and not make a loss if you're selling on, at any price point? I'm not talking about starting a business and becoming a rival to OCUK Tech Labs lol, just so you can keep building and not making a loss all the time.

Hagar · 19 Jan 2015 at 16:14

Legend said:
I'm curious, is it possible to do this and not make a loss if you're selling on, at any price point? I'm not talking about starting a business and becoming a rival to OCUK Tech Labs lol, just so you can keep building and not making a loss all the time.

There is no way to make money as a hobbyist building (and selling) PC's. I have done it for about 15 years on and off.

Selling on Home PC
Building to spec for a friend / relative.
Upgrading old base units.
Recycling 'free' work PC's

All have costs associated, even excluding your time which as a hobbyist is free.

There are few things which depreciate more when a) leaving the shop and b) being built into a machine than PC parts. You are paying the market price for parts and competing with shops and the second hand market on price for the finished unit.

Keep it to friends and family, offer support if you like for a nominal cost or box of chocs basis.

If you can stand a slight loss on parts cost you can do it but that would be the true price of your hobby.