Which component are you inclined to save money on?
- Thread starter JonJ678
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Less memory (can easily/cheaply add more later). And like you the case, I'll pick the cheapest 'decent' one I like for about £50ish any cheaper and the quality rapidly deteriorates
I don't really. I generally buy 2nd hand and older models.
However Next time I do a build I will be spending lots of money on psu/case/water cooling. if you have the money I think it's worth investing in these as they never need upgrading in the future (apart from the blocks)
However Next time I do a build I will be spending lots of money on psu/case/water cooling. if you have the money I think it's worth investing in these as they never need upgrading in the future (apart from the blocks)
I'd skimp on the CPU. For example, the difference between an Intel Q8300 and a Q8400 is 160MHz. Apart from that they are the same (cache, TDP, stepping etc.). I'd go for the cheaper option and clock up, and spend the money i would save on extra cooling, or more efficient cooling.
Soldato
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ahh you see im the opposite, id say *never* skimp on your cpu or mobo, the rest can be a reasonably cheap hassle free upgrade, but those two components are the very fabric of the machine and should be of the highest affordable quality
Associate
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I was looking at £100+ cases and ended up with a £65 case and modded it to suit my needs, so guess I skimpped a little there. Other than that Im not sure... RAM is always something to easily upgrade later on, but to be honest, I think nearly everything in my system is second hand. Only bits Ive bought brand new are the rad, fans, hard drive and dvd drive lol.
Managed to get £50 off my CPU, £50 off my RAM, £20 off the PSU, £70 worth of water blocks thrown in free with the mobo etc. So just saved money on everything by getting second hand
Managed to get £50 off my CPU, £50 off my RAM, £20 off the PSU, £70 worth of water blocks thrown in free with the mobo etc. So just saved money on everything by getting second hand
I tend to skimp a little on the videocard, or hard drive (I tend to replace the videocard every couple of years anyway, and hard drives are easy to add).
What I don't tend to skimp on are the case - a good case will still be usable in 5-10 years*
PSU - can cause all sorts of problems if you get a cheapy (from stability to everything being killed nwhen it pops).
Memory - can be a right PITA if you get cheap memory that doesn't like your motherboard.
Keyboard/mice/monitor - you only get one set of hands, and eyes and getting an uncomfortable keyboard/mouse will cause discomfort/annoyance/possibly long term health problems.
What I don't tend to skimp on are the case - a good case will still be usable in 5-10 years*
PSU - can cause all sorts of problems if you get a cheapy (from stability to everything being killed nwhen it pops).
Memory - can be a right PITA if you get cheap memory that doesn't like your motherboard.
Keyboard/mice/monitor - you only get one set of hands, and eyes and getting an uncomfortable keyboard/mouse will cause discomfort/annoyance/possibly long term health problems.
Associate
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definately would not skimp on psu...take out mobo and possibly cpu...ouch if that happens and you just bought an i7 and x58 lol.
memory is no hassle to skimp on.. aslong as you buy the correct type you can buy the OcUK value stuff and its brill.. can be oc'd with a decent airflow in your case.
deffo do not skimp on ergonomics... i totally agree for keyboard mice and monitor. nout wrong with saitek eclipse and razer copperhead mouse!
Man of Honour
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Agree 100% - those 3 things are how you interact with the box under the table and are incredibly important.
I don't really skimp on anything, but I don't tend to go for the top of the range models in any catagory. A good performer in the middle to upper range is where I pick an option.
Man of Honour
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Nothing really. If i can't afford it at the time i wait until i can. I will not compromise a balanced rig. If i had to pick something it would be the cpu as you can always make up the clock difference by overclocking. You can never make up the cache though which is another reason i will not compromise. Buying a cheaper option to replace later is a false economy in my opinion.
I tend to skimp on the gfx card - i usually buy 2 specs below the very latest release. I usually find this compromise serves my purposes.
Having said that i did the whole of my last upgrade on a deliberately restricted budget just to see how much bang i could get for my buck. So far i've been very impressed whith the performance i've got for under £280. (cpu, mobo, memory, cooler)
Conversely, the case is where i usually spend the extra as i only replace it about every 5-6 years. The last case i bought, 5 years ago'ish was a Coolermaster Praetorian and has served me really well, having housed 4 complete upgrades so far. (I've left too much of my dna in cheap cases in the form of my blood, in the past - so i avoid them if at all possible when doing builds.).
Trouble is i'm about to do a build using the Silverstone Fortress - and i fear i may want one... :/
Having said that i did the whole of my last upgrade on a deliberately restricted budget just to see how much bang i could get for my buck. So far i've been very impressed whith the performance i've got for under £280. (cpu, mobo, memory, cooler)
Conversely, the case is where i usually spend the extra as i only replace it about every 5-6 years. The last case i bought, 5 years ago'ish was a Coolermaster Praetorian and has served me really well, having housed 4 complete upgrades so far. (I've left too much of my dna in cheap cases in the form of my blood, in the past - so i avoid them if at all possible when doing builds.).
Trouble is i'm about to do a build using the Silverstone Fortress - and i fear i may want one... :/
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if anything, a bigger hdd, but for now its a guitar
Always, but always put the guitar first!
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Everything. I waited 5 months before the price was right on all the components for my HTPC build. I had seen the prices fluctuate on all the different components and when I saw they were just right I bought the lot!
I dont like to skimp on cases though either, but I paid £82 for my Antec P182 for my main build which I waited for the price to come back down from £95, and now it goes for £110 or more!
Mobo & with consequences of them failing within a short period. Although to be honest bought what I thought was a top notch one & it also failed even faster. Current one has lasted despite being cheap but has issues 
Funny thing is I have a b-grade bin mobo which has lasted now for almost 4-years (touchwood)
Tended also to skimp on GFX until my recent purchase. Though, that means I'll keep current one for, hopefully even longer.
Funny thing is I have a b-grade bin mobo which has lasted now for almost 4-years (touchwood) Tended also to skimp on GFX until my recent purchase. Though, that means I'll keep current one for, hopefully even longer.
Honestly, nothing. My PC isn't crazy specced anymore but every part is good quality. I could have lost £5-600 off the build and not lost any speed at all now I think about it.
Corsair 1000w PSU, Coolermaster Stacker 832 Case, WD Raptor/Caviar Black Hard Drives, X-Fi Prelude Soundcard
If I had to, the sound card would go first, then a slightly worse case, although I can't handle a tacky plastic one.
Corsair 1000w PSU, Coolermaster Stacker 832 Case, WD Raptor/Caviar Black Hard Drives, X-Fi Prelude Soundcard
If I had to, the sound card would go first, then a slightly worse case, although I can't handle a tacky plastic one.
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