Who built their own PC for image processing

[leekch]

Just a show of hands, who personally built your own PCs for image processing. If possible, list down the reason(s) why you choose this route rather than buying a set from well known manufacturers. I am not implying anything to belittle anyone.

[harrynkl]

i ask my friend to mod for me. can get higher preformance with low budget:grin:

[Static]

I find DIY cost more nowadays....

Dell selling whole system with duo core processor and 19" LCD monitor for

less than 1.2K.... Seriously... no one can beat them...

[jer]

I DIY my current system 3yrs ago and it was much cheaper (relatively). Almost same price as a DELL set then but higher spec and it's completely upgradeable as I knew wat I put in. Feel damn shiok about it....

[espn]

DIY has the opportunity for me to remove and add things at will. I'm not crippled if one part dies (like video). I can buy and replace at will.

And yeah, like Jer, I prefer to know what goes into my system. Hardly wholesale computers have high-end parts inside them.

I've been DIY-ing since 1996, so I'll keep with it.

[leekch]

I share the same as ESPN. Yes, the price of a DIY PC might not be competitive to those branded PC, but I get to choose the parts I want to put in depending on the intended purpose. When one component fails, I can just go out and buy the replacement off-the-shelve and do the change myself; but of course, it applies to people who are familar with PC DIY.

Just asking, is there a performance difference between a DIY PC vs a branded PC in terms of post-processing of electronic pictures.

[espn]

I share the same as ESPN. Yes, the price of a DIY PC might not be competitive to those branded PC, but I get to choose the parts I want to put in depending on the intended purpose. When one component fails, I can just go out and buy the replacement off-the-shelve and do the change myself; but of course, it applies to people who are familar with PC DIY.

Just asking, is there a performance difference between a DIY PC vs a branded PC in terms of post-processing of electronic pictures.
That is very dependant on what it built into the machine.

For DIY, I don't like onboard stuff like video/sound/lan, too resource hogging and the resources need to be split accordingly.

I never believed a branded PC can out do a customised DIY PC. For one, you don't even know who makes the motherboard and the chipsets/architecture used!

[Thomas]

I find DIY cost more nowadays....

Dell selling whole system with duo core processor and 19" LCD monitor for

less than 1.2K.... Seriously... no one can beat them...

I agree too that the price is really good. Hmm but for image processing, LCD monitors do not have the colour accuracy that is crucial to photographers.

Maybe buy whole set, sell LCD, buy CRT? :grin:

[espn]

I agree too that the price is really good. Hmm but for image processing, LCD monitors do not have the colour accuracy that is crucial to photographers.

Maybe buy whole set, sell LCD, buy CRT? :grin:
Really depends. Depends on your budget for colour accuracy, there are very good LCD monitors out there, LCD has moved and taken over CRTs, might as well move on. 21" CRT takes at least 5 times a 30" LCD space needs.

For me.. LCD's the way to go. My current 19" LCD has been 3 years old, time to look for a new one. But kinda outta budget for the 30", prolly a 24" or something. Mabbe retire the 19" for my Mac to use as external display.

[leekch]

From what I have observed, CRT monitor tends to be more accurate in colour reproduction but lacks contrast and cannot reproduce 100% black. LCD monitor is the other way round. Do you agree on that.

Anyway, coming back to the self assemble PCs - Major branded PCs do not manufacturer the parts, they buy from third party and assemble. This may be an exception for HP, where they self manufacturer most of the parts themselves for high-end workstations.

I have been doing self assembling PCs since the days of 486 era. Back then, self assembled units are often cheaper then branded ones. However as the years progresses, the difference in price become smaller. Nevertheless, I myself prefer to self assemble my own PC.

[espn]

From what I have observed, CRT monitor tends to be more accurate in colour reproduction but lacks contrast and cannot reproduce 100% black. LCD monitor is the other way round. Do you agree on that.

Anyway, coming back to the self assemble PCs - Major branded PCs do not manufacturer the parts, they buy from third party and assemble. This may be an exception for HP, where they self manufacturer most of the parts themselves for high-end workstations.

I have been doing self assembling PCs since the days of 486 era. Back then, self assembled units are often cheaper then branded ones. However as the years progresses, the difference in price become smaller. Nevertheless, I myself prefer to self assemble my own PC.Actually I thought the same way as you 3 years ago when I ditched my $500 Sony 15" CRT (bought in 96). But as I got a 24bit panel and having used it for photo works, I find it's about the same. The black on the CRT looks better than the LCD with backlit on. For colours wise, looks the same to me, maybe because my CRT was the flat screen kind and there wasn't really a shiny glossy glass in front of the tube. Output wise sending to print, my printer never really did feedback saying my colours are off. Only when I didn't process the shots and send in then I get the feedback it's off.

I think the price factor nowadays is not why people wanna DIY, I'm thinking it's more along the lines of getting what they want into the system and the flexibility to upgrade/update the parts as and when they want instead of branded PCs. Having OEM parts in the system does make it hard to upgrade and move along with technology especially when the new parts won't work.