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charliea

(354 posts)

22. So have I

Reply to Fil1957 (Reply #13)

Tue May 5, 2026, 04:26 PM

May 5

Always built my own, and built a new one for each kid as they went to college. Built a few small form factor systems for friends over the years. Never could build a laptop though, at one point I saw some limited kits being offered but I wasn't impressed. I've got Windows on my current laptop but Linux on all of the desktops. Windows demands to have a TPM 2.0 on 11, precludes most systems older than 2019 although I know you can work around that with some effort.
Started to look at building a new one recently and saw what the AI (ha!) gold rush has done to component pricing. The new HBM4 memory standard is whizzy fast but the demand is higher than production capacity, and all other RAM prices rise with it. Expensive even to add memory to existing systems.

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Here's what data centers are doing to the PC business. I built my own PC last Sept. as mu old one was 13 years old [View all] Cheezoholic May 5 OP

The computer geeks Keepthesoulalive May 5 #1

Yes, it's why I built mine when I did, and in September. I still came in under Black Friday pricing, which is nuts n/t Cheezoholic May 5 #3

When the orange piggy turd was elected kimbutgar May 5 #2

I need to buy a new laptop, mine's 6 years old. Initech May 5 #12

You might look at an Acer UpInArms May 5 #27

Yeah Acer was on my list. Initech May 5 #28

And Windows 10 will start becoming unusable in October. I can't put Windows 11 into my perfectly fine desktop. BamaRefugee May 5 #4

I am still using my old windows machines Keepthesoulalive May 5 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 May 5 #9

For some reason when I've run the test BamaRefugee May 5 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author Sector 001 May 5 #29

Get something refurbished. LuvLoogie May 5 #11

Thank you I'll check that out BamaRefugee May 5 #26

Refurbished I think is standard 90 days, but LuvLoogie May 5 #34

I built mine last year. Bought a 7800X3D and 9070XT. Cost less than $1,000. Initech May 5 #6

Will Linux become more popular? purr-rat beauty May 5 #7

Not only that, but computer makers are "baking in" age verification and who knows what else. usonian May 5 #10

My daughter just switched to Linux Luciferous May 5 #14

My daughter has been using Linux for years and Prairie_Seagull May 5 #17

I will switch as soon as the apps I use move over. tinrobot May 5 #21

I salvaged the monitor, keyboard and mouse from my last Windows 10 PC. Used them on a $449 m4 MacMini. retread May 5 #8

Apple supports their hardware for a ridiculously long time Soul_of_Wit May 5 #15

Once you get a Mac, you'll never go back. nt Trueblue Texan May 5 #18

Every desktop I've ever had I've built myself. It's fun, you save money and you get a depth of understanding of your Fil1957 May 5 #13

So have I charliea May 5 #22

A few years ago I really wanted to build a laptop, and the kit I saw was pretty good. If it was a little more expensive Fil1957 May 5 #32

Also hard drives Bluetus May 5 #16

I just bought a prebuilt gaming PC in late February. Grumpy Old Guy May 5 #19

64GB of RAM cost me $153 last year. Same product today is $839 tinrobot May 5 #20

If we slow AI, it's liking horse and buggy drivers yelling at cars. Melon May 5 #23

China doesn't care about killing jobs or the environment. FascismIsDeath May 5 #31

I work on a competitive industry Melon May 5 #35

Horses? Not even close. It's more like car companies hoarding all the steel. tinrobot May 5 #37

You left something else out jmowreader May 5 #24

I had my newest machine custom made with a nice nVidia card that has 16GB of VRAM. FascismIsDeath May 5 #30

M2 SSDs pricing has gone insane. yourout May 5 #33

Remember when the fiber optic market collapsed because it built out too far, too fast ? eppur_se_muova May 5 #36