Purchasing your office computers ready to go straight out of the box isn't the only option available to you. Consider the advantages of putting together your own computer or series of computers, and it becomes apparent that the time and effort you need to invest the project is rewarded through cost savings and other benefits.
Building your own computer is often cheaper than buying a ready made one, because you can focus on the features you do need and leave out the ones that you don't. Computer manufacturers and retailers include the cost of assembly, support and other overheads in the price of a finished computer; build your own, and you only have to pay the cost of the components, as you'll be taking care of everything else yourself. Source your own components for a system that matches one sold as a complete computer online, and in most cases you'll be making a saving. The amount you can save depends on the type of components you're purchasing, and the retailer you usually buy your machines from, but it can be up to several hundred dollars. Small Network Switch
Choose to build your own PC and you can tailor it to your exact requirements rather than relying on the configuration choices of others. If you value add-ons and extras (such as a TV tuner card) over CPU and RAM capabilities, then you can make this call. If you want to use an old monitor rather than buying a new one, this is up to you. If you need several hard drives or graphics cards in your system, you can set this up without being restricted by the specification options set by a manufacturer or retailer. Building your own computer enables you to choose exactly the components you want and need.
Spending time putting together has the added benefit of giving you a great insight into the inner workings of a PC -- by the time you've finished, you'll know the purpose of each internal component and how they all fit together through the motherboard. If something goes wrong with the computer (or any other computer in the office) you'll be far more competent to diagnose the problem. The more machines you put together, the more adept at it you'll become.
Another advantage of building your own computer is that you can leave room for future upgrades. Not only can you plan ahead and buy a motherboard capable of expansion, you'll also be much more clued up when it comes to buying better and more powerful components when the time comes. Whether it's buying a motherboard capable of running the latest line of CPUs or buying a PSU with spare capacity, building your own PC means you can future-proof it should an upgrade be required.
Cctv Network Switch An information technology journalist since 2002, David Nield writes about the Web, technology, hardware and software. He is an experienced editor, proofreader and copywriter for online publications such as CNET, TechRadar and Gizmodo. Nield holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and lives in Manchester, England.