i'm thinking of building computers on the side.

[hank123]

so i think i might build gaming computer for people on the side to make some easy money. I put in wireless networks for a while to put my self though school and made a killing.
I look at what some of these companies are charging and what I could make even selling them for a little less.

what kind of market do you think there is? I had a inside track when I was putting in networks before.

I got some ideas to really kick it off the ground later this year.
I know its going to take a investment but the money wont be a problem before to long.
I want to do this cause I'm sick of busting my ass, getting sun burned all the time, dirt in my ears, and not being able to spend all the time i want to with my friends and family.

[Crotch-Rot]

you can be sure that nothing's going to explode on you...

[hank123]

thats not a lie. I might come across some POS PSUs that could blow up.

[Donavon]

I had thought about doing something like this too, but the main draw back I see is.... I don't want to have to support it later on when the end user F's it up....
I work tech support in my regular job, and believe me when I say I've seen some stupid crap... hardware failure is one thing, but I can just see selling a nice gaming rig to someone, then getting a call 'hey, I installed this AdSpamReamMyComputer software that I found on the internet and now my computer won't start' --> I don't want to deal with morons... sorry, I do that enough at my regular job.
And the thing is, I'm setup perfectly to do this right now if I wanted to... I started working from home last year, I'm in a call queue, so when I'm waiting for a call to come in I could work on a pc, or if I'm on a long boring call I could work on a pc...

I guess you could put some clause in a contract that you only support the hardware, so if the user F's up the OS you're not liable - maybe make a ghost image and either include it on a DVD or partition for them to reload if (when) they kill it.

[Crotch-Rot]

In situations like that, you provide a free 3-month support service on the new PC. Then after that, you charge them for the support calls. It's amazing how much less support calls you get when people have to pay for the call. All of a sudden, the big problem they have is not big any more.

[hank123]

I had thought about doing something like this too, but the main draw back I see is.... I don't want to have to support it later on when the end user F's it up....
I work tech support in my regular job, and believe me when I say I've seen some stupid crap... hardware failure is one thing, but I can just see selling a nice gaming rig to someone, then getting a call 'hey, I installed this AdSpamReamMyComputer software that I found on the internet and now my computer won't start' --> I don't want to deal with morons... sorry, I do that enough at my regular job.
And the thing is, I'm setup perfectly to do this right now if I wanted to... I started working from home last year, I'm in a call queue, so when I'm waiting for a call to come in I could work on a pc, or if I'm on a long boring call I could work on a pc...

I guess you could put some clause in a contract that you only support the hardware, so if the user F's up the OS you're not liable - maybe make a ghost image and either include it on a DVD or partition for them to reload if (when) they kill it.

i saw a lot of dumb shit when i was putting in networks. people really **** up there computers. i love how !women! load there computers up with every chat and e-mail program in the world.
and then they only use it 2 times a year. then the bitch about how slow there computer is.
I got friends that run a computer store so I will run a few questions by them.
I may NOT install the software. just build the ma-chine and let them work it out. maybe give them a few drivers for the mobo and video card ect.
if I do load software i will make a ghost copy of there hard drive on a dvd or something.
building good computers is cheap and easy.
theres a few things i wont do.

SLI
intell.

[Dereks_06]

If you start a computer store you can't be a fanboy. Your gonna have to learn to like Intel because they are faster. And when a customer comes in the only thing they know about performance is Ghz. They are not going for low Ghz cpu's they want their 3.6Ghz P4 even over a C2D.

[Gruthar]

I think you'll have to do more than just build computers if you want to make a decent living off of it. Getting customers will be hard, I imagine, and gamers are more likely to just go out and build their own.

I've also considered starting my own business, but in talking to people and fixing computers for students at the University, I've come to realize that tech support is more in demand. I would certainly offer to build customized PCs, but I don't think it's viable as the only source of revenue for a business.

Doesn't vortex do this kind of stuff? You should see what he has to say.

[StevenNevets]

They are not going for low Ghz cpu's they want their 3.6Ghz P4 even over a C2D.That's so true... I've had many people in real life telling me they just ordered a computer, I ask the specs and they say windows xp and 4ghz:wallbash:

[sir_digalot]

the problem i always had about building the machines is the competativeness of the market, and besides that, i know of no one who wnats to drop a couple of grand on a gaming PC *L*

[JustMeBF2]

The prices are so low on the net.

The main reason for someone to buy from you is that they have local tech support or that they can touch it before they pay for it.

I do maintenance and repair on computers which equals pure cash.

[hank123]

yes there are some low prices on the net and with most of those low prices u get crappie parts and shit for customer service.

alienware is owned by dell and dell has shit for customer service. they also charge like 175 bucks for a extra gig of RAM and it know its crap ram.

I think I might be able to work something out with the local computer store here in town.
I would give them XX amount of money per computer sold if they would solve any software issues up to 3 months after the computer was sold. I would take care of the hardware issues. or something along those lines.

I could see it working out for the better both ways. if they only have to work on 3 out of 10 computers and they still make the full amount off of 10 computer and its dumb shit that i dont want to deal with everyone wins.

I think they would be better with software issues too cause they deal with dumb peoples stuff everyday.

[hank123]

If you start a computer store you can't be a fanboy. Your gonna have to learn to like Intel because they are faster. And when a customer comes in the only thing they know about performance is Ghz. They are not going for low Ghz cpu's they want their 3.6Ghz P4 even over a C2D.

if thats the case then stick with a single core cause the have a higher GHz. and my AM2 3800+ smokes my brothers 3.0GHz P4.

[JustMeBF2]

yes there are some low prices on the net and with most of those low prices u get crappie parts and shit for customer service.


This is my point. I used to sell custom computers way back before the prices dropped.
You can get quality parts by choice. But crappy customer service is because there is no profit in cs when you have already sold the computer priced so low.

The easiest way to do tech support on comps you sell is to set up a backup partition like the big boys. Then when they garble up the comp you just hit the reset buttom and warn them about being careful where they surf and what they download.

Instead of selling new comps now I do new comp purchase consulting.
I talk to them and figure out what will suit them for their needs and their future with in their budget. I charge $100-$150 depending if I go to their
house and plug it in for them. They purchase the comp from a site I send
them to.
Here is the current config I start with on gaming rigs.
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/341/comp222aj9.png

[hank123]

Thanks a lot Just!!!!

What GPUs are u running in them? I didnt see it.

and Vista seems like a bitch right now still. I was thinking of sticking with Vista for a least 6-8 more months.

I think I can snag the market around here for it. Its going to be tuff.

[JustMeBF2]

Single EVGA 8600 GTS

[hank123]

have u had problems with vista?

and a 8600GTS thats a low end DX10 card. whats the memory interface on it 128 bit?

[Dereks_06]

Ya it's 128bit and weak. It runs alright on that bus. But a X1950XT is cheaper than it and more powerful. Thats what should be put in it or a 8800GTS 320 in my opinion.

[JustMeBF2]

The 8600 is kinda low end but has tons of power for what games
are out there and is DX10 !!!!!!!!
For the guys that are getting ready for Crysis I suggest 8800 and 4 gig
ram. The list above is just the starting point for a high end gaming machine.
Next month the Intel quad cores are dropping in price and the AMD quads
should be out.

I won't run vista myself. But BF2 runs fine after you jump thru
some hoops and add MORE RAM. On the ones that went thru my hands,
I created a partition and added XP Pro for a dual boot to run BF2 and such on,
but the customer can also get use to vista for work and or school.


Ya it's 128bit and weak. It runs alright on that bus. But a X1950XT is cheaper than it and more powerful. Thats what should be put in it or a 8800GTS 320 in my opinion.

There is not any WEAK computer parts, just weak wallets and weak minds.

EVGA GeForce 8600 GTS / 256MB GDDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / DL Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card $154.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3041061&CatId=1560

[Dereks_06]

Well I didn't check the prices when I made that post. Was just going off of what I saw it at last. Your right it is not weak and can play most of todays games well, but it is still mid range (or what I like to call weak) compared to other video cards that are out there.

[z3speed4me]

ive tried this before....its just going to get you into trouble...
if ANYTHING at all goes wrong, even a windows error, its blamed on you

its not fun to be tech support 24-7


now i just build my own machine, over and over and over again every 4-6 months and i am happy

[sir_digalot]

i was thinking of building computers upside down once, but that idea fell through.

[hank123]

i was thinking of building computers upside down once, but that idea fell through.

bang.:lol:

[FozzyBear]

I think the idea of having 24/7 support for ONLY 3 months was on the right track. If they want more, price it high enough to make it worth it.

Most things that break within 3 months are hardware related, and should be fairly easy to diagnose.

I also would make yourself a "SYSTEM RESTORE DISC"....basically an image you load on to ALL of your systems. Makes a re-install much easier. Any software/hardware they have installed is not your concern. *make sure you state this in your warranty. All you gurantee is to put the system back like it was when you sold it. :thumbsup:

If you want to troubleshoot other programs, that is fine. I would just let them know there will be a fee associated with your "unofficial" support of add-on programs/drivers/etc.......

You can have a lucrative business, you just need to spell out the details early on. Make sure it is ULTRA-SPECIFIC. And if you provide a service free once.....realize you will be doing it free forever :slap:

I can hear the customer now.... "BUT!!! you didn't charge Jane anything to reset her bookmarks........." :lol:

[hank123]

thanks fozzy. wakka wakka.

I think I can work something out with the buddys here in town that have a computer shop. Give them so much money per computer sold if they cover software for 3 months.

I also thought about NOT putting in windows at all. theres a few company's out there that do that.