LAGWAR | GAMING'S BEST IN TOP NOTCH MEDIOCRITY

It can be a challenge to locate parts for your new custom PC. How do you know if you’re getting a good deal? Is it better to look in a computer store or to buy it online? What about used parts? With all the questions flying around your head you may be tempted to just give up and buy one that’s already put together, but I strongly urge you not to! Let’s break it down and see if we can find answers to these questions.

There really is no way to know if you’re getting a good deal, but there are a few things you can keep in mind that may help. New technology or new models of each part always have highly inflated prices. It takes 3-6 months after release for these prices to come down. It ends up falling to supply and demand. Everyone wants the new stuff and there is only so much of it, so the prices are always higher. If you wait around 6 months after the release of a product to buy it you will most definitely get a better deal. If you wait a year, it will be about as cheap as it will ever get unless you buy it from a store. Most stores don’t mark down their products just because they’re older because desperate people will still pay the big bucks, and, they want to make their money back on the product. Can you blame them? Warehouses that move a LOT of stock are the places to look, along with websites like Newegg.com or Tigerdirect.com

Typically, you will get lower prices and have a much greater selection if you shop for parts online. However, there is a down side. You have to pay for shipping, and that can add quite a bit to the cost. There is also a chance that you will receive a DoA item or one that is damaged in the mail, which could become quite a hassle. It can take up to a month to receive a replacement for a DoA part. Even if it is a year later that the part fails, the hassle of having to mail it back and wait in order to redeem the warranty is often not worth it to a lot of people. Stores have more convenience. The choice of whether to buy from a store or shop online is solely dependent on your personal preference. Remember, stores = convenience. Online = Lower cost, better selection. You choose.

Buying used parts is a very risky thing to do, not because they’re more likely to be damaged or won’t last as long, but because there typically is no warranty or guarantee for used parts. The fact of the matter is that there is no proof that a used computer part is more likely to fail than a new one. It is completely up to chance. You can have a part that doesn’t work right off the assembly, or fails after two weeks of use. You can also have a component that gets passed around to 6 different owners, is in use for 10 years, and is still going strong. All Chance.

After years in this industry, I can tell you that no matter what choice you make about anything there will be things you regret about it. There is no perfect solution or answer to any of these questions. Me, personally, I prefer low prices and great selection, so I tend to shop online. I’m a die-hard Newegg buyer and they have never let me down. Out of 6 full computer builds I’ve only ever had to send one part back, and it was a silly stick of memory. It took awhile, so I just bought a new one, and when I finally got the replacement I had twice as much memory. Win Win. I’ve also bought parts at stores that are being liquidated, like CompUSA and Circuit City. You can find good deals, but watch out for “open box” scams. Most of the open box parts don’t work, or are missing features. Really big dedicated electronics stores like MicroCenter and Fry’s offer a lot of good specials, have great service, and are convenient. As a rule of thumb, though, if you can buy DVDs and Music at the same store as computer parts, you should try some place else.