[Col Freeper]

I build all my own PC’s. Loaded rarely cost over $400 or $500 MAX. Most of the software is FREE because everyone writes for XP.

I've built my last four PCs. Seems like my average cost comes in around $700.

I'm usually aiming a a good compromise between general use and gaming, and try to stay about one wave behind the "cutting edge" in hardware.

Expect the next one to be cheaper though, because of the constantly dropping prices for the hardware.

Maybe next time I'll go with some flavor of Linux instead of Windows.

[JSteff]

“I’ve built my last four PCs. Seems like my average cost comes in around $700”

Oh yeah, where do you get the parts?

[JSteff]

“Expect the next one to be cheaper though, because of the constantly dropping prices for the hardware.”

I just bought a back up (extra reserve) PC. Got a refurb IBM ThinkCentre 2.8 HT, Win XP Pro, CD on Ebay for $90. Added some extra memory I had sitting around. Nice system for the money.

The price was too good. I could not get close building one. I am going to throw in one of my old drives and put the Beta of win7 on it.

[Swordmaker]

I've built my last four PCs. Seems like my average cost comes in around $700.

Now, build that computer into the back of a 20" LCD screen, complete with Firewire 800, BlueTooth, WIFI, and Gigabit Ethernet...and make it completely silent in operation. What does it cost to make now? ;^)>

[SlowBoat407]

I built my last computer out of curds and whey, and wrote the OS in crayon on a napkin.