A question for customer builders

[theBeast]

How long, on average, does it take for you to build a system from the ground up? Not including OS? Note: This includes a WORKING system, with LEDs right, and everything?

When I first started, a system would take me 35-45 minutes to build.
Now, a system takes 15-20 to build...these new fang-dangled cases help lots too.

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***the Beast
- I only came for the platypus soup

[sebass54]

Yeah the new cases and ATX mobos help a lot. But 15-20 minutes is good time. On a fast enough machine with enough RAM, I used to do a Windows 98 box with OS (PBF installation) in 30 min.

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"then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, is just a freight train coming your way..."

[Tech Head]

We buy in 'ready built' systems for our general workstations. These comprise of -

Case/PSU
Motherboard
3.5" Floppy
52X CDROM
+ ALL cables already attached
+ (And sometimes I find this hard to believe) already 'Tested/Burnt-In'

After adding CPU+COOLER/RAM/HD it is built within 4-5 minutes and at no extra cost if buying separately.

But for more specialist machines (I.E. CAD workstations, VIDEO editing, low end server .. etc) a typical full system build would take, like you said, from 15-20 minutes.

Where as a high specification server may take upto 4+ hours to build.

Hooray for 'Spiral Wrap'

Martin

[tyroneshu]

Doesnt take to long 15-30 depending on what is being installed.

Ok How long does it take to typically upgrade a system? ie. PentiumI to Pentium III or 4 etc. to new case the works

[Sowulo]

To just assemble without formatting drive and installing OS? Without interruptions and all the parts at my fingertips probably no more than 5 minutes.

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Ya never know, ya know?

[dumb blonde]

i guess i'm just to slow by the time i get cables in and make it look it look nice and neat inside it takes me 30 to 40 minutes

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what will go wrong today???? never mind going back to bed

[Jvaguy]

about 20 minutes .. (have to fix my play list for mp3s while working to ya know) ..



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1,2,3,4,5,6,7 all good children go to heaven

[SiCkNuT]

15-20 mins average. When I build a server I take longer because I make sure everything is "eye candy" on the inside. Don't ask why but it makes me feel alot better about the quality of the system if there isn't messy cables running everywhere!

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[ i N S A N i T Y 2 0 o 1 ]

[Alaeth]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by SiCkNuT:
15-20 mins average. When I build a server I take longer because I make sure everything is "eye candy" on the inside. Don't ask why but it makes me feel alot better about the quality of the system if there isn't messy cables running everywhere!
</font>

I agree... I just finished (last night) upgrading my wife to an Athlon 700... I spent maybe 15min gutting the old case and putting the cards and drives in the new one. They another half an hour to "roundize" the IDE cables, tidy the power cables and generally cable tie the hell out of the whole thing.
There is tons of room for decent airflow, or several bags of Doritos

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Some ppl complain, others upgrade! (Add me to the second catagory plz)

[Schui]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Alaeth:
I agree... I just finished (last night) upgrading my wife to an Athlon 700... I spent maybe 15min gutting the old case and putting the cards and drives in the new one

</font>

Man, I bet there's a lot of techies here dat would LOVE to upgrade their wife to an Athlon 700.....

Do you think I could upgrade my Fiancè to an Athlon 1 gig....!



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A General Protection Error has occured - Time to go home...

[theBeast]

We had a howl at the last place where I worked. A group of 4 15 year old "wannabes" got together and formed a company that built custom built systems. They bragged to the newspaper that it took "four guys only 2 hours to build a system!"
8 FREAKING man hours?!
90% of the time, we'd get those systems in our store because dumb-assed things like IDE cables plugged in bassackwards, etc.
The kid brought one system in to us because he dropped it down a flight of stairs!
Needlesstosay, since these were weinies, and our "competition" (if you could call it that), we charged 'em through the nose.
Word got out that WE were doing their tech work, and people brought it to us....we'd charge 'em $90 for a job, they'd turn around and charge the customer $120 for the job. LOL

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***the Beast
- I only came for the platypus soup

[scutterboy]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Alaeth:
I agree... I just finished (last night) upgrading my wife to an Athlon 700... I spent maybe 15min gutting the old case and putting the cards and drives in the new one. They another half an hour to "roundize" the IDE cables, tidy the power cables and generally cable tie the hell out of the whole thing.

</font>

There's a name for twisted sicko's like you...
Certified..

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And Control Enter STILL wont let me post a reply.

[captpackrat]

I tend to be rather anal when it comes to assembling a system. I usually take my time, make sure that everything is tightened down, that all available screw holes have screws in them (Yes, I'm one of those nuts who tends to put 4 screws on each side of a CD-ROM!), put heatsink compound on the CPU (which is time consuming on its own. Messy stuff!), make sure the cards and drives are organized for the best airflow, for optimum cable management, and for eaze of future upgrades and repairs.

Usually takes me around 30 minutes to completely assemble a system from an empty case, longer if it's a very small or unusual case, or if it's stuff I've never worked with before. I probably could do it faster, but I don't see the point, and would rather take my time.

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Captain Troy D. Pack Rat
`akbar Press

If you're furry and you know it, hug the mouse!

[archangel]

Does anyone else do this?

My computer looks like hell. Missing screws, CD ROMS have only two screws, case is not screwed shut, cable just bunched up etc. But the computers I build for other people look great. I take my time and make sure everything is screwed in and cables are organized.

Maybe its because I upgrade so often, but I never spend more time then I have to working on my machine. I also never trouble shoot. If it acts up, format reinstall everything.

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www.el-mono.com

[Danrak]

I'm told im somewhat "anal" about how I build computers. I tie all the cables up and make them neat, make sure every screw is in tight, stuff that I consider basic when building a computer. I've even broken down when someone brings a computer to me and their are cables all over the place and tied their cables up for them.
Computers that i do on the side I tend to spend more time on though since it's usually for a family member or friend.

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.·°Danrak°·.
I possess a mind not merely twisted, but actually sprained.