I used to be a console gamer, I have now switched over to PC. Recently I have gathered money to build a custom desktop PC (I am currently using a crappy dell laptop) and I have ran into a problem.
About a week ago when I proposed the idea to my parents( I'm in my lower teens) I told them what I wanted to do, so my mom went to her friend who works at Microsoft and asked I he could get me any discounts. When she hung up the phone she told me that he said he could, but that I should reconsider building it.
I later found out that just a few weeks before he had bought his son an alienware desktop and that he thinks I should do the same. Turns out he had told her that building a computer is very hard (I know its not that hard since I helped my friend build his) and that I should also buy an alienware desktop.
I of course said that they are overpriced and that a PC I built myself would have a much better value,but she wouldn't budge. Anyways my question is, what should I do? Should I try show her a video? Continue to argue with her? Any help would be most appreciated.
lol this is a pretty funny situation (not for you of course). I think there are a few things you can do. First, show a video of a pc being built, there are plenty out there. LinusTechTips has dozens of pc builds on his channel. And then you should prove that you are capable by taking something apart and putting it back together, like your current crappy laptop for instance, or a toaster, or w/e is around the house. After that she should be convinced that you can build a PC no prob. If she is still unsure about it, then you will need to take a stand and straight up tell her that you want to build your PC, and that you want to save money by building it yourself. It won't be easy, but perseverance is your friend.
When I was in my lower teens, building PCs just wasn't as budget friendly as it is now, and I bought a Lenovo y570 laptop, and it took me about a month to convince my parents to let me buy it with my own money, they kept telling me I didn't need a 'gaming laptop' since I had an xbox 360. I told them it wasn't a gaming laptop and that I needed it to run engineering programs when I started college 2 years after I bought it. I don't regret it, that thing ran some games it probably shouldn't of ran, and I still use it at university almost daily.
One thing you could do is decide upon a budget, have someone from here help you come up with a build for you with that budget. Then configure an alienware so that it has identical specs as the custom build. It will almost certainly cost significantly more.
Edit: The point here is to show your mom just how much you save by building it yourself.
You could just say "Mum(or mom) the fact is is that i know how to build this and it is my money, it's my decisions and if i screw up then it's my money gone not yours, you don't need to worry about my money. Plus i think it'll be fun and a knowledgeable experience which could also help me out in the future"
There is also the benefit of warranties. If you buy an AlienWare and anything goes wrong you have to send the entire thing back to them and be with out for how ever long that is. If you build your own you can send individual parts back, this can mean (part dependent) that you can still use your PC while the part is being fixed/replaced. The process is usually a lot faster and cheaper too with a custom built PC.
I do really like the comparative build option from Morgoth780 too that is equal parts hilarious and terrifying to see the price difference.
Another good idea would be to hunt down unsatisfied customer reviews of AlienWare PCs online, there are lots to choose from and show them to your Mum.
SIDE NOTE: A root cause angle would be nice to know as well. Is her friend getting kick backs for recommending AlienWare? Do they work for them? Or are they affiliated in any way. Keep in mind AlienWare are a part of Dell now.
Physically cleaning a PC is important. To remove the dust, you need to know how to take a PC apart and rebuild it. It's routine maintenance.
Also, Alienware show no consideration for component quality. Often using unsuitable power supplies, which is quite an oversight. A bad power supply will degrade your components.
That should appeal to you parents. Getting your money's worth, having some longevity.
I would honestly ask her to watch Logans $450 gaming PC build video
http://youtu.be/cGrvRItaCDY
She might not understand it fully but he does present it in such a way that familiarizes it. The more she knows and understands the less afraid of the idea she will be. I think your key selling point in this will be the education you provide her.
Do everything mentioned above here, but also show your mom that you are actually learning something by building it yourself. Expanding your knowledge and skill set. Start out educating yourself young, get a head start. I know a lot of us here wish we had.
Mobo: Asus B85M-E (IDK Much about the cheaper Intel boards so...)
RAM: 8GB 1600Mhz ADATA
HDD: 1TB WD Caviar Blue
GPU: PNY nVidia GeForce GTX 760
PSU: Corsair CX500M
Networking: Intel 802.11 b/g/n/ac Network Adapter
ODD: Asus DVD/CD Writer
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite
OS: Windows 8.1
Total: $890.82 before Tax and shipping
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3ENJ8
My build could easily be made cheaper with different components and omitting things like an optical drive which you don't need or the improved CPU cooler. Someone with more Intel experience could recommend something cheaper.
an additional point this guy just made, its like burger king have it your way
You have the choice to change and choose every component to not only something else you want that might fit better, but also the brand, some of the shit they put in these premades is just that, shit
building your own system is something you can take pride in. Just like Gigabuster said, its yours you chose the parts you put it together. I can back you up all day long on wanting to build your own system, I'm sure me and many others here have a degree(s) in the IT field, and anyone of us would back you up.
well I don't have a degree or certs lol But I have made over 60 computers personally in the past 3 years, I'd back you up to what little its worth, I mean pretty much the only reason I'm a mod is because of the build a PC section lolololol
You should tell her all the benfits of building it yourself like choosing the parts you whant and not the wons alianware whants like maybe going for a cheaper motherboard if you dont overclock or cheaping out on the case because it dosn't chang performance and all this stuff
Sorry for any spelling mistakes im from germany and my english isn't the best =D