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Ask HN: Reliable source of information for PC builders?

1 points by PaulHoule ↗ HN
I am thinking about building a new PC but frankly I don't trust sites like Anandtech and Tom's Hardware. The last time I built a PC (long ago!) I found that the information was not accurate (allegedly quiet power supplies, hard drives and fans seemed to all have bad bearings)

These days it seems to be worse in that sites like the above make reccomendations based on data sheets w/o any actual reviews.

Are there good sources of data or do I just have to assume I might have to buy a few different motherboards, power supplies, etc. till I find parts that work?

4 comments

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r00t4ccess
Try pcpartpicker.com
allears
Yup, that's the resource I used most for my recent build. It's good to check reviews from all over, but that's the site that works the best for me for comparisons, prices, etc.
giantg2
I just check ratings/reviews on microcenter, newegg, and sometimes Amazon. Checking reviews from multiple sources seems to weed out the BS ones.
dementis
I usually like to start my own custom builds by looking at what is available from businesses that are specialized in selling custom PC builds and have been in business for years/decades(IE CyberPowerPC, Digital Storm, Falcon Northwest, PowerSpec PC(MicroCenter store brand) or Puget Systems) to see what is commercially available that would fit my needs. Then I start pricing out similar builds to see if it makes sense to build my own PC or not depending on what the individual components would cost me vs just buying a commercially available PC. Recently with the supply chain issues just finding the parts has been a challenge so that also needs to be factored into the equation too. Because of the supply chain issues and 3rd party resellers scalping hardware like crazy, sometimes it makes sense financially to just buy a prebuilt system just to get some components at a reasonable price(especially if you're willing to go through the hassle and time to sell the parts you don't need).

If I decide to build my own PC then I start looking up specifications and reviews on individual components. It takes a lot of time but you can eventually find some good YouTube vids or a forum post normally of someone doing an in-depth review of just about everything nowadays. I also don't buy 1st gen bleeding edge releases of any hardware product because I have been burned too many times over the years and it helps save a ton of cash.