Building the Ultimate Budget PC

James P -

Hello everyone, my name is James P., a Senior here at BASIS Prescott. To understand this project, you need to know one thing about me: I love building things. The art of taking component pieces and fusing them together to make something even greater are among some of the greatest experiences I have had. Among the things I’ve built, computers are the ultimate puzzle in my eyes. In fact, I have been involved in the tech and computer building space ever since I was 11 years old. I have especially enjoyed testing the limits when it comes to computers. Which parts are necessary when you build a computer? How far can you push affordability without sacrificing power or function? In a world where computers are often seen as luxury items, I want to prove they don’t have to be. In the end, with this Senior Project, I want to answer the question of just “How Affordable Can We Make a Computer?”.

Working under the guidance of my external advisors at PC Simplicity, the goal of this project is to explore the various ways to build a computer, and ultimately reduce the cost to as reasonably low as possible. I will be exploring cost-cutting strategies such as sourcing from refurbished parts, reducing labor costs, and balancing performance and budget. However, the goal of this project is not just to create a few affordable computers. Rather, it is about documenting the process of computer building: the struggles, the successes, and ultimately the guide to construct an affordable computer. I will create a step-by-step manual as well as a website to help aspiring engineers avoid the pitfalls I fell through and start their engineering journey by building their very own computer. In the end, I want to create the guide to constructing the Ultimate Budget PC.

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    theodore_d
    Wow James, that is very interesting! I have two questions for you: First, what would you consider "Affordable" in regards to computers? In other words, what is your goal for how much a computer should cost to make? Second, what will you be doing while you work at PC Simplicity? I am very excited to see your next blog post!
    February 13, 2025 at 5:32 pm - Reply
    zoey_b
    This is such a cool idea, especially in today's world where everything is becoming so expensive. Have you built a computer on your own before?
    February 13, 2025 at 9:06 pm - Reply
    James Pierce
    Those are good questions Theo! In terms of affordability, of course, I don't know exactly how much each will cost, but my goal is to make all the computers I build cost less than $150 since to me anything beyond that would be unaffordable. For what I will actually be doing at PCSimplicity, I will actually be building most of the PCs there and get their help as they watch me build some of my PCs as well as just give me advice in general for troubleshooting.
    February 26, 2025 at 4:37 pm - Reply
    James Pierce
    Thanks for the question Zoey! Yes I actually have built my own PC before. In fact, I'm writing this comment on the pc that I built when I was 13 years old. I have also done upgrades to my PC as well as helped others build their PCs as well. Building my own PC was honestly the inspiration for this project!
    February 26, 2025 at 4:39 pm - Reply

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