What’s the Best Strategy for Building a PC on a Tight Budget?

Honestly, I think you're on the right track wanting to buy all parts together. If you spread out your purchases, by the time you finish, some of your components might be outdated. Start with non-time-sensitive items like the case, mouse, and keyboard, but wait on the major components—CPU, GPU, RAM—until you have enough savings.

Great plan starting with the motherboard, but I'd emphasize the importance of saving up first. If you focus on buying parts individually, you can run into compatibility issues, and you might not even be able to test the components until the end. Avoid the hassle and aim for a complete purchase when you can!

If you're struggling to save up, a good approach could be to save and invest in the case and power supply first. These are less likely to change over time and can be reused with future upgrades. Then focus on saving for the motherboard, CPU, and RAM combo. Trust me, getting those at once will save you a lot of headaches.

It's usually better to save up and buy all your parts at once! If you buy piecemeal, you risk ending up with parts that might be defective by the time you're ready to use them, and you could miss out on warranties if they just sit around. Plus, when you get everything together, you can ensure they're all compatible and avoid any potential headaches later on.

Buying parts over time can lead to a lot of complications, especially with a system like a Dell, which may have proprietary components. You could end up needing a lot of replacements, which could cost more in the long run. I suggest stockpiling your cash until you can get everything together. That way, you can build something that's fully compatible and avoid potential issues!