If you have a known trusted assembler, I would suggest to go in for an assembled piece. You can also mix and match the components you want fitted inside. Eg the Cabinet, your choice of CDROM/Writer/DVD amount of RAM etc. And the PRICE will be a lot less than a branded machine
The computer stuff you get in the local market is NOT inferior to the stuff in Branded systems. Infact many a times I’ve seen local(when I say local I mean locally available but reputable and reliable) components esp modems, cdroms, cdwriters, dvds in branded systems like Compaqs.
However there are also some fake products in the market esp Processors. If you don’t know a trusted assembler, I suggest you buy a Branded system. In a branded system you will get the reqd support, atleast a year of warranty on the computer or components thereof. ’Man ki shaanti’. An additional pro is that you will get a fully configured machine with probably a licensed copy of Windows XP Home/Pro and some more software like an antivirus program. It probably would have ServicePack1 installed with some more security updates. This makes your system secure and stable.
I highly recommend machines made by ZENITH. They give good machines followed with decent Support for it. When I say Support I refer to support in terms of system problems like it doesnt startup or crashes. Or a particular hardware component goes bad. Zenith has been quick to solve such problems.
There is a whole lot more which I can put in here, but the matter changes on what I have to assume about your position. So if you want you can email me at gotia_builder@yahoo.com
And if you are in/around Hyderabad I could sell you that system myself.