<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001050377-04-000011
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031212
<FILING-DATE>20040127
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BEFFA NEGRINI DAVID
<CIK>0001190007
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23827
<FILM-NUMBER>04547040
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>PC CONNECTION
<STREET2>730 MILFORD ROAD
<CITY>MERRIMACK
<STATE>NH
<ZIP>03054
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PC CONNECTION INC
<CIK>0001050377
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5961
<IRS-NUMBER>020513618
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ROUTE 101A
<STREET2>730 MILFORD RD
<CITY>MERRIMACK
<STATE>NH
<ZIP>03054
<PHONE>6036832000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ROUTE 101A
<STREET2>730 MILFORD RD
<CITY>MERRIMACK
<STATE>NH
<ZIP>03054
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001050377</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PC CONNECTION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190007</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEFFA NEGRINI DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PC CONNECTION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>730 MILFORD ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MERRIMACK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Corporate Communications</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25172</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25172</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25172</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24828</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24828</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24848</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option vests in three installments of 2,024 shares, 11,574 shares, and 11,574 shares based upon the Company's stock price for a pre-determined period of time. The earliest the first installment may vest is December 12, 2005. The second installment would vest on the first anniversary of the first installment and the third installment would vest on the anniversary of the second installment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option vests in three installments of 22,976 shares, 926 shares, and 926 shares based upon the Company's stock price for a pre-determined period of time. The earliest the first installment may vest is December 12, 2005. The second installment would vest on the first anniversary of the first installment and the third installment would vest on the anniversary of the second installment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David Beffa-Negrini</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
