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We do not claim to be experts, and cannot be held responsible if
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This section of our website is continually under construction, so some parts might be incomplete. If you
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Define What You Need in a System
Figure out exactly what you expect your computer to do
for you.
NOTE: If you're uncertain about whether or not
building your own system is for you, read this excellent
article first. (CLICK HERE)
Building a computer can be extremely rewarding, and you'll have a
feeling of accomplshment when the job is completed -- although with
many people, it's an ongoing process. (THAT'S an understatement!)
Be warned, however, it can also be very, very frustrating when
things don't go quite right. PCs are complicated and machines that
require attention to detail and extreme care when you work on them.
And, because the computer's hardware and software are so
intertwined, it can be difficult determining if a given problem is
hardware-related or software-related.
- If
you haven't already, decide what the minimum requirements are for
the system you want and select your components carefully. Somewhere
between what you need, what you want, and what you can afford is
the right system for you! For example, if you are into gaming,
you'd definitely want to make sure you have a high quality video
adapter with at least 32 MB video RAM, a fast processor, sufficient
system memory, a good sound card, speakers, and most likely at
least a 17" monitor. For gaming, you'll also want to consider what
type of controls you'll want (wheel, joystick, etc.). There are
some really cool force-feedback devices on the market now. Also
keep in mind that you'll need one or more USB ports for many
devices. Firewire ports are also an option.
- Decide what you want your PC to do for you, so you
won't be disappointed later --- take this part very seriously. Are
you the type that likes to forever improve things? You may be
wanting to upgrade before long---sooner than you might think. Who
knows, you might decide to push it a bit and get into overclocking
and pushing that CPU just a bit faster....in which case you'd most
likely be upgrading often or wish that you'd gotten something
better to begin with. In this case, you'd want a high-quality,
upgradable motherboard.
- Are you planning on doing spreadsheets or CAD work?
If so, you'll probably want a large, high-resolution monitor and a high quality video adapter with plenty of RAM. You might even consider getting a video adapter with dual monitor outputs--two monitors are extremely handy when doing work of this type. They also come with dual ports for both CRT and LCD monitors.
Figure out if your main objective is to play games, surf the net, write books, create graphics, scan photos,
or maybe do 3-D rendering. If you're just wanting to build a Linux
box to do basic email with, the requirements would be a lot
different than if you were building a system to make video and
sound production files. Internet surfing and email do not take a
lot of computing power; but if you're considering online games, that's a bit different--internet gaming is getting to be more and more demanding on resources.
- When you're considering what hardware to buy, try
to get the best you can afford---but don't overdo it on things you
don't need. For instance, if you're planning on getting DSL, then
you most likely won't need an internal modem unless you are going
to use your pc to answer the phone and/or send or receive faxes.
If you will be part of a home or work network, you need to purchase a
network interface card (NIC), cabling, or the wireless equivalent. If you're going to have a continuous internet connection such as DSL or cable modem, you'll want to consider what type of firewall you'll need (it can be software or hardware). You might also
need a router, switch, and/or other devices.
If you'll be doing desktop publishing or
photo editing, you'll have to choose your printer carefully. There are a lot of cheap printers out there, and I must admit that they're getting better and better! The most expensive thing about a printer is the ink that goes in it. You should check availability and cost of the cartridges, toner, or whatever type of ink a printer requires before buying. Laser printers are usually cheaper to operate in the long run and provide higher quality prints, but are more expensive initially.
If you're going to be doing music editing and/or recording, maybe with an electronic keyboard or synthesizer, you'll want to make sure you have a high quality aound card and the correct MIDI or USB connections and cables for your instrument. You'll also want to consider what kind of editing software you need. Also keep in mind that this type of work takes a lot of hard drive space!
If you'll need to exchange files quickly between computers, whether home or away from home, a good choice is to invest in a USB 750 MB Zip drive. They are hot-pluggable, usually don't require extra software to operate, and hold as much as a CD.
- By all means, do your homework! Read product
reviews on hardware you're considering, or just read what others
are using---what they like and don't like, and why. I think the
best search engine for most things (especially finding reference
material and information) is Google. Go to the Google Search Box below and enter
your key words in the Google search box. Amazon.com is also handy when you're
looking for others' opinions about certain products---you'll get a
wide variety of opinions.
Warning: Be
wary of auction items---they may look like a good deal, but
sometimes there's a reason that they're selling at a cheap price.
Unless you know exactly what you want, and what the going prices
are, and EXACTLY what you are going to get, be wary (words from one
who has erred and learned somewhat------although I still love
auctions). Anyway, I thought I should throw that in, because I have
made some quick and uninformed purchases to which I had to go to
great lengths to justify (and/or correct)! There are a lot of good
deals to be had out there, but it pays to be absolutely sure of
what you want or need first. Really.
Component List
- Case & Power Supply Make
sure the power supply is sufficient---this is important.
MORE INFO
VIEW PRODUCTS
- Motherboard & CPU Choose
your board with care--it's the basis of your entire system. Make
sure your CPU is the right socket, FSB, and speed for the
board.
MORE INFO
- Memory Get a sufficient amount
for your needs. Also make sure it's the correct type, ratings, and
speed for the motherboard.
MORE INFO
- Video Adapter You'll most likely
want a good AGP card, unless your motherboard has onboard
video.
Note: Most boards with onboard video have a jumper or setting to
allow onboard video to be disabled in the event that the user wants
to use a separate video adapter.
MORE INFO
- Sound Card The same applies here
as does with the video adapter above, and most onboard sound can
also be disabled. (Check with your motherboard manufacturer to be
sure). A sound card is not required by the system, but most people
would choose to have one!
MORE INFO
- CD-ROM, DVD, CDR, & CDRW Drives
If you plan on using a DVD drive as a CD-ROM drive
also, make sure it's made for CD-ROM. The ones that are will
specify the speed (48x, etc.).
MORE INFO
- Floppy Drive You'll need a
floppy drive to boot from at times (BIOS flash, etc.) or to copy
small files to. Most likely, you'll want to have a standard 3 1/2"
1.4 MB floppy disk drive, but there are also other types of floppy
drives. (LS-120, etc.)
MORE INFO
- Hard Drive As mentioned on Drives & Cables, you'll most likely
choose an IDE hard drive, or possibly a SCSI drive.
Note: If you choose to go with a SCSI drive, you'll need a SCSI
adapter if your motherboard doesn't have a built-in SCSI port.
MORE INFO
- Monitor Size and type is
entirely up to you.
- Keyboard & Mouse Your
motherboard will most likely have PS/2 ports for your keyboard and
mouse.
Note: Keyboards come in PS/2 and AT. To use an AT keyboard in a
PS/2 connection, you'll need an adapter, so it's best to get the
right kind to begin with. The most common mice are PS/2, but there
are also USB, cordless, and serial mice.
- Speakers This is entirely your
choice. You can even use your home stereo system if it has an input
connection.
- Peripherals There are a lot of peripherals and
goodies you can add to your list (printers, scanners, external drives, joysticks,
steering wheels, tape drives, etc.), but I won't get into that now.
This is just the basic hardware you need to get your PC up &
running. (Except for the operating system, of course!)
Of course,
Resources
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