Building a New Computer!

[Moogs2K1]

Hello! I'm planning to build my own computer, just to see if I can do it. However, other than where to get cheap parts (PCGamer has some ideas), I have no idea where to start... Can someone give me a link or something? Thanks!

[thekingofpain]

I cant give more props to Pricewatch---whether for comparison or actual purchases: http://www.pricewatch.com for parts---for build info check this out: http://sysopt.earthweb.com/buildpc

YOU CAN DO IT!!!---if I can so can YOU!!!

[This message has been edited by thekingofpain (edited 07-30-2001).]

[Timbob505]

Moogs2k1~
Just remember to read your manuals and be careful. It is pretty easy to do if you take your time and make sure you do everything correctly. Don't go too cheap on parts because it will bite you in the **** later on. I would suggest getting a boxed processor for the warranty and make sure everything you get has a decent warranty. If you are unsure about the quality of a brand or even a vendor, ask. Also look at www.resellerratings.com (http://www.resellerratings.com) to make sure the people you deal with are worth dealing with! Good luck and let us know if there is anything we can do to help!

Timbob

[Moogs2K1]

Once again, SysOpt pulls through! Thanks!

[Axel]

bare minimum - you need the following parts -
case <<< mini or medium tower
motherboard I like ASUS or Giga-byte boards
keyboard
mouse <<< nothing fancy - but bona fide microsoft or logitec are best
3.5 floppy drive & ribbon cable <<< I like Toshibas
CD-ROM drive & ribbon cable
processor
RAM <<< most people never use more than 128MB today
monitor <<< a used 17" with a date stamp after 1996 will do
video card <<< I like the 3dfx VOODOO 3000 PCI myself for a first time builder
hard drive & ribbon cable <<< I like Quantum Fireballs 7200RPM w/ 2MB onboard cache
case fans - & CPU fan <<< don't skimp here - this protects the rest of the system - buy these brand new....
power supply <<< sometimes comes with the case 230watts minimum
operating system <<<windows 98SE is very friendly to new builders - you can probably pick up a good used copy for about $85 or less.
one boot floppy diskette
small flathead screw driver
small phillips screw driver

download a copy of a win98 boot floppy with generic CD-ROM device support - try out http://www.bootdisk.com for that

now - to ease your pain as some things don't work at their best right out of the box, I'd recommend picking up an external 56K modem and the needed com port cable so you can dial into an ISP and download driver updates right off of the web.

sound card is optional - network card is optional - additional hard drives are optional - all those are nice but not really needed for an original system build -

later you can add a DVD player or a CD burner or anything else you might need in the way of software -

Allow yourself 3 uninterrupted days to figure it all out - get in a hurry and you might break something expensive - expect kids, pets, and significant others to get in your way - plan an appropriate statement ahead of time to ward them off -

Enjoy it - you will learn much more than you think you will right now -

[RayH]

If you like to tinker, get an AMD. If you don't get Intel.

Don't use unknown parts. The total cost of name brand parts over unknown will probably be less than $75! Unknowns don't have support!

As for speed, one of the tricks is to make sure your hard drive has a cache!

[RayH]

BTW, Moogs, you want to know where to save money, but you give no indication as to your location.

Pricewatch can save you money on invididual parts, but shipping can kill you on a whole system bought from different sources.

Depending upon your location, purchase the monitor and case locally. I've always used a $20 case with no problems. My last four have had a 250 W supply. You'd be surprised how well the cheap cases are finished these days. No sharpe edges. But anyway, both of these cost a lot to ship!

I have a local shop that will send out to my out of state kids the rest of the components for cheaper than I can buy them. SF, CA is an 8-1/2% sales tax zone. Shipping for the rest of the components is cheaper than the sales tax!

But I also hit the computer fares. You have to know what you are doing at them. But I find deals!