Advice on learning to build a PC?

[ttbwpg]

Can anyone direct me to some info on building a PC? I'd like to take on the project just to learn how to do it and to have a second PC in the home. The idea of building one really cheap is also attractive to me.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

[Gee]

Just because you build your own PC, does not necessarily make it cheaper. Because the parts are marked up individually, it may end up costing you more in the end.

[willy]

I agree with Gee ... It's virtually impossible for an individual to build a Dell-comparable machine for the same cost.

However, if you want to keep the cost as low as possible, try to start with the following :

1. an onboard-everything motherboard (video, sound, LAN, ...)
2. 512MB RAM
3. CD-ROM
4. generic case with PS
5. small HD
6. older generation CPU

That's all you need ...

[sxz]

Just because you build your own PC, does not necessarily make it cheaper. Because the parts are marked up individually, it may end up costing you more in the end.
Of course you can, but it will require time to be spent looking through many stores and sometimes even waiting for good sales before you can get the parts you want at the price you want.

[supernerd]

Of course you can, but it will require time to be spent looking through many stores and sometimes even waiting for good sales before you can get the parts you want at the price you want.

If you want the absolute lowest costs, building one is not the way to go. Lets just use some lower bound for prices for NEW and relatively modern items found in the cheapest dells or emachines or etc...:

cpu: $60
motherboard: $60
ram: $50
case and PSU: $50
optical drive: $30
mouse, keyboard, speakers: $30
hard drive: $60

This is about $340, and you have pretty much no choices to make (i.e. you're choosing the cheapest components you can buy), and I think I'm being pretty conservative on my lower bound estimates. I'm also assuming that $60 motherboard has integrated video, audio, and network. Plus you get no software or support (its worth something to some people).

You can often find a basic Dell for cheaper (i.e. those $299 Dell deals. Even right now, you can get one for $330).

The ability to build your own budget box cheaper than the big manufactuers stopped several years ago. However, as you look towards high-end systems, where OEM margins are larger, then buliding your own system may save you money then.

If you want a budget box, buy from an OEM. if you want to "learn" how to assemble a computer, take that same box, dis-assemble, and re-assemble; there's really not much to it...

[stev3-o]

The OP just wants to build his own PC, side note of budget pc being attractive. Just find a budget first then go from there. I hear from other threads that new technology is coming out so prices will even be lower.

Everything is pretty much plug and play, read the mobo manual.

- mentioned above, a built-in everything mobo
- amd sempron-like cpu ( dell doesn't carry amd cpus and celerons sucked a while back, dont know about now)
- 512 ram
- dvd rom
- hd
- everything else u can pretty much get em from BST for lower price.

Since you do have the interest to build ur own pc, u'll have the option to fiddle with the bios not like dell.

i buy almost everything from www.infonec.com they PM anyone.
You'll find pleasure building it.
Link to alternatives to CC http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220602&highlight=canada+computers
i have never bought anything from there, their attitude is that they don't need your business.

[Cafe_333]

Here you go:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2002/09/04/building_your_own_pc/index.html

OR if you want the above in one page:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2002/09/04/building_your_own_pc/print.html

[pestilenc]

I'd suggest getting the next level up case. They can be had between $60-$70 (so only like $20 or so more) and you get a quality PSU, which is vital.

Like the Antec 1650 or the like; crappy PSUs are the bane of computers.

Also, to keep costs down, you might want to look at getting a motherboard with integrated video. Forget playing the latest games but it'll knock off a bit more cash.

[ttbwpg]

Thanks all. Keep the advice coming. I'll check out those links later today.

[Fantastical]

I agree with the people here, dell is cheap and easy for a whole system.

Dell got subsidized from other Company by loading those junk/trial software into your machine; thereby, passing on the saving to you.

I would ask for a windows cd from dell and do a reinstallation on a new dell pc.

The trial software is extremly annoying, it slows down your computer and sometimes freeze your com too.

[ttbwpg]

Thanks for all the input. I guess the most telling post was about, the days of saving money by building your own machine have passed.

I'd like to have a new system but I'm not willing to give up on running movies and games. I don't need to play the newest high end games but its got to be able to play music and video without freezing up.

Perhaps I should be looking at buying a used system.

Thanks again for all the input.

[PennyArcade]

in terms of building you own PC, I really suggest inviting a friend that has experience to supervise you. Bribe him/her (most likely him :) ) with some beer and give it to them AFTER they help you :D

[Lalalalalalalafontaine]

Thanks for all the input. I guess the most telling post was about, the days of saving money by building your own machine have passed.

I'd like to have a new system but I'm not willing to give up on running movies and games. I don't need to play the newest high end games but its got to be able to play music and video without freezing up.

Perhaps I should be looking at buying a used system.

Thanks again for all the input.

A new and fairly decent Sempron64 / Celeron D 64 bit based systems can usually be had for about $350 or less. So unless you only wanna spend about $200 or so, you should probably just be on the look out for deals in the Hot Deals section. Even then, you won't even get much of a used system for $200.

Video and music should be no trouble for any system these days. If you want to play games, you're gonna have to shell out at least another 180 for a decent gaming card like this one: http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10067121&catid=10524&logon=&langid=EN

What kind of machine are you upgrading from btw?

[Tmayhem]

It's cheaper to build your PC if you want something more than the basic vanilla system. If you just want the cheapest, then Dell might be a good option.

[Spiderpal93]

Buy used parts here on RFD! And then practice building! Also good if you have unused parts lying around and fiddle with them.

I have done that before costed me:

2200+ CPU and heatsink--$20
Socket A Mobo(video/sound/lan)--$40
30gig HD--$15
Extra 256MB DDR ram(I already have a stick of 512)--$10
Extra DVD Rom(I had a DVD Burner)--$10
I had my own case+PSW--but it should cost you $15-20
Total is ~$110 without Monitor.

Best thing is you won't knock yourself out if you kill a certain part for your inexperience(since it's used and cheap).

[coyori]

in terms of building you own PC, I really suggest inviting a friend that has experience to supervise you. Bribe him/her (most likely him :) ) with some beer and give it to them AFTER they help you :D

Totally agree. I started out the same way - i experimented with my back then "top of the line", $3000, 166mhz pentium system.

Of course, i crashed the crap out of it, but i learned alot about the software and hardware behind it.

I now build comps "for fun" for friends, family etc. I really shld charge them for labour, but i see it as them paying me to play with some hardware :)

Physical installation is simple really. Its the software thats tricky.

Also, as others have said, the overall price might be higher than pre-packaged dell/mdg systems because dell can afford to cut corners on the ir motherboards etc.

It's always more satisfying to build your own rig anyways :razz:

Happy building and good luck.

[champ91]

relating back to the op's question, I learned to do it through taking a class when i was a teen but most of the stuff they taught I already knew, so don't bother taking a class. With the amount of information available on the internet, you should be able to learn it online. Like people have mentioned, building computers is like playing with lego, but the software is the more tedious part as you try to get things working together. I recommend buildling your own computer if ONLY you are interested, it may cost a little more but you'll be very satisfied with your results and you'll know how to fix your computer if anything happens in the future.

and dont' forget to ground yourself before you touch the computer parts, do so by touching your case or something.

[alpha_tot]

just read your motherboards manual and youll be fine, most of them are pretty noob friendly...and you can always just ask here if you need additional help

[Homer88]

Building your first PC and seeing it boot is very satisfying. Though some risks are involved, I wish you the best of luck :cheesygri

[ttbwpg]

Cafe,

Thanks for the link to Tom's, http://www.tomshardware.com . What a great site for really figuring out any kind of hardware and/or building pcs and upgrading. I've been reading it for hours today.

Cheers

[ttbwpg]

How does this combo sound? If I can find all these parts, I'm going to come out with a cheap, decent pc. What do you think? Can I find these parts used?

AMD Athlon 64 3000+
ASRock 939Dual-SATA2
Corsair Value Select 512 MB (2x 256 MB)
eVGA 256-A8-N340-TX Geforce 6600 256 MB
Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80 GB
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM
SeaSonic S12-330 ATX12V 330W

[alpha_tot]

How does this combo sound? If I can find all these parts, I'm going to come out with a cheap, decent pc. What do you think? Can I find these parts used?

AMD Athlon 64 3000+
ASRock 939Dual-SATA2
Corsair Value Select 512 MB (2x 256 MB)
eVGA 256-A8-N340-TX Geforce 6600 256 MB
Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80 GB
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM
SeaSonic S12-330 ATX12V 330W

For ram, Id rather go for a gig, maybe two of these: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=10016&promoid=1030 ...really hot with MIR.

and a 6600gt 128mb card beats the 6600 quite handily, dont get sucked in by the 256mb of ram...if you plan on doing any gaming at all you should go for at least a 6600gt.

everything else looks pretty good, but I would go for a dvd burner...cheap upgrade. Id say its worthwhile just for backing up data even if youre not into burning movies...

[ttbwpg]

I'll likely add more ram and get a dvd burner if I feel like it down the road. Thanks for the tip on the vid card.

[ttbwpg]

I'm having a hard time finding deals on some of these parts. Any advice?

[Tmayhem]

For the videocard, if you don't want to spend too much, you could go with this card:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?affiliateid=4352418&sku=16981

You can pricematch with this place:

http://www.1click2computers.com/product_details/detail.asp?prod_id=EAX1600PRO/TD/256M

Performance is similar to 6600GT.

For the memory, I'd go with 1GB, this will make a real difference. I'd pick this if you are willing to go with mail in rebates: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=10016&vpn=KHX3200A/512&manufacture=Kingston

Otherwise, this memory would do just fine: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=9545&vpn=SAMSUNG3200-512M&manufacture=Samsung

For the DVD, you might want to shell out an extra 10-15$ for a good writer: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?affiliateid=4352418&sku=17704&promoid=1030

For the hard disk, you can PM this: http://www.icct.ca/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=112
or you can get it there with free shipping: http://www.ca.buy.com/prod/Western_Digital_Caviar_Special_Edition_80GB_7200RP M_Hard_Drive_WD800JD

For the CPU, you can get it for 118.99$ here: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?affiliateid=4352418&sku=14415&promoid=1030

There you have "deals". :)

[Bskll]

or you can just buy all that from RFD's BST forum.... I'm some of them are up for sale used and cheap.

[ttbwpg]

Thanks. I'm trying to find as many parts as I can used from RFD and ebay.

[Sylvestre]

building a pc isn't that hard nowerdays. I mean, you physically can't screw up where something goes since everything fits into it's correct place only.
I remember back in the day when cache chips would destroy the motherboard if they were instered the wrong way.

that being said, there's a significant amount of resources online so building isn't the tough part. The challenge is figuring out what to do when things don't work. So take youre time, follow the instructions and always check your stuff.

few tips.
be careful with the motherboard installation into the case. some boards are damm picky and if you don't use the paper washers, the screws can really short things.

despite the dire warnings, I've never lost a full card, board or ram module to static. that's even with working in the carpeted basement, in winter, with socks on (worst was once I lost a 16kB cache chip but that's it really). Once the psu is plugged into the wall, touch the case occasionally and u'r fine. (NOTE - doesn't mean you shouldn't take precautions).

put in memory, cpu and video card and then connect monitor. boot from there to verify things are working. Everything should boot normally up to a RAM check. if it doesn't, at least you don't have to waste time taking things out.

from there, put in only a few cards at a time and keep checking... e.g. put in sound and lan (if applicable) and again, reboot.
funny things can happen such as a card coming loose (anyone remember those first generation AGP?).

once it's all good. give it a good burn-in before installing software. sounds funny but it's a major PITA to have a system boot but be unstable and finding out after 2 hrs of windows installation.

that's my tips for today.