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STEP 3: How to Build a Computer
> Choosing Your Parts and Operating System

Now that we have our tools ready, and a list of things needed, it is time to make some decisions on what type of system that we want to build. This is probably the longest section, and for good reason. There is a lot to consider when buying the parts to build your new PC.

First, we are going to classify custom PC's into 3 separate categories. This will help you know what parts to spend more money on and a general guide for the type of machine you are wanting.

Second, we will tell you the best places to buy your computer parts, and to save the most amount of money in the process.

Third, we are going to list each individual part and a basic description of what it is. We will also list options available for each part.

And last on our list we will talk about which operating system will work best for your needs.

Which Type Of Computer?

Here is a list of computer types. The budgets listed will give you a ball park idea of how much you will need to spend.

Pick the one that will best suit your needs and follow the guidelines for selecting hardware for it:

Budget PC

The budget PC is good for a person or family that needs to surf the Web, check e-mail, and do some word processing. It will handle basic games and tasks. Generally the budget PC is comprised of some of the cheapest computer parts available, and will use onboard video and/or sound via the motherboard.

General Recommendations:

Approximate Budget: $600 or less

Workstation

The workstation computer usually serves in a home office or business environment and runs software that requires more processing power and memory. Development tools for databases, Web design, photo editing, and sound engineering need the added resources to work efficiently. Setting up a comfortable and ergonomic environment is one of the most important aspects for the workstation machine, so you may want to splurge on wireless keyboards and mice. For video and sound editing applications it is usually wise to get as much RAM as you can afford, and that the motherboard will allow for.

General Recommendations:

Approximate Budget: $1200 or less

Gaming Machine

The gaming machine is used for playing the latest games that require high end video cards, the fastest processors, and large amounts of memory. The nice thing about building a gaming machine, is that you will be able to run about any software, and not have to worry about performance. Building a gaming machine with the latest hardware can be costly, but it is the price you will have to pay to be able to play the newest games on the market with the performance that you desire. A relatively new option is to buy two video cards and link them together. There are a couple of different video card manufacturers that support this capability. You also will want to get a lot of room for storage, so invest in a large hard drive.

General Recommendations:

Approximate Budget: $1500 or more

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Where to Buy Computer Parts?

Ok I have my list of parts, but where can I buy them?

We recommend buying your computer parts from:

Once You Know, You Newegg

Newegg.com

They have the best prices, and above all, have excellent customer service and very fast shipping times. Many smaller items even come with free shipping.

 

You can use Newegg.com to make your price list, and decide on the computer system that you want to build.

Open a Newegg.com Preferred Account Today and Save 1.1% on your purchase!

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Computer Parts and Options

One of the trickiest things about buying all the parts is making sure that your memory, CPU, video card, and motherboard will all be compatible with one another. Don't get overwhelmed with the part names and acronyms, model numbers, etc. The key is to make sure that everything fits with the motherboard. If you follow the specifications of the motherboard, you can't go wrong.

If you need help understanding the parts of a computer and how they function, please view our tutorials section before continuing.

Make a list of the parts and prices to get an idea of your system cost. Here are a few general tips to get started when selecting hardware:

  1. We recommend that you first decide on going the Intel or AMD route. AMD is generally cheaper and offers comparable or better performance in some cases, it is just a matter of preference. Buy the retail version that includes a fan.

  2. Once you have chosen to go AMD or Intel, decide on a motherboard that fits with the type of system you are buying (budget, workstation, or gaming)

  3. Select the Processor that matches your machine type (budget, workstation, or gaming) and motherboard specifications. You will need to make sure that the speed and core type of the processor you select is compatible with the motherboard.

  4. Select RAM (memory) according to the motherboard specifications and your machine type (budget, workstation, or gaming)

  5. Choose a video card that makes the most sense for your type of system. Make sure to select one that is compatible with the slots on your motherboard. If you are buying a gaming machine, consider buying two identical cards that can be linked together for performance. The motherboard will have to be able to support this feature as well.

  6. Select a hard drive based on your machine type (budget, workstation, or gaming). We recommend going with an SATA hard drive over an IDE hard drive unless you are on a tight budget. The cost difference is not that much, but an IDE drive would be fine for a budget machine.

  7. Select a DVD/CD-Rom burner combo drive that will meet the needs of your system type. IDE is the standard type for these drives and should work with about any type of motherboard you buy. Most of these drives will be a combination all in on drive that can handle both reading and writing to CDs and DVDs. The cheapest drives offer great performance and value. If you have a gaming system, or extra needs it may be a good idea to buy two drives to be able to copy or use them both at the same time. You will have to have the ability to read DVDs if you plan on installing a new version of Windows such as Vista.

  8. Select a Case and Power supply that will meet the needs of your system. If you have ordered an SATA hard drive, make sure that your power supply has SATA power connectors.

  9. Decide on a monitor that is compatible with the type of output that your video card has. You want to go with digital (DVI) monitor and video card if possible for improved image quality. We highly recommend an LCD monitor for the small footprint and price.

  10. Choose all of the rest of your peripherals and accessories, including keyboard, mouse, printer, and scanner if necessary.

  11. A network and sound card should not be necessary, as most motherboards that you can buy have these built in. If you are serious about your sound though, and want better quality with surround you might invest in a separate sound card.

  12. We recommend going with broadband (Cable or DSL) for your internet connection, which will likely need an ethernet port to connect to, which should be built into your motherboard (so you do not need to purchase additional hardware for this). If you want to go with a slower dialup internet service you will need to buy a PCI based 56k modem however. These are very inexpensive.

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Operating System Choices

It's a fact that most of the PC's running today are driven by one of the many flavors of Windows. The alternative to Windows is to run one of the many distributions of Linux, but if you are new to computers or to building your own machine, we recommend sticking with Windows for the large amount of software available for it, and support community.

For any of the types of systems that we have been talking about, (budget, workstation, or gaming), Windows XP is probably the standard right now. Windows XP comes in a few different versions, but we will focus on the two main ones:

Windows XP Home

Perfect for a budget PC, Windows XP home lacks networking tools and other business related features. It is just fine for the budget based computer.

Windows XP Professional

You will want to buy Windows XP Professional if you plan on networking computers together, or want some of the added features and business functionality. Unless you are building a budget based machine, we would recommend Windows XP Professional over Windows XP Home.

Now as we are completing this Web site, Microsoft has introduced it's newest operating system, Windows Vista. It comes in 5 main versions, which can be a bit confusing. It also comes in 32 bit and 64 bit versions, but with limited driver support for the 64 bit version, we feel it is not worth the effort at this time, especially for home users. When you buy Windows Vista you will be getting both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions, so you can always move to the 64 bit version down the road if you hardware supports it. We will briefly list the different versions below as described by Microsoft:

Windows Vista Home Basic

Windows Vista Home Basic is ideal for homes with basic computing needs like e-mail, browsing the Internet, and viewing photos. Easy to set up and maintain, it enables you to quickly find what you're looking for on your PC and the Internet, while providing a more secure environment to help protect you from an unpredictable world.

Windows Vista Home Premium

Windows Vista Home Premium is the preferred edition for home desktop and mobile PCs. It provides a breakthrough design that brings your world into sharper focus while delivering the productivity, entertainment, and security you need from your PC at home or on the go.

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista Business is the first edition of Windows designed specifically to meet the needs of small businesses. You'll spend less time on technology support-related issues—so you can spend more time making your business successful. Windows Vista Business is the definitive choice for your business today and tomorrow.

Windows Vista Enterprise

Designed to significantly lower IT costs and risks, Windows Vista Enterprise meets the needs of large, global organizations with complex IT infrastructures.

Windows Vista Ultimate

Windows Vista Ultimate is the choice for those who want to have it all. Easily shift between the worlds of productivity and play with the most complete edition of Windows Vista. Ultimate provides the power, security, and mobility features needed for work, and all the entertainment features that you want for fun.

For most users, we recommend Vista Home Premium. It has the functionality and features that most home users need. If you are in a business environment, go with the Business or Enterprise edition, depending on your companies needs.

So should I choose Windows XP or Windows Vista?

If you are building a budget based or cheaper PC, then Windows XP is the way to go, and specifically home if you do not need to network it.

For improved security, functionality, and newer features then we would recommend going with Windows Vista. Keep in mind that as a new operating system, driver and software support can be flaky. Also the hardware requirements for Windows Vista are a lot higher than Windows XP, so keep that in mind. If you do decide to go with a Windows Vista installation, make sure that all of your hardware is certified as 'Windows Vista' compatible.

If you are the adventurous type and are building a higher end machine, choose Windows Vista :)

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How Much is My Custom PC Going to Cost?

Now that you have made a list and you can see if the entire system, including shipping costs, will meet your budget. If you come in under your budget, expand your memory or upgrade another component such as the video card to improve performance.

If you are over budget you can cut back on some of the costlier accessories, or reduce the amount of memory, or CPU speed to curb the cost. Again, the nice thing about building your own custom computer is that you can easily add components and upgrade in the future and get more for your money down the road.

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Keep Boxes and Understand the Warranties and Return Policies

After you have everything ordered and receive your shipment, make sure to check and make sure that you received all of the correct parts. Often computer parts will have a warranty that doesn't last very long, so it is important to understand this, especially on OEM parts. Keep all of the original boxes in case you need to make a return.

 

Whew! Did you get through all of that without falling asleep?!? The planning stage is the most time consuming part of the process, but well worth it.

Our next step in the process of building a new PC is selecting the proper workspace.

Next Step:  Your Workspace >

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