Canabalise or Create? (How to Build the Perfect Computer)

Name: andycharger

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Product:	How to Build the Perfect Computer
Date:	05/09/01 (200 review reads)
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Advantages: Great way to get what you want from a pc.

Disadvantages: Not an easy task.

So you think you know a bit about computers then dooyoo?
Think you can build exactly what you want then dooyoo?

Maybe you can and then again, maybe you cant.

Heres a guide to my way to build a pc.
I know because its part of my job.

ARE YOU QUALIFIED?

Im not talking about degrees in Computer Science here. It does not take that to build your own home or business PC. What it does take though is some general know how, a bit of patience and some confidence.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BUILD ONE IF:

*.You dont know what a PC is.

*.You have never so much as lifted the cover off before to see what is going on inside.

*.Had a lot of Alcohol to drink.

*.Get frustrated easily.

*.You dont think you will be able to finish it and expect PC world to do it for you.

*.Know what components you need before you start.

*.Expect an easy ride.

DO ATTEMPT IT IF:

*.You know what you are doing.

*.Think you do.

*.Have friends/relatives who can help if you get stuck.

*.Read the neccessary info on how to do it.

*.Are insulated against static.

*.Have all the components ready to slot together.

***Please note, if you do want a machine built at a cheap price, get in touch!***


REASONS FOR BUILDING YOURSELF.

1)Often Cheaper.
2)You get exactly what YOU want.
3)Satisfaction.
4)Its a living for me.
5)Can reuse bits of your old system.

Thats the thing. Its really up to you. You can use bits of your old computer that you know are compatible for your new system. Hence, its cheaper. You wont get good money if you sell it on.

You will at least have...
Monitor.
Mouse.
Keyboard.
Floppy Drive.
CD Rom.

They may not be top of the range but they will do if you build a "canabalised" System.

I prefer the New route myself apart from the M
onitor/Keyboard/Mouse. You know what you are getting and know if it needs replacing.

OK, So you think you can do the job....
Lets see what you will need. (its getting like Blue Peter now)

Monitor/Mouse/Keyboard.
(We will take this as you already own it.)

PC Case.
These retail as little as £25

Motherboard.
Everything plugs into this so you will need one of these. From £50 to £150. Your Processor also sits on it.

Processor.
The working brains of the PC.
Depending on what you want, you buy the processor to suit. I have a Pentium III which retails at £100 now.
*** PLEASE NOTE***
Make sure your processor and Motherboard are compatible.

here is a guide
PENTIUM I/CYRIX Processor = Socket 7 Motherboard.

PENTIUM II/III Processor = SLOT 1 Motherboard.

CELERON Processor = PPGA or FCPGA 370 Socket Motherboard
There is also a flip chip design P3. It sits in the above motherboard.

INTEL XEON Processor = SLOT 2

ATHLON Processor = SLOT A
DURON Processor = Socket A

RAM.
The Memory of the machine. Holds the calculations,workings,etc while the processor works.
Varies in styles and sizes to fit motherboards. Oldest and cheapest ram is the SIMM Ram. Has to be uprated in pairs.
i.e. 2 X 8 meg sims gives you 16 meg of ram.
DIMM Ram. Newer and found in Cyrix/ early P2 chip motherboards.
SDRAM Ram. P2 and P3 technology.

CD ROM DRIVE.
Cheap enough at about £20 for a budget one.

FLOPPY DRIVE..
About £15. Essential for first booting.

POWER SUPPLY.
Comes with the case normally.

IDE CABLES.
About £5 for the set.

VIDEO CARD.
Needed to see your monitor.
Costs as little as £15
Some motherboards have this on board already.

HARD DISK
Where everything is stored on your PC.
Vary in capacity from a couple of GIG up to about 80 GB.
Cost about £100 r>
*OPTIONAL EXTRAS*


DVD Drive.
For watching DVDs!

CD RW DRIVE.
For copying your CDS!

Sound Card.
For listening to sound.


Operating System.

The software you are going to install on your Hard Drive that rund the computer is called your operating system. Such as Windows 98, NT or 2000.

you need to have the licence for this to install it.
Costs about £75 or you can reinstall your old operating system if you like.

CONNECTING IT ALL UP.

Most motherboard manufacturers give plenty of documentation to show you what plugs in where.
If you follow the diagrams, you wont go wrong.
There is always a pin 1 labelled on all leads and sockets. Normally shown with a Red wire. Plug all of these in the right way round or you could blow components.

Be firm but not too firm when slotting cards in. If you push too hard it may be because its not meant for that socket.
Make sure you are putting the right one in first!

Once all is connected, attach the power lead.

Put the lid on the case and try and boot it.
If the Hard drive has just been pulled out of one machine and put in a new one, installing most of the drivers will already have taken place.

Otherwise its going to be a little while before its ready to use.

Start a fresh machine up and install all drivers as it asks for them.

Once all are installed shut down.
Reboot and hey presto.....You have done it.

Any problems, let me know. My rates are quite competitive!

Andy