Building Computers: What You Need To Know
A friend asked me “What do I really need to know if I decided to build my own computer? I’ve got books on the subject, I can follow the instructions, but I get the feeling they’re not telling me everything.”
While a bit of reticence before tackling a technical project is natural, I came to understand that my friend had a point. Many books and articles either fail to explain, or simply do not stress certain facts.
In an effort to make up for that, here are five items that the first time builder should bear in mind.
Number 1: Much is said about the potential savings you’ll have if you build your own computer. If you’re planning a gaming computer, or a specialty pc for editing video, then you will save money. Lots of it. If you are putting together a videographers’s “dream machine” then the savings could be many hundreds of dollars.
If you are just trying to assemble a basic PC for internet and homework, you’ll probably be able to build one for about the same price as a bargain model in a discount store. Your biggest advantage here will be the skill you gain by putting it together yourself.
Number 2: When planning your computer, remember the power supply. It is easy to build a system that outstrips the wattage capacity, leaving you with a “smoked” PC, ruined components, and wasted money.
Consider this: one of those super fast new CPUs will require 100 watts all by itself. A top of the line 128MB graphics card is another 100 watts. Do you really want to risk using a 300 watt power supply, of the sort provided by many case manufacturers?
I favor getting a power supply far larger than you will need, if you are building a dream machine, so you can handle any future expansion. Only go with the 300 watt if you are putting together a basic home PC.
Number 3: Everyone tells you to plan your computer around the CPU. Yet often, at the last minute, a sale will pop up. A motherboard and CPU will be bundled together at such an attractive price that you can’t say no. Now, it’s not exactly the the CPU you wanted, but what a deal!
Or, you decided to buy all your parts locally. There’s a perfect motherboard, with every feature you require, but it isn’t the socket type of the CPU you had in mind.
My advice is to be flexible. As long as making a change doesn’t cause you to lower your quality standards, things will work out.
Number 4: The inside of your computer’s case has the potential to become an oven, roasting the components inside it. Today’s CPUs produce an almost unbelieveable amount of heat, particularly when compared to chips of earlier generations. Add to this the firecracker hot graphics cards that the most sophisticated video applications require, and the analogy of computer case to oven becomes even more apt.
Heat is the enemy, and a plan that considers each contributing factor needs to be arrived at. A system with an average CPU, that either has video on the motherboard, or a modest graphics card (say 64MB), will need one case fan in addition to the power supply’s fan. Move up to a faster, hotter CPU, and you’ll need two case fans. Add a top flight graphics card, and you probably want to put a third fan in the bottom of the case.
Obviously, when choosing a case, the more fan ports, the better. Make sure there are plenty of air vents, and just get your mind made up that you’ll be cleaning dust out of your computer on a regular basis.
Consider getting a CPU-fan-heatsink bundle. They can really reduce your chances of frying a chip. Unless you have it in mind to try overclocking. In that case, your best bet may be a liquid cooling system.
Number 5: A popular saying is “you’ll build your computer three times”. The first time will be as you dream and plan it all out. The second comes when you go to the store, where prices and other market factors can have you adjusting your plan. Finally, the third will be the actual assembly.
What will carry you through these three builds is knowledge. Study those books. Search the internet relentlessly. Logon chatrooms where PC problems are discussed. Gain every ounce of information you can, then have at it.
Good luck!
Michael Quarles is the author of Building a PC for Beginners.
