Bill - I hope we aren't hijacking your main topic. I wanted to comment on building one's own PC -
I have always loved being able to customize a PC, and building one from scratch is very exciting. My first time to start diving into things was about 1991. Things were a bit tougher to do back then, but they were still a bit easier than things had been (i.e. moving from SIPS to SIMMS for example). Nowadays, the computer is certainly a bit more personal. It isn't the family computer, it truly is the PC. Building a system is easier than it has been in the past, and I think this decade has seen a steady rise in those that decide to build their own PC. Of course, you can certainly still have your share of troubles.
I know you guys have mentioned some troubles you have experienced when building a system, but I encourage you to stick with it. It isn't far fetched that one owns multiple PCs nowadays. This is extremely helpful since the other computers can serve as a diagnostic tool whenever something goes wrong with the system you are building.
I agree with the points that Greg made. I will say that in addition to getting enjoyment from building the system, I appreciate the fact you can really tailor it to your needs. You want a quiet system? You are in full control. Upgrading is certainly fun, and sometimes devices carry on from one computer to another until you finally retire them. I just retired a slot-loading DVD-ROM drive from Pioneer. I ran it in my system for 8 years! I think I only retired a 5 1/4 drive when I upgraded from a Pentium III to a Pentium IV. These components are not a big deal, but this sort of thing gives your system a bit of personality.
Always remember to make sure you have been grounded before starting. Static electricity is great for shocking friends, but not for building computers.
For those diving into building, I recommend keeping these things in mind for your components:
1: Case - Get a case that looks the way you want it to look, but also consider a few other things. How about cooling? What sized fans does it use? How many fans come with the case? Are they loud? Do you need to buy replacement fans or additional fans? Also consider that you are going to want something that makes you feel comfortable. You need to have maneuvering room inside that thing, and it is going to be different based on your size and dexterity. Ha! How many components are going inside, and do you need to consider extra space for future expansion?
2: Power supply - Don't skip out on this. If you get a cheap one and it dies, it is most likely going to take other components with it. Make sure you get a power supply that will handle all of your components. Remember - a higher wattage power supply doesn't pull ALL of that wattage all the time - it only pulls what your computer needs. Don't worry about that electric bill. Better to have too much wattage than too little. I have personally experienced overloading a power supply. The results were brown, smelly, and expensive.
3: Motherboard - Make sure you get a nice motherboard. This thing is so key - check the reviews when you buy it. Read up on it and the chipset it uses if you have to do so. If you buy off of newegg, you will typically have a decent forum of reviews to read for your research. I personally switched to Gigabyte motherboards around 2004, and now I don't buy anything else. I think I have built about four or five systems with them.
Mobo assembly - You guys pointed out a few things. There are several main issues to know going into this -
A: Make sure you properly secure the motherboard mounts to the case. Don't put mounts in that don't have a corresponding hole on the motherboard.
B: Use the proper screws to secure the motherboard. Do not over-tighten.
C: Make sure you plug in those switches properly. You only need to hook up ONE to test (The power switch). If you reverse its polarity, the system will probably boot as soon as you plug in the power supply and flip the kill switch on it. It may also not boot at all. Note that if you plug in the reset switch backwards, the computer will probably turn on but nothing will happen - you will probably only have fans turning and that is it! Best to leave extra switches unplugged when in doubt.
D: If all of the power cables are hooked up properly (outside and inside) and the power switch is connected properly but the computer won't fire up, you may have a short. Double-check your mounting job on the motherboard. Make sure the mounts and screws have been done properly. Make sure the motherboard isn't touching the side of the case and causing a bad ground.
4: CPU - Obviously make sure you get the right CPU type for the motherboard/chipset architecture. Don't want to try to put a square peg in a round hole.
CPU install -
A: These things drop easily into the socket nowadays. Regardless of if you have pins or "pads," make sure you orient the CPU correctly. Look at the bottom of it as well as the socket you are inserting it into. The pin/pad/hole patterns have to match (mobo socket vs. CPU)
B: When it comes time to put on the fan/heatsink, be deliberate as you check your surroundings. Make sure you have the correct fan and heatsink for your CPU! (assuming you didn't use one that came with the CPU). After installing, make sure it is properly secured to the motherboard/case/cpu.
Most of the other components should be straightforward. Remember to hook up an auxiliary power lead to your video card if it needs it. Get those hard drive(s), optical drives, RAM, and other expansion cards hooked up. Make sure your fans are all plugged in. Make sure you don't have any cables sitting on (or IN!) the fan blades. Fire it up. Good luck. Haha.
Ahh...and this concludes my first armchair arcade entry after having experienced a smooth install of Windows 7. The long road of pulling files off the other partitions and removing the old OS (Windows 7 RC1) begins...but not tonight.
Bill - I hope we aren't hijacking your main topic. I wanted to comment on building one's own PC -
I have always loved being able to customize a PC, and building one from scratch is very exciting. My first time to start diving into things was about 1991. Things were a bit tougher to do back then, but they were still a bit easier than things had been (i.e. moving from SIPS to SIMMS for example). Nowadays, the computer is certainly a bit more personal. It isn't the family computer, it truly is the PC. Building a system is easier than it has been in the past, and I think this decade has seen a steady rise in those that decide to build their own PC. Of course, you can certainly still have your share of troubles.
I know you guys have mentioned some troubles you have experienced when building a system, but I encourage you to stick with it. It isn't far fetched that one owns multiple PCs nowadays. This is extremely helpful since the other computers can serve as a diagnostic tool whenever something goes wrong with the system you are building.
I agree with the points that Greg made. I will say that in addition to getting enjoyment from building the system, I appreciate the fact you can really tailor it to your needs. You want a quiet system? You are in full control. Upgrading is certainly fun, and sometimes devices carry on from one computer to another until you finally retire them. I just retired a slot-loading DVD-ROM drive from Pioneer. I ran it in my system for 8 years! I think I only retired a 5 1/4 drive when I upgraded from a Pentium III to a Pentium IV. These components are not a big deal, but this sort of thing gives your system a bit of personality.
Always remember to make sure you have been grounded before starting. Static electricity is great for shocking friends, but not for building computers.
For those diving into building, I recommend keeping these things in mind for your components:
1: Case - Get a case that looks the way you want it to look, but also consider a few other things. How about cooling? What sized fans does it use? How many fans come with the case? Are they loud? Do you need to buy replacement fans or additional fans? Also consider that you are going to want something that makes you feel comfortable. You need to have maneuvering room inside that thing, and it is going to be different based on your size and dexterity. Ha! How many components are going inside, and do you need to consider extra space for future expansion?
2: Power supply - Don't skip out on this. If you get a cheap one and it dies, it is most likely going to take other components with it. Make sure you get a power supply that will handle all of your components. Remember - a higher wattage power supply doesn't pull ALL of that wattage all the time - it only pulls what your computer needs. Don't worry about that electric bill. Better to have too much wattage than too little. I have personally experienced overloading a power supply. The results were brown, smelly, and expensive.
3: Motherboard - Make sure you get a nice motherboard. This thing is so key - check the reviews when you buy it. Read up on it and the chipset it uses if you have to do so. If you buy off of newegg, you will typically have a decent forum of reviews to read for your research. I personally switched to Gigabyte motherboards around 2004, and now I don't buy anything else. I think I have built about four or five systems with them.
Mobo assembly - You guys pointed out a few things. There are several main issues to know going into this -
A: Make sure you properly secure the motherboard mounts to the case. Don't put mounts in that don't have a corresponding hole on the motherboard.
B: Use the proper screws to secure the motherboard. Do not over-tighten.
C: Make sure you plug in those switches properly. You only need to hook up ONE to test (The power switch). If you reverse its polarity, the system will probably boot as soon as you plug in the power supply and flip the kill switch on it. It may also not boot at all. Note that if you plug in the reset switch backwards, the computer will probably turn on but nothing will happen - you will probably only have fans turning and that is it! Best to leave extra switches unplugged when in doubt.
D: If all of the power cables are hooked up properly (outside and inside) and the power switch is connected properly but the computer won't fire up, you may have a short. Double-check your mounting job on the motherboard. Make sure the mounts and screws have been done properly. Make sure the motherboard isn't touching the side of the case and causing a bad ground.
4: CPU - Obviously make sure you get the right CPU type for the motherboard/chipset architecture. Don't want to try to put a square peg in a round hole.
CPU install -
A: These things drop easily into the socket nowadays. Regardless of if you have pins or "pads," make sure you orient the CPU correctly. Look at the bottom of it as well as the socket you are inserting it into. The pin/pad/hole patterns have to match (mobo socket vs. CPU)
B: When it comes time to put on the fan/heatsink, be deliberate as you check your surroundings. Make sure you have the correct fan and heatsink for your CPU! (assuming you didn't use one that came with the CPU). After installing, make sure it is properly secured to the motherboard/case/cpu.
Most of the other components should be straightforward. Remember to hook up an auxiliary power lead to your video card if it needs it. Get those hard drive(s), optical drives, RAM, and other expansion cards hooked up. Make sure your fans are all plugged in. Make sure you don't have any cables sitting on (or IN!) the fan blades. Fire it up. Good luck. Haha.
Ahh...and this concludes my first armchair arcade entry after having experienced a smooth install of Windows 7. The long road of pulling files off the other partitions and removing the old OS (Windows 7 RC1) begins...but not tonight.
Chris Kennedy, Editor
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Email: chris@armchairarcade.com