Computer Help / How TO

[Nightbird]

I'm kind of hoping Weird Harold or Linux Geek show up, but if anyone else out here knows a lot about computers feel free to jump in.

I'm considering building my own computer and I recently found a copy of PC Gamer that gives step by step instructions on how to build one.

Has anyone ever done this before? Is it as easy as it looks?

I'm going to list the parts, maybe you can tell me if they are any good?

EDITED: I added all of the parts and did a search on Tiger Direct for the prices in Canadian funds. I wasn't able to find all of the parts on Tiger Direct though.

Parts List:

Case: Aspire X- Navigator $203.99 (Canadian)

Power Supply: Enermax 600 Watt $179 (Canadian)

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (Socket 939) $101.99 (Canadian)

Mother Board: ASUS ABN SLI ATX $177.99 (Canadian)

Ram: Rosewill 512 Mb x 2 = 1GB (I wasn't able to find the Ram on Tiger Direct)

Video Cards: 2 PNY GEforce 7900 GTs (Wasn't able to find these either)

Optical Drive Plextor PX -740 A $76.99 (Canadian)

Floppy Drive Mitsumi (Wasn't able to find)

Hardrive Western Digital Caviar 320GB $133.99 (Canadian)

Sound Card Sound Blaster X Fi Xtreme Music $120.99 (Canadian)

Is this computer worth building? Is there a better way? Maybe a more economical way to get better bang for my buck? Money is tight and as I live in Canada computer parts are a lot more expensive than they list in the magazine.

 

[ShinigamiSama]

what part of Canada?
we've got Tiger Direct and NCIX

and seeing as how you havn't given a price tag and I'm to lazy/busy to look up the prices I cant say if its worth it or not

but if you're going for two 7900s, unless you're doing some higher-ish end gaming theres not much point - you'd get a better overall bang for your buck by getting an AMD x2 3800(if theres sock) than the two beefy cards

good luck eh?

 

[Nightbird]

Hey Shin!

I'm in Southwestern Ontario near Windsor.

I know the website for Tiger Direct but whats the one for NCIX?

All the prices they give for the parts in the mag are in American funds. But I did some research on Tiger direct and got some prices I'll go back and list them.

 

[Weird Harold]

I'm considering building my own computer and I recently found a copy of PC Gamer that gives step by step instructions on how to build one.

Has anyone ever done this before? Is it as easy as it looks?

I've built almost all of my computers and have found it both easy and extremely frustrating -- it's not difficult if you're careful but figuring out what went wrong when you have a problem can be a real bitch, even for an experienced assembler/repairman.

I have no comment on the specific parts except to say that I'm very happy with the ASUS Motherboard in my computer -- ASUS gives good value for the money.

 

[Nightbird]

If I built two of these computers what would be the best way to hook them together for game playing?

You know like they do at LAN parties? I know LAN stands for Local Area Network but I have no idea how it's physically done or the best way to go about doing it.

Or should I say the best way to do it without breaking the bank.

 

[ShinigamiSama]

If I built two of these computers what would be the best way to hook them together for game playing?

You know like they do at LAN parties? I know LAN stands for Local Area Network but I have no idea how it's physically done or the best way to go about doing it.

Or should I say the best way to do it without breaking the bank.

http://ncix.com/
I thought it'd be easy to figure out lol


anyways
get some straigh-thru cat53 cable
and a switch, then a router if they need to be connected to the net
or you can buy one of those crappy all-in-ones from future shop

or do it wirelessly
but then you run into interferance problems and range issues

 

[Weird Harold]

You know like they do at LAN parties? I know LAN stands for Local Area Network but I have no idea how it's physically done or the best way to go about doing it.

Networking two computers in a LAN is pretty much the same as connecting your computer to a broadband internet connection. A router is about the only additional hardware required (assuming you're planning on including network cards for a broadband internet connection anyway.) You just connect the router to the broadband internet connection and both computers to the router -- according to the instructions for setting up the router and your internet connection.

Going wireless is a only a tiny bit more complicated than a hardwired network, but it is much easier to temporarily add computers for a "LAN Party" with wireless.

Windows XP is very easy to set-up in a peer-to-peer network -- if the hardware is properly connected, Win XP will detect it and walk you through the initial network configuration.

 

[Nightbird]

Thank you very much for your help everyone.

Does anyone else have anything to add?

 

[SweetErika]

We get our parts from Newegg.com, and I'll see if Hubby has anything to add to this.

 

[borisk]

I would check out the Intel E6300. It is a nice chip for the price.

Go with the AM2 pin out for the AMD. This would help future proof your purchase.

Personally I wouldn't waist the money on a Plextor drive. You can get a Pioneer for cheaper (personally better burns) unless you really need PIO reading SATA and Mt Ranier.

Also ditch the floppy.....

Boris

 

[ShinigamiSama]

We get our parts from Newegg.com, and I'll see if Hubby has anything to add to this.

I didn't think newegg shiped to Canada

borisk
why are you telling him to commit beastiality?
mixing Intel with AMD?

thats like... cross breeding

I'd stick with ASUS, they seem to be pretty good

and dont cheap out on the MOBO to much, its the best bang for your buck on any PC because all data passes through it if it wants to get anywhere

and dont cheap out on a power supply, that's about as smart as using summer tires in the snow

 

[borisk]

borisk
why are you telling him to commit beastiality?
mixing Intel with AMD?

What I meant was if you were to go with AMD get the AM2 chips, the bus is better than the 939 not to mention that the 939 is a phased out design.

OR

Intel 6300 duo2core chip is a good cheap performer. Usually found for around $120 US. Easy to over clock too

and dont cheap out on a power supply, that's about as smart as using summer tires in the snow

Very good to point out that a cheap Power supply can cause headaches. These can cause spontaneous reboots due to poor load handling

Boris

 

[ShinigamiSama]

What I meant was if you were to go with AMD get the AM2 chips, the bus is better than the 939 not to mention that the 939 is a phased out design.

OR

Intel 6300 duo2core chip is a good cheap performer. Usually found for around $120 US. Easy to over clock too

Very good to point out that a cheap Power supply can cause headaches. These can cause spontaneous reboots due to poor load handling

Boris

ok thats what I hoped you were saying, just had to be clear cause this guy is a newbie; dont want to confuse them to badly now do we

and yeah - I had problems with cheap power supplies once before. after speanding two weeks part from my PC while it was being 'inspected' buy a bunch of wannabe linux geeks that thought they new their stuff. I figured it out once I cracked the case and voided my 'warrenty' with them when I noticed the PSU had heat damage due to poor insulation

so I pulled it out, dropped it on their counter and walked out
bought a new one at london drugs, ended all my problems right there


and anything else
hmmmm
DDR2 is what you'll need if you're going to try an be future proofed, so the AM2, and the duos use it
but if you do just need a down and dirty PC with a good value
stick to a DDR1, and single core, they're rather cheap right now

but the PSU and Mother board still can't be skimpt on
nearly everything else can be with less dire effects

 

[linuxgeek]

I haven't had cause to reference it lately, but http://www.tomshardware.com/ use to be a decent place to find info when building machines.

 

[thecharlieman]

you can also check out geek.com for pricing, but i really don't put much stock in their "reviews". do use tomshardware for the lowdown on parts including compatability issues.

i built my own box as well, and did have some compatability problems but most of those were software and driver rather than hardware issues.

as was stated earlier, DO NOT get cheap on your PSU!!! i did, and wasted $$ on that. also, as suggested, go with the AM2 socket as well (yes i am another AMD freak!).

my MB is a gigabyte K8U (you others, please suppress your groans and giggles as $$ were an issue for me as well!!) and seems to be doing just fine for what i use this comp for.

i guess what i'm trying to say is do continued research, even as you order/build your comp.

DON'T be afraid to take the plunge in building your machine though!

good luck!!

 

[lurker778]

Thank you very much for your help everyone.

Does anyone else have anything to add?

One big note: It is not hard to get the parts together. But..if something doesn't work, you have no one to call to help. All you have is warrenties for the individual parts, not the whole PC. It isn't much of a problem if you like to tinker.

 

[ShinigamiSama]

One big note: It is not hard to get the parts together. But..if something doesn't work, you have no one to call to help. All you have is warrenties for the individual parts, not the whole PC. It isn't much of a problem if you like to tinker.

if you did your homework in the first place by spending an extra 2 or thre hours researching you wont have that problem anyways. Its cheaper to just take the time out and research than spend an extra 150$ for the warrenty - unless you're making like 40/hour that is