A few questions about building a computer.

[DL402]

I've never built a computer before so...

1. Should I order all the parts in a bulk?
2. How long would the actual building process take?
3. What's a good beginners guide to building a computer?
4. Would you overclock it within the first month of building the computer or would you wait a while?
5. Should I wait until the new quarter (when the companies announce new parts and decrease the price of old ones) to order the parts?

Thanks.

 

[Akhen]

1. Depends, can be cheaper
2. Depends on your expertise, I'd say 2 hours for the build from start to finish (build, not install of OS and software/updates/drivers)
3. Forget the link but someone else with post it
4. No, but its a matter or preference. I would personaly overclock it when it shows signs of weakness after a year.
5. Its never ending

 

[Ricemarine]

1. I say no.
2. Depending on your skills, it can range from 30 minutes - 6 hours.
3. Bunch of beginner guides, just search for em.
4. You would overclock after letting the thermal paste settle for 200 hours.
5.Yes

 

[mechBgon]

http://www.mechbgon.com/build/index.html <-- guide with photos. I need to get more detail on the actual Windows-installation routine, people are often left hanging at the end about what order to go in. But it's a start.

 

[petesamprs]

mechBgon - used your guide for my first build this week. was VERY helpful (ie, vital). thanks.

I do have a few questions. Why do you install the optical drive first? also, my power cables weren't long enough to test for a POST outside of the case. might want to mention that in your guide (ie, "If your power wires aren't long enough for this don't worry, you can do this later").

The build took me about 6-8 hours total (including Windows install but not other software). I was very careful and went slowly however. Most of the time was spend reading manuals and searching on AT/google when I got stuck. Very little time actually spent assembling.

 

[theMan]

it took me like 3 hours with windows install + a few food breaks 🙂. the actual building was only about an hour.

about overclocking, i would overclock when i was sure the computer is stable, and i have made backups of my data. just run prime95 torture tests all night. but, if you have a really good computer, theres no real point in overclocking until games cant run good on it.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

1. Order online from Newegg, ZZF, Mwave, etc.
2. My first build took about 3 hours to put all the hardware together.
3. mechBgon's guide for sure.
4. Install Windows, run Prime95 overnight, check RAM with Memtest86, and then you can overclock.
5. Well, since nothing really new is launching right now (besides nVidia and ATi's constant battle for the most powerful GPU), just go ahead and buy now. M2 won't be coming out for another couple months, and it'll take a few months for prices to come down anyways. If you keep waiting, you'll end up never buying anything 😉

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: petesamprs
mechBgon - used your guide for my first build this week. was VERY helpful (ie, vital). thanks.

Glad to hear it 🙂

I do have a few questions. Why do you install the optical drive first?

Mainly because I started off demonstrating the case prep, and the optical drive needs rails screwed onto it, and they're a case part, and it had to go in there before the bezel could be put back onto the case.

also, my power cables weren't long enough to test for a POST outside of the case. might want to mention that in your guide (ie, "If your power wires aren't long enough for this don't worry, you can do this later").

Good point. Or they could take the PSU out of the case too.

 

[essasin]

1. Buying parts for a computer is half the fun. What I usually do is serach the for/sale trade fourms or check out the hot deals forums and slowly build up the parts that I need. But if your impatient and have money to blow...just order it from newegg, mwave or zipzoomfly and call it a day.

2.Take your time since its your first build so I say you should be taking around an hour installing the different parts. Make sure you have the mobo properly mounted, all the wires connected, and your heatsink is dead on. Forming your hard drives depending on how big they are can take a long time. Image partioning and formating a 300gb hardrive...itll take a while.

3.google is your friend

4. Once you have built your computer and researched enough with overclocking I dont see why not

5.Get an opteron now