Newbie Build Basics

[etmann]

Okay, so you've been hanging around AnandTech for a while, been listening to that not-quite-pubescent kid down the street brag about the computer (s)he built; maybe reading the classifieds in Computer Shopper and looking at the price tags at Best Buy, and you're really tired of squinting at your 14" monitor. So you decide it's time for a new computer and start thinking: "If that goofy kid can do it, I can surely do it better."


Well, maybe you can...

 

[DrTrust]

I just posted a message on that topic in the hotdeal forum about this.
Thanks etmann. like I said on that discussion, I really thank you if you can provide some info about how to build a system.
I know some basic, like how to connect things in a computer. but dont know enough to discuss what kind of motherboards are good and why, and some other like compatibility issue,.
now i can hope to change an old one sitting on a corner and collecting dust...

could you throw some basics?

thanks

 

[etmann]

<< but dont know enough to discuss what kind of motherboards are good and why, and some other like compatibility issue,.now i can hope to change an old one sitting on a corner and collecting dust...could you throw some basics?thanks >>



Do you intend to build a new computer, or refurbish an old one, or both?

 

[etmann]

How 'bout this, for starters...

A personal computer commonly consists of the following pieces:

• MB --- Motherboard or mainboard
• CPU - Central Processing Unit
• HSF - CPU cooler, a heatsink with a cooling fan, attached to the CPU
• MEM - Memory, or RAM
• HD --- Hard Drive
• CD --- CD-ROM reader, reader/writer, or DVD
• FDD - Floppy Disk Drive
• MODEM
• NET - Network Interface Card, or NIC
• AUD - Audio, the sound card
• VID -- Video adapter
• MON - Monitor
• KB --- Keyboard
• MOUSE-Mouse, trackball, etc.
• SPK - Speakers
• CAS - Case
• PS --- Power Supply

This looks really elementary, but I've known experienced builders who forgot to consider some part or other, and ended up with less than they'd planned. Each part should be considered individually, and evaluated with respect to compatibility, stability, suitability, and price, and in that order, if possible...

 

[navylinux]

I have built a couple of computers. I normally look at what the individual is going to do with it, IE Gaming, business, internet, Home inventory. That helps me and them decide what they want in the system. If only internet and home inventory, they do not need the newest 64mb video card, or the 80gig hard drive. But if they are a gamer, then lets roll into the big boy parts bin.
I research each item that is going to go into the computer though and see if there are any compatibility problems floating around.
Look around and see what the people have here in their rigs. Ask them if they had any problems building the system if they built it.

 

[etmann]

...as do I, and probably most of the builders in these forums. For instance, when the customer wants a cheapie Internet or business box, I nudge them in the direction of a TNT2 or Matrox (respectively), because it's more than they'll need, they're dirt cheap, well supported, and are good performers. After all, the TNT2 was a top tier gamer card only 18 months ago.

When I get a customer with more money than sense, of course I'll trot out a T'bird 1.4 with all the bells &amp; whistles (or an Intel box if the customer has a lot of money and is insistent); but I try to give the customer the best, for the size of their budget, and at the same time save me the hassle of dealing with an immature platform, whenever it's reasonable to do so.

 

[crzyc]

well i have been reading these forums for about a year and it was time for me to build one.

i took about a month of researching each piece for my computer in depth, narrowing down the list of options until i was sure. then i looked around, found newegg.com to be a great place to buy some parts, got some other places for the best price. then WAITED! hah for everything to come. building it wasn't hard at all. the thing that took the longest was removing the pink thermal stuff on my hsf so i could put on AS II.

the hardest part of this was chosing the parts, not that bad just putting it together was really easy, who knows i might have been lucky ( i think i was lucky in getting an axia chip, i haven't yet compared the numbers)

 

[NelsonMuntz]

Building computers is a blast and it is important to try and remember all of the pieces so you get what you wanted. It's also fun building them for other people. I like to build brand new ones so I get to unwrap all that cool stuff (like Christmas) but I have refurbished several and given them to family members and such. Never happier then when I have both hands stuck inside the case of a computer.

 

[JohnnyKnoxville]

This websiteshould provide you with all the links you need to know for a first time builder.Try the AMD link it has a good tutorial.

 

[agg123456789]

ya...building a comp really is not all that difficult. My box (see my rig) was my first computer, and i dident realy know what i was doing. I spent an entire day doing research, however i didren really understand what i was reading. My friend had told me that the KT7-RAID was a great Motherboard, but besides that, i kinda....just bought stuff....it is a testimant to how durable all this stuff is...works great...my computer that is...a little tweaking however...had to go from the 300 watt powersuplly that i bought to a 400...there were bumps in the road...but dont worry to much....almost anything will work......just somethings will work better...

feel free to pm me if you have questions

agg123456789

 

[etmann]

Thanx, JohnnyKnoxville! I always appreciate a new links page, and that one looks good...

 

[DrTrust]

Thanks for the great posts..
I am having really good lessons from here.
I think the thing that concenrs me most is the issue of compatibility. I would know what product to choose if I do some research, like what CPU to go based on the budget, although it is still tough to decide...

But I definitely would not know whether this MB is compatible to this specific sound card or video card. Maybe those are compatible but still may create all sort of problem when it is put into test... I think that is the point that I am afraid at....

The website is great. I will check that out more when I have some time to do...

thanks

 

[DrTrust]

i just checked out the AMD site. It is very well documented..
One question though...
what is a heatsink? It seems that it is an option because there is one with the heatsink or without the heatsink?

 

[NelsonMuntz]

A heatsink is a metal device that is attached to the motherboard and seat right on top the processor with a metal retention clip that dissipates the heat (conduction) produced by the processor. They should always come with a fan attached to the top to provide air flow (convection) to keep the heat sink cool. Also called HSF for Heat Sink/Fan. You can get a review of HSFs here. Sorry again Anand.

 

[etmann]

For a CPU, go AMD! They're faster, less expensive, better for most applications, and provide a better upgrade path than Intel...

That said, there have been compatibility issues with certain Athlon motherboards and the Creative Labs SoundBlaster Live!, however the Live! is not the end-all, be-all of audio cards, and many if these &quot;issues&quot; have been dealt with by the motherboard manufacturers. The SB is a very good product, but it is dated, and the Turtle Beach, Phillips, and Hercules current generation cards offer better sound (fewer features though, except possibly the Herc.) without fear of compatibility issues. They are more expensive than the Value edition of the Live!, but less so than the Platinum version.

There also have been compatibility issues with some digital video editing cards and some Athlon mobos, but these cards also have issues with Intel-based computers. This should only be a consideration if you intend to create or edit DV movies with a DV camera and your computer.

I know of no other real compatibility issues with current AMD processor-based computers and any commonly used current hardware...

 

[etmann]

DrTrust: What do you intend to do with this computer? Different applications require different configurations. In general, a high-end system will run anything and do anything, but there are variances within the high-end which make tailoring to different applications desirable. If you are not going to go strictly high-end (refer back to flight23's original thread in Hot Deals), then there are quite a number of variables which come into play.

I don't recommend to anyone that they build the latest/greatest system. All that does is deplete your wallet more quickly and give you bragging rights for 6 weeks until the next processor speed bump or stepping. Instead, I suggest that ppl set a particular price point and work within that.

 

[DrTrust]

Thanks again etmann.

The computer that I am using right now is like 800 AMD 128MB 30G and puls some other attachments like zip, cd-rw.
what I am thinking is that I can build a new one with little bit more features so I can paa this computer to my close one.
In this regard, I would like to use one of those LCD monitors. I have a 19 inch mitsubishi monitor, my sister is an architect. so to her,
good quality of monitor is very critical. she recommended this monitor. Now I would like to buy a LCD one.
is there a special kind video card for those LCD rather than plain monitors?
I think I know just enough to know browse the sound card aisle....

Also, I would like to buy a laptop. any suggestion for that?

thanks in advance...

 

[etmann]

<< what I am thinking is that I can build a new one with little bit more features so I can paa this computer to my close one. >>




So, you're looking to build a complete, new system, right?

 

[DrTrust]

Yes, I will start from the scratch...
I dont need like high-end computer, and dont play computer games.
Usually use the computer for paper-writing and some programming.. not to mention the internet...

I dont mean to get some advice from you about what specific level in terms of speed and everything, although i will appreciate that...
just trying to give some idea about stuff...

thanks

 

[etmann]

<< Yes, I will start from the scratch...
I dont need like high-end computer, and dont play computer games.
Usually use the computer for paper-writing and some programming.. not to mention the internet...

thanks >>



Good start!...

What is your current motherboard, is your CPU an Athlon or Duron, and what kind of video card (and how much video RAM) has it?

Is your computer a brand name or generic, and are you reasonably satisfied with it's performance?

In what [language] do you program (usually) and how quickly does it compile executables?

 

[etmann]

AnandTech has the faq sections up and running. A good place to look for answers to a number of questions will be:

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=28

 

[etmann]

DrTrust:

IMHO, you already have more than enough computer to do what you wish. If the idea is to have two computers available, I'd suggest an Athlon 1.2 or higher, just to drop your compile time whilst programming; and I'd suggest a Matrox G-450 vid card, which doesn't have the blazing speed of a GeForce, but is fantastic with text and 2-D objects. If you view a lot of text, your eyes will thank you

Frankly, I don't know if there is an advantage to using an LCD-specific vid card. I recommend iiyama monitors, which all use a standard D-sub 15pin VGA connector and will run well off any vid card. I suppose if the monitor in which you are interested has just the 24pin connector available, you'd have to go with an LCD-specific vid card...

For a laptop, I'd recommend the Compaq Presario 1200 Athlon 4 system. It's the most powerful laptop you can buy, at any price! You can order direct from Compaq at prices starting at $1249.00 (this is cheap Pentium III territory), and get a nicely appointed one for ~$1700. I'd recommend Compaq's 30Gb HD upgrade, but only 128Mb of RAM (it's >$100 cheaper to buy a 256Mb piece from Crucial and upgrade to 320Mb yourself, and you can then sell the 64Mb piece you remove on E*gay to make the cost even less!)

If you don't like Compaqs (I don't, particularly, but the above is my laptop of choice), NEC, HP and, I think Sony, are releasing Athlon 4 lappys in the near future...