Poll: How fast can you build a computer?

[Imported]

About an hour. I take my time doing everything, making sure everything is correctly seated, the cables are folded, etc.

 

[burnedout]

We actually timed this exercise where I formerly worked at once. The conditions are:

All components are packaged with the exception of drives (CD, HDD, FDD) and memory. HDDs are already imaged with the OS - hehe 7 disk imager. Mobo, video, sound, NIC, case, CPU are in the retail boxes. All components within arm's reach. Case cover is not required to be on due to possible troubleshooting. Time stops when computer boots. Boot screen displays all drives, but OS isn't loaded.

I got it down to 12 minutes. We had one guy complete the task in 8 minutes. Cables weren't tied. Used a power screwdriver. This was production on a large order at a small shop. Yeah, you cut your hands, even on good quality A-Open cases. I'd be slower with a cheap case.

At home, I take my sweet time. Only install the basic components to get a boot screen. Fdisk, reboot, format, reboot, OS, reboot. Then add sound, reboot, NIC or modem, reboot. Run a couple of diag programs. Proof the entire process. Tie cables. Install 8 screws in CD readers.

It's like assembling anything. Concentrate and complete the task often enough with the same components, you can be quick.

 

[eyor]

The heatsink takes me 4-5 hours.

 

[kami]

About an hour...I'd go for quality of the build over speed any day. If I was in an absolute rush I guess I could push it down to about 15mins...motherboard mounting and all.

 

[urbantechie]

At work I cut my had a good size opening trying to knock out the I/O panel. It's a nasty job but someones gotta do it

 

[Mucman]

sometimes getting that damn floppy cable orientation takes me forever... on some floppies the red line is near the power and other times it's not! When I built my first computer it took me 3 hours to figure that out

I still take awhile to build a computer because if they are products that I haven't used before I like to read the manuals... If I am using the In-Win S500 I could probably put the parts together in half an hour or less though.

 

[Adul]

I done a computer build in about 30 minutes. Well it was a complete upgrade for my cousin.

 

[nEoTeChMaN]

I can do 3-4 in 20 minutes.

I work at a technical college where I and other 3 technicians are dealing with 15,000 PCs all over campus. We usually do 45-50 PCs a day.

Gonna be fast.

 

[Shack70]

20 minutes sounds good to me...I guess it depends on the case and what goes in it. If it is a nice case with just a board/memory/HD/floppy/CD/vidcard, it might be 15 or so

Sorry about loggin off neo's last night, I had an emergency to deal with...See you later!

 

[thebestMAX]

Since, like RED, I am a perfectionist, my new Tbird took me about 1 1/2 hours to assemble. After all, it is MY system. Granted I could do it in a LOT less time but I like to savor things. Will often buy something and not even open the box for a day or two.

With the new motherboards being jumperless, its almost a no brainer.

 

[snow patrol]

Building a computer is something I like to take my time over. Not because I'm slow and retarded, but because I want to be sure I've done everything correctly and that everything is going to work the way I want it to.

 

[shiznut123]

itll take me 3 hours to do everyhting including instslling all the software $hit

 

[lagvoid]

maybe about 45 or an hour...im scared i might do something wrong

 

[anazoal]

Installing the motherboard takes the the most time...

In a rush: less than 30 mins for parts + ~30 min for the OS.
Quality job: 1 hr for parts + 2 hrs for OS (manually installing all the latest drivers/patches etc.)

 

[jAcKeL]

i can't build a computer yet... that type of knowledge has not hit me

 

[GT1999]

Slow and easy wins the race.

 

[Pakman]

Any monkey can put a computer together and make it boot into dos... Now troubleshooting and getting all the components to work under windows is a different story. I've put complete systems together in bout 15 mins.

 

[helloedchen]

12 pcs in an 8 hour workday. Loaded with everything and with all drivers updated...worked through lunchtime but i never really clocked myself

 

[BowDown]

Usually about a half-hour and it works the first time...

The software however takes the longest . About 2-3 hours on avera to load all the titles.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I just ordered a CPU/MOBO/MEM combo from PCnut.com (pretested P3-700@933) and I figure I'm going to have to reformat and reinstall everything now.

I have a feeling this is going to be a night long thing.:frown:

Any places I can go that gives a fairly detailed tutorial on how to format and such (as I'm quite new to this stuff)?

Edit: I thought I should specify I'm not a total idiot. I read a lot and have a good understanding of PC's in general, but I have little actual hands on experience.

 

[yos]

I'll say an hour... but that includes troubleshooting and os install

 

[moose21218]

Very fast.

 

[urbantechie]

Knightbreed, if you need help PM me!

 

[nEoTeChMaN]

I can do Quality and Speed any day.

 

[jhu]

well, for me it takes at least several years (at least the last one did). the cpu, motherboard, and video designs take a long time. by the time i have them ready to be fabbed, intel's already got a cpu 100x faster than mine. i hate it when that happens.