Building Computers: Your First Try

By Michael Quarles

If this is your first try at building a computer, there are some things you should know that will make the build easier, and the computer run better once you’ve finished.

First, don’t worry about tools. The only items you absolutely have to get are a couple of screwdrivers, a flat tip, and a Phillips. The odds are you’ve already got those lying around the house somewhere. A set of retractors, the three fingered kind that look like a syringe, are good to pick up screws with when they fall into corners, but you don’t have to have them.

Second, almost everybody plans their computers around the CPU. If you’re editing video, or doing other demanding chores, you may want a dual core system. A basic internet and homework PC can be built around a bargain CPU.

Once you pick your processor, logically you can move on to the motherboard, because you’ve settled on a slot type. Keep in mind the savings to be had by purchasing a motherboard/CPU combo.

Prioritize your needs. Are you a gamer? Do you want a twin graphics card system? Then set that as your top priority, and let the decisions you make follow. Get a motherboard that can handle two cards, or whatever special needs you have.

Please, get all the RAM you can afford. Nothing improves computer speed like extra RAM. There’s less waiting for programs to load, and applications that use really big files run more efficiently, without relying on virtual memory.

An all too often overlooked item is the power supply. People usually just go with the 300 or 350 watt supply that comes with a case. But, depending on the system they build, they could be risking a catastrophic system failure. Look at it this way, a top end CPU requires 100 watts all by itself. A 256MB graphics card is another 100 watts. A Crossfire system doubles that.

Yes, you can design a power miser, but you have to carefully consider every part. A basic PC can be built that only requires about 200 to 230 watts. It means using a slower CPU, and a modest graphics card.

Finally, I advise that you read and save every piece of paper documentation that comes with the parts you buy. This stuff almost always winds up in the trash, yet it carries valuable information, often about tricky tasks like connecting the case wires.

Michael Quarles is the author of the book "Building a PC for Beginners". His website is http://www.monkeyseemonkeydobooks.com .