> Boo wrote:
>
>>>>> You get very good training first. It is not easy. Homebuilding a PC
>>>>> is NOT rocket science! Anyone with a modicum of common sense and
>>>>> familiarity with electronics and computers can do it.
>>>> True. And on behalf of everyone working in the computer repair
>>>> industry, god bless those that try it for themselves the first time.
>>>
>>> LOL
>>>
>>> But it really is easy. It's like Plug and Play, as long as you aren't
>>> wearing socks or stroking your cat while you build it.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>You can buy anti-static wristbands for a couple of quid which wrap
>>around your wrist and onnect via a cable to the PC case. This should
>>obviate any risk of static damage to PC components as you build the
>>system. Well worth it for the money IMO.
>
> And the perfect place to attach that anti static device is around your
> neck.
>
> Those cute little wristbands are one of the most useless things that
> anyone could purchase.
Easy way to reduce the chance of static discharge is do the job with bare
feet.
>
> I include component selection, and at least to some extent the OS/driver
> install as part of a build.
Good. If done correctly, the pre-hardware purchase research should take a
considerable amount of time, even if you are experienced at it.
>
> The more challenging part seems to more or less come from experience;
> picking the components that are more likely or less likely to play
> nicely despite being compatible as judged by the specifications.
Y'know, many people say that some motherboards are picky about ram or
whatever. I guess I'm lucky as I haven't run into many compatibility
problems. At least not with systems I've spec'd. But then I tend to go for
brands like Kingston and Crucial and OCZ for RAM. Though my last build I
used Patriot, just because I got like a 40% discount over any better known
brand with similar specs. No complaints, it works great!
> Picking the drivers that will layer nicely and not break each other's
> configurations can be fun too -- There was a good deal of time where
> configuring a Microsoft keyboard and a Logitech mouse on the same system
> took a bit of juggling if you wanted all of the extra features of both.
>
> Luckily today the problem is less of an issue then it was in the past,
> although perhaps my view is slanted since I swore off VIA chipsets and
> AMD CPUs entirely and standardized on one motherboard manufacturer.
Hmmmmm . . . for a while I used AMD CPUs almost exclusively. Every once in
a while I'd help someone build who insisted on using Intel for no good
reason at all other than "it's intel". Not a big deal, I have nothing
against Intel, it's just that for a LONG time Intel was really bad as far as
bang/buck goes. It's too bad you swore off VIA chipsets. I've had
really good luck with them. Several years ago, a friend's system had a
power supply die, and it took his intel chipset mainboard with it. He
didn't have a lot of money, so I found a cheapER power supply and the
cheapest motherboard I could find, happened to be VIA. He was THRILLED with
the replacement mainboard. That VIA chipset mainboard kicked the crap out
of his high-end Intel board. He had benchmarks that he'd run before the
power supply died and the same benchmarks run on the VIA board showed the
VIA chipset board to be much faster. Incidentally, that system is still
going strong, since we rebuilt it several years ago. It's horribly
outdated, but still in use daily.
I tend to shop for components by features first, then name brand. For
example, if an Intel CPU has the better bang/buck in my price range, I'll
gladly build Intel. Same with chipset. I don't need fastest necessarily,
but I want the best features at a decent price, then I'll look for one of my
favored brands of mainboard maker with that chipset. Don't care if it's VIA
or Intel or whatever, whoever has got the goods at the moment, I'm buying.
I seem to be greatly biased toward nvidia chipset video cards, but not
exclusively. Last one I bought was a ATI something or other when my
workstation at work needed an upgrade.
I think you are limiting yourself by swearing off AMD CPUs and VIA chipsets.
I really do. Not that I'd recommend either at the moment. -Dave
But it really is easy. It's like Plug and Play, as long as you aren't
wearing socks or stroking your cat while you build it.
Put memory and CPU onto MB.
Put MB into case.
Put PSU into case.
Put HDD into case.
Put DVD RW into case.
But GPU onto MB.
Connect everything.
Put lid of case back on.
Voila.
(snip)
Whoa, careful there. I don't doubt you might have good results that way,
usually. But It's better not to jostle around the mainboard too much after
the CPU and RAM are installed. It's better to mount the mainboard firmly in
the case, and then install the CPU and RAM. Other than that, it is pretty
easy, like you said. -Dave
On Tue, 13 May 2008 12:12:05 -0600, DevilsPGD
<spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>I also can't count the number of times I've walked into a friend's house
>to diagnose a brand new build that won't boot and solved it in based on
>subtle things that are difficult to explain over the phone or internet.
BTDTGTTS. The weirdest problem I had to fix was random lock-ups
(computer froze & Ctrl+Alt+Del did not work). The solution was to
change the mouse! Took me months to find that one.
>Of course, learning is part of the fun.
;-)
>>I simply suggest that anyone who wants to build a computer have a complete
>>WORKING computer with Internet access handy, one from which NO parts will be
>>"borrowed" to build the new one. -Dave
>
>Oh most definitely. I've built more machines then I can count and I
>wouldn't dream of doing it without an internet connection available,
>even if only to pull BIOS and driver updates.
Agreed.
--
(\__/) M.
(='.'=) Owing to the amount of spam posted via googlegroups and
(")_(") their inaction to the problem. I am blocking most articles
posted from there. If you wish your postings to be seen by
everyone you will need use a different method of posting.
See http://improve-usenet.org
>> You can buy anti-static wristbands for a couple of quid which wrap around your
>> wrist and onnect via a cable to the PC case. This should obviate any risk of
>> static damage to PC components as you build the system. Well worth it for the
>> money IMO.
>
> And the perfect place to attach that anti static device is around your
> neck.
>
> Those cute little wristbands are one of the most useless things that anyone
> could purchase.
I don't believe this to be correct. I have worked in many electronics
manufaturing and rework plants and wristbands were de rigeur in all of them. Of
course, ideally you'd have an antistatic mat to connect the band to but the
computer chassis is a decent alternative. Why do you say that the wristbands
are useless Thorn ?
On May 12, 1:30 am, dylanjameshaasn...@gmail.com wrote:
> i want to know how to build a computer
Check out this site: http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/
The pricing and some information is UK specific but overall its well
written and informative. Good luck!
> Y'know, many people say that some motherboards are picky about ram or
> whatever. I guess I'm lucky as I haven't run into many compatibility
> problems. At least not with systems I've spec'd. But then I tend to go for
> brands like Kingston and Crucial and OCZ for RAM.
Except for Crucial, those aren't trustworthy brands because they use
either junk chips (UTT -- see http://www.legitreviews.com/article.php?aid=199),
or in the case of Kingston, slice & dice their own memory wafers, and
none of the companies seems to test carefully (or they have lax
standards), some using only PCs for testing, maybe with RST Pro cards
stuck in them. 2 of the 3 OCZ 2 x 1GB Gold modules I tried last year
failed (when I went back to the store each time, other people were
also returning them), and about 8 out of the 12-13 Kingston PC3200
512MB ValueRAM modules showed errors with MemTest86.
> Though my last build I used Patriot, just because I got like a 40%
> discount over any better known brand with similar specs. No
> complaints, it works great!
How did you test it? Normal use isn't very thorough, nor are most
memory diagnostics, with MemTest86, MemTest+, and Gold Memory being
some of the few exceptions.
First decide on what kind of PC you are going to build:
Ultra low cost
Somewhere in the middle
High end
As you just start I would suggest trying an ULC so you don't have to worry
to much if you buy the wrong component :-) and it is very rewarding nowadays
since even low cost pc's are very capable of doing anything you want.
So what do you want it to have (make a check list because it is easy to
forget things):
Raid
Do you need serial port (maybe because you have a serial wacom
board)/parallel port (do you attach a printer)
What kind of CPU Dual Core/Quad Core (if you do raytracing for instance or
any application that actually uses more than one core/thread). Check
comparisson charts for Intel/AMD to check for the best performance for the
money.
Network Lan?
Audio?
Ok now it is time to research first thing go through your favorite vendors
list to find a motherboard that fits the above specification:
Check that motherboard on google for any problems or compatibility with your
favorite OS.
Check the price (is there a similar one that is cheaper)
Repeat above until you found something acceptable.
Now check the memory list (for the motherboard on the manufactures site) and
check for available memory with your favorite vendor and try to find a
match.
Same for the processor (although that should be easier because you already
have chosen one)
Check test charts for some harddrives (for a raid you need at least two)
fast/reliable/price. Google for it on the web again. Make sure the interface
fits the motherboard (usually SATA nowadays).
Do you play games then you probably need a graphic card. Yet again should
fit your motherboard (PCI Express 16 usually). Yet again google for
price/perfomance.
Decide on casing 400W (note there are also cases without PSU) should
probably be OK for low cost PC. Make sure it has enough drive bays AND does
support the form factor of your board! ATX or m-ATX.
Extra stuff (can be bought very cheap nowadays)
Choose a DVD rewriter and or disk-drive (if you need one).
Mouse/Keyboard/Monitor/Speakers (you might want to reuse old stuff but check
interfaces for mouse and keyboard).
And not to forget you might have to buy an OS
Double check your vendor for reliability (remember they are (almost) always
nice when selling you stuff but what if something doesn't work).
Buy everything.
Read manuals carefully, take your time! Then when you are sure you
understood everything piece it together.
ATTACH YOUR WRIST WRAP OR HOLD CASE
TOUCH COMPONENT PACKAGE BEFORE UNPACKING!
Motherboard -> Case
Check manual for any jumpers you might have to set
Processor->Motherboard
Memory->Motherboard
Graphics Card->Motherboard
Drives->Bays
Drives Cables-> Motherboard
Power cords to various stuff
Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse to connectors
Double check everything.
Triple Check
Now attach power.
A few things can happen.
You think you some lightning on your motherboard and it seems you smell
something, however for the rest everything remains peacefully silent (you
didn't triple check did you....?!)
Nothing happens at all (is your PC actually switched on?)
You here a few odd beeps. (immediately unplug and check)
Your PC starts telling you it can't find a boot disk, YES!
<dylanjameshaasnoot@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f45713b4-0d08-46f0-beb4-522b9b7a7b09@c19g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>i want to know how to build a computer
>
> I can tell you that the major shops around here *always* mount the CPU
> and fan before installing the motherboard, I'm assuming they have had
> similar experiences to my own.
I don't doubt it, as that would be the fast and easy way to do it. You won't catch me installing anything on a mainboard before it's in the case, though. I've always been a do-it-right-the-first-time, rather than do-it-over-later kind of guy. I guess a good compromise is, if you feel you must populate the mainboard before installing it in the case, get one of those cases with a removable mainboard tray. Then you can do it both ways. -Dave
Re: how do i build a computer 
It's too bad you swore off VIA chipsets. I've had 
Linear Mode
