How To Build A Computer

How To Build A Computer

This first page lists the components I recommend to build a computer today, including the reputable online retailers where I would get them. Following web pages go into more detail regarding each component within a computer, such as the computer case, motherboard, processor, memory, video card, hard drive and so on, describing what type of technology is currently available and what features and capabilities to look for in each component. Finally, my free, detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions provide the most comprehensive guide available anywhere on how to build a computer, with hundreds of pictures and listing every single part that was used, right down to the cables and screws. The steps include not just one way of building the computer, but a variety of common PC configurations.

How to build a computer using a standard IDE parallel ATA (PATA) hard drive versus using a serial ATA (SATA) hard drive.

Building a computer with or without a RAID configuration.

How to build a PC using the sound capabilities built into the motherboard versus using an add-on sound card.

How to build a computer using an ATI based video card versus using an NVIDIA based video card.

Including how to install Windows XP, and how to install the software driver for each hardware component.

Including multiple examples of BIOS settings, device connections and more.

Here are the highlights of My Super PC today!

Motherboard	ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
Processor	AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ AM2 (dual-core)
Ram	Crucial 4096MB (4GB) PC8500 DDR2 (about 3.25GB usable)
Video Card	eVGA Geforce 8800 GTS 320MB DDR3 PCI-E
Hard Drive	Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm SATA
DVD RW	Sony DRU-830A Dual Format Double Layer
Sound Card	Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (but the motherboard built-in sound is very good)
Operating System	Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 (Service Pack 2)
Monitor	Dell UltraSharp 2001FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor

It wouldn't take long for My Super PC to become just an average PC. But My Super PC was built with upgradeability as a primary consideration and it's as upgradeable as it gets!

Which brings me to the first rule of building your own PC which I call the "six month rule of delayed acquisition". Only use hardware and software that is at least six months old. There are three big reasons. First, as you may guess, is that prices drop drastically in even as short a period as six months. Second, as you may guess again, is that any problems will shake out in this time. But a third very important reason is that in only six months there will be volumes of information about an item – from how it performs to how you can best use it.