Advice on learning to build a PC?

[ttbwpg]

Can anyone direct me to some info on building a PC? I'd like to take on the project just to learn how to do it and to have a second PC in the home. The idea of building one really cheap is also attractive to me.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

[Gee]

Just because you build your own PC, does not necessarily make it cheaper. Because the parts are marked up individually, it may end up costing you more in the end.

[willy]

I agree with Gee ... It's virtually impossible for an individual to build a Dell-comparable machine for the same cost.

However, if you want to keep the cost as low as possible, try to start with the following :

1. an onboard-everything motherboard (video, sound, LAN, ...)
2. 512MB RAM
3. CD-ROM
4. generic case with PS
5. small HD
6. older generation CPU

That's all you need ...

[sxz]

Just because you build your own PC, does not necessarily make it cheaper. Because the parts are marked up individually, it may end up costing you more in the end.

Of course you can, but it will require time to be spent looking through many stores and sometimes even waiting for good sales before you can get the parts you want at the price you want.

[supernerd]

Of course you can, but it will require time to be spent looking through many stores and sometimes even waiting for good sales before you can get the parts you want at the price you want.

If you want the absolute lowest costs, building one is not the way to go. Lets just use some lower bound for prices for NEW and relatively modern items found in the cheapest dells or emachines or etc...:

cpu: $60
motherboard: $60
ram: $50
case and PSU: $50
optical drive: $30
mouse, keyboard, speakers: $30
hard drive: $60

This is about $340, and you have pretty much no choices to make (i.e. you're choosing the cheapest components you can buy), and I think I'm being pretty conservative on my lower bound estimates. I'm also assuming that $60 motherboard has integrated video, audio, and network. Plus you get no software or support (its worth something to some people).

You can often find a basic Dell for cheaper (i.e. those $299 Dell deals. Even right now, you can get one for $330).

The ability to build your own budget box cheaper than the big manufactuers stopped several years ago. However, as you look towards high-end systems, where OEM margins are larger, then buliding your own system may save you money then.

If you want a budget box, buy from an OEM. if you want to "learn" how to assemble a computer, take that same box, dis-assemble, and re-assemble; there's really not much to it...

[stev3-o]

The OP just wants to build his own PC, side note of budget pc being attractive. Just find a budget first then go from there. I hear from other threads that new technology is coming out so prices will even be lower.

Everything is pretty much plug and play, read the mobo manual.

- mentioned above, a built-in everything mobo
- amd sempron-like cpu ( dell doesn't carry amd cpus and celerons sucked a while back, dont know about now)
- 512 ram
- dvd rom
- hd
- everything else u can pretty much get em from BST for lower price.

Since you do have the interest to build ur own pc, u'll have the option to fiddle with the bios not like dell.

i buy almost everything from www.infonec.com they PM anyone.
You'll find pleasure building it.
Link to alternatives to CC http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...nada+computers
i have never bought anything from there, their attitude is that they don't need your business.

[Cafe_333]

Here you go:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2002/09/..._pc/index.html

OR if you want the above in one page:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2002/09/..._pc/print.html

[pestilenc]

I'd suggest getting the next level up case. They can be had between $60-$70 (so only like $20 or so more) and you get a quality PSU, which is vital.

Like the Antec 1650 or the like; crappy PSUs are the bane of computers.

Also, to keep costs down, you might want to look at getting a motherboard with integrated video. Forget playing the latest games but it'll knock off a bit more cash.

[ttbwpg]

Thanks all. Keep the advice coming. I'll check out those links later today.

[Fantastical]

I agree with the people here, dell is cheap and easy for a whole system.

Dell got subsidized from other Company by loading those junk/trial software into your machine; thereby, passing on the saving to you.

I would ask for a windows cd from dell and do a reinstallation on a new dell pc.

The trial software is extremly annoying, it slows down your computer and sometimes freeze your com too.

[ttbwpg]

Thanks for all the input. I guess the most telling post was about, the days of saving money by building your own machine have passed.

I'd like to have a new system but I'm not willing to give up on running movies and games. I don't need to play the newest high end games but its got to be able to play music and video without freezing up.

Perhaps I should be looking at buying a used system.

Thanks again for all the input.

[PennyArcade]

in terms of building you own PC, I really suggest inviting a friend that has experience to supervise you. Bribe him/her (most likely him ) with some beer and give it to them AFTER they help you

[Lalalalalalalafontaine]

Thanks for all the input. I guess the most telling post was about, the days of saving money by building your own machine have passed.

I'd like to have a new system but I'm not willing to give up on running movies and games. I don't need to play the newest high end games but its got to be able to play music and video without freezing up.

Perhaps I should be looking at buying a used system.

Thanks again for all the input.

A new and fairly decent Sempron64 / Celeron D 64 bit based systems can usually be had for about $350 or less. So unless you only wanna spend about $200 or so, you should probably just be on the look out for deals in the Hot Deals section. Even then, you won't even get much of a used system for $200.

Video and music should be no trouble for any system these days. If you want to play games, you're gonna have to shell out at least another 180 for a decent gaming card like this one: http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN

What kind of machine are you upgrading from btw?

[Tmayhem]

It's cheaper to build your PC if you want something more than the basic vanilla system. If you just want the cheapest, then Dell might be a good option.

[Spiderpal93]

Buy used parts here on RFD! And then practice building! Also good if you have unused parts lying around and fiddle with them.

I have done that before costed me:

2200+ CPU and heatsink--$20
Socket A Mobo(video/sound/lan)--$40
30gig HD--$15
Extra 256MB DDR ram(I already have a stick of 512)--$10
Extra DVD Rom(I had a DVD Burner)--$10
I had my own case+PSW--but it should cost you $15-20
Total is ~$110 without Monitor.

Best thing is you won't knock yourself out if you kill a certain part for your inexperience(since it's used and cheap).