Computer Building

MarcK · July 1, 2010 04:59 AM

So I'm looking to see how building a computer will go. This computer might melt at anytime so I'm just tossing ideas around. I'm extremely new to this.

So I guess the fundamentals are:

Motherboard
CPU
RAM
Hard Drive
Operating System
CD Drive
Case
Power Supply
Graphics Card
USB Drives
A fuckton of cables.

I went browsing around newegg.com and estimating what I need, all of these things would sum up to around 800 dollars. That's without a monitor, speakers, or a keyboard.

I need help.

Needed specs:
Motherboard - No idea how to pick one out.
CPU - I probably need quad core. The versions and labels I have no idea about. I'll need help there.
RAM - 4 GB. It can get insanely expensive so I'm fine with 4 GB.
Hard Drive - 250 GB
OS - Windows 7. No idea of the difference between versions. Anyone know if pirating's easy?
CD Drive - All I know is that it needs to be able to read and write CDs and DVDs.
Case - Fan, maybe a power supply if it's compatible.
Power Supply - I guess 300 watts is enough..?
Graphics Card - ATI >5000 should be fine.
Internet - Ethernet port and wireless I guess. I have no idea what I'm doing there.

Please share what you prefer, what I'm missing, what parts would best suit these needs, etc. I'm still browsing now.

rtil · July 1, 2010 05:13 AM

you'll want a mobo with at least 1 PCIe (express) 2.0 slot for your video card, a decent number of USB slots, SATA slots and for a mid-tower. but the most important thing is the socket - you want the socket to match the processor you're getting.

ram is actually pretty cheap, and i recommend 8gb, but most people don't need that much. but it does "future proof" your machine for the 64-bit gen.

HD, cheap, easy to install. i recommend seagate or western digital - SATA only

i wouldn't pirate win7. home is pretty cheap.

dvd-rw's are also cheap and easy to install . get SATA for this as well

case - always hard to choose. definitely read the reviews. you want a good front panel and lots of room for cooling, ventilation, easy cable access. no case will be perfect, but some are definitely ones to avoid. you don't wanna get a bad case because once you build it taking it out is not so fun.

power supply - 300 watts is aiming low imo. i have a 650w, probably too high but if your machine is underpowered it will suffer.

for gfx card i would recommend radeon series, the higher the better. check tomshardware for benchmarks. i'm getting the 4850 HD as my next card. the 5000 high-ends are too expensive atm

ethernet will come on the mobo. so will your sound card.

MarcK · July 1, 2010 05:26 AM

MarcK · July 1, 2010 07:48 AM

I think I'm going to just customize an HP desktop. I found one that seems to suit me and if something fucks up at least I know how to fix it a smidgen.

While that all-in-one would be 860 for everything, the built tower alone would be 800. :/

BluPhoenix · July 1, 2010 07:49 AM

good choice.

rtil · July 1, 2010 05:39 PM

Quote from: MarcKI think I'm going to just customize an HP desktop.

Quote from: BluPhoeniX7good choice.

lol

MarcK · July 1, 2010 06:30 PM

well it's mostly my budget that's making me do this. I'd love to have an entirely custom machine but I need good specs and I can't seem to find the right prices for them.

Lats, Squats, & Oates · July 1, 2010 06:39 PM

you could turn to a life of crime idiot