No matter if you're completely new to computers or an "Old Pro," here you'll find plenty of useful
information and tons of tips and tricks to help you build a PC that's perfect for YOU.
My goal here is to give you the step-by-step instructions you'll need to build your own PC, But I've also assembled a list of parts for three typical PC configurations
that will appeal to most PC builders.
Configuration 1: The $500 Bargain PC(Great for web browsing and routine home-office work)
Configuration 2: The $1000 Premium/Gaming PC (Good for many gaming and multimedia applications)
Configuration 3: The "Power" PC (Perfect for high-end gaming, graphic design and multimedia work)
Once you've decided which PC configuration above meets your needs (and budget!), continue on to the rest of the site to learn how to put it all
together to build your own computer.
For those of you that want a little more info, please read on and feel free to browse through the rest of the site.
One of the first steps in deciding what computer system is right for you is to honestly evaluate your
computer needs. For example, do you need a power-gaming system with an insanely fast graphics card,
high resolution monitor, tons of memory, and/or a cutting edge, super-fast processor? Or are your needs
more modest? Perhaps you just need a PC that's great for checking email, browsing the Internet,
and running office applications? Or, maybe your needs fall somewhere in between? Your decision here
will have a huge impact on the final price of your new PC. Depending on your needs, you could end up
with a system costing just a few hundred dollars to a system costing several thousands of dollars.
Throughout this site, I will help guide you on your path to choosing the right computer. I'll help
you to identify your requirements and enable you to make an informed, sensible decision about your
computer purchase and how to build a computer that suits your needs..
Store Brand vs. "Build your Own"
So, let's get started by examining your options. Obviously, you're here because you're considering
building your own computer, but for some of you, this will be either be too time-consuming or difficult
a task. You should seriously consider the advantages/disadvantages of building your own PC vs. buying
a new or used system. When you build your own computer, you get a certain sense of satisfaction and
accomplishment that store-bought systems may fail to deliver. And if you design your home-built system
properly, you will likely end up with a system that is well suited for upgrades in the years to come.
Choosing Compatible Components
Many would-be PC builders have anxieties about not knowing which PC components are compatible with each other.
This is a justifiable concern--there are many, MANY options available to anyone choosing to build their own PC,
but I'll walk you through the process, step-by-step. I also highly recommend that you take a look at
my example configurations above.
Here I've done a lot of the legwork for you and chosen components that are compatible with the latest versions of Windows and Linux, have
readily available drivers, and are upgradeable for the future.
Technical Support
With a name-brand system you'll most likely have technical support available to you if you run in to any issues, but
depending on where you purchase your computer, your experience with technical support may vary greatly. When you build your
own computer, you're not going to have a toll-free number to call for all-in-one support, but if you're resourceful, you can find
just about any solution to your problem by posing questions to various forums on the Internet. There are many knowledgeable
engineers out there that will be are more than happy to answer your questions.
Warranty Concerns
A store-bought system will likely include a warranty of some sort. You will not get this all-encompassing warranty with a DIY system.
However, if you choose good quality products from well-known resellers (such as Tiger Direct), you will receive the warranty coverage of
each product's manufacturer.
Cost
Now for the big question, am I going to save money by building my own PC? Well, the answer is a resounding "possibly." PCs are cheap
nowadays, but sometimes they're cheap for a reason. PC manufacturers may outfit your new system with standard parts that you, as
a home PC builder, would choose not to use due to low quality construction or limited compatibility and/or upgradeability. You have a
good chance of saving money by building your own PC, but don't expect an incredible cost savings. What you can expect is to learn
a great deal about the inner-workings of your computer. You will also end up with a system customized to your exact
specifications--no more, no less. So, is it worth it? I definitely think so...
Operating System and Software
If you've ever purchased a PC before (especially recently), you know that a store-bought, pre-assembled system will most likely be pre-loaded
with an operating system and a suite of software. The operating system will likely be highly customized by the PC manufacturer and will be
pre-loaded with a lot of software that you will NEVER need. You'll also find free trials of software that vendors have paid the PC manufacturer
to load onto their systems in the hopes that you'll be enticed enough to buy the full versions. This practice often gets out of hand, and the
customer ends up with a system so bogged down with "crapware" that it runs horribly slow right out of the box. Needless to say, when you
build your own PC, you have total control over what is installed on your new system. This is one of the HUGE benefits of building your own system.
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