Do It Yourself Computer Kits

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DIY Computer Kits

Do it Yourself Computer Kits are available for almost any type of computer you're aspiring to build.

Most DIY PC kits are referred to as "barebonesicon" systems. A barebones kit is essentially a computer case, power supply, motherboard, and sometimes cpu. The kit may also (but not often) come with memory (RAM), a video card, and hard disk.

An operating system (such as Windows 7) will usually NOT be included with DIY PC or Barebones computer kits. However, the actual components will vary from kit-to-kit.

Buying and assembling a barebones kit (or DIY Computer Kit ) is a great way to get started if you've never built your own DIY computer before. A lot of the confusion that can result from buying incompatible parts is avoided, and as a result, your experience becomes a more rewarding and enjoyable one.

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A DIY PC or Barebones Kit's price can vary greatly depending on the components included. Some are designed for a modest DIY PC that may only be used for simple internet browsing and email. Others are designed to give the builder a solid framework for building a very powerful and upgradeable gaming or high performance computing platform.

If you would rather buy your parts individually or can't find a barbones kit that suits your need, you can always buy parts for DIY computer kits individually. Again, take extreme care that the parts you choose are compatible with each other. I've put together a list of parts for three typical DIY PC configurations here:

$500 Bargain PC Kit Parts List

$1000 Gaming PC Kit Parts List

High-Performance PC Parts List

If you are interested in the "Barebones" option, here is an example Barebones bundle currently available for about $400 after rebates:

GIGABYTE 760G MB W/X4 955 and 8GB DDR3 Mem Kiticon

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This Bundle Includes:
  • GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-S2P AMD 760 Motherboard - Micro ATX, Socket AM3+, AMD 760G Chipset, 1333MHz DDR3, SATA II (3Gb/s), RAID, 7.1-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0
  • AMD HDZ955FBK4DGM Phenom II X4 955 Processor - Quad Core, 6MB L3 Cache, 2MB L2 Cache, 3.20GHz, Socket AM3, 125W, No Fan, OEM
  • Cooler Master DK9-7G52A-0L-GP CPU Cooler - Socket AM2 / AM3, 4500 RPM, Rifle Bearing, 3 Pin
  • Sony Optiarc AD7280S-OB 24x DVDRW Drive - 24x, SATA, Black, OEM
  • ADATA Premier Series AD3U1333C4G9-SH Desktop Memory Module - 4GB, PC3-10666, DDR3-1333MHz, 240-pin DIMM
  • Western Digital WD10EALX Caviar Blue Hard Drive - 1TB, 3.5", SATA 6Gbps, 7200 RPM, 32MB
  • MSI R4350-MD1GD3H/LP Radeon HD 4350 Video Card - 1GB, DDR3, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), 1x Dual-Link DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x VGA, DirectX 10.1, Single-Slot, Low Profile
  • Ultra XBlaster Mid-Tower V2 Case - ATX, MicroATX, USB 2.0, Audio, 6x 3.5" Bays, 3x 5.25" Bays, 7x PCI Slots, Includes 450W PSU, Lifetime Warranty with Registration
  • Raygo USB A Male to Mini A Cable - 6ft, USB 2.0, 480Mbps, Black. USB cable for most mobile phones, portable hard drives, and digital cameras.

If you're interested in putting together your own DIY computer kit, see my complete parts lists for a typical bargain or gaming pc.