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Off Topic => Engineering => Topic started by: Khalee1 on February 17, 2005, 09:23:20 pm

Title: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Khalee1 on February 17, 2005, 09:23:20 pm
So what books do you reconmend that deal with that sort of thing.

I have Graphics in mind for its primary perpouse, gamming secondary.
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: E_Look on February 17, 2005, 10:51:45 pm
I don't know about books, but try PCWorld's website, or even Tom's Hardware site, or search the 'Net for a do-it-yourselfer site.  I think motherboards.com might have such a page.  But be careful: sometimes the assembly details depends on the type of processor or mobo you buy.
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: toasty0 on February 18, 2005, 09:37:38 am
So what books do you reconmend that deal with that sort of thing.

I have Graphics in mind for its primary perpouse, gamming secondary.

Not knowing your budget it is difficult to make a good recommendation.

Make sure you go with at least a 256 meg video card with a 8x speed. Your HDD and RAM will thank you.

Good luck and have a blast. I know when I build a box I have so much fun that I want to run down to the my local PCClub and build another one just for kicks and giggles.

Jerry
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Elvis on February 18, 2005, 04:58:23 pm
There are a lot of good sites out there on the net, print becomes outdated to quickly. Anandtech puts out a lot of guides, you can find them at: http://www.anandtech.com/guides/. The system guiides come in 3 flavors entry, mid level and gamer and will give you an idea of what to look for when shopping. They'll give you an idea of whats out there and what its capabilities are. Buying online I would look at Newegg(seems to the enthusiasts choice)and ZipZoomFly. Pcmech.com is also a very noob oriented site, they have an online guide and there forums are noob friendly. Meaning some overclocker won't ridiule or pester you to use the search function when you ask a basic question.
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Bonk on February 19, 2005, 06:41:24 pm
Find the local computer shopkeep who is willing to teach you the most before making a sale.
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Sarek on February 22, 2005, 12:02:07 am
I've decided to build my own for the first time and have been reading Build Your Own High-Performance Gamers' Mod PC (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0072229012/qid=1109050253/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9511781-1522515?v=glance&s=books).  It's a good book for beginners and has given me the confidence to actually do it.  One downside I've found to building my own, I've spent hours window shopping at newegg.com and it looks like this thing is gonna cost me twice what I paid for anything I've bought from Gateway.  The more I learn the more expensive my tastes get.  I just learned about SLI and it sure would be nice to get a second 68000 GT video card; and how about those 15,000 rpm hard drives...  ::)
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: E_Look on February 22, 2005, 11:30:27 am
Ah, then you may not have been getting the best advice.  What you said is good for *rich* guys.

For us regular folk, you begin to realize that the next best or even next next best level of device is usually much more than enough for our purposes, even hard gaming, and should last in terms of utility for years.

For example, for a machine I am planning for a younger kid, I'm not looking for PC-3500 RAM or any of that fast OC'd stuff; PC-2700 is good enough!  (Of course, you might want something a little better, seeing as how you're not a kid, like PC-3200 or whatever.)
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Mentat Jon on February 22, 2005, 09:58:44 pm
I may just roll out to Micro Center, and pick up one of theirs, yeah its not top of the line, but a 2.0 MHZ  is cheap now, and when you have a Pent 3 500 still, sounds damn good to me. :)
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Nemesis on February 23, 2005, 07:56:57 pm
So what books do you reconmend that deal with that sort of thing.

I have Graphics in mind for its primary perpouse, gamming secondary.

Check the magazine shelves.  One of the computer magazines puts out a quarterly on that topic.  They review numerous motherboards and othe components.  They also give tips on the phsyical aspects of constructing the system and things to beware of that a 1st time builder might well miss.
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Redshift the Kook on February 28, 2005, 03:13:32 pm
Heh, never ask a salesman for advice. Ask us, the consumers.  ;)
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: Toast on March 05, 2005, 09:30:43 pm
Yeh look around man check out some local custon pc shops if any in your area u can spend alot of extra money for no reason.
Title: Re: Well im thinking the next computer I get I might just build it myself.
Post by: manitoba1073 on March 11, 2005, 01:37:47 am
not to mention EBAY.  u can get parts and items fairly cheap also.  i built my dads comp on a budget of around 600 bucks. that was everything.

AMD SEMPRON 2800+   ($75)
nvidia 5700 256ddr vid card ($75)
sempron mobo ($30)
case ($.01) yes i got it fot a penny even though shipping and handling was like ($40)
2 gig ram 3200 ($250) for both