Building a computer

The problem with transfering your HDD from old PC to new one is the hardware that XP recognizes in this old system is obviously not going to be in the new system. So you would either need to reformat the old HDD adn reinstall XP if you are going to use the old HDD in your new system. I would recommend you pass the old system to the kids and get a newer bigger more improved HDD.

I have built many many systems (my side job...supports my PC habit ) so feel free to PM me if you need personal advice.

 

rsr spoke of the prices being down today which is true. I've done some checking in the past cause I would like to build my own somewhere up the road too. One thing I saw ya might want to look at, Dell,(others too?) will custom build to your specs.Don't know how the pricing is but ya might want to check.

 

Maybe, maybe not. Since Bill is retiring his old computer, he can use the copy of Windows he already has.

Instead of reformatting and reinstalling, Bill can perform a repair installation of Windows and retain everything on the drive (hopefully). Doesn't always work, but usually. Here's a link to a great article along these lines (upgrading motherboard):
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1910093,00.asp

I am a Super Moderator on a computer tach forum, and hardware is my forte.

Care to post your budget? It would give us a better idea of where to go with it.

The problem with pre-builts is that they are pre-builts

Most use low-end or proprietary parts, have locked BIOS, and have minimal upgradablity. Plus, many come with a bunch of software that is basically useless and that just gets in the way.

I'll be more than glad to give you advice, Bill.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

I just finished my system in January, I started buying the parts last Fall. I had to use the "pay as you go" method since funds were tight. I did finish the system and all I can say is, it rocks!!! It was my frist time building a computer, so I learned alot in the process, including how to reset the CMOS multiple times when you mess up on the overclocking.

I will never buy a pre-built again, building the system was lot's of fun, and very educational, and now I can play Battlefield 2 for hours!!

 

Trotter..so when they say they'll build it exactly how you say , with what parts you say, they don't do that?

 

I built my own PC's throughout the 90's and up until 2003.

I look first at motherboards. That is the main part of a pc, since all cards and cpu's plug into it.

The specifications found in the book will tell you what video cards, sound cards, memory, network cards, cpu's, etc., have been tested with that particular board and work with no problems.

Building a PC is very easy to do. I reccommend home built PC's for the main reason, you know what you are looking for.

Store bought are good, but if there is a problem, some work to be done internally, your pc could be down for weeks at a time.

A man brought a PC to me once when I lived in NC. He needed a memory upgrade. It was under warranty with the store he purchased it from. He had gone to them and they told him it would be 3 - 4 weeks before he could get the PC back.

He brought it to my office. I popped the shell off right away, checked the type memory he had in it (256mb SDRAM) I pulled the 2 128's out and popped in 2 256's. Booted the PC, checked to make sure BIOS was recognizing the memory, put the cover back on and had it up front in less than 10 minutes.

 

Building PC's can be fun, but after 30 or so it gets kinda boring. I used to build my own primarily for cost, but now days I find that it is very difficult to get much lower than some of the budget PC's out on the market. If you happen to live near a retailer like Fry's, you can get some very cheap deals. My PC that I have now is a 2.6Ghz Celeron with XP Home that I bought on sale for $200. it came a little short on memory and the onboard video was underpowered intel junk, but it had a DVD-rom/CDR combo and plenty of room for upgrading. I bought a midrange nvidia card for around $50 and a 512mb dimm for $40 or so, and threw in an extra harddrive I had from another PC. I have been very happy with it. Of course my 'power gaming' days are behind me.

 

Sometimes... but usually you find that from smaller builders.

A Dell is a Dell, no matter how you slice it. It uses a Dell propreitary motherboard, sometimes a Dell proprietary power supply, only Intel processors, low-end/partially disabled video cards (but most only have integrated video), and such.

I was wondering how that turned out.

Looks I may soon be joining you... cooking up a deal with my wife so I can have a $1500 budget...

I can't wait.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

I play on the "Men of God" Battlefield 2 server when it's not full, maybe I will see you there sometime.

 

I personally still like the way a crt looks as opposed to a flat panel. Nothing like the glow of warm phosphor. But there are some nice flat panels coming out these days. You will pay a premium for a good one, but a 19" crt is quite a space hog.

 

AMD rules in games, Intel edges out AMD in video/audio encoding. Celerons and Semprons are basically 'gutted' processors, as their onboard memory cache is a fourth of the main CPUs. Personally, I'm looking at the AMD X2 dual-cores.

Connect the dots sums up building a computer. You really don't have to worry about the BIOS/CMOS, although some motherboards require a BIOS update right off the bat.

Burners are getting dirt cheap (if you go for an older model). A combo drive sounds like the fit for you... CD-RW/DVD.

2 gig is all you want. Windows XP can handle up to 4 gig, but anything over two actually slows the computer down. Be sure to get a mobo that utilizes dual-channel, and get identical sticks of RAM for it.

Yeah, but when you have a newer, faster computer, space seems to evaporate... It's really easy to fill 80 gigs.

There's one on the market that is a card reader and floppy drive all rolled into one.

Yeah... LAN ports are pretty much standard, and modems are $20-$30.

nVidia all the way! The 6800GT is a really good card, and the 6800GS is just as good. Be sure that you buy a card that uses the same interface as your mobo (newer mobos use PCI-Express x16).

Yes, you can use your computer as a DVR. Sounds like the hard drive just got upgraded...

19" CRT = 18" viewable. 19" LCD = 19" viewable. Do the math.

Seriously, once you go with an LCD, you'll never want another CRT again. I have a 19" LCD that I gave $300 for at Walmart last year... I love it.

Case, power supply (PSU). Cases are a matter of taste, except you can't put an ATX mobo in a micro case. Look for good air circulation and at least one fan.

As for PSUs, go with a good brand. Antec, Fortron, PC Cooling (expensive, that one). Be sure to get one that will supply enough juice. Here's a link to a PSU calculator:
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/

The best site for computer parts is NewEgg, hands down.
http://www.newegg.com/

In Christ,
Trotter

 

I got most of my parts at NewEgg, and a few from ZipZoomFly.com. I went with the ASUS A8N-SLI Premium mobo, 250GB Segate SATA III HD, 2GB Geil RAM, XFX 7800GT video card, floppy drive, DVD-ROM Drive, DVD-RW DL Drive all in a AeroCool 3D case.

I will be adding a second video card later to go SLI, and can upgrade the RAM and add extra HD's as needed.

 

Same here. I'll be getting a new system in the next couple of weeks and I'm leaning towards buying pre-built rather than building my own. The sum of the parts is going to come in cheaper, but time has a value also. Once my time is included in the cost, it may not be worth the hassle to put the hardware together myself.

 

For the serious hobbyist, building the PC is half the fun. So get the cheap preassembled, take it apart and put it back together, and now your having twice as much fun on a budget

 

Bill,

I would suggest bumping up to a DVD writer (these also write CDs) for the reason that it is VERY EASY to back up a large HDD with one.

I second NewEgg! Great products, great prices, great support.

 

A socket 754 will work, especially since it is a bundle, seeing as your looking for something to use and not game with. The 754 does not use dual channel memory, so the single stick of 1gig should do you well (plus leave a socket open for future upgrade).

I don't know if you use floppies or not (some drivers still come on them), but if you do you may want to swap out your card reader for this one:
MITSUMI Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 digital card reader with Floppy Drive Model FA404M BLK
http://tinyurl.com/8mx64

Oh, and Maxtor is not known for reliability. Look at Seagate (5 year warranty) and Western Digital (3 & 5 year warranty).

My 2 cents.

In Christ,
Trotter