Building my first computer.

howdy all.
I'm thinking about building my own computer as a learning experiment. It's kindof like how people buy old cars and rebuild them. It's not going to be very powerful, and most of the parts will be salvaged from goodwill or some recycled technology service.

the trouble is that though i'm fairly proficient at how to use a computer, my understanding of the basic mechanics is pretty damned limited. To stretch the car metaphor even farther, it's like i know how to drive to the store and back, but as far as i'm concerned, there are gremlins that live in my engine that eat gasoline and run on a treadmill (i'm exagerrating of course, but you get the idea.)

so are there any good novice-friendly information sources on the basics of how a computer runs?

 

You'll need to go shopping. http://www.tigerdirect.com/

Get a case, a motherboard, hard drive, Ram, video card, a power supply, and all the rest.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/build-a-computer.htm

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_To_Build_A_Computer

http://www.daileyint.com/build/

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/guides/build_computer/

If you can take an old computer apart, you can build a new one as well.


x

 

I actually prefer to buy used computers off ebay instead of building one. I have a Xeon powered IBM Intellistation that purrs like a kitten. Retailed for over $3000 new. I got it for under $400.

I'd take an old computer apart and put it back together for practice sake. Learn all the major componets. Better to learn on a clunker than ruin your new machine.

Do it right, it'll wake up just like Frankenstein's monster.


x

 

Any questions on compatibility, performance, hardware, etc you can ask us.

 

Someone I know has a quad core xeon server that kicks the shit out of most modern stuff, there really good machines, clockspeed be dammed. The seconds hand rout is good and all but if you don't know what your doing finding compatible components may be a problem, your probably best finding an old P4 and just cramming in ram and hard drives.

 

I agree with the others get an old one take it apart and re build it, But when you do come to build i suggest getting a bare bone system: case mobo and CPU because probably the most tricky bit for some one inexperienced is getting a compatible CPU and MOBO

 

Also I'd recommed www.tigerdirect.ca and www.newegg.com they are good places to get components from.

 

Yes newegg.com makes things a lot easier.

 

Definitely go with Newegg.com. I built my own computer about a year ago with 0 knowledge. It really isn't that hard, most computer parts come with manuals on how to install everything correctly. I can give you suggestions on what parts to buy. Whatever you do, DO NOT buy a cheap power supply, those will end up frying your computer in a few months time.

 

Yeah its always best to go with a well known brand name powersupply such as Anteck, OCZ, Crorsair, Thermaltake.

 

Those are good brands. Also FSP, Silverstone, Gigabyte, XClio, and Zalman.