A lot of people prefer to buy packaged computer sets instead of building their own rig. That is fine until they realize something is missing or does not perform exactly the way they want it to.
You may have bought your computer to play jaw-dropping 3D computer games, but when you start playing the game, your computer either fails to run the game, or runs it very slowly. Most of the time, the reason behind it is the computer that you bought is not the right one for your needs. To make things worse, you probably spent more money on that computer than you would have probably spend if you built your own.
Why Build your Own Rig?
It is a misconception that building your own computer is a task better left to professionals. That is absolutely not true. In fact, it is almost as easy as doing a jigsaw puzzle.
Learning to build a computer is not that difficult. All you need is the time, tools, and computer parts, and you are ready to build your own computer you can brag about to your friends. You may not know it, but there are quite a number of people who prefer building their own rigs rather than buying them as a package. Building your own rig has several advantages:
- It saves a lot of money – If you want to have a cutting-edge computer, it surely will cause a considerable dent in your wallet. Computer packages sold in stores cost more, but if you buy the parts separately and assemble them yourself, you won’t spend money on labor since you will be doing the task yourself.
- You can build your dream machine – Now that you will be saving a considerable amount of money, you should have the budget to buy the right hardware for your rig. If you want a dual, tri, or quad core processor, go ahead. If you want monstrous capacity for your RAM and hard drives, only your wallet will be your limit.
- It is fun – The task of buying the hardware you like can be time consuming, but right after you piece it together into a working computer, you will realize that it is worth the time and effort.
Where to Start?
Now if you have decided to build a computer and you already have your budget ready, don’t just buy parts that you think will work. Here are the things that you have to do first:
Ask yourself “What is the purpose of the computer” - This is the most important thing you should do since its purpose will determine the right parts to buy. For example, if you will be using your computer for video editing, you will need a lot of storage space, capture ports like Firewire, and a good video card.
After you determine your computer’ use, you can start buying parts. Shopping for computer hardware is no longer as difficult as it used to be. Thanks to the Internet, you can lazily sit on your chair, click on the parts to buy, pay for the purchase, and wait a few days for the items to arrive. If you want hassle-free computer hardware shopping, buying off the Internet is your best bet. Just make sure you get them from reputable websites like Newegg or Amazon.
Knowing the Right Parts to Buy
Ok, you have the budget, the purpose, and the place to buy the parts from. So which parts are you supposed to buy? With so many brands and models, which one is for you? Here are a few tips on choosing the right hardware to buy:
1. Motherboard - The motherboard is a very important part of your computer because it is what most of your parts will be connected to. If your motherboard does not support a certain type of device you need, then you can’t use it. When choosing a motherboard, here are the things to look out for:
- Socket Type – The socket type refers to the socket where you will install the processor. Processor sockets differ depending on the brand (AMD or Intel) and the model of the chip. For AMD processors, the latest is the AM2 and the AM2+ that support Sempron, Athlon, and the rest of the multi-core processors of AMD. Intel has LGA 775, also known as Socket T for their Pentium D, Celeron D, Core2Duo, and the recent Core2Quad.
- Type of Memory Supported – Currently, the most common type of memory or RAM is the DDR2 type. Most likely, the motherboard will support this type, so now you have to determine the maximum capacity it can hold plus the number of slots available for future upgrades, just in case. If you need a future-proof motherboard, it should at least have 4 slots for RAM and at least a maximum capacity of 8 gigabytes.
- Expansion Slots – These slots are where you will be connecting hardware like your video card, sound card, network interface card, and other devices you may need. You should look for one that has 2 PCI slots and two PCIe slots for your video card.
- Form Factor - A motherboard’s form factor basically refers to its size. Though there have been various form factors, there are two common ones today: the ATX and the micro-ATX or mATX. The ATX form factor is bigger than the mATX. The form factor will determine the size of the outer casing of your computer. Though a mATX motherboard will fit in an ATX case, the reverse is not possible.
2. RAM Modules – Of course you should get a compatible module for the motherboard you got, but the next thing is to decide is how much RAM you need and how fast your want your rig to be. Speed is determined in megahertz or MHz. Of course, bigger and faster is always better, but if you are budget conscious, get the biggest capacity you can afford, but not necessarily the fastest.
3. Video Card / Graphics Card – Your choice of video card depends on its purpose. Capacity is not always everything; processing speed is also important. Read up on each graphics card and determine which one is for you.
4. Storage – The hard drive is basically the main storage device in your computer. There are two interfaces for hard drives that are common today, the IDE or PATA and the SATA interface. It is better that you get a SATA since it is faster and future-proof. In terms of capacity, more is better, and since large capacity drives from 160 gigabytes over are priced reasonably, get the largest one you can afford.
5. Optical Drive – Nothing fancy about this one, just get one that handles most formats like CDR, CDRW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW. If you want to create blu-ray discs, there are some models that support this, but it can be quite expensive.
Assembling your Computer
Now that you have all the necessary parts for your computer, all you have to do now is piece them together. Remember that you will be handling sensitive electronic parts, so you must be careful with those. Static electricity can seriously damage those electronic parts, so rid yourself of it by either using an anti-static bracelet or by frequently holding the case of your CPU.
Motherboards slightly differ in layout so you really must read the manual that came with it before you start piecing your computer together. The manual lays out each slot and connector in it so you can use it also as a reference when you start putting things together.
The first thing you should attach to your motherboard is the processor, heat sink, and the fan. In most cases, your processor comes bundled with those so simply attach them properly. Your processor will only connect in one way, so if it does not fit, you are putting it in the wrong way. The fan has a dedicated port where it will draw electricity and is located near the slot of the processor. Refer to your manual for its location.
After that, connect your RAM modules to the proper slots. Computers peripherals are built to go in only one way so they can’t be put in the wrong way. If the RAM module does not fit well, you might be putting it in the wrong way.
With those in place, you can now attach the motherboard to your case. Securely attach the board to the case using the screws or the plastic locking snaps provided, but don’t close the case yet. You will have to attach the cable from the power supply to your motherboard first. When you have done that, you can now close the case.
Attach the peripherals like your network card, video card, sound card, hard drive, and optical drive to their proper slots and connections. The hard drive has two connectors, one for its interface with the motherboard and the other for its power supply. Read the manual to determine how to attach your hard drive properly.
Once you have connected everything, close it and try to boot up. If it works, you’re done. If it does not, check your connections and every part you attached, you may have one loose connection. Enjoy your DIY computer!
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