Building It Yourself: Knowledge first, then action.
Aug 04 '01
The Bottom Line Building your own computer is a worthy task, and not one to be taken lightly. With plenty of research and careful shopping, though, you won't be disappointed.
For most of us, purchasing a computer is a big deal; technology is not the cheapest thing to come by, and we want our money to stretch as far and last as long as we can possibly manage. For this reason, people are more and more often turning to auctions and specialty stores for individual components - and building their own systems. The outcome of this endeavor has the potential to be wonderful; however, it can also be a disaster and end up costing more than a pre-made system. Here are a few things to consider before making the final decision as to whether or not you want to do it yourself.
Please note that I do not expect those who are new to this process to be able to understand everything I'm talking about in this article, nor do I presume to know all that there is to know about it. This is not a comprehensive guide; rather, I am attempting to provide a few basic (and relatively simplified) tips that should be considered. I am not going to tell you everything you need and where to get it, because that is your decision - isn't that why you're doing this in the first place? I do believe, however, that if you're serious about putting a system together, these tips should, by the time you're ready to put the computer together, all make sense.
Details Matter
Compatibility issues can arise from even the very smallest of details; for this reason, it is very important that you find out as much about any components you're interested in as you can. This is one reason that buying over the internet or out of a catalog can be a bit of a gamble; be sure that, if you do so, you consult all available diagrams and specs - particularly for motherboards. Read as many reviews as you can from various sources, especially ones who aren't seeking profit - these are often the best sources of information you can get. Some things you should be certain to check into are:
- Make sure you never confuse a SLOT with a SOCKET when looking at CPUs and motherboards. This is an easy mistake when it comes to writing, but they are two very different things. Always pay very careful attention to what kind of CPU a motherboard will take; it is necessary for the match to be perfect in order for the system to function (or even fit together in the first place).
- Even the case you choose can affect how your system performs. Be sure to check out power supply specs before making a purchase, and ensure that all of your components will fit properly and receive enough power. Slot processors tend to take up a large amount of space, which can cause issues in smaller cases; you should also ensure that there are enough drive bays for your hard disk drives, cd/dvd/cd-r(w) drives, floppy drives, etc. Even if a drive (such as with HDD) is not visible from the outside, it still requires a place to sit securely, so as to avoid physical damage.
- Compatibility is very important, and some things simply won't work together. One of the biggest issues today is RAM. Memory was once very simple - if the stick fit, it worked. Now-a-days, however, compatibility can vary from brand to brand, and there is really no way to know if it's going to work until you've a) read reviews that say it has worked specifically with a certain motherboard or b) tried it yourself. Not to push a brand, but PNY is the one brand I've had work every time of late in my newer boards (referring to PC-100 & PC-133 SDRAM in both Athlon and Intel-based systems). It is important to know that, while major brands are usually thought of as better, this is not always true; price doesn't always play a huge role in quality, but bottom of the barrel isn't necessarily as good as the expensive stuff, either. Research is essential.
- Make sure you get the right kind of memory for your board. There are many different kinds, and they don't vary too greatly in appearance - so mind the specs carefully. The same, of course, goes for CPUs. Socket CPUs now are not much different looking than those several years ago, so do your homework and pay attention.
- Other devices can bring up compatibility issues as well. Always make sure that you have the appropriate ports and connectors for your components, and that all of your hardware can properly interact with one another. For instance, some motherboards cannot handle larger, faster hard drives - and of course a motherboard that doesn't support USB will have no use for a USB scanner. Also, beware of newer technologies, as they can be unstable and are often more demanding on resources.
- Be careful of buying OEM products, especially if you are new to computers and putting them together. OEM (which means the component is in its original manufacturer's packaging) is often much cheaper than the full retail version, but may lack important documentation, software, and drivers. This can cause some major issues, especially if you can't find documentation anywhere (and it can be very tough at times, believe me), or if the component is proprietary. For instance, I have a Gateway motherboard (OEM and thus not supported by customer service) that has unmarked "front panel" connections. It took a lot of trial and error to finally figure out where to plug in the power button, reset button, etc. Also, proprietary motherboards tend to have edited CMOS, which means you may have far less control over resources and other important things. If you do go OEM, make sure you can get your hands on the documentation (and any drivers) somewhere beforehand - so you can ensure that it meets your needs and you'll be able to install it properly. Major aggravation is not always worth saving a few bucks.
- Know your slots. AGP, PCI, and ISA are all very different, and it is important to make sure any cards you wish to install (such as sound, video, and modem) are compatible with your motherboard. Also make sure that your motherboard has enough slots to support your cards, particularly if you want to install an older, ISA/Legacy card - new boards rarely have these slots at all, and you will need to find one that does.
- Make sure you have an operating system and a way to install it. A fresh system is blank - everything must be done from scratch, which means you're going to have to boot it somehow. Most CMOS now support booting from a CD-ROM, and many new operating systems make use of this feature; however, a boot disk may be required. Chances are, you will have all of this if you bought your operating system - but if it came bundled with a previously bought, ready-made system, you may run into problems. Consider this first, as it is a biggy!
Installation Extras
There are a few additional things that you should know if you're going to be putting together a new system - or even upgrading or maintaining your old one. Little things can make a great difference in ensuring that your hardware lasts as long as it can - without unnecessary problems. Here are a few tips:
- Fans are your friends. Extra fans can be greatly beneficial, and you should have at least one extra, particularly if you run an Athlon/Thunderbird or overclock. New processors get very hot, as do newer video cards, and the extra air circulation can save you from serious problems related to overheating.
- Fasten everything down, and be careful to use the appropriate screws. Securing your cards and drives can help prevent physical damage related to jiggling and such; likewise, using the wrong screws can do its own harm. This applies almost exclusively to drives, and - luckily - these usually come with their own screws; it's always a good idea to use those provided, rather than any you may already have had. Don't tighten too much, but ensure that the hold is firm and that the components are not going anywhere.
- Try not to pigtail your power source to death. Pigtails, or power Y-connectors, are basically converters that allow you to connect multiple devices to one power cord from the power source. If you have many drives and extra devices, you can run out of these little things fairly quickly - but there is a reason for it all. A power source only has so much juice to give and, sooner or later, stretching it too thin will take its toll - not to mention impair performance.
- Tangling the cords and cables inside your computer is not only annoying, but can cause data loss and other problems. It also makes it really hard to add anything new or change out hardware - and nobody likes a mess of cords to untangle, especially when they are tough to get in and out in the first place. If you can, keep everything as neat as possible - since cable select (where the position of a device on a data cable dictates whether said device is master or slave) is rarely used anymore (and can be manually set with jumpers), there is no reason not to arrange cables according to how well they can reach. What should be connected on the same cable, however, I leave for someone else to explain.
- Extra common sense tip that doesn't really fit but kind of does: Don't expect everything to be perfect all the time, and don't necessarily blame it on the hardware or yourself. A lot of money is wasted on upgrading and replacing, or inadvertently screwing something up because of software glitches that are misdiagnosed as hardware problems. If you're going to be putting your own system together, you should learn as much as you can about keeping it up, too (or even if you aren't). Repair people are often out to sell you junk you don't need; the beauty of doing it all yourself is that you can decide what you do and do not need. You can find out, through the process of elimination and trial and error, what works and what doesn't (within reason). Usually, though, when it comes to freeze-ups and even really nasty looking problems that report as hardware errors, it comes down to nothing more than software or CMOS configuration.
Empower Yourself
Part of the process of empowering yourself is knowing your limits and keeping your ego in check. Don't assume that you know how to fix every problem, or that if you've installed one component the rest will be easy. This isn't true. Putting computers together can be hard - especially with the way new add-ons are coming out and old ones are evolving. It can be frustrating, and it is easy to lose your temper. Even for people with lots of experience, the computer doesn't always come on the first time. Cards aren't always stuck in all the way; RAM isn't always wedged tight enough. Cords come unplugged. Operating systems have problems. Try to keep your patience, and don't be discouraged - but there's no point in convincing yourself it's all a cup of tea, either. There is a lot to learn, and it can be some boring material.
Also, there are times when the parts you want just aren't cheap. There are times when the bundled systems are cheaper (nevermind that quality is often the reason..). And there is certainly the fact that most of us do not require super systems. If you want to take on this project yourself, then more power to you! Learn all about it beforehand, don't be afraid to ask questions, maintain a realistic perspective - and you won't be disappointed.
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mocabela
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Member: Julia
Location: Coastal Oregon, USA
Reviews written: 65
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What happened to the floppy disks that were actually floppy? It's a conspiracy!
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