[HPFGU-OTChatter] Build your own computer?

[Tammy Rizzo]

  _____  

From: HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dina Lerret
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 3:33 PM
To: HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [HPFGU-OTChatter] Build your own computer?


Out of curiosity, has anyone here tried to build their own computer? 
Y'know, get case, motherboard, memory, etc, jam it all in the case,
cross your fingers, and hope it works. ;-)  Okay, maybe not that
random. {g}

I'd like to build my own computer as a learning experience (probably
to never try it again ;-)) at a later date and I'm curious if others
here have done so.

Yes, some could suggest 'just buy a Mac' but those puppies are
pricey... Then again, not buying something prebuilt [from Taiwan] will
probably be pricey too.

Dina

[Now Tammy says:] I've modified my computer system so much over the years
that you could say that I built it myself.  I've swapped out the
motherboard, the power supply, both hard drives, the CD-RW drive, the DVD
drive, the system fans, the modem, the sound card, the video card, the
memory, the CPU itself . . . I think the only thing I haven't swapped out
would be the LEDs that show the power being on or off.  LOL!  Plus I
frequently format my system drive and re-install EVERYTHING, from scratch,
just for fun.  ;-)  As far as my experience goes, building a system from the
bottom up is not very difficult at all.  And lest you think I'm some
technowiz, I wouldn't be able to tell a capacitor from a resistor from a
transistor, were I handed a jumble of them.  For me, it's all just a matter
of reading the directions five or six times before I touch the parts.  ;-D
There's still a lot of, "Oh crap, what is THIS supposed to plug into?" but I
do learn something new every time.
 
One thing I've learned is that it's very wise to keep your data files on a
separate harddrive than your system/program files.  This way, if (WHEN) you
need to start over again and re-install everything, you won't have to worry
about your data being wiped when you format C:\ drive.  Also keep copies of
the software installation packages on that second drive, such as if you have
downloaded a really nifty program.  Don't rely on the program site to always
be there.  One of the most helpful and handy programs I've ever used,
AIDA32, which identifies the hardware and software on your system and finds
the home sites for the hardware, for upgrades and updates, was discontinued
three years ago, and is no longer available anywhere online!  I am SOOOO
glad I have my own copy of the installation program, so I can re-install it
after every system rebuild!
 
My suggestion, though, would be to look at places like
http://www.tigerdirect.com for cases and parts.  Make up a wish-list of what
you really want your system to be, and shop around for the best prices for
the parts.  Add them up and see how that price compares with the pre-built
systems that meet your requirements.  Also, don't be afraid to ask for
advice in computer-building forums.  Buying the parts piecemeal is not
always the least expensive route, but you can do it a little at a time (it's
ALWAYS easier to find $90 than it is to find $1900, after all!), and have a
really stompin' system over the course of a few months, that you are CERTAIN
is EXACTLY how YOU want it.  Loading the software yourself takes some time,
too, of course, but again, you know EXACTLY what you have installed that
way.  Then again, though, you can't blame the unknown technician when
something goes wrong . . . .



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