Building Your Own Computer

by D. David Dugan

The world of computers is constantly changing. It is one of the
only industries that is different from month to month. If you’re
in the market for a new PC, there are continually new options
available. To get the best bang for your buck in computer
technology, you may want to consider building your own PC.

Those with a little know how in the computer industry can save
themselves tons of money by building their own computers.
Companies such as Tiger Direct and mwave.com offer components
that can create a top of the line system for a fraction of the
cost. These stores offer all of the necessary components that
reside in the “case” or main unit of the computer.

These include the motherboard, processor, cooling fans, hard
drive, memory, keyboard, mouse, video and sound cards. There
are motherboards available with integrated video and sound but
not all do.

When you are buying a motherboard, make sure to check whether
you will need to buy a separate video and sound card. Also make
sure that the motherboard you are buying has extra slots so you
can expand your system.

Another key to remember when building your own computer is to
make sure all of your components will work together.
Manufacturers make specific models to work together, so you may
want to buy your parts from just one brand.

If you are going to use your computer to surf the Internet and
play computer games you are going to need extra pieces. At
minimum you will need an Ethernet card, CD/DVD drives and a
graphics card. You can also benefit from gaming ports for
joysticks or other game controllers.

The hardest part about building your own PC is installing the
motherboard and the Operating System. This is the first step
toward creating the unit. You must physically put the
components into the case using screws. Begin with the
motherboard and then connect your processor. Add the memory
into the memory slots and install any necessary drives.

Once you’ve installed the drives, you can put in the install
CDs for your operating system. Most PCs will guide you through
the set up process to install the operating system. After
making sure the operating system is up and running, put in your
other devices one at a time.

Although it may be quicker to install all of your additional
hardware at once, you want to test each piece as you go to make
sure that piece is in good working order.

Even though building your own PC can give you a better computer
for less money, the process is not for everyone. As a
compromise, computer companies like Dell and Gateway allow
their customers to custom build PCs on their website.

A customer can choose from different options regarding speed,
memory and special portals. The additional benefit of buying
from a company is that the PC is normally under a guarantee.
You can also take advantage of technical support. This may be
the best option for someone who has extra money to spend to get
the custom components that they want.

About The Author: D. David Dugan personally helps to maintain a
computer shopping site at http://www.greatpcdeals.com as well as
a Spyware Information site at http://spyware.dugancom.com