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Should I Build A Computer?

Published on September 23, 2008 by admin

The do-it-yourself (DIY) community is undergoing a growth spurt. Just look at Make Magazine and Maker Fair. Many fledgeling DIY individuals are building computers for the first time. If you aspire to be one of these individuals, take heed, not only will it take time to build it and then install an operating system, especially if you are a newbie, it is much cheaper and quicker to buy than it is to build. But, there are still several reasons for spending the time and cash.

First you will learn and understand many computer terms. RAM, CPU, SATA, IDE, DDR, R-45, PCI, USB, bios, paired memory, hard drive are just a few of the terms with which you will become intimate. (Do be thankful that it is unlikely that you will have to learn about dip switches and jumpers.)

Building a computer will give you a better understanding of how all the components work together. You will see the motherboard connecting with the cpu, ram, fans, and peripherals.

Buying a case or even building a case out of Legos, you will choose how the outside of your computer will look.

You will have a better chance of knowing when a problem is hardware related. Is that optical drive misbehaving because of a bad connection? Is there a heat problem because of poor airflow? Is the ram installed correctly?

You will have to choose an operating system and install it. This is a good reason. Will you pay for a Windows OS or will you take the free Linux route? (Ubuntu is the nerd favorite.) The knowledge gained from installing the OS can help in future repairs.

Your DIY computer will most likely have a much longer lifetime than the one you buy. Pure OS computers, that is, those that don’t have the seller’s included extras, start up faster and have fewer problems. And, it is much easier to know how, what, and when to upgrade your hardware.

So you’ve decided to build a computer, where do you start? This is where the internet rules supreme. There are many sites that answer questions, give suggestions, and provide instructions -including video.

At games radar you will find The 2008 PC Builder’s Bible. Everything you need to know found at one site!

Find the best parts. Learn to build a rig from scratch and overclock it to kingdom come. PC Gamer shows you how.
Getting your hands dirty and building your own system is what separates PC gamers from their console brethren, and it just so happens to be one of the most exciting parts of our hobby. Unfortunately, it’s also a pretty daunting process for anyone who hasn’t assembled his own rig from scratch. Thankfully, this guide not only gives you all you need to know about every component that goes in your gaming PC, but also thoroughly walks you through the entire building process with detailed instructions and helpful photographs.