Building a PC from scratch

Post by **Grandpa Stu** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:00 pm

just to clear things up i have done this before so i'm not a total newb. the reason i'm posting this thread is that it's been so long since built my last PC i have no idea what brands, models, etc. of items i should look for or stay away from.

i'm building two computers. one needs to be super stable and will be used for office work; i dont want fast, just stable. this is where i need the most help as i really don't have any idea as to what is reliable these days.

the other is a family computer. i can probably work this one out on my own but any suggestions would be welcome.

and i have a quick question about the OS. for the stable computer would XPpro be any more stable than XPhome? also, what's the deal with the activation, can i buy a single boxed OS and load it onto both comps or do i need to purchase the OS twice?

Post by **Underpants?** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:27 pm

my .02
-buy all PC stuff from the same distributer
-For domains/networking XP pro is much better, if you're doing a simple peer to peer network without a login or the use of centralized apps/documents, xp home is fine.

Post by **Underpants?** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:28 pm

xp is xp, in terms of stability in my experience.

Post by **zolborg** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 5:06 pm

You don't have to buy your things from the same place. As long as you buy from reputable companies, you will be fine.

I have built several computers for friends, customers, etc. from the following basic parts.

AMD Sempron 2500+, 512 DDR PC 3200, 80-120 GB HD. For a motherboard, I have used ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte, and for my last one, I used Abit.

Yeah, I know Abit had a bad name, but they have realized that and have improved. I have seen quite a few Abits recently that are running fine.

This system is NOT a high end system by any stretch, but it is a stable, good "middle of the road" system. It runs XP very well. Most important is this is a concern, it is very affordable. I can build this system for roughly $400.00 Cdn.

Post by **Phenom** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:39 pm

go with xp for the networking...

and if you'd like a cheap place to buy, try http://www.tigerdirect.com or http://www.newegg.com ... tiger is a bit cheaper, but there are rebates. I recently got my rebates back, so its ligit

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:00 am

We'll for the Office computer, This is plane Jane And upgradeable ( thats why i went a little more out for some of the parts )

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103537
( Yea, its 1.8.. But it wont feel like 1.8.. trust.. And the Overclockability is there if needed.. )

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131530

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145477

( i would have said Kingston, But Sometimes i find Kingston Doggy for performance.. YEA THATS RIGHT! I STILL THINK ABOUT PERFORMANCE

)

Videocard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814127151
( you COULD go cheaper, but its nice to have SOME 3d Accell for Things like video And etc )

Hdd:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822135106

( Good all around size, and good speed. )

Case:

God damn it, im not going to choose this with you! Just make sure that it has a ATX 2.0 Style PSU with it, or get the Adapter.. and p00m, you have your self a Value based Office computer that wont be Dead in 2 years. Also, These Recomendations are on MY PREFRENCE for building a computer that *I* Would use in a computer enviroment for my self.

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:01 am

Dont you have a Spare computer? or Spare parts? This is in Reguard to the Family Box..

Post by **Grandpa Stu** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:37 pm

thanks for the suggestions.

and yea i have a crapton of spare parts that i could salvage from computers around my house. but this isn't for me and the computer parts around my house don't belong to me so i don't know if they would really be an option. plus a lot of the parts are pre-productiong engeneering samples so they can be kinda dodgy and a pain in the ass to work with at times.

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:58 am

we'll then, build Two of those Computers..

that will run you about 950, and you will have two smokin Machines!

Post by **Grandpa Stu** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:42 am

whats funny is i pieced together almost an identical system to the one you posted amidy. except mine was with an intel cpu, though the mobo was still asus hehe.

care to explain why you chose amd over intel? i've always thought the intel to be a bit more reliable but once again that's based on what i remember them being like a few years ago seeing as i really don't know how the two compare now.

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:50 pm

we'll, and the Family Link is allways a plus? ( if i remember correcly anyway )

Errr, to tell you the truth, AMD To me has the Edge right now, and Intel allthrough has the higher Clock Speeds.. it just dosent show.

That is the Most basic/Dumbed down way that i could explain it.

Also, kickin it with 64-bit available, AS WELL as the Memory controller being Built on to the CPU Really makes me moist

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:51 pm

also, i've started with AMD from back in the first K7 days when they came from fucking NO WARE and Blew the p3's out of the water.

Post by **Dante** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:38 am

If you want XP Pro, buy the academic upgrade from Computer 3G. When you click the MAKE ORDER button, change the drop down to say it is for academic use only. It should be less than $85.

Post by **Tormentius** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:18 pm

Dante wrote:If you want XP Pro, buy the academic upgrade from Computer 3G. When you click the MAKE ORDER button, change the drop down to say it is for academic use only. It should be less than $85.

Keep in mind that upgrade CDs require the original OS disc to be inserted during install.

Post by **Dante** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:19 pm

Not the two I bought.

Post by **Tormentius** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:08 pm

Dante wrote:Not the two I bought.

Umm....having to prove you own the original is what MS has done since 98. Its a slightly modified install process which requires you to prove you actually own the version of Windows your're upgrading from.

:icon27:

Post by **Dante** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:22 pm

I know WinXP upgrades are supposed to ask for Me/98 cds, but I didn't have to for either install.

Post by **Kills On Site** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 5:29 am

Yea, mine have definatly asked for another CD. I use any CDs, including another Windows Upgrade CD. It works. You can also buy the Academic version on newegg for 5 bucks, give or take, more