Ok, I need to know - your advice/help required

[Civilian]

I have never even attempted to build my own pc, but out of boredom, I went to Newegg and started adding up all of the components I would need to build my "ideal" PC, and it totaled $2100 for a PC that would cost me $3000+ if I went through Alienware or one of these other prebuilt-screw you PC manufacturers.

My question is, on a scale from 1-10, taking into account as far as computer knowledge goes, I would be somewhere in the middle of novice and expert, can I build my own PC? I plan on picking up a book this week to use as a guide, but I am just worried that I will spend $2000 and not be able to complete it.

Any advice or recommendations would be helpful.

Thanks

[BLuE_ZeRO]

You shouldn't have too many problems. If you're somewhere in the middle, that's the best place to start learning. You don't need to be an expert to build one. If you get stuck just post a question on here and we'll help as much as we can.

[powdahound]

The hardest part is picking parts that go together. Just have somebody look over your parts list (post here :)), make sure you're not forgetting something, and then the building is easy. You could even get talked through it by somebody in IRC or something.

[Navaron]

Also, if you totally screw something up, you can go to your local comp dealer and they'll take a look at it and fix it. It'll cost you 40 bucks or so, but it's still cheaper than buying an ankle grabber system. The trickiest part is a) finding a good motherboard - post here we'll tell you and b) getting all the settings on the motherboard right. It's not that hard if you go about it slowly, but everynow and then if you put two things together that weren't made for each other, you get issues. If you're getting top of the line stuff I don't think you'd have a problem though.

[Civilian]

Configuring the MoBo is definitely my biggest concern, although I assume, just reading the instructions could resolve that. Building my own PC seems like alot of fun, but I may buy one more ready-built, and take my current PC and do some critical upgrades(mobo, processor etc...) just to make sure I am comfortable. But I still haven't decided. :confused:

Although, if I choose to buy a ready-built now, I probably won't have the money to purchase another PC for another year. Grrrr!

[Navaron]

One thing that's really good to do is to just buy a preassembled mb combo. They have licensed techs who do that stuff, and if it fries, you get your money back. Make sure you buy from someone with a good BBB rating. You can do it.

[Civilian]

One thing that's really good to do is to just buy a preassembled mb combo. They have licensed techs who do that stuff, and if it fries, you get your money back.

That sounds good, where might I purchase one of these? Also, are they just Intel boards or do they have other companies like Asus or Gigabyte?

[BLuE_ZeRO]

www.pricewatch.com there is a mobo/cpu combo section

[Civilian]

Awesome, thanks Blue

[BLuE_ZeRO]

np :D

[Navaron]

post here, or slap up a link. AsusTek is a good brand. Are you going pentium or AMD. I'm going AMD myself.

WHy don't you list what it is that you want here.

[Civilian]

Just a few of the components I have picked out from NewEgg.com:

Case - ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS1080AMG- with Antec Original TRUE 430W P4 Power Supply ATX12V Retail (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-129-115)

Any recommendations on this would be much appreciated. I have a "computer desk" so you never actually see my tower, so looks really aren't all that important. What I am most interested in, is good ventilation and good performance.

Hard Drive - Blow Out! WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 120GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD1200JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=22-144-118)

Video Card - ATI RADEON 9700 PRO 128MB TV/DVI 8X AGP RETAIL (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=14-102-237)

Floppy Drive - SONY 1.44MB 3.5 INCH INTERNAL FDD DRIVE - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=21-103-109)

CD/DVD Rom Drive - SONY DDU1621(DDU1611) 16X DVD ROM Drive (48X CD-ROM Speed) - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=27-131-001)

Sound Card - Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=29-102-150)

Speakers - Klipsch Promedia 4.1 THX Certified 5 piece Personal Audio System Retail (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=36-119-102)

Network Card - 3COM 905CX-TXNM PCI 10/100 Network Card *No Wake-Up* - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=33-105-117)

OS - On Sale! Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 - OEM Full Version (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=37-102-015)

I haven't decided on my processor and board combo, but I would prefer P4 2.8 - 3.06 GHZ processors with a quality name-brand board. Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks ;)

[BLuE_ZeRO]

A good P4 mobo would be a Intel D845PEBT2. I don't know if it's offered as a combo one. Haven't checked yet.

[Civilian]

Monarch, looks like the place to go for the combo since they offer just about every board-processor combo I can think of, including the D845PEBT2. ;)

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=INTELP4-478&Category_Code=INTELC

Looks great! I'm getting extremely excited. I have officially decided to build my own PC :D

[FireFrenzy]

Originally posted by Civilian
Just a few of the components I have picked out from NewEgg.com:

Case - ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS1080AMG- with Antec Original TRUE 430W P4 Power Supply ATX12V Retail (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-129-115)


Same one I have. Case colour looks quite nice, but do be careful, you can scratch it off easier than other cases. The case itself has alot of nice things, such as the front air filter, included fans, etc. Only downside is no mobo tray, but i dont change my mobo often at all.