Re: Want to build a customized PC
- From: "+++Bobby \"O\"+++" <rmo555@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 20:29:42 -0400
It's 8:30pm EST and I just read your post - thanks for taking the time.
I'll try to respond (ask some questions) tomorrow. I'm brand new at this so
will need some help. Are you willing?
Bobby
"Phillips" <afn18721@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OWFLTHp1FHA.2792@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Extremetech.com also has a few custom build PCs articles - from budget PC
> to best-bang-for-the-buck to best-of-the best (money don't mater).
> It's better to start with planning your storage options, then go for
> CPU/RAM/motherboard; next come PC Case, PSU and UPS. Then, you need to
> decide for a graphics and an audio solution plus other peripherals
> (speakers, modem, router etc).
>
> 1. Storage: plan for 1TB (~1/2 of it backup) - you'll use only some 70% of
> it anyway since formatting will take ~5%, defrag needs another 20%, Sys.
> Restore, Recycle Bin, Acronis Partition, Temp Internet Files, page file
> etc require another, say, 10%. You can start small: 2x74.3 GB, 10K RPM
> Raptors in RAID0 = $350. If you accept 7200 RPM Sata, you can get 2x160 GB
> for $200 or less. Next comes the backup drive (and later you can advance
> to 4x Raid0 having a backup in place); Plan for a 400GB SATA (about same
> $250 as UATA). Of course, you can go for external backup solutions, NAS
> etc.
>
> 2. AMD Athlon 64/1GB RAM/Asus or Gigabyte 939socket w/ Nvidia nForce4
> Ultra chipset mobo. Buy the best you can afford of each, but don't cut
> costs on any for the other. High-end boards come with most anything else
> you might need - SATA raid solutions etc. Mobo manufacturer will tell you
> what RAM you need.
>
> 3. Audio: one option for most users - Audigy X-Fi (~$129 lowest); you can
> also settle for the onboard sound or go for a pro or exotic audiophile
> soundcard; speakers... difficult to tell - I have a pair of Swans. If you
> start small, again, don't bother about sound card.
>
> 4. Video: either ATI All-in-One Wonder (preferable even though ATI drivers
> suck) or nVidia Empty-Your-Banck-Account or 3DLabs Wildcat. You need to
> fit graphics card with: a. mobo bus, b. PSU (must power all the stuff -
> mobo, video, SATA, USB etc), c. monitor (min. 19" LCD) DVI input is
> standard; if you do graphics, you need a monitor whose colors are
> adjustable (no "presets only") but they go about $500.
>
> 5. PC case - Antec has one for $400! Otherwise, it's gotta be aluminium
> and have/accept min. 2x120mm fans. If you overclock, you'll need many more
> fans :) Some cases come with PSU - you need 550 W real, filtered, stable.
> Throw in a good quality1000W UPS - to run PC and monitor and modem on
> battery for 1/2 hour or so. Add a wireless keyboard, optical wireless
> mouse as you see fit.
>
> If you know what you want to buy, just follow the prices... you'll find a
> good (30-50%) discont in a three months period on most any PC parts -
> check 'factory refurbished' sites, too. If you plan to use some of the
> parts you have, you'll need only the CPU/RAM/Mobo/VideoCard/PSU parts:
> ~$1300 and up.
>
> Michael
>
>
>
>
> "+++Bobby "O"+++" <rmo555@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:BGV5f.1522$mV4.783@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Never did this before and I'm very hesitant about doing it now - maybe
>> there is a supplier who will do it for a fee (or, with some
>> encouragement, I might still attempt it).
>>
>> My thought is to build a top end PC (speed, top-rated components, etc.)
>> with
>> room for expansion. Also, I'd like the backup capability built-in. The
>> motherboard and processor should be capable of upgrades. As of now, I'd
>> use
>> Windows XP Pro as the OS - but who knows what will be the next Microsoft
>> OS
>> (and when). The power supply must be powerful enough to handle anything
>> I
>> might throw at this machine. The machine should be fairly quiet with
>> plenty
>> of cooling capacity (but, I don't know if I want to mess with liquid
>> cooling - I'm afraid that I might do something wrong and spring a leak -
>> thereby ruining my PC). For now, I foresee using this PC for Photoshop,
>> playing music on a 7.1 or 8.1 sound card, and videoconferencing. Once
>> those
>> items are set up, I'd probably look for more things I could do with this
>> PC
>> (things I may not now know exist). That's one of my questions: where do
>> I
>> look to find other things that are available or things to come? I don't
>> have a preference of CPU because I don't know enough about them. I would
>> probably want 10,000 rpm drives (to add to the speed). I've heard of
>> RAID
>> configurations - but don't know the pros and cons of them. What can be
>> done? I always backup my PC and also clone another drive once-a-week so
>> I
>> will never (???) crash completely. I'm trying not to have too may wires
>> exterior to the PC - like I have now - but, I guess, every peripheral has
>> to
>> have both power and a connection to the PC. I will also want to use my
>> PC
>> as a media center for my home with a wireless router. Perhaps a built-in
>> telephone with message capability (don't know if there is such a thing).
>> The case should be easy to get access to the interior and to the
>> components.
>> At the moment, I'm not considering the cost - but I want a machine to be
>> my
>> *hobby* for some years - so I'll probably be willing to spend what I need
>> to. However, I'm retired and living on a fixed income - so, I may have
>> to
>> build this machine in stages as the money becomes available. At this
>> time,
>> I just don't know how this will play out. About this time next year, I
>> will
>> be moving to Texas to live near one of my sons - and this hobby will be
>> something we can do together. That's when I will be building this
>> machine -
>> but I want to start my research now so I'm well prepared. Who knows - if
>> I
>> become confident enough, I may want to build the basics of this machine
>> sooner so I can, at least, duplicate what I have now.
>>
>> What I have now is a 1GHz notebook, Windows XP Pro, a wired router,
>> scanner,
>> three exterior Maxtor drives (for backup), a spare drive to clone
>> once-a-week, high speed Internet, and an Epson graphics printer. The
>> slowness of this machine drives me crazy and, even though I use an
>> expansion
>> docking station, there is no more room for expansion. Oh, I also have an
>> Intuos 2 graphics tablet. I don't plan to do video editing at this time.
>> I've tried videoconferencing - but the frame rate is still too slow for
>> me.
>> I also use Dragon Naturally Speaking - but my system is too slow for that
>> too.
>>
>> I can't think of anything more at the moment...........
>>
>> Any input would be welcome..........
>>
>>
>
>
.
- References:
- Want to build a customized PC
- From: +++Bobby \"O\"+++
- Re: Want to build a customized PC
- From: Phillips
- Want to build a customized PC
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