Re: Want to build a customized PC
- From: "Galen" <galennews@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 02:27:07 -0400
In news:OWFLTHp1FHA.2792@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Phillips <afn18721@xxxxxxx> had this to say:
My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
> 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..........
The only thing I think I'd switch in that order, believe it or not, would be
the power supply. Read carefully what the required wattage is - know it
fully - make a decent choice based there. I've seen too many systems either
blown due to fault PS or down for a couple of days due to it. The objective
is to have limited down-time and one of the best methods I've found is to
KNOW the required amount, plan ahead, and buy a reputable brand with more
than enough.
A good broad generalized statement that I can say with some certainty is a
500 or 550 watt PS is fairly cheap and will almost certainly serve your
needs unless you're intending to build a huge beast from the netherhells
that also functions as a microwave. Do not skimp there. Spend the extra and
buy a "utility tool kit" and do your case mods yourself if you have to.
Most people think of the RAM, the CPU, and the MOBO features first. Those
are all good but you gotta power it. Dirty power will/can result in some
nasty errors.
--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
"A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the
furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the
lumber-room of his library where he can get it if he wants it."
Sherlock Holmes
.
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