In what order should I buy PC parts?

[blackberrybunny]

I have taken a class in PC repair, and I'm so inspired by Sho.gun's awesome PC, I think I am ready to start building my own. I would LOVE to get a case with a door, so I can put in those nice LED lights too, but that is NOT important right now.

I want a PC with a good video and sound card for gaming. I definitely won't have all of the money to buy everything right away, so I'd like to know what parts I need to buy first, and then go from there.

Can you guys give me some tips? All of this hardware---ugh---it is so confusing! I have been looking online, at PC stores, but there are SO MANY parts, I just don't know where to start....

So, what order do I start buying?

[Showtime]

If I were you I'd map out the system and current prices for each component. If you have extra hardware, use those pieces 1st and than look for deals and buy things on sale.

Even with all the tech price drops you couldnt build a better system (speedwise) for the dollar than the Dell deals last week.

What kind of rig do you want? Ultra fast gaming or above average speed with all the bells and whistles or fully modded or all of the above? Are you ocing? Air cooled? Water cooled? How much $ do want to spend?

If your going to cut up a case and make windows etc you may want to buy the case 1st and start that process. It took me a long time to do my 1st(and only) case but you should be faster.
During that 1st week+ shop for a decent mobo/cpu. Some mobos come with extra stuff and that could affect how you set up your rig(USB 2.0, firewire, etc ports etc).
There have been some great deals on hard drives lately.
Ram is varies week to week but buy good stuff at least 256 DDR 2700(c2 :P). I'd get the vid card last or when a good sale pops up.
All those lights and fans and stuff add up too so keep that in mind.

good luck
-jel:halo:

[blackberrybunny]

Thanks Jello------ that is a lot of good advice. :)

The hardest part is: getting started!! You are right--- I wnat to buy things that go out of date quickly, like the video card last. I'm saying I'd like to spend about $600-$700 in all, is this too little? Well, there are tons of deals, rebates, etc... Like you say, I should map out what I want and start shopping.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about water cooling!! I still have so much to learn. I don't think a case with a window is important YET--- I think it will be enough just to build my own PC for the first time, and THEN after that, think about a case with a window. I guess it's like anything else----hard the first time, but once you've done it, you learn a lot, and things become easier.

Okay, any more tips you guys?? All advice will be greatly appreciated!

I'm going to start jotting down what I want to have.
Motherboard and CPU first. :) Thanks a TON!!

[bachviet]

With $600-$700 budget, I would go with AMD. You could use www.pricewatch.com to search for cheapest price. www.newegg.com has decent pricing and lots of parts on free shipping. For motherboard, I would either go with KT333 or KT400.

[Cantacuzene]

Make sure you buy the video card last. You wanna get the best you can afford, because you dont wanna upgrade it anytime soon.

[iDave]

I like Jel’s advice.

Here is more to think about:

- Why are you getting the system?
To practice what you are learning about repair, to work on earning certifications, be a serious game player, do homework, all of the above and more...?
- For learning? What do you want to learn?
- How long will this system have to last for you?
If you know that there will be more $ in a few months or even next year and this is just to get you by, then you may want something different than if you are putting one together that needs to last for years.

Possibilities:
If you want to learn PC repair and networking and you’re not a serious gamer, you could get a couple of systems. One of the good Dell bargains and one you put together yourself with bargain parts.

You can start with a Dell and upgrade components as you can afford them.

You can build your own as cheaply as possible and gradually upgrade until you have two full systems. With interest in games, your first upgrade would be video, then sound, etc… This can be a nice way to learn in that you have built two systems and will have worked with a variety of components over time and there are always interesting things to do with another system if you don’t want to sell it.

Just want one system and would like to be a serious gamer. It is possible on your budget. Just look for the most bang for the buck. Example - The Athlon XP 1600+ is not the fastest cpu but at $55 it is my current favorite for best cpu bargain. Go with a CRT over a LCD screen. Etc.

Jel’s idea of mapping out the system components and prices is good. I put together a spreadsheet for mine.

A great site for learning more about hardware is: http://www6.tomshardware.com/
My favorite site for buying components is: http://www.newegg.com/

Have fun!
iD

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by blackberrybunny
I don't think a case with a window is important YET--- I think it will be enough just to build my own PC for the first time, and THEN after that, think about a case with a window. I guess it's like anything else----hard the first time, but once you've done it, you learn a lot, and things become easier.

Okay, any more tips you guys?? All advice will be greatly appreciated!


I would agree with jello on this one. If you are planning on doing any case modding, get the case first and start modding it. It will give you something to work on while you are waiting for more money to come rolling in for the rest of your system. Besides that, if you get your system all put together, and then decide to case mod, you will have to take everything back out again anyway.

As for the rest, well, ALL PC parts depricate quickly, not just videocards.

IMO, it is worth it to wait until you have all the parts you need to built the system at one time, because, otherwise, you will just have a bunch of parts that you cannot use just sitting around. Also, if you get parts that you can't use for say a month or two, and then realize that they don't work, you might have just cheated yourself out of an RMA.

With that said, if you still want to forge ahead, this is what I would do. Create a list, within your budget, of everything you want your computer to contain. This list will probably change over time, as prices drop and features change, but it will give you a kernel to work from. The big decisions right now are really AMD or Intel and ATI or NVidia. If you are a on a $600-700 budget, you might really want to give AMD a good hard look. Also, what will you be using the system for? Are you a big gamer; do you like to edit videos; do you want to watch TV on your system; will you be mixing and burning CDs on your computer; will you be ripping/encoding mp3s? There are a myriad of questions to ask yourself. Once you've answered them, you can better set up a system that will suit your needs, and you can get started on deciding what components you need and the order in which you will buy them.

Now, after answering those questions and creating a list (let's just use mine because it is they system that I would like to build if I had the money right now), here is the order that I would buy everything.

1) Case: Compgeeks has this (http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=500SEL) case on sale again right now. I already have this case, actually, and am using it in my current system. I might need to up the powersupply, but a 350 should do fine in the system I plan to build.

2) CD-Roms/DVD: Newegg has the Lite On 40x Burner (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=5&manufactory=1336&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1) for $59 or $60 shipped. I would probably just go ahead and get the retail version since it is only $1 more.

I would also get a new DVD drive at this time. AxionTech has this (http://www.axiontech.com/cgi-local/prdtinfo.asp?prdt=DVPIDVD106S) slotloading 16x DVD-ROM for about $55 shipped.

3) Harddrives: Newegg also has these (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=14&manufactory=1306&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1) WesternDigital Special Edition Harddrives. I would want to get an 80 gig and an 120 gig version. They are $103 and $159 shipped respectively.

4) Processor/MoBo/Ram: I would definitely get these all at the same time--not necessarily from the same place--because I would want to test them out immediately upon receiving them. Googlegear.com has the 2.0A Retail (http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductList.jsp?ThirdCategoryCode=010408) for about $162 shipped, and 512 meg Corsair PC3200 (http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductList.jsp?ThirdCategoryCode=011116) ram for $185 shipped. Newegg has the Abit IT7 (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=13-127-123) for $139 shipped.

5) Videocard: Newegg has the 8500 All-In-Wonder (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=VGA) Retail for $176 shipped.

A couple of things, though. One, the reason #2 and #3 are where they are in the order: you should be able to used them in your existing system. You can test them to make sure they work, and you can get some use out of them rather than just having them sit around as paper weights. Two, the way I got these prices is through pricewatch (http://www.pricewatch.com/) . I simply searched for the hardware I wanted, and chose the cheapest solution from the retailers that I've come to trust. Three, as for #4 on the list, I can't stress enough the need to get the CPU, Ram, and MoBo together--or atleast within a few days. I've been screwed before, and the only way to really test if any of those components work properly is to have them together at the same time. Four, this list isn't meant as a recommendation for what to buy (this system is very much taylored to my personal needs, and a lot of it would probably be wasted on a different person), it is meant as a guide to go about buying your system. The thing you are probably going to want to do first is decide what you want your system to do--you already have a budget--and which products will best suit your needs for the lowest price.

Good luck, and I hope this helps.

[blackberrybunny]

Thank you, everybody, for all of the AWESOME help!!! I KNEW I could count on you guys!! The Onions @MadOnion let me down! :(

So thank you VERY MUCH!!

And Ladogaboy, where did you get your sig? It sounds SO familiar, like something I read in a book recently........???

:) You guys are life-savers. :)

[Maarchk]

You may want to try a computer show... I just got a mobo with raid, amd 2000, 512 ddr ram 2700, for about 375 at a show.. online this would have cost about 415 plus shipping... so i saved a bit.. not to mention the people buying next to me were able to give me some advice...

the other good thing at a show is you can bargain and compare a lot of prices right there....
just a thought..

Maarchk


"I really like going overseas to other countries like canada."
-Brintey Spears

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by blackberrybunny
And Ladogaboy, where did you get your sig? It sounds SO familiar, like something I read in a book recently........???


Haha, well, this isn't MY rig... I wish it were... *sigh*

Actually, that is just what I would build if I had the money and was able to upgrade right now, but I'm not sure where you would have read about it. Unless... I'm published and don't even know it! :D

Oh, and one other question. Does your $600-700 include buying a monitor too? Because that could take a big chunk out.

<edit> Haha, I thought you said rig !!! Damn... see what going off topic can do to me! :heh: Anyway, you probably have read it somewhere. I was a quote that one of my professors used in my Eastern Philosophy class.

[NullUnit2000]

You may want to look into getting a MoBo with built-in audio and video. That way you won't have to buy a video and sound card right off to have a working system. Then when you're ready to upgrade you can disable the on-board stuff.

[sbp]

{looks around at all the parts lying around and puts together a system}

-----

First you build your own system, then before you know it you are a member of Upgraders Anonymous.

[Showtime]

Crucial has the 8500 LE 128 mg card for $109 according to the crucial price alert email. Frys sometimes has a good deal on cpu/mobo combos and you can return it for store credit.
Dell etc always has sales or MIR highend 40 burners for around $50.
Got my lite on DVD for $33 shipped from there.
Rounded cables and fans add up quickly so if you dont need em dont get em.
Good luck and tell us about your experience,

-jel:halo:
BTW: the little amount of advice given doesnt compare to all deals youve been posting.

[spigidygak]

Also for a good reference, maximum pc magazine had a very good article for noobz on how to build a computer. I believe it was one of there best selling if not best selling issue, you probably can find a reprint of it easily or. . . read it online heeya: http://www.maximumpc.com/reprints/reprint_2002-03-13.html

[Hoser]

The current MaximumPC magazine has an article about building the ultimate desktop computer. Unfortunately it would cost almost $8,000! But they have an article about building a $1,000 computer. Here's the list of components they used:

Case - Enermax FS-710 with 300W PSU - $65
Floppy - Generic - $9
NIC - 3COM 3c905b - $20
CPU Cooler - Coolermaster DP5-6131C-A1 - $7
MOBO - Asus A7V333 - $124
Hard Drive - 80GB Western Digital WD800JB - $105
Video - Gainward GeForce4Ti 4200 - $175
CPU - Athlon XP 2000+ - $130
RAM - Corsair CMX512-2700C2 (512MB) - $129
DVD - Pioneer 16x - $35
CD-RW - Lite-On 32x - $45
Soundcard - Audigy OEM - $45
OS - WinXP Upgrade/OEM - $99
Unlocking Kit - Highspeed PC - $12

Total - $1,000

I notice there are a couple things missing (keyboard, mouse, monitor), so this price isn't for a complete system.

When you buy online, look for reduced or free shipping. If you're buying multiple items, it can really save you some money. I bought some 80GB Western Digital drives at Googlegear for .50 shipping each. Dell has some really good sales usually with free shipping. I've never had a problem ordering from Newegg.

One of the most important items you'll buy with a new system will be the monitor. As a minimum, a 17" is a must. I've got two 17" monitors both using Trinitron screens. The pictures on both are excellent even after 3 years. Go to Best Buy or CompUSA (or equavalent stores) and look at all the monitors together. You'll be able to see the quality in person. Then you can go online and see if you can beat the local prices.

Good luck in your computer building. You know that once you start you can't stop. The nicest thing about having multiple computers is that all of them get hand me down components from the computer above them. Once all I needed to build a computer was the motherboard and case. I had everything else laying around collecting dust. I try to keep all my computers and components gainfully employed.

[bachviet]

Today is the last day you could pick up a 64MB PNY GF4 Ti4200 for $99 after $30 MIR. This is a very good price for a GF4 Ti4200.

[blackberrybunny]

Okay, stupid question, but what does 'onboard' mean?

I have a Compaq Presario, and my video card is 'onboard.' Does that mean I cannot remove it, and replace it? Is it soldered onto the motherboard?

[bachviet]

Originally posted by blackberrybunny
Okay, stupid question, but what does 'onboard' mean?

I have a Compaq Presario, and my video card is 'onboard.' Does that mean I cannot remove it, and replace it? Is it soldered onto the motherboard?
Onboard means built-in on the motherboard. With pre-built computers (Compaq, HP, and etc) you don't have an extra AGP slot for the video card. You could use PCI video cards but I don't know you could disable the onboard video card with Compaq or not.

[blackberrybunny]

Thank you, Bachviet. That is pretty much what I thought it meant.

Damn this Compaq Presario!!!! GRRRRR! I only have a WHOPPING 4MB of video RAM on it, and that suxxxxxxxxxx!!!

Thank you, everybody, for the help and great advice!