Make Your Own .... Pc

[walking wallet]

I was thinking of buying a new computer,and while walking around my local IT mall I got talking to a guy who was buying components to make his own computer. He said constructing your own computer is not too hard to do ,and he get's the quality and specification he wants at a lower price - taking into consideration ive never had a go at making my own machine, are there any other forum members who have contructed their own computers ..?

and could offer some comments and advice to a would be " first time constructor" .

Thanks......

[Darknight]

more machines then i can say unfortunatly

First advice is that it's pretty easy....

[brianbrain]

I was thinking of buying a new computer,and  while walking around my local IT mall I got talking to a guy who was buying components to make his own computer. He said constructing your own computer is not too hard to do  ,and he get's the quality and specification he wants  at a lower price -    taking into consideration ive never had a go at making my own machine, are there any other forum members who have contructed their own computers ..?

and could offer some comments and advice to a would be " first time  constructor" .

                            Thanks......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most shops will put together all the bits for you free of charge, even if say you buy one or two parts from a different shop (such as the PC case). Really, there would be no advantage to you in self-assembly. For most users, I would advocate you buy all the parts from one shop, get them to assemble for you, and check it works before you take it home. Following the alternative scenario, that you shop around and buy the parts from multiple shops (thus saving yourself no more than a 400- 1000 baht if you are lucky) you may get home and find you have a problem. It could be a faulty part, a missing lead, or your own uncertainty at following the technical manuals. From my own experience, I know the shops at Pantip won't let you swap out bits to isolate the problem. You'd have to resort to the long wait at the customer service office ("Leave your computer here and maybe you'll see it next week.")

I used to run a PC network back home, and also assembled PCs in batches of 20 - 40 at a time, so I've had some experience of doing this.

[RDN]

Have a browse through the PC magazines - I'm sure you must find one with an article on building a PC and/or adverts for PC parts. I'm thinking of doing just that, too. My old lap top has run out of puff.

But maybe I'll take the brain of Britain's advice - sorry, brian brain's advice (just kidding) and get the shop to put it together. There is one near where I live and he's got motherboards, cases, power supplies, etc.

[francois]

more machines then i can say unfortunatly

First advice is that it's pretty easy....

hi'

I'll second that

fortunatly

don't worry too much, ask what you want and a load of tricks are going to come quick

francois

[Firefoxx]

I wouldn't suggest a total novice try to build his own machine unassisted. It's fun, but you can easily break things and get other things seriously wrong. I would suggest that if you want to try it out, do it with a knowledgeable friend supervising and giving you suggestions (and most importantly making sure that you don't do something seriously wrong). Once you have the basics down, the next one you can do on your own.

I've also done far too many to count. I do it so I know the computer intimately, and because I know that the computer techs at the shops aren't exactly aiming for quality. Also, I nearly always mod the case the better airflow, something techs don't do.

[h90]

I usually did my computers myself, but here in Thailand, I select the parts and let them fix it together. I buy all parts from one shop and if I see one part somewhere different cheaper I tell them and somehow they find a way to reduce the total.

As well they should set up Win XP+all driver so I see it is working. Normaly they have the case still open so you can check what the put in.

If you do it yourself and at home it is not booting for example, how you find the problem. Can be CPU, Ram, Motherboard, Graphikcard.

In the shop not working-no money-not my problem.

[MikeWill]

I'll second a concern expessed by Firefoxx, especially regarding some shops in Bangkok that are interested to sell you the stuff they already have at hand. Surely, they will convince you that it's the best option for you.

Seriously speaking, it isn't an option "to try it out".

The way to go, in my hamble opinion, is first to research the field (check alternatives, prices) and decide on what exactly you want/need in your PC. Is it Pentium 4, Celeron, or other chip? What speed/model? What mainboard (chipset), what hardware it supports, and follow with that specs for RAM, harddisk, etc, etc.

This is the most difficult part of building your own system - the decision making, not the assembly.

Any shop will do that for you. The one you buy most parts from will probably do it for free, others will charge for the labor cost a few bucks.

That way I built my P3 system quite a while ago, and it serves me well (reliably) till today.

Now, I'm also planning for the new P4 system. My basic needs are quite simple, I use ADSL hi-speed connection to the Internet (USB modem), want to use the Skype telephony, do some graphics, digital photos, MPEG movies and web design, connect my 4 MPixel digital camera via USB port, and at times play some games (that do not demand too much processing power). I have lots of software installed on my system, and often use many open windows/programs.

Reliable, stable and cost effective system is my main concern, and I hope to built it for years to come.

BTW, the system performance is as good as its weakest component, no matter what system's component is that (i.e. chip, mainboard, RAM, harddisk, etc.).

I want my new PC to be based on Intel D865GBF mainboard, as it's one of the most stable and reliable. It come with the Intel 865G Chipset, allowing for integrated audio (thus saving on additional audio card).

It features 6 PCI bus add-in card connectors (SMBus routed to PCI bus connector 2);

Dual DDR 400/333/266, 4 DIMM sockets;

Audio: ADI 1985;

I/O: SATA 150 and ATA-100;

USB Connectors: 8 USB 2.0 (4-Front, 4-Back);

AGP slot: 8x 1.5v;

RAM: 2.6 V (only) 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMMs with gold-plated contacts;

Unbuffered, single or double-sided DIMMs with the following restriction:

Double-sided DIMMs with x16 organization are not supported,

Non-ECC DIMMs, Serial Presence Detect, DDR400/333/266 SDRAM DIMMs;

LAN Controller: Intel® PRO/100 (optional Intel® PRO/1000 CT).

Disadvantages - RAID (short for Redundant Array of Independent/Inexpensive Disks): N/A

The D865GBF supports Ultra ATA transfer rates up to 100 MB/sec (ATA/100) by way of the Intel® 82801EB I/O Controller Hub (ICH5) with two independent bus-mastering IDE interfaces. An Ultra ATA/100 supported hard drive and an 80 conductor IDE cable are required to take advantage of the increased bandwidth available on the IDE channel.

One of the features of the D865GBF is its ability to support larger ATA/100 capable hard drives with 48-bit Logical Block Addressing (LBA) within the BIOS along with all Ultra ATA transfer rates (i.e., 33/66/100 MB/sec). To realize a true throughput performance difference, a hard drive may need to implement higher spindle speeds, such as 7200 RPM, and a large onboard buffer size to take advantage of the increased bandwidth available on the IDE channel.

The ATX12V power supply required for the Desktop Board D865GBF has the standard 20-pin ATX Main Power Connector, and a 4-pin +12V Aux. Power Connector. The 4-pin +12V power connector has been added to enable the delivery of more +12VDC current to the desktop board. This connector is used by the board to power the processor's voltage regulator module (VRM).

Intel recommends starting with a power supply capable of providing a minimum of 1.5 Amps (2.0 Amps recommended) of +5V standby current.

Jumpers/BIOS Setup Options: A single configuration jumper (J9J4) on the desktop board is used to access configuration mode. All configuration options are made available through the BIOS configuration screens.

Processor - Intel Pentium 4 Northwood, 3.2 GHz, FSB800, 512 KB L2 Cache.

Additional components are according to the above recommendations.

If someone in Bkk is interested, we may join forces in buying/building such system(s).

Any relevant comments, proposals would be appreciated.

[RDN]

....If someone in Bkk is interested, we may join forces in buying/building such system(s). 

Any relevant comments, proposals would be appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wish I was in bkk - I'll have one! How much, do you think?

[MikeWill]

Wish I was in bkk - I'll have one!   How much, do you think?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We have to shop around to calculate the price, but I think it will be less than THB 35,000 for complete system.

You are welcome to join in making decisions and buying the parts, and will be able to assemble the system at a place/shop of your convenience.

[RDN]

Wish I was in bkk - I'll have one!   How much, do you think?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We have to shop around to calculate the price, but I think it will be less than THB 35,000 for complete system.

You are welcome to join in making decisions and buying the parts, and will be able to assemble the system at a place/shop of your convenience.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unfortunately I'm in Phuket - not exactly a quick BTS ride away . Pity. But if you post your specification, I'm sure others - and myself - would be interested in it.

I must admit to being very lazy at building PCs - I used to buy all Dell machines when I was working. And I usually ended up with the newest and best one, and my old one would go to the next senior engineer and so on, until the really old Pentium 300s and 400s trickled down to the Production department. Fortunately, Dell PCs are such good quality that they hardly ever went wrong, so just adding RAM and swapping hard drives was all I really got involved with. We used to buy them all with 3 years warranty, so if they went wrong after that... who cares? Well, I guess the Production department because they had all the really old ones

I do miss the 19 and 21 inch Sony Trinitron monitors - they were beautiful!

[simcity]

I go to Pantip ( ITfever shop ) think 3 floors ..

I select what I want , the guy in the back put the computer for me and load window ( I have it with me ) , I give him 200 bahts tip ..I think his name is A .

I make sure connection and USB working .

I go home and finish the loading ….

I done it 4 times all ready ( friends and myself )

Great way , save cost and get good components, and you know what it is it .

I done one last month for a friend , middle range computer with monitor . cost 17000 bahts .

[chingy_]

i just put together a computer a few month ago...

p-4 3.0

200GB-hard drive (don't ask why i needed that big)

1G-RAM

DVD-RW

im using round wire not the typical flat wire (the mother board have to support the wire, if you don't undertsand, its to much to explain).

etc...

[RDN]

i just put together a computer......

200GB-hard drive (don't ask why i needed that big)........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think we can guess

[Phil Conners]

I've built my own PC's since before Pentium CPU's were invented, nothing much to it.

How much is a 200 GB HD from Pantip these days?

[MikeWill]

Re: 200 GB HD

How long does it take to defragment it?

[melus]

I'm on my ninth shop-assembled computer, and had no hardware problems with any of them. It's fun as well as educational to watch the assemblers in the back of the shop put a new computer together and install the software and drivers in just a couple of hours. I usually take in a cup of coffee and the latest OS and software I want installed and grab a seat in an out-of-the-way spot.

For your first time, as Firefoxx so rightly suggests, take a computer-savvy friend with you so that he can advise you and help supervise the setup. I assure you that if you don't skimp too much on the parts, you'll be happy with the result.

BTW, make sure your hard drive is partioned (at least 4 drives).

Finally, quoting from Condo bk,

BTW, the system performance is as good as its weakest component, no matter what system's component is that (i.e. chip, mainboard, RAM, harddisk, etc.).

This is oh so true! Match the capacities of the parts as best as you can.

And Condo bk, I would be interested in joining forces in buying/building reliable, stable and cost effective systems, and have a small place behind Fortune Tower which would be ideal to do something like this. Let me know what you have in mind.

[email protected]

[britmaveric]

Easy to do, but assembled PC prices are getting to low these days sometimes it doesnt seem worth it anymore. Guess it all depends if you have the time..personally I have gone the laptop route last 4years - barely use my workstation anymore.

[Phil Conners]

Laptops still cost 2.5-3.0 x desktop systems for similar performance.

When you put your PC together yourself you know EXACTLY what's in it .. unlike when some shop does it. Also, knowing the Thai "attention to details" I prefer doing it myself.

[chingy_]

i broke down the 200GB 50/50/100, defragment doesn't take to long, you have to defrag one at a time, the 1G ram really help.

cost around 5k-7k depend on the brand( mine is seagate) around 6.5k

[britmaveric]

I'm lazy but in my defense I'm rarely home with all my work travel so laptops make more sense.

[Firefoxx]

I usually recommend anyone using his computer a lot to buy a 160GB or 200GB disk, since they have the best price to size ratio.

Since installing WinXP SP1 more than a year ago, I haven't defragged any of my harddisks. I don't notice much of a difference. With all of my capacity (much more than 200GB) it would take quite some time to defrag. I just don't bother, since the system performs well enough for me.

If you want a performance system that you'll be using for quite some time, I think it's better put the system together yourself (as long as you know what you're doing). The components are above average (read: $$) and you will rest easier knowing that they were properly (and securely) installed. You will know your computer intimately and learn things along the way.

[RDN]

.........BTW, make sure your hard drive is partioned (at least 4 drives)......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why? Can't XP deal with a big one?

[monty]

It's true assembled pc's can be had, but the specs simply don't make any sense most of the times...

A 10.000 Baht P4 3.2, a 5000 Baht 200gb drive on a 1600 Baht mainboard with onboard video.

Seen it so much already, and the same setup with a celeron at 3000 Baht would go just as fast.

For me they absolutely have no clue about putting matching components together.

I just upgraded my pc with an Athlon64 3000, nforce3 mainboard and Western digital raptor 36Gb 10000rpm SATA drive. Total upgrade price less then 20000 Baht and it feels 5 times as fast.

Kept my 2 old 160gb drives for data and put WinXP and the big programs on the raptor.

Never knew Windows could boot this fast

[britmaveric]

Only problem with assembled machines in my eyes - they tend to use integration in the boards for sound/video - and what they use is usually rubbish. Main advantage of building your own is you can put what you want in it rather stuck with smth you aren't that keen on. I'd suggest to novices do the research.. it will pay off in the end.

[Firefoxx]

Why? Can't XP deal with a big one?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think they're aiming for easier management and defragmentation. I used to use that policy myself, since the days of 20MB (MB, not GB) drives. I would partition like crazy, since it helped me stay organized. Back then partitioning was also important since FAT32 and NTFS didn't exist, and large partitions would mean large cluster sizes leading to wasted space.

Currently I partition as little as possible or not at all. My new 200GB drive is one big NTFS partition, and I've merged many of my old partitions into single partitions. I already have too many drives as it is, and partitioning only makes matters worse.

It's still wise to create separate system (for programs and OS) and data (documents, settings, backups, porn, etc) partitions. That way if you ever need to do a format/reinstall, you don't need to find and move your data. Just format the system drive.

Integrated sound on current mainboards actually really good. Most systems support at least 4.1 channel with digital output and some even support 6.1 channels. Integrated video, however, is still only for the non-gamer. ATI's integrated video is one of the best, but sadly has performance comparable to it's low end video cards. At least notebook video has come up a notch with things like the ATI 9700.

[RDN]

..... large partitions would mean large cluster sizes leading to wasted space....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good points. I'd forgotten about partitions and cluster sizes - a long time ago

My lap top has only a 10 GB internal, but an 80 GB external USB drive - both NTFS, now. I try to keep the internal drive as empty as possible so I can use Norton Ghost to make an image on CD-R. And when I get a desk top, I'll use the external drive as a second internal drive in the new machine.

[Firefoxx]

There are a lot of things that the current generation of computer users don't have to put up with. I remember times when hard disk drives had two data cables and floppy drives had jumpers. Times when you needed to manage your upper and lower memory, extended memory, expanded memory, and whatnot memory and had to make different boot configs for different programs. A time when setting up a network meant Novell or nothing, and having to use coax cables that lost their signal if somebody sneezed too hard. A time when the only way you could get your data on another computer was through the not-so-reliable 5.25" floppy. They heyday of Wordstar and Lotus 1-2-3.

Those were the good old days. But, gasp, there was no 'net! How in the world did we survive?

[RDN]

There are a lot of things that the current generation of computer users don't have to put up with.  I remember times when.....

Those were the good old days.  But, gasp, there was no 'net!  How in the world did we survive?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That little bit of spare memory up to 640 K! The things we used to do to get the most out of that! Oh dear, this thread'll turn into "PC Reminiscences"

I also remember using 8" floppy disks, DEC RLO1's (5 MB, and the size of a Sunday roast plate), upgrading to 4 or 8 MB RAM (wow!), and a 40 MB hard drive was just greedy!

Think I'll definitely pop down to my local computer shop soon - getting the urge to build something special!

[melus]

It's still wise to create separate system (for programs and OS) and  data (documents, settings, backups, porn, etc) partitions.  That way if you ever need to do a format/reinstall, you don't need to find and move your data.  Just format the system drive.

This is what I was aiming at when I suggested partitioning -- and just to keep things generally organized -- or hidden.

I only work with 2 partitions now, but when drive space was precious and defragmention took hours, I partioned like crazy, too.