Roll Your Own PC

We all update software, right? And sometimes we update bits and pieces of hardware like putting in more RAM, a better graphics card or some kind of network port. There's the ultimate update - a new computer. Scary stuff, when you look at the overwhelming choice of PC's out there and the vast number of nerdy-looking blokes in thick- rimmed glasses telling us their computers are the best. Do you have to resemble Bill Gates to be able to sell computers? Apparently.

I'm going to suggest something that for many of you, couldn't be further from your mind - except for that elusive wedding anniversary that you can't seem to remember. I reckon you should build your own computer. Forget about buying something off the shelf.

People who have already done this might scoff at the drama here. They've "been there and done that". It's not such a big deal - and they're right, which is why I'm recommending it to everyone else. Some of us are near geniuses when it comes to software and making our computers perform well. At the same time the hardware is a bit like our cars. We can drive 'em, but don't ask us to look under the bonnet!

If we dispel a few vicious rumours about constructing your own PC you'll see it isn't such a big deal at all.

The advantages are many. You will save a lot of money on a good computer. Okay, the local furniture-and-fridge store can always flog you something cheap with an impressive CPU and scads of RAM, so maybe the economy of building yourself doesn't seem so worthwhile compared to these. However, the old adage of getting what you pay for applies here. Those discount PCs are cheap for a reason. Mostly, because they're assembled in the same factory as Nike socks and plastic Star Wars figurines. Do-it- yourself provides significant savings on quality components and you end up with a rock-solid, quality PC. You can also get (and pay for) exactly what you want. You won't find yourself buying the latest workstation that can run the New York Stock Exchange simply because it's the only model available with those four USB ports on the front that you need.

The daunting thing is choosing the right components and then putting these all together. Let's look at buying parts first. Admittedly the Internet has a hellish amount of information that turns your brain to mush. Experts who specialize in PC components are incapable of speaking in anything except acronyms - it's weird.

The secret is to take things one piece at a time. Motherboards in particular are horribly confusing- but only if you try to understand everything on offer. Figure out your basic needs. How many USB peripherals do you have? What about Firewire? Do you want to transfer any hardware across from your old PC? (For example I have a trusty PCI audio card I wanted to keep, when PCI slots were becoming a thing of the past).

When you have a clearer idea of these kinds of requirements and you know that some of the top- end gear just isn't necessary, the choice of potential motherboards narrows right down and you can focus on the details.

Graphics cards are really a matter of how much you care about ... well, graphics and how much you're prepared to pay. If seeing the nostril hairs on the World of Warcraft troglodytes is important for you, then you're going to need some serious graphics card grunt.

How many hard drives do you need? How big does each one need to be? Do you need a new, dedicated audio card or will the motherboard's on-board sound do the trick? If you go for top-of-the-line stuff, does the power supply need to be something special?

Then you need a new case to put all the goodies in - with extra fans for cooling. After reading all the above in one lump, that furniture store option might be attractive again, but take each question by itself and it's kind of fun. You'll get a better understanding of what you need in any computer. Your PC won't be such the mysterious box of tricks anymore, too. All right, for a while you might be tempted to surrender and yell "Just tell me the best one to buy!" but persevere and the mist will clear.

By far the best advice, unless you turn into a PC expert overnight, is to buy everything from one place and explain they're all going into the same machine. Of course, the internet will have the best prices, but a real store with a real nerd is insurance against purchasing incompatible components. You can go back and shout at someone, if things go wrong, which is very therapeutic.

Don't miss the second instalment of this tutorial next month.

Note: Graeme Hague© Permission to copy or quote extracts from this article may only be done with the written permission of the author.

Reprinted from the September 2008 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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