Help with PCmaking

mr0161 · 20-01-2006, 13:21

Ok, i wanna ask a few questions.

1. lets say you put all the bits together that you buy for the PC, then switch it on, will it just work right away?

2. when all the bits work, do you go into safe mode and put the windows XP disic in?

3. does anyone know where i can buy a good book or DVD showing you how to make a PC, where it has pic's and stuff, putting it simple, so you learn and not just read it.

Thanks

Derek · 20-01-2006, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

1. lets say you put all the bits together that you buy for the PC, then switch it on, will it just work right away?

Hopefully!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

2. when all the bits work, do you go into safe mode and put the windows XP disic in?

You should put the Windows or Linux disc in and choose the option to boot from CD from the BIOS. This should install the OS onto your hard drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

3. does anyone know where i can buy a good book or DVD showing you how to make a PC, where it has pic's and stuff, putting it simple, so you learn and not just read it.

Not offhand. If you are confident putting expansion cards etc. into a PC you should be OK putting one together from scratch.

mr0161 · 20-01-2006, 13:27

well, the most i have put in, is a RAM stick and a ethernet card.

i see all these bits in my PC, and i really dunno what is what, thats why i asked.

I opened up my old 1980+ pc last night, and it had a 64 MB ram stick in it, do they still do them? lol

kfridge · 20-01-2006, 13:30

try these links...also you could do much worse than but Scott Mueller's 16th Edition of Upgrading and Repairing PC's. It's a little pricey but has all the information you will ever need to know - it also comes with a DVD with video clips plus load of other useful stuff.

Links:

http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/
http://www.buildeasypc.com/
http://www.daileyint.com/build/

Derek · 20-01-2006, 13:31

Once you have installed the PSU and Motherboard (fairly simple, a couple of screws for each) you can pop in the memory and graphics card and connect up the power supply cables and drives.

To be honest the most fiddly bit is connecting up the ports on the outside of the case like microphones, speakers, USB etc. but most motherboards come with pretty good diagrams showing where everything needs to go.

mr0161 · 20-01-2006, 13:35

quick question and the most i want answered.

What do i get?

By that i mean, what do i really need for a good gaming computer, every bit.

P.S. is there a site for that or?

handyman · 20-01-2006, 13:36

I have always put to gether the basics , motherborard cpu, memory hd and cd. then ran the OS.

Then I add in any expansion cards 1 by one(will allow you to find device conflicts easier). Unless I'm using XP pro which seems to like it in one go and can pick up most things by itself.

Ramrod · 20-01-2006, 13:39

I built my own gaming PC a year ago and it is still current now......full details here
If you wade through that lot and replicate what I did you should be able to build it for about ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1000-1200...

Derek · 20-01-2006, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

quick question and the most i want answered.

What do i get?

By that i mean, what do i really need for a good gaming computer, every bit.

The last one I built I got the kit from Overclockers

You will NEED:

Case
PSU
Motherboard
Processor
Memory
CD/DVD Drive
Hard Drive
Graphics Card

You might want to add a better cooler to the CPU to run the system a little quieter.

mr0161 · 20-01-2006, 13:43

so, all i need to do is put the motherboard in the memory hd and a cd drive? and whats a OS and how do i run it?

---------- Post added at 13:41 ---------- Previous post was at 13:40 ----------

when you say cooler, do you mean that fan on the motherboard?

---------- Post added at 13:43 ---------- Previous post was at 13:41 ----------

another question just came in my head.

Does makes matter?

By that i mean, you don't need everything by the same company

basa · 20-01-2006, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

Ok, i wanna ask a few questions.

1. lets say you put all the bits together that you buy for the PC, then switch it on, will it just work right away?

Yes it SHOULD, assuming you bought all the right (i.e. compatible) bits, put them in the right place and plugged all the cables in the right holes << most important !

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

2. when all the bits work, do you go into safe mode and put the windows XP disic in?

It should start the BIOS setup first then boot to the CD on restart - no need for 'safe mode'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

:3. does anyone know where i can buy a good book or DVD showing you how to make a PC, where it has pic's and stuff, putting it simple, so you learn and not just read it.

Thanks

Check out kfridge's links.

Derek · 20-01-2006, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

so, all i need to do is put the motherboard in the memory hd and a cd drive? and whats a OS and how do i run it?

The OS is something like Windows or Linux. You get the CD and start the system off the CD which loads it onto the hard drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

when you say cooler, do you mean that fan on the motherboard?

Yep. The ones you get with the processors are OK but tend to be a bit loud, you can get quieter ones.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...Coolers_1.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

By that i mean, you don't need everything but the same company

Nope.

mr0161 · 20-01-2006, 13:49

i wanna know something.

When buying stuff, lets say from overclockers, does the more it cost, really mean it will be better?

basa · 20-01-2006, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

so, all i need to do is put the motherboard in the memory hd and a cd drive? and whats a OS and how do i run it?

Yup - mobo, memory, processor (with cooler), graphics card, HDD & CD and (maybe floppy disc drive).

OS = Operating System (probably Windows XP)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

when you say cooler, do you mean that fan on the motherboard?

No, he's referring to the fan and heatsink on the processor (cpu). (Which then plugs into the top face of the motherboard).

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0161

another question just came in my head.

Does makes matter?

By that i mean, you don't need everything by the same company

Not really, but you should be aware not everything just fits. There are different types of motherboard (mobo) which take different types of processor (AMD or Intel are the most common). Even mobos vary from ATX (the most common) and Micro ATX (smaller to fit mini tower cases).

Memory MUST be the right type (check Crucial's web site once you have a mobo).

Graphics cards, HDDs, CDs and floppys are all generally universal if you stick to straight forward ones.

mr0161 · 20-01-2006, 13:56

i guess mobo means motherboard? silly me, didn't see you said what a mobo is

And whos Crucial and wheres the site?

question - how will i know which case to get, as there is sizes, and i want my stuff to fit just right, not be too small, or too big?