PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Slimothy

Slimothy

Veteran
Me and my dad are going to build our own computer could use some advice:

1. What are the major things we should look out for
2. How much can we expect to spend (We're not building a super computer, but sufficient enough to do editing well and play games)
3. Are there any online manuals available?
4. Are there certain books we should DEFINATELY buy

Lastly: Should we even do this?! We want to do it as a learning experience and for the need of a new computer. Is this an extremely difficult task. We have average to above average computer knowledge.

Thanks so much in advance and sorry for the long post. Tim
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

if you want to do it, do it...its a good thing to do once at least.

the thing that may or may not be the most pain in the ass is the bios...especialy if you have never dug around in there before...getting your cpu to recognize drives and devices and what can be kinda hard.

for a starting point...you could go to a place like http://www.pcclub.com (go to an actual store...not online)...and tell them you want to build a computer, and have them help you guys in making the right desisions as far as which componets you want/need...then just get all the parts and go home and build away..and if you get stuck you can always call them for help.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Thanks alot Rich. Any recommendations on certain products to stay away from?
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

hmm...not sure really...i tend to stay away from no names. but thats kinda relative i guess when it comes to components.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

I've built all my boxes and had no real problems though one of my strengths is mechanical aptide and the other is being able to conceptualize how the damned things work in the first place. I have been tripped up a couple of times by the manuals that come with the motherboards. Sometimes I find they are written with about as much articulation as those do it yourself shelving kits. If you have installed a hard drive, cd/dvd rom drive or added ram before you should be able to fathom it. it's not that hard, most problems come, I've noticed because of ignorance which breeds intimidation. I think if you've got some sort of aptitude and a general understanding of how they work and have performed some upgrades in the past you should be OK. Like Rich said you can always call for Help.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

For audio cards, I recomend staying away from audigy cards. If you want a good affordable sound card get the audiophile 24/96k. it's less than $100 bucks and sounds sweet. Works good for video games and music production. For the price this sound card kick ass!
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Nothing wrong with the Audigy spider, especially if you get the audigy drive with its many front located input and outputs including midi,spidif,optical, firewire, volume controlled headphone and quater inch mic inputs and remote control unit. It is pricy but it's also very convenient. I wish it had XLR input, my only *****.

Oh...forgot to mention I loved your fight scene in the grabs blah section ;D
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

thanks mino. As for the audigy, I had 3 and all three failed on me after 5months of using it. Maybe its just me. But the problems were all identical. I won't go into details. But with alittle more investment you can get a m audio delta 1010 with XLR for $230. Good luck and make sure you guys ground ytour self. Don't let the cats and dogs roam near the computer.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

I know how you feel Spider...I had three pioneer DVD decks go sideways on me, all exactly the same death syptoms, yet other people run them in sanboxes and underwater and suffer nothing. I've had nothing but great performance with my Audigy. So great I failed to hear you point. I am a Audigy disciple and sometimes blinded. I will check out the card you suggest...You had me at XLR ;D
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

BTW: thanks for the advice mino, and bspider,

Whats the price range you think we're looking at. For a pretty efficient editing machine/gameplaying machine?
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Here's a good site for hardware info. It also has sections on building your own system:

http://www.tomshardware.com/

I would also suggest looking at the recommended systems of various video editing packages. Then look at sites that sell prebuilt video editing hardware packages and look at their specs. Use these as ideas for part combinations to use when building a system. Also, as was mentioned earlier, a good BIOS is highly recommended. Get a good motherboard/cpu/bios and it will save you a lot of pain in the long run.

Finally, make sure the combination of parts you select are compatible. All the various combinations of motherboards, video cards, sound cards, drive controllers, etc.. equate to more and more possible conflicts. Again, that's why it's good to find the specs of existing systems that are known to work.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

My price would be in Canadian Dollars....It depends on how much you need over and above what you already have. You maya or may not need a monitor, keyboard, mouse cd/dvd drives as you may already have them in old machines. My last box I built I only needed mobo, case, cpu, 80gb hard drive and ram the rest of the parts came out of the box that quit. The new guy cost me $800.00 Canadian.It came with on board sound, lan and firewire. It's a year old now but is asus p4p800 motherboard, intel p4 2.5 cpu 512 mb ram. I recomend asus as motherboard for reliability and compatibility. Personally I don't worry to much about the grounding bit, I've never had it affect me or my gear. That is not to say static electricity is not a problem, static and I have just chosen to ignore each other over the years.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Another thing I recomend which is way overlooked, is to find yourself a good, local, computer store. One that's been around for a while with freindly knowledgable staff and inhouse repairs. Sure you can save a couple of bucks with the large chains, but when you are in the ****, the large chain want's you to bring your box in. Then it is shipped to some repair center some place, whereas your local shop can quite often take the time to troubleshoot over the phone. I have cultivated a good rapor with my computer shop and that personal relationship has paid off time and again. I also have the added bennefit of having all my purchases on their system so that when they recomend upgrades, they know instantly how my exsisting gear is configured.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

No disrespect to Davids input, but if you buy online you don't get that support I was mentioning and if you're not 100% savy with the peices and parts you end up not saving much at all.Problems you may encounter can cost both time, money and the level of frustration can become unbearable. my 2 c
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Thanks so much for all the input. This will all be of great help when I go to make it. Anyone have any pics of one they have made?
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Well, since I've been wanting to give Imageshack a whirl anyway . . .

whatareyoudoingdave9mc.jpg


This is a GREAT case, by the way.
 
Re: PLEASE HELP!! CPU build

Damne, that looks nice! I have a question. Whats the AUDIGY device? Is it a sound card or something?
 
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