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07-01-2006, 08:30 PM
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#1 |
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Member (7 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 73
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Can an average Joe really do it?
Ok, I just posted below and this board was awesome to help me figure out what components I would need to build a desktop I can afford and that is what I need.
What I am wanting to know is this really possible for someone who has no experience building a computer? The only thing I have ever done is replace my ethernet card and my video card on my old computer. I have read a ton of articles on it and of course they all make it sound simple. So who here has built one with no prior experience?? |
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07-01-2006, 08:32 PM
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#2 |
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Kickin' it
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 7,723
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A lot of people come here to learn about building their first PC. Everyone has to start somewhere. You can certainly do it. As long as you read your manuals, read through our BYOPC tutorial, take your time and ask questions, you can do it. Building a PC isn't as hard as it might seem.
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07-01-2006, 08:36 PM
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#3 |
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Member (10 bit)
Premium Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Burb of Detroit, Mi
Posts: 874
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I was an average Joe when I built my first computer (about 5 years ago) and I'm sure there plenty of PCMech users who also had no building experience before their 1st build. If you do your research,follow a "How To Build a Computer" tutorial of somekind, and take your time you'll have no major problems in building a computer. The people you see having major problems are the ones who over look one of the steps. Once you have a build under your belt it becomes much easier and addicting.
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Life is a Fig Newton of Your Imagination! |
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07-01-2006, 08:42 PM
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#4 |
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Member (8 bit)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 245
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Whatever you do, get yourself an anti-static wrist band. Lots of people take this for granted, but fry a motherboard and you'll never take it for granted again. Don't work on carpet, work on a plain tabletop.
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07-01-2006, 08:55 PM
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#5 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Va
Posts: 823
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everyone was an average joe, before they became an expert.
just be patient. take your time, everything will be fine.
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R.I.P. #21 Sean Taylor 1983-2007 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN |
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07-01-2006, 08:58 PM
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#6 | |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20
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Quote:
the shocker to everyone, like i said, is that i am doing this without sight, (dead seriously), just not happy my board was bad |
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07-01-2006, 09:11 PM
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#7 |
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Member (7 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 73
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Ok, you guys have gave me hope...
Another question do you have any build your own computer links you would suggest? |
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07-01-2006, 09:13 PM
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#8 |
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Member (11 bit)
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,616
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It really isn't that hard. Be carful, do your research, and be willing to take some advice, and you will be fine. When I built my first PC back in 03, I was worse then a noobie. I had fried an entire system adding a hard drive back when I was younger (it was an old Packerd Bell, a reall peace of junk and cramped to begin with), but my first build came out without a hitch. I've built two more PC since and am thinking about another in a few months. It isn't as complex as you think.
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Laptop HP DM4t / i5-560M / 14.1 WXGA Widescreen / 1GB Radeon Mobility 6370 / 4GB RAM / 320 GB 7200rpm HD / DVD-RW / 802.11n & BT wireless First Build Abit IC7-G Max II Motherboard / 2.8C 800mhz P4 / 1024 DDR 3200 (2x 512 in Duel Channel) / Saphire Radeon 9800 Pro 128 / Samsung 120 GB SATA HD / Lite-On 16x DVD-ROM / NEC DVD-RW Last edited by Staren; 07-01-2006 at 09:16 PM. |
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07-01-2006, 09:25 PM
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#9 |
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Member (8 bit)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 245
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07-01-2006, 09:39 PM
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#10 |
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Member (11 bit)
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,616
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Here are the two I like. The parts listed on the second link are a little out of date, but the instructions are still quite valid.
http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/ http://www.mysuperpc.com/ |
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07-01-2006, 09:41 PM
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#11 |
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Wx geek
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,638
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When I started I didn't have any hardware knowledge (other than what a hard drive was, CPU, etc), and everything went fine.
Good luck, hope everything turns out well for you.
__________________
"It is the way of man to make monsters and it is the nature of monsters to destroy their makers." |
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07-01-2006, 09:54 PM
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#12 |
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Member (7 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 73
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Thank you everybody!! I have everything ready to order, but I have to wait b/c we are going out of town this next Saturday and saw you have 7 days on the CPU. So as soon as we get back I will be ordering it.
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07-01-2006, 10:15 PM
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#13 | |
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Member (7 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Wow that is amazing! Congratulations... |
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07-02-2006, 09:02 AM
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#14 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,509
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Here are a couple (*) of tips for you: Go to the parts makers websites and download the online versions of the manuals and spend some time reading through them while you wait for the parts to arrive. Get yourself a notebook and make yourself a list of specific things that you notice in the manuals that you want to remember to check during the assembly/setup. Also in the notebook, record all the part numbers, serial numbers, etc., so that you have it available without having to look inside the machine if you ever need them. Also usefull would be a 3 ring binder with some CD pages to put all your assorted software disks in so that you don't lose or damage them as easily. Punch holes in the envelopes and stick them in there too, or scan and copy them so you have all the serial keys and whatnot that is printed on them available too. If you set any passwords on anything be sure to record those too. Save all the packaging and shipping materials in case you need to return something. It is a good idea to start out with a barebones out of case build to ensure all the core components are working OK before you assemble the whole machine. How-to for that is in this thread. Just take your time and if you aren't sure about something, take a break and check the manuals/guides or just post a question in here. * Well, I guess I should have said several.
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07-02-2006, 09:32 AM
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#15 | |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 713
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Quote:
And it is not all that difficult to do. Static discharge is lethal for electronic components of any kind so you should be grounded when handling them. Take your time and make sure everyting is plugged in correctly. If the power supply is one of the recommended ones then you have a good chance of a successful first time power on.
__________________
C1) Intel C2D 3.0GHz E8400 | Asus P5K-E - BIOS rev.1012 | Corsair 2GB | Ati HD 3850 | Seagate 7200.11 500gb SATA AD14 | Seagate 7200.10 320G SATA 3.AAC | LG GH20NS10 | Antec Sonata Plus 550 with Neopower | Samsung SyncMaster 931DF | Altec-Lansing VS2220 | D-Link DI-604 | Gnet BB2060 | Windows 7 Pro 64 bit C2) Intel P4 2.8 GHz | Asus P4C800E-DX - BIOS rev.1023 | Corsair TwinX 1GB | Ati Radeon 9600XT | Maxtor SATA 200gb | Antec TP II 480W | LG GSA-H55N x 2 | Evercase E4252 | Samsung SyncMaster 731DF | Windows 7 Pro Last edited by tempus; 07-02-2006 at 09:56 AM. |
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07-02-2006, 09:58 AM
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#16 | |
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Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
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Quote:
Cricket
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07-02-2006, 01:27 PM
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#17 | |
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Member (7 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 73
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Quote:
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07-03-2006, 10:29 AM
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#18 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 56
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I think the hardest part for me, other than choosing the components, was installing the heat-sink on a AMD processor. You do have to apply some pressure .. it's not for the faintest of heart lol
Other than that it's just minor troubleshooting, and you have this whole forum to help you with that.
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07-03-2006, 11:18 AM
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#19 | |
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Member (11 bit)
Premium Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,616
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Quote:
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07-03-2006, 01:08 PM
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#20 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: eastern nc
Posts: 1,349
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Strider's right - you are going to get addicted! Once you get a feel for these things, they are as straightforward as an old MG.
I resurrected two old ones (originally) and three months after that I had run up 2 grand on the credit card because I was buying stuff to repair more of them! I can't stay away from them! They have good "how to" stuff right here. Use it. |
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07-06-2006, 04:02 PM
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#21 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 780
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I'm a 64 year old welder thats never done anything else. When I decided to try and build my own, I came here. Bottom line is, you can't find a better place for advice. And if I could give you any, it would be buy from reputable dealers like newegg.com and buy quality parts. Not the cheapest you can find. Take the advice you get here and go for it. I've since built five more for friends and family. Be warned though, when you build for others, you become the "computer guy" they're gonna look to for answers.lol
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Intel i5 2500 Quad core 3.3, ASUS P8P67, ASUS EAH 6850 GPU, corsair XMS 4GB 1333, Corsair 750W PSU, WD Caviar 500 7200 RPM, Windows 7 Home Premium, Lite-on 24X DVD SATA, Cooler Master 690 2 case |
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