I need a DVD on how to build a computer- basic & advanced?also need advise on parts?

[LAWFISH]

OK, I am no computer guy. at 47 we didnt study these in school. In fact if you used your times table calcs in yoru folder, you were in trouble. So things have changed. I can use my current computer and know the basics(I think) I use frontpage to build my website, which I sell some hotrod parts on.

However, bluehost just destroyed my website and I have purchased Dreamweaver to build a new one on.

Now I want a new computer and dont want to hand it off to someone. I DO NOT GAME on it. I use two monitors and have a video card that allows me to watch TV at times when a race is on while I work on the other monitor.

I store lots of pics and hot rod stuff, so I need space. I need a DVD that will show me the basics and how to build it and install an operating system. I am tired of hiring people who are usually hacks and it costs a fortune. Time to take the work into my own hands.

I cant read books, I fall asleep. I used DVDs to learn how to my own body and paint work and even build buildings, construction. so that works for me.

Any suggestion on one and how much memory I will need, what a good mother board is, ect? I know of new egg and all ready have a nice hotrod red case and a new DVD and CD player as well as a new video tv card. I need the rest and want a pretty fast computer that will last a while. I hate vista and want XP professional, as thats what know.

any suggestins are appreciated.

Dave

[not important]

Do you have a budget in mind? Intel or AMD? Look at Asus Motherboards. For Intel builds, the Asus P5Q is very popular.

[LAWFISH]

Originally Posted by not important Do you have a budget in mind? Intel or AMD? Look at Asus Motherboards. For Intel builds, the Asus P5Q is very popular.

Actually, I have no real budget in mind. And I dont know which is better the AMD or Intel? I wont ever do any gaming, and I understand that that ads cost. I am just not a gamer and am usually in my shop working on cars, welding, ect. I just need a good computer for work and storage of tons of pics and to build websites, ect. I understand that thats more to do with software.

Dave

[shadowpr]

What case do you have?

Have dvd drive and video card?

[David M]

Dave,
Right now Intel is ahead in the CPU arms race and will probably be ahead for quite some time.

I am 48 and have never been a full on computer geek. I never learned by sitting down and reading books on the subject. The technology changes so fast that books are pretty much obsolete by the time they hit the book stores. I learned through this website pretty much.

For my first build, I figured out which components to use by going to this website and other websites and seeing what other manufacturers and other individuals were putting in their computers. When I say other manufacturers I do not mean Dell or any of the other big computer companies, which use lots of proprietary parts. I mean companies like Falcon or ABS which use the same parts that are available off the shelf to the consumer. I went back to PCMech and typed out what components I had planned on using to build my own computer. People here reviewed what I had put together and I was able to fine tune the components from their suggestions.

Assembling a computer is pretty simple actually if you follow the guide book that comes with your motherboard. Sorry, but you are going to have to do some reading because you must follow the motherboards guidebook to the letter. All motherboards are different and therefore have their little but important differences. A generic video that tries to cover all bases would never succeed at explaining everything for your specific motherboard. Additionally, there are plenty of pointers in this website that can help you with the assembly. There are a number of computer experts here that are more than happy to help you as well.

Before my first build, I was leary about building a computer with no tech support and no warranty. I now know you don't need that if you have a good website to help you...like this one.

As far as installing the operating system, you can get those instructions with your OS or online from Microsoft...(I assume you are going XP or Vista). If you have any problems installing the OS, updating the OS and installing drivers, which is pretty common for people who are not experienced at it, you can come to this website with you questions.

Enjoy your project!

[LAWFISH]

Originally Posted by shadowpr What case do you have? Have dvd drive and video card?

I have this case, never used.


http://promotions.newegg.com/cases/i...%2f118x118.gif

and this hard drive is new in box

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136109

I dont know what hard drive I currently have. this one I purchased a year or so agao for a new computer and never built it.
dave

[LAWFISH]

Originally Posted by David M Dave, Right now Intel is ahead in the CPU arms race and will probably be ahead for quite some time. I am 48 and have never been a full on computer geek. I never learned by sitting down and reading books on the subject. The technology changes so fast that books are pretty much obsolete by the time they hit the book stores. I learned through this website pretty much. I learned by going to this website and other websites and seeing what other manufacturers and other individuals, what components they were putting in their computers. When I say other manufacturers I do not mean Dell or any of the other big computer companies, which use lots of proprietary parts. I mean companies like Falcon or ABS which use the same parts that are available off the shelf to the consumer. I went back to PCMech and typed out what components I had planned on using to build my own computer. People here reviewed what I had put together and I was able to fine tune the components from their suggestions. Assembling a computer is pretty simple actually if you follow the guide book that comes with your motherboard. Sorry, but you going to have to do some reading because you must follow the motherboards guidebook to the letter. All motherboards are different and therefore have their little but important differences. A generic video that tries to cover all bases would never succeed at explaining everything for your specific motherboard. Additionally, there are plenty of pointers in this website that can help you with the assembly. As far as installing the operating system, you can get those instructions with your OS or online from Microsoft...(I assume you are going XP or Vista). If you have any problems installing the OS, which is pretty common for people who are not experienced at it, you can come to this website with you questions. Enjoy your project!

Thanks, I guess I should decide on a mother board first. Something that can go with the hard drive I have if its still a decent hard drive. If not, then I can upgrade.

I have the case, a hard drive listed above are both and then the DVD, DC AND VIDEO /tuner board.

I need to figure eout the rest.

Dave

[David M]

Don't let the old parts influence what computer is best for you. Design the computer you want from scratch....from a blank slate. If the old parts just so happen to work with your new computer design, then all the better. You can always sell the old parts that you can't use.

As I said before, I would start looking around in some of the computer manufacturers websites to get a sense of what components you want. You said you do not need a screaming fast gaming computer, so start looking at the some of the medium speed computers. They will be in the $1200 to $2000 price range...roughly.

http://www.abs.com/

Look at Everex, Velocity Micro and Falcon-Northwest as well. You will begin to get a sense of what components work with which boards. The RAM, CPU and graphics card must work with the motherboard. The motherboard specs say which components work with them. The PSU and drives are pretty much universal....the vast majority of them can connect to most common motherboards with the occasional exception. Same goes for cases. Cases are mostly a matter of what looks good to you along with adequate ventilation and convenience goodies. Don't bother with cases with pre-installed PSU's...in general, those PSU's are garbage. A good PSU is the foundation of your whole computer...its not a place to scrimp. More problems in here relate back to PSU's that don't work as they are supposed to.

Then post what you have put together in this thread so others can make suggestions for improvement.

[hudson80]

I'm 81 9th grade education. Built my first and-only machine a year ago. Il looked at the Azus and Gigabyte manuals for boards I was considering. You can download the manuals and study them.I ran the projected parts list by folks on this forum and a couple of others. Followed the assembly instruction that are on this board. Stood by with an extinguisher when I fired up the first time but all ok. Decide on your MB then tailor your ram, and cpu to that boards specs. Don't skimp on a power supply. Reading the posts, that seems to be where a lot of folks get into trouble. My specs ,all from NewEgg in my sig. good luck and have fun

[not important]

This section of the forum has a LOT of info and advice for new builds. They might give you some good ideas.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by LAWFISH OK, I am no computer guy. at 47 we didnt study these in school. In fact if you used your times table calcs in yoru folder, you were in trouble. So things have changed. I can use my current computer and know the basics(I think) I use frontpage to build my website, which I sell some hotrod parts on. However, bluehost just destroyed my website and I have purchased Dreamweaver to build a new one on. Now I want a new computer and dont want to hand it off to someone. I DO NOT GAME on it. I use two monitors and have a video card that allows me to watch TV at times when a race is on while I work on the other monitor. I store lots of pics and hot rod stuff, so I need space. I need a DVD that will show me the basics and how to build it and install an operating system. I am tired of hiring people who are usually hacks and it costs a fortune. Time to take the work into my own hands. I cant read books, I fall asleep. I used DVDs to learn how to my own body and paint work and even build buildings, construction. so that works for me. Any suggestion on one and how much memory I will need, what a good mother board is, ect? I know of new egg and all ready have a nice hotrod red case and a new DVD and CD player as well as a new video tv card. I need the rest and want a pretty fast computer that will last a while. I hate vista and want XP professional, as thats what know. any suggestins are appreciated. Dave

here is link fir the DVD, right from this website, it will help you with the build for sure, a wise 24.00 investment...
http://www.pcmech.com/xcart/product....9&cat=0&page=1

give us a budget, the guys on here really know their stuff...

[LAWFISH]

Originally Posted by jdeb here is link fir the DVD, right from this website, it will help you with the build for sure, a wise 24.00 investment... http://www.pcmech.com/xcart/product....9&cat=0&page=1 give us a budget, the guys on here really know their stuff...

I really dont have a budget. If I need to spend $1500 for a great computer then so be it. I dont know what parts cost, so I am open to suggestions. I dont game or do that kind of stuff, so I thought that would save me some $. But I do want a very nice video card, which I believes gives me the good grapphics?

I will use Photoshop which I know a tiny bit about. I also need to learn Adobe Illustrator and then the dreamweaver studio MX, which I know nothing about but have purchased a DVD, so as to build my website.

Building websites will be my toughest duties. I will store a lot of pictures on it.

So, that said, I really dont know whats good VS great? I want it fast for what I will do with it. I want very good graphics and I use two monitors currently, which I want to keep doing on the new computer. I am not even sure what governs what as far as size and what makes the computer fast? All this is just numbers for e int he past. I need to learn what the darn numbers mean first I guess.

I will watch some movies on it as well as TV via my satellite connection. I also have Hughesnet sat for my web as we have no DSL here and diaup is even worse than hughesnet which is also bad and very expensive.

I would rather over build it and spend a little more $$$ than underspend and and have to upgrade later.

I wont need monitors at this time as I have two pretty good ones. I do want to step up to one 30 plus inch monitor down the road.

Any more info needed? I am not sure what a great power supply is? I am a total novice.

Thanks for the DVD, I will pick that up and learn what I can from it. I guess I need to find amother board and start there. A power supple that goes with it?

DAVE.

[shadowpr]

Basic build, that we can tweak.

MB: Asus P5G
CPU: Q6600
Ram: 2x2gb ddr2-800 Corsair
Video: 4850
TV tuner: happauge something (not sure about what they have)
HD: Seagate 7200.11 1tb sata
DVD: lite-on dvd burner sata, retail
PSU: Corsair 550
Case: your choice

OS: check to see if your programs will run on vista 64

[jdeb]

You might have to use Windows XP with your software, If so you figure on adding 140.00 to this build... Other notes, this case is very nice for 90.00, it very high quality for the price and is a dream to build, it makes life a lot easier. Don't skimp on the power supply, I used this one for two reasons: one because it's modular and will give you a nice clean install and gives you a littler extra in case you decide to add an additional video card (not that you will need it). This video card is totally awesome for the price, simply stunning is all I can say. This system will give you some room to grow as well. The P5Q Pro is a great motherboard and all the items in this list are compatible. Total not including operating system $1105.90.

Q6600 Quad intel CPU $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

Asus P5QPro $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231166

Corsair modular Power Supply 620W $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139002

ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/1G Radeon HD 4850 $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121278

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 1800 $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815116015

WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284

LG DVD/CR Writer $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136153

LIAN LI PC-61 Mid ATX Case $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112025

Optional, Card Reader with Floppy
SIIG JU-91RW12-S4 9-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader/Write + Floppy $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815150058

[Strider]

Dreamweaver will probably give you problems with Vista 64, for I have a dual boot computer and was force to install Dreamweaver on my Windows XP OS.