How easy is it to build a PC?

scheming_gypsy

That'll be why then... I've never read a manual, only referred to them for jumper settings or if something didn't work.
I was taught hands on how to build them so I've never needed to refer to the manual on how to fit components; out of the box, set jumpers, fit in the case, plug bits in and off you go. I was more than likely just shown what to do or told that 'you stick these in here and etc etc'

marvell-kid

If you want an idea of what system I would buy if I had that kind of money *Dreams*

It would be one of the following: I have included ebuyer product ID's to for easier searching. These aren't the cheapest price around, but normally ebuyer are cheaper than anywhere else.
AMD Total = £960.11
CPU - AMD Bulldozer FX-8 8120 3.1Ghz Socket AM3+ 8MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor - 287681 - £169.64
...This is the most recent AMD processor avaiable
Mobo - Asus M5A99X EVO 990X Socket AM3+ 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard - 270698 - £98.59
...This Mobo will give you sufficent space for any add ons in the future, ie extra graphics card or other cards.
RAM - G-Skill 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600Mhz RipjawsX Memory Kit CL9 (9-9-9-24) 1.5V - 264750 - £36.34
...Just my preferance
GPU - PowerColor HD 6870 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDMI Dual Mini DisplayPort PCI-E Graphics Card - 248745 - £131.99
...If you want to spend more on a graphics card ask, but I feel this should be adequate. Or you can get two and use crossfire to link them for either a 3rd/4th monitor or added processing power

Intel Total = £1,006.71
This was suggested by someone else to match my AMD build
CPU - Intel Core i5 2500K 3.3GHz Socket 1155 6MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor - 251596 - £169.98
Mobo - Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD5-B3 Socket 1155 onboard 7.1 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard - 267127 - £130.80
RAM - Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz XMS3 Memory Kit CL9 1.5V unbuffered - 247674 - £32.75
GPU - Gigabyte GTX 560 OC Edition 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI Mini HDMI PCI-E Graphics Card - 267865 - £149.63

Both systems include the following:
PSU - Coolermaster Centurion 5 II SPECIAL EDITION with Red Interior - With Coolermaster 650W GX PSU - 250952 - £89.99
...Good offer on this bundle, I originally had a case and PSU seperate and it was another £60.
Case - See PSU
HDD - Corsair 120GB Force 3 SSD CSSD-F120GB3-BK - 268693 - £134.99
... If you want a SSD drive this will be brilliant. OS and all your progams on here and everything else on HHD 2 or external drive
HDD 2 - Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 32MB Cache - OEM - 173804 - £115.00
...Over priced atm due to the disasters in the east, so you might want to hold off on getting it if you can (ie can last with the SSD or have an external drive somewhere.
Mon - Benq G2220HD Full HD TFT LCD 21.5" DVI-D Monitor - 248927 - £95.42
...This is the monitor I have and its amazing. I would recommend it.
DVD - LiteOn iHAS124-19 24x DVD±RW DL & RAM SATA Optical Drive - OEM Black with Nero Essentials - 176026 - £13.98
OS - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium w/SP1 - Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - DVD - 64-bit - English - 259863 - £70.78
Cable - Xenta DVI-D Dual Link Black Replacement Cable - 1 Metre - 130565 - £3.39[/COLOR]
...Just basics that I think you will need (esp OS)

I have left you with enough cash to buy any extras you feel you need:
Extra Monitor
Extra DVI Cable
Speakers (as the monitor I suggested doesn't have them built in)
Keyboard
Mouse
Wireless card/Dongle (but if you wanted to play online games I would run a cat-5 cable)
Card Reader

Comments are welcome. And I hope this helps

Spank

If your getting a new LCD Monitor I'd get speakers even if your new monitor has them as they won't be loud enough for you, especially when gaming.

jayme1

most if not all monitors come with a DVI cable so you don't need to buy another,

also when building a computer don't load it with crapware, ie your CD drive will likely come with nero, and your motherboard will come with trial antivirus, don't bother installing that bloat

also when you install windows it asks for the product key, don't put it in yet, install windows then install the drivers for your various components (preferably the latest ones you have downloaded from the website) play around tinker and install the included software (ie like fan managers, system stats from the motherboard, and the software that came with your mouse, ect.) and work out if you need them, install some antivirus and check that ethernet works, take some notes what you want installed, then after you have worked out a good install and everything you possibly can check works

then put the windows and clean install windows again (again don't input the product key), install the drivers you know work from the last install, followed buy any system stats, install an antivirus and connect to the internet then run windows update and just keep running it until it's finished, then activate windows.

after you have activated windows (which will only take a few seconds) create a system image, windows 7 has this built in under 'Backup and Restore' you don't need to burn the repair disc (as you can use the windows 7 OS disc for that) just perform a 'Create system image' either to an external HDD or to DVDs, that way in the future you want a fresh start just restore from that image.

scheming_gypsy

jayme1 wrote: »

after you have activated windows (which will only take a few seconds) create a system image, windows 7 has this built in under 'Backup and Restore' you don't need to burn the repair disc (as you can use the windows 7 OS disc for that) just perform a 'Create system image' either to an external HDD or to DVDs, that way in the future you want a fresh start just restore from that image.

Or install all the software you need and then use something like Clonezilla to create an image of the disk. That way, if you need to do a rebuild you can have it all back 'as new' without having to install all the software again

jayme1

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Or install all the software you need and then use something like Clonezilla to create an image of the disk. That way, if you need to do a rebuild you can have it all back 'as new' without having to install all the software again

that's exactly what I said:

jayme1 wrote: »

then put the windows and clean install windows again (again don't input the product key), install the drivers you know work from the last install, followed buy any system stats, install an antivirus and connect to the internet then run windows update and just keep running it until it's finished, then activate windows.

after you have activated windows (which will only take a few seconds) create a system image, windows 7 has this built in under 'Backup and Restore' you don't need to burn the repair disc (as you can use the windows 7 OS disc for that) just perform a 'Create system image' either to an external HDD or to DVDs, that way in the future you want a fresh start just restore from that image.

windows has 'system image' built in, and when you use it it restores you to the exact point (including all partitions) when the image was created, so it is pointless using a 3rd party solution for the same functionality.

scheming_gypsy

Sorry; with you saying 'after you have activated windows', I just took it as creating Windows restore point rather than an entire disk image... as people would usually activate windows before installing everything else.

GreenBee_2

my brother used to build them for fun. the processor used to cost the most, from memory. He stopped making them because they are so cheap these days and everyone wants laptops. he used to buy stuff from local computer shows and ebuyer.