Build Your Own Computer Articles
Building Your Own Computer -- Part One
Before building a new computer you must decide what it will be used for. This will allow you to allocate your budget to purchase specialized equipment where needed. For example, if you plan to play a lot of games, you will need a powerful graphics card and specialized controllers like joysticks. If the computer is going to be used for word processing and surfing the net, your graphics card doesn't need to be so powerful. Instead, you could spend extra money on a keyboard and mouse.
Computer Components
There are many fancy add-ons that can be incorporated into a computer, but before these can be installed the basic components of the computer must be connected and operating correctly. If one of these main components is missing the computer will not operate. The essentials of every computer system are a motherboard, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory and a hard drive. These 4 components are installed in a computer case to which are attached a monitor and a keyboard and a mouse. This makes up the basic computer.
Computer Motherboard Guide
The heart of any computer is the motherboard. It is that big board inside the computer that everything is connected to. It performs the role of traffic lights and policemen, directing flows of information to where they are needed, when they are needed.
Building Your Own Computer – Part Four
If you are installing the motherboard on a removable plate, the only thing left to do to prepare the motherboard for the case is install the memory. Press down on the tabs on either side of the memory module slots and insert the RAM. Memory modules are notched so it is impossible to put them in the wrong way. When they are in place, gently lift the tabs to secure the module in place.
Building Your Own Computer – Part Seven
Congratulations! You now have a working computer. Before you can use it, though, you have to install an operating system. The two main contenders are Windows and Linux. While Linux has some advantages over Windows, the majority of software on the market today is designed to be used under Windows. It is advisable to install the latest version of Windows (Windows XP), and if you have a special need for Linux or just want to see what it has to offer, it can be installed as a second operating system later.
Building Your Own Computer – Part Six
You are now ready to install the expansion cards. There are three basic types of expansion slots -- AGP, PCI, and PCI Express. Modern motherboards usually have a selection of PCI and PCI express slots, but for the video card there's usually either an AGP or a PCI Express slot. Your video card has to be the correct type to match.
Before building a new computer you must decide what it will be used for. This will allow you to allocate your budget to purchase specialized equipment where needed. For example, if you plan to play a lot of games, you will need a powerful graphics card and specialized controllers like joysticks. If the computer is going to be used for word processing and surfing the net, your graphics card doesn't need to be so powerful. Instead, you could spend extra money on a keyboard and mouse.
Computer Components
There are many fancy add-ons that can be incorporated into a computer, but before these can be installed the basic components of the computer must be connected and operating correctly. If one of these main components is missing the computer will not operate. The essentials of every computer system are a motherboard, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory and a hard drive. These 4 components are installed in a computer case to which are attached a monitor and a keyboard and a mouse. This makes up the basic computer.
Computer Motherboard Guide
The heart of any computer is the motherboard. It is that big board inside the computer that everything is connected to. It performs the role of traffic lights and policemen, directing flows of information to where they are needed, when they are needed.
Building Your Own Computer – Part Four
If you are installing the motherboard on a removable plate, the only thing left to do to prepare the motherboard for the case is install the memory. Press down on the tabs on either side of the memory module slots and insert the RAM. Memory modules are notched so it is impossible to put them in the wrong way. When they are in place, gently lift the tabs to secure the module in place.
Building Your Own Computer – Part Seven
Congratulations! You now have a working computer. Before you can use it, though, you have to install an operating system. The two main contenders are Windows and Linux. While Linux has some advantages over Windows, the majority of software on the market today is designed to be used under Windows. It is advisable to install the latest version of Windows (Windows XP), and if you have a special need for Linux or just want to see what it has to offer, it can be installed as a second operating system later.
Building Your Own Computer – Part Six
You are now ready to install the expansion cards. There are three basic types of expansion slots -- AGP, PCI, and PCI Express. Modern motherboards usually have a selection of PCI and PCI express slots, but for the video card there's usually either an AGP or a PCI Express slot. Your video card has to be the correct type to match.
