Build a PC part one
Created | Updated Mar 18, 2002
I myself built a PC for my own use. However, it must be understood by the user that this is only for the person who wants to know how they work- in this day and age, it is normally cheaper to buy through a company. However, you probably won’t get the flexibility of building your own.
First of all, choosing components. If you are building your own, you probably only have a small budget, so this article works with a budget of about £400. If you are in Britain, the best place to shop is Insight, and there is free delivery at the website. It’s catalogue can be found in PC Pro and Computer Shopper. All prices in this article were correct when written (August 99) and include VAT.
At the heart of the PC, and normally the first thing people ask about, is the processor. Fortunately, prices are low at the moment, and the best buy is the AMD K6-2 300Mhz CPU. It costs £35.24. It may not be as big a name as Intel, but this is just because of how much advertising occurs at Intel- AMD is much better at a pound to performance perspective. Don't forget the AMD fan, which will cost around a fiver. Without this, your CPU will go to the big computer in the sky.
The CPU needs to go on something, that something being a motherboard. The CPU limits the choice, but the best choice is the PC Chips SX AGP Pro motherboard, at £51.69. Whilst allowing a large amount of expansion, it houses onboard graphics and sound, so there is no need to buy a video or sound card, unless your requirements need it.
Memory prices have fallen a long way recently. For this type of motherboard, 168 pin DIMM Memory, 3.3v SDRAM Unbuffered 100Mhz are best. Memory is an easy way to rapidly boost a systems performance and is easily upgradeable in the future. It is probably best to start with 128MB of RAM, which could cost about £57.56. However, for the really hard of pocket 64MB would cost £28.19.
Hard drives are usually gobbled up quickly, so having a large drive to start with is important. In the future it can be compressed, but it will slow the system to treacle. The best sort is probably about 13Gb Maxtor DiamondMax, which would set you back £113.96. If this is too much, an 8.4Gb drive would cost £86.94.
To house all your goodies in, a generic case would cost £18.79. A floppy disk drive can be picked up for around a tenner, and as long as sound quality is not vital, 60 watt speakers can be found for £8.21, but are optional. The temptation of a DVD drive may be large, but with so little software about is not currently a worthwhile option. A CD-ROM drive is vital, though, and a generic 40x drive can be bought for £34.06.
Of course, all this technology is no good without the ability to see it, and a monitor can be the area skimped on in a majority of budget packages. As this the part you will stare at all the time, it is worth getting a goodun. A Targa 15” would cost £98.69. Also, a modem from Special Reserve costs £24.99.
The last two components, keyboard and mouse are also the ones you use all the time. A keyboard such as the Mediaforce Win95, would cost £9.40, and is of a good quality. A Trust AMI mouse at £4.70 is also a good buy.
So, to sum up: Motherboard £51.69
CPU £35.24
Memory £28.19
Hard Drive £86.94
CD-ROM £34.06
Floppy Disk Drive ~£10
Case £18.79
Monitor £98.69
Keyboard £9.40
Mouse £4.70
Fan £5
Total £382.70
Putting it all together comes up in Part Two. However, a whiz-bang computer is no good without software.
PC-cillin is bundled with the motherboard for protection against viruses. Windows is almost vital for the first time user, although Linux, a much cheaper operating system, could be used by more experienced users for a very small price. A new copy of Windows would cost £128.06, without breaking the law. It is here that a DIY system is not such a convincing option, as bundles give away software in the price. However, if this is a second machine and you already own the software, then you might as well just use the software again. Microsoft Office 2000 Standard will set you back £172.71 if you do need to buy it, whilst a cheaper brand like Ability Office is about £50. However, you cannot go far wrong with just using software given away with magazines. There are full free programs on almost all PC Plus, PC Pro and Computer Shopper. They have given away the full Lotus SmartSuite 97 in recent months, so this is a viable, virtually no cost option.
In the second part it will be time to get out your tool belt and builders bum to build the computer. Hurrah.
First of all, choosing components. If you are building your own, you probably only have a small budget, so this article works with a budget of about £400. If you are in Britain, the best place to shop is Insight, and there is free delivery at the website. It’s catalogue can be found in PC Pro and Computer Shopper. All prices in this article were correct when written (August 99) and include VAT.
At the heart of the PC, and normally the first thing people ask about, is the processor. Fortunately, prices are low at the moment, and the best buy is the AMD K6-2 300Mhz CPU. It costs £35.24. It may not be as big a name as Intel, but this is just because of how much advertising occurs at Intel- AMD is much better at a pound to performance perspective. Don't forget the AMD fan, which will cost around a fiver. Without this, your CPU will go to the big computer in the sky.
The CPU needs to go on something, that something being a motherboard. The CPU limits the choice, but the best choice is the PC Chips SX AGP Pro motherboard, at £51.69. Whilst allowing a large amount of expansion, it houses onboard graphics and sound, so there is no need to buy a video or sound card, unless your requirements need it.
Memory prices have fallen a long way recently. For this type of motherboard, 168 pin DIMM Memory, 3.3v SDRAM Unbuffered 100Mhz are best. Memory is an easy way to rapidly boost a systems performance and is easily upgradeable in the future. It is probably best to start with 128MB of RAM, which could cost about £57.56. However, for the really hard of pocket 64MB would cost £28.19.
Hard drives are usually gobbled up quickly, so having a large drive to start with is important. In the future it can be compressed, but it will slow the system to treacle. The best sort is probably about 13Gb Maxtor DiamondMax, which would set you back £113.96. If this is too much, an 8.4Gb drive would cost £86.94.
To house all your goodies in, a generic case would cost £18.79. A floppy disk drive can be picked up for around a tenner, and as long as sound quality is not vital, 60 watt speakers can be found for £8.21, but are optional. The temptation of a DVD drive may be large, but with so little software about is not currently a worthwhile option. A CD-ROM drive is vital, though, and a generic 40x drive can be bought for £34.06.
Of course, all this technology is no good without the ability to see it, and a monitor can be the area skimped on in a majority of budget packages. As this the part you will stare at all the time, it is worth getting a goodun. A Targa 15” would cost £98.69. Also, a modem from Special Reserve costs £24.99.
The last two components, keyboard and mouse are also the ones you use all the time. A keyboard such as the Mediaforce Win95, would cost £9.40, and is of a good quality. A Trust AMI mouse at £4.70 is also a good buy.
So, to sum up: Motherboard £51.69
CPU £35.24
Memory £28.19
Hard Drive £86.94
CD-ROM £34.06
Floppy Disk Drive ~£10
Case £18.79
Monitor £98.69
Keyboard £9.40
Mouse £4.70
Fan £5
Total £382.70
Putting it all together comes up in Part Two. However, a whiz-bang computer is no good without software.
PC-cillin is bundled with the motherboard for protection against viruses. Windows is almost vital for the first time user, although Linux, a much cheaper operating system, could be used by more experienced users for a very small price. A new copy of Windows would cost £128.06, without breaking the law. It is here that a DIY system is not such a convincing option, as bundles give away software in the price. However, if this is a second machine and you already own the software, then you might as well just use the software again. Microsoft Office 2000 Standard will set you back £172.71 if you do need to buy it, whilst a cheaper brand like Ability Office is about £50. However, you cannot go far wrong with just using software given away with magazines. There are full free programs on almost all PC Plus, PC Pro and Computer Shopper. They have given away the full Lotus SmartSuite 97 in recent months, so this is a viable, virtually no cost option.
In the second part it will be time to get out your tool belt and builders bum to build the computer. Hurrah.
