http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ How-To Geek Forums Topic: Building new computer--new to this en Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:59:17 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/building-new-computer-new-to-this#post-43700 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:13:44 +0000 Budohorseman 43700@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>You might be better off just picking up everything yourself. Since you plan to use it mostly for gaming, then you will want to put more on the video card/RAM/monitor. Toms Hardward just did a 'Build your own' series last month:</p> <p>Price/Performance: <a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/system-builder-marathon,1966.html'>http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/system-builder-marathon,1966.html</a><br /> Sub $1000: <a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/System-Builder-Marathon,1962.html'>http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/System-Builder-Marathon,1962.html</a><br /> Sub $2000: <a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-graphic-performance,1959.html'>http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-graphic-performance,1959.html</a><br /> Sub $4000: <a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/computer-price-performance,1956.html'>http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/computer-price-performance,1956.html</a></p> <p>PS, the amount of RAM is partly controlled by the chipset and part by the operating system. Since a majority of operating systems are 32-bit, even if the board supports up-to 8GB of RAM, due to the operating system, it will only be able to use 3.2GB of it. In order to use over 3.2GB, you need to have a 64-bit operating system. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/building-new-computer-new-to-this#post-43691 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:40:46 +0000 encler 43691@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Hi all,<br /> I'm building a custom computer for the first time. By no means am I an expert, but I am not completely clueless either. However, I do seem to be a little unsure on a few of the components that I think should work together. I'll post what I'm thinking of putting together and I'm wondering if anybody could give some advice on whether it's all compatible and practical.</p> <p>I am thinking of starting off with a barebones kit and then adding some of the components that I'll buy off the internet.</p> <p>Barebones kit: <a href='http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=B-MSI-H62-K2'>http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=B-MSI-H62-K2</a></p> <p> motherboard: MSI P6N SLI Platinum nForce 650i SLI Socket 775 ATX Motherboard<br /> gfx card: GeForce 7300GT 128 MB PCI Express</p> <p>Things I plan to purchase on the internet:</p> <p> 2x 2GB ram: <a href='http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820237022'>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820237022</a><br /> core 2 duo processor: <a href='http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115052'>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115052</a></p> <p>I also have a 120GB hard-drive that is used on another computer at the moment and I plan to move that into this custom computer as the sole drive.<br /> hard-drive: <a href='http://computers.pricegrabber.com/hard-drives/m/683293/st=product_tab/'>http://computers.pricegrabber.com/hard-drives/m/683293/st=product_tab/</a></p> <p>As for an operating system, that's something I'm not sure about. I have xp on two computers and vista on one and am wondering if one would be better to have than the other. I'm mainly looking to play video games with this machine and also looking to upgrade it over time and, for instance, add more ram (max is 8GB) or upgrade the video card. </p> <p>I'm quite new in the sense that I've never put everything together before like this and am not totally sure if all of this would be compatible. All criticism and suggestions are greatly appreciated. </p>