Can you help on my Interactive Build Guide?

MrMcPhee · 29 Jan 2010 at 15:22

I am trying to put together an interactive model on how to build your own PC.

I am going to use it as an online guide so i want to make sure its the best i can make it...

I've made a few PC's ~ each with massively varying levels of success! So I don't want to trust it to myself alone - and this forum seems to house all the experts.

Here is where i'm up to at the moment:
Interactive Build Guide

If you have any ideas and think you can help (or even want to) then i'm hoping we can discuss them here & i'll update the model as we go along.

As you can see - i've added the barebones in at the moment (with help from the sticky) & i'm looking to go in more detail in the HOW direction...

EG...
How do you Choose your CPU?

***
To get there in the model click...
- Assess & purchase Hardware
- Assess & purchase Hardware Components
- Choose CPU
***

I am hoping that the end product will be good enough that i can hand it to my brother & see if he can follow it :-)

Oh, and one last key point.

I am trying to keep it process specific rather than talking about actual products - otherwise it would be out of date within a month :-)

Cheers,
MrMcPhee

redeye_uk · 29 Jan 2010 at 15:38

This looks like a good start.

MrMcPhee said:
EG...
How do you Choose your CPU?

I always choose the best bang for buck which is within my budget.

But how do I know what's the best bang for buck? Well I read review sites (Anandtech is a personal fav), read magazines, and follow threads on here.

so I would probably do something like...

***
To get there in the model click...
- Choose CPU
---- Read web reviews
---- Read Magazines
---- Post in/read forums
***

There can be other factors to consider, like if you are upgrading a current PC then your choice of cpu will be limited to the socket type of your mobo. But it sounds like your brother will be doing a build from scratch.

MrMcPhee · 29 Jan 2010 at 15:47

Cool... will update it in a min.

I guess that is true about all the components.

I will go for this...
- Choose CPU
---- Research & Compare Current Models
------- Read web reviews
------- Read Magazines
------- Post in/read forums

MrMcPhee · 29 Jan 2010 at 16:07

Just to make this easier - i'll set some focus (bite-size chunks and all)

so lets focus on what i know least about :S

How to Choose your CPU / graphics card / soundcard

and

How do you Overclock your CPU

I'm only asking for next steps - so you don't need to be too detailed etc :-)

redeye_uk · 3 Feb 2010 at 17:06

These are things I consider when choosing a Graphics Card. No doubt I will have missed some things out, but others will hopefully fill in the blanks. I have tried to keep it as generic as possible....

Choose a Graphics Card

1. Check compatibility
----1.1 Check card is powerful enough for screen resolution
----1.2 Check graphics card will fit in your case
----1.3 Check PSU has correct connectors
----1.4 Check PSU is powerful enough
----1.5 Check card matches your needs

2. Check for future proofing
----2.1 Check future upgrade paths
----2.2 Consider Resale value

3. Check best bang for buck
----3.1 Check warranties on offer
----3.2 Check power consumption
----3.3 Check cost/performance ratio
----3.4 Check differences between AIB partners

1.1 - when choosing a GPU what resolution does your monitor support and will the chosen graphics card be sufficiently powerful for this resolution and your desired use?

1.2 - Some of the new graphics card's are quite long, so which ever one you decide on make sure it'll fit in your case.

1.3 - Some graphics cars get all the power they need from the PCIe interface, but the higher range models require additional power connectors; does your power supply have these additional connectors if they are needed?

1.4 - High end graphics cards can draw quite a lot of power; is your power supply up to the task?

1.5 - Does the card you are looking at meet you needs? Can it play your games at your monitors native resolution?

2.1 - Is the technology your card is built on approaching EOL and could this affect your ability to buy a second card later on?

2.2 - how much could you sell your card for in the future if you decide you want to upgrade? New cards drop A LOT in price a few months after release.

3.1 - Warranties can never be underrated. If you plan to keep your graphics card for the forseeable future then this is important. The £10 difference between a 1 and 3 year warranty can be very tempting and can also improve the resale value of the card.

3.2 - In the long term and how much a GPU will cost you and is this something thats important to you? (high end GPU's suck a lot of power from the wall). So what appears to be a more expensive GPU at retail could actually be cheaper in the long run as its load/idle power consumption is better than the competitions

3.3 - Does the extra performance warrant the extra cost? Could you wait a few months for prices to drop?

3.4 - Some AIB's will charge a premium for the name alone, even though the cards are identical. What benefits are you actually getting for the price premium?

Hope this all helps and gives you some food for thought. I look foward to seeing the updated model

chipps101 · 3 Feb 2010 at 18:02

just had a quick look at your flow chart and i would suggest putting the psu and hard drives/optical drives into the case before you put the motherboard in as i usually find it is easier than having to manipulate them into place with the motherboard in the case.

MrMcPhee · 4 Feb 2010 at 10:30

Brilliant - Cheers redeye & chipps101.

I have made the updates you suggested & here is the latest model...

INTERACTIVE BUILD GUIDE

Redeye, chipps & anyone... can I ask your opinions on "Assess & purchase Screen / Monitor" now'?

What do you really think about other than screen size?

1. Assess & purchase Screen / Monitor
1.1 Check Screen Size...
1.2 ???

Cheers everyone...
Really appreciate the help on this :-)

chipps101 · 4 Feb 2010 at 16:31

apart from monitor size the only major factors for me would be colour settings, contrast, screen response time and inputs.

MrMcPhee · 5 Feb 2010 at 15:29

Cool - cheers bud...

I added them to the model. Being a little vain i also added aesthetics.

Model to date:
INTERACTIVE BUILD GUIDE

Now i'm gonna try & move onto the peripherals...

How do you...

1. Choose a Mouse
&
2. Choose a Keyboard

I doubt there is much in choosing a mouse is there? other than whether its optical or a ball mouse?

And with a keyboard - is that just down to aesthetics & what shortcut keys it has on it?

Cheers,
Ollie