The Benefits Of Putting Together Your Own Pc

By Author: Gregg Housh
Total Articles: 18
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For the vast majority of users, pre-built PCs meet their needs. However, for those who want to buy a top end machine without breaking the budget, building your own computer can be a cost-effective solution. Although the job may seem intimidating, putting together your own computer can be much simpler than you would think.

There are a number of good reasons why you might not be satisfied with the usual builds available on the market. If you are a gamer, for example, you may need a high performance graphics card in your computer. A high end GPU is necessary to play most modern video games. These cards are not too pricey but are left out of many manufacturer's builds. Gaming optimized parts are typically built into much more pricey machines. Even worse, many computers do not include a power supply that is strong enough to run a quality video card. For someone who wants to play video games on a budget, this meanssome serious hardware work for an inexpensive pre-built machine. However, if you are willing to put together a system from scratch, you'll have a fairly easy time buying a competitive setup at a low price.

Building ...
... your own powerhouse computer is a simpler process than it may seem. You only really need a couple basic parts. The short list includes a power supply, motherboard, processor, case, hard drive, and DVD drive. Random-access memory is another necessity but adding or swapping RAM chips after construction is much simpler than moving or replacing other parts, and so it's appropriate to concentrate on the quality of other parts before worrying about the amount of RAM. If you want high performance graphics, you can include a quality video card in your plan. There are many more optional hardware components to choose from as well. Buying your own hardware allows you to customize your system to run the software that you prefer. This can save you a lot of money. Manufacturers often include hardware that may exceed the requirements you need in one category while failing to provide quality components in another.

The power supply is a critically underrated component. Future upgrades will be made possible by having a strong power supply. The same is true of the motherboard; a poor or outdated motherboard will not be compatible with high performance processors. You should choose a quality motherboard that has good upgrade potential. Your processor and motherboard must be compatible, otherwise your entire system will not function. If you invest most of your budget in those two pieces, you will be able to upgrade very easily in the future.

Once you have purchased your parts, make sure that you have the tools to assemble your computer. You will probably only need a small phillips-head screwdriver, but other tools may be needed depending on the hardware you've selected. You can ask at the store or a representative online whether you will need additional tools when you purchase your parts. It would be wise to buy an anti-static wrist bracelet while you are getting the hardware. Static electricity can damage your valuable computer components. Since an anti-static wrist bracelet costs so little, you should purchase one for good measure.

Putting together the computer will be a little bit of a undertaking for the first-timer. Have patience. Carefully read the instructions that come with each component. Watch a few instructional videos. You should leave a little room in the budget for unexpected expenses; your first build might involve some accidental damage to parts. Do not throw away any of the packaging or receipts for the components until you have put together and tested your machine. You may find that certain parts do not work together, or one or two parts may suffer from manufacturing problems that prevent them from working at all. Any such parts must be replaced with working, compatible equivalents.

When you have finally completed your first build, you will have a high performance computer and a sense of accomplishment. It will also be so much simpler for you to upgrade in the future. While the vast majority of consumers will be satisfied with pre-built computers, the user with specialized needs will find this strategy much cheaper.

At Geek Choice, we spend a lot of time rebuilding computers, checking parts, and resolving compatibility issues. If you run into any issues while building your own computer, whether it's trying to pick out the right video card and monitor for your needs or troubleshooting a newly assembled machine that won't run, don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-GEEK-HELP (433-5435) for advice or on-site support for all your tech needs.
Gregg Housh holds the position of Technician Manager at Geek Choice. At Geek Choice we solve computer problems like: Slow Computer, Virus Removal, Spyware Removal, Computer startup problems, Printer not printing, Not connecting to the Internet, Scanner not working, or the "blue screen of death."