Built my first computer yesterday

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Klutch9

Klutch9

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My brother and I built our first computer yesterday. The computer is actually his, and he bought all the parts, but we built it together. It was honestly easier than I thought it would be. The thing is an absolute beast! Video card has 4GB DDR5 onboard RAM, processor is an i7 4th-generation 3.5 gHz, overclocks to 3.9. 16 GB RAM for the motherboard. 750w power supply. I forgot what kind of motherboard he bought, but it was also a monster with an onboard readout of CPU temp. The case has one side with a window on it, so you can see all the LED lighting on the inside of the case. 120 GB Samsung SSD, and a 1TB 7200 RPM HDD along with it. A total of 7 fans for the case, video card, and CPU, with variable fan speed adjustment for some of them. My brother is into computer gaming big time, and I think this should suffice for quite some time. 1080P monitor and sweet audio system too, of course
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but he already had those. It's incredible how fast the computer is for anything you use it for. Just wanted to share. I might just build my own soon.
 
Hard to beat a home build desk top for gaming applications!

They are surprisingly easy to build, for the most part, you plug things in where they fit and you're pretty much good to go with the hardware!
 
Congrats!!!
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People have always lived with the wrong idea that you have to have at least one tech degree to put together a PC from parts when it's more like a lego construction actually and pretty much idiot proof
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A complete list of specs is required here
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how much did it cost to build? I heard there is no significant cost savings to build your own computer anymore
 
Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
how much did it cost to build? I heard there is no significant cost savings to build your own computer anymore

there's not. but some of us prefer to do things our selves. i think that's why we find ourselves on sites like BITOG in the first place.
 
Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
I heard there is no significant cost savings to build your own computer anymore

For regular run of the mill performance machines, there really isn't. For a high end machine, there may be some.

The downside of building your own is that you don't have a warranty from a single source. So, if for some reason your self-built machine starts acting up, you can't just send it back. You have to figure out which component is causing the issue and then deal with that vendor directly. And sometimes that vendor will try to blame the problem on another part in your system that came from another vendor. Meanwhile, you're stuck in the middle. Still, I guess it's rare enough that it's typically not a a big concern.
 
I had a similar build (before tornado took it away). Nothing like building your own. Mine was overkill for my needs but I look at it like having a big engine in a car: sure is nice to have that 4 barrel when you want to get on it !!

Only thing I would change is when that 750W power supply takes a dump go 1000W or higher. You'd be surprised how much power a video card can suck up during heavy use.
 
Originally Posted By: Propflux01
I had a similar build (before tornado took it away). Nothing like building your own. Mine was overkill for my needs but I look at it like having a big engine in a car: sure is nice to have that 4 barrel when you want to get on it !!

Only thing I would change is when that 750W power supply takes a dump go 1000W or higher. You'd be surprised how much power a video card can suck up during heavy use.


Indeed a GPU can suck 250-300 W at it's peak.
A couple of PSU manufacturers have an online calculator where you can input all of your computer's components an they will let you know what is the minimum requirement output of the PSU.

Eg: http://support.asus.com/powersupply.aspx

P.S.- Dang it Propflux01...I see that tornado took most of your stuff away
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Desktop computers have become so simple that pretty much anyone can build one today. It's just snapping in a few parts-about the only real tool needed is a screwdriver.
 
Originally Posted By: Joe_Power
And tomorrow it will be outdated.


While that's true as far as specifications go, in the real world, users get more years from a high performance computer than a low end one.

My "surfing" computer is 9 years old, and was a gaming computer when I built it, with the mighty "Pentium D" overclocked and water cooled. I'm not going to claim it's world class. But I will say that it still does generic PC stuff without any trouble.

Mama's computer is similar to the OP's. With top shelf Intel stuff. It is quite capable. (mama is a gamer) A few years down the road, I'll inherit her computer and it will last me a good long time.
 
The hardware has been pretty easy to put together for the past 20 years. It's the software that is easier. No need to worry about Extended or Expanded Memory or do you have IRQ conflicts. Just assemble the components and boot from your favorite O/S and most of the issues of the past are now automatically sorted out.
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
The hardware has been pretty easy to put together for the past 20 years. It's the software that is easier. No need to worry about Extended or Expanded Memory or do you have IRQ conflicts. Just assemble the components and boot from your favorite O/S and most of the issues of the past are now automatically sorted out.


Isn't that the truth. Setting jumpers on a SoundBlaster for your IRQ's, Mem addresses and what CD-ROM drive you've connected to it, LOL!
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Awesome! I built mine many, many years ago and usually just upgrade parts as I need it. Today, running an I7 2600K overclocked to 4.5Ghz, 12GB DDR3 Ram, GeForce 770 Superclocked graphics card, EVGA motherboard, 1000W Coolermaster Gold power supply and SSD main HD (along with 4TB mechanical HD for data).

Last piece I upgraded was the graphics card a few months ago. Before that, the processor. It runs extremely well for gaming, video editing, photo editing, etc... I think computer upgrading lately has slowed down a lot, and you can go years without any changes and still be fine. My CPU is years old now I think and still one of the best options available. It is not like it was 10yrs ago when every year things improved significantly.

You should be set for many years! Plus, you can always just upgrade pieces as needed. I was thinking of redoing mine completely, but the available selection won't make much difference for me... So I will just keep what I have. I just want a 500GB SSD soon.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Isn't that the truth. Setting jumpers on a SoundBlaster for your IRQ's, Mem addresses and what CD-ROM drive you've connected to it, LOL!
grin.gif



I remember those days. I remember having a computer so fast, I had to turn the Turbo button off so I could play Tapper.
 
Originally Posted By: xBa380
You should be set for many years! Plus, you can always just upgrade pieces as needed. I was thinking of redoing mine completely, but the available selection won't make much difference for me... So I will just keep what I have. I just want a 500GB SSD soon.


Yep...once you have a case you like, you can keep upgrading components as you see fit. I do this to OEM cases often. I don't much care for most of the aftermarket cases, but I will gut an OEM case and put different guts inside. The ATX-based mini-towers are usually a cakewalk. I've generally found that OEM power supplies are reliable and sufficient for all but the most powerful of systems (beyond what I'd build for myself), so it's usually just a matter of buying a motherboard, processor, and RAM, and swapping the whole kit out.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Isn't that the truth. Setting jumpers on a SoundBlaster for your IRQ's, Mem addresses and what CD-ROM drive you've connected to it, LOL!
grin.gif



I remember those days. I remember having a computer so fast, I had to turn the Turbo button off so I could play Tapper.


LMAO!!! Yes, had a DX4-100 workstation (DIGITAL if anybody cares) that I used at the Uni my dad taught at. It was too fast for a few games. The DX2-66 I also had access to had a TURBO button which dropped it down to 33Mhz, which made those games play properly.

Remember Commander Keene? Earthworm Jim? Those titles along with the staples of FPS: Wolfenstein, Rise of the Triad and of course DOOM and later Quake really were quite a part of many of our lives growing up I imagine
smile.gif


If we want to go way back the original Donkey Kong and Jumpman.... I rocked a sweet 8088 when I was 8, LOL!
 
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