PC ASSEMBLING CHECKLIST: I have been assembling a lot of PCs for my friends for the last 2 years. Here are a few tips I would like to give you if you are planning to assemble a PC for your personal needs. For all business needs, .I always suggest branded systems for hassle free usage.
Computers need to be assembled depending on the intended type of usage for the best cost effective option. I believe we can
categorize the users into 3 categories in general:-
1)->Basic User(One who uses a PC mostly to type documents, check e-mails or browse on the internet, etc.)
2)->Moderate User(One who uses a Pc to perform tasks that of the basic user+ occasional gaming and music)
3)->Power-Hungry User(One who is a serious gamer and likes to test the limits of the system)
Here’s the checklist for a PC:
1]->Processor:Heart of a computer{Major Manufacturers: Intel, AMD(Advance Micro Devices), Cyrix}
Processor types: Intel - Celeron, Pentium
AMD - Duron, Athlon
Cyrix - C3
Factors of Importance: Gigahertz i.e. frequency and architecture of processor
2]->RAM(Random Access Memory:Brain of your computer.This is the memory that the PC uses to load all the processes including the Operating system while working.{Some Manufacturers: Kensington, Hynix, Hyundai, etc.}
RAM Types: SDRAM, DDR, RDRAM(In ascending order of prices)(*Best option is DDR)
(Available in capacities:64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB)
Factors of Importance: Type and capacity.
3]->Motherboard(Mainboard):The Spinal Cord and Nervous system of your PC. This is critical in the interconnectivity and interoperational efficiency of all other components of your PC >>This has to be chosen depending on the Processor and RAM
{Major Manufacturers - Intel, ASUS, VIA, GIGABYTE, Mercury/Kobian, etc}
Factors of Importance: Make and architecture.
4]->Hard Disk: This determines the amount of data that can be stored in your PC.
{Major manufacturers - IBM, Seagate, Samsung, Maxtor, etc}
(Available in capacities - 20GB, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB, higher capacities are also available but difficult to get)
(Lower capacities are phased out. Even 20GB has phased out.)
Factors of Importance: Make, RPM(revolutions per minute)and capacity.
5]->Floppy Drive:For reading floppy disks(Manufacturers: Sony, Imation) available now in 3.5 inch size.
6]->Disk Drives: Used for reading CD/DVD/VCD.
>>CDs and VCDs can be read using ordinary CD-ROM drives. DVDs can be played using DVD drives only.However, DVD drives can read DVD, CDs and VCDs but at relatively slower speeds. To write CDs one has to purchase a CD writer. To write DVDs one has to get a DVD writer.
(CD drive Manufacturers: Sony, Samsung, BENQ(formerly Acer), etc)
(DVD drive Manufacturers: Samsung, etc.)
(CD Writer drive Manufacturers: IOMEGA, Yamaha, Plextor, Sony, Samsung, etc.)(Maximum - 64x speed, 52x is ideal)
(Available in internal or external types, .external is more expensive)
7]->Graphics card(Optional): Used to improve the graphical display on the screen(Mostly for gaming, animation, etc.)
IMPORTANT:Can be used only if the motherboard has an AGP slot.
Models - NVIDIA - Riva TNT2, GEFORCE 2GTS, GEFORCE2MX200/400, GEFORCE3, GEFORCE 4MX/Ti/FX
ATI Radeon Series. Capacities - 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB
8]->Modem(Optional): Used to connect to the internet via a phone line.
(Manufacturers - Creative, ADCOM, etc.)(Usually 56Kbps)
9]->Network Interface Card(NIC)(LAN card)(Optional): Used for connecting a PC to a network.
Manufacturers - DAX, Compex, ADCOM, etc
10]->Sound Card(Optional): Used to improve the sound performance.Necessary only when using more than 2 speakers with subwoofer.
Models:- Creative - Vibra 128, Live Value!, Live Platinum 5.1, etc.(Recommended - Live Value!)
11]->Cabinet: Available in 250W SMPS for P3 or AMD system and 300W SMPS for P4
12]->Monitor: Available in 15/17/19/21. inch sizes.
Manufacturers - Sony, Samsung, LG, Viewsonic, Acer, etc.
13]->Mouse: Available in types- Ball Mouse and Optical Mouse
(Recommended - Microsoft Optical, Logitech Optical)
14]->Speakers: Depending on your interest in music, .choose from following systems:-
Systems - 2speakers, 2 speakers with 1 subwoofer(2.1), (4.1), (5.1) and(6.1)
Higher systems than 2.1 usually need a sound card for proper performance.
Manufacturers - Creative, Labtec, Logitec, JBL, etc.
For a basic PC, items 1 thru 6 and 11 thru 13 are necessary.
For a basic user, items 1 to 6, 8 and 11 to 14 are necessary.
For a moderate user, items 1 to 6, 8, 11 to 14 and basic models of Graphics and sound cards are necessary.
For a power hungry user, top end options for all items are necessary.
More information on how to select the right components for your PC will be published shortly, .be on the lookout.
Till then, .if you have any queries, .let me know!
Please give me your comments on this article.Thanks! Chao!
>>>>>>>>>>>George Philip