I want to build a computer tower - READ.

Stylah · 15 Apr 2011

Hey,
I want to build a computer tower for my birthday when it comes around.
I'm asking for money only so I'll buy parts on the day or soon after.
I'm not going to have a lot to start off with, about 200 pounds.
But, if I can get one going I'll sell my Xbox and games and then I'll have more money to get parts.
I want this tower for gaming/designing/editing.
I wouldn't worry about the Graphics card too much yet, but I just want to get the basics and get it running.

Also, I've never really built a tower before so I have some questions;
1. I believe you have to wire everything up to the PSU, is this easy?
2. Is it easy putting in the motherboard and processor?
3. And all the wires, easy or not?

ignatzatsonic · 15 Apr 2011

It's all relatively easy, but not something you just dive into.

The instructions that come with your parts will be nearly useless.

So you have to educate yourself in some other way---friends, the net, books, etc.

200 pounds is somewhere around $300 US. You won't do much for that. If you can get it up to over $500 maybe it would be worthwhile.

If you can't get up to $500 US, you are probably better off buying rather than building.

You need these parts:

RAM
Video card unless you use integrated graphics
Motherboard
Power supply
Case
Monitor
Heatsink
Fans if they don't come with the case
CPU
Hard drive or drives
DVD drive
Operating system
Mouse
Keyboard
Modem?

whs · 15 Apr 2011

I do not want to discourage you. But it looks to me that you need some basic education on the matter. Here is (a little older) tutorial in 5 parts which may be a good start. Building a New Computer – Part 1: Choosing Hardware - How-To Geek

I would hate for you to spend all your money and then end up with a bad result. We will be glad to help you choose the components. For building it, you may want to seek help from someone who has done that before.

TVeblen · 15 Apr 2011

Here's another how-to: Best Of Tom

When you do it all the time it's very easy. That first time you are on the learning curve.

Colonel Travis · 15 Apr 2011

Easy but frustrating if you've never built one. I built my first PC last year and not all parts are kosher with each other, which I didn't expect. Fortunately, there are a few good stores close to my house, which I visited constantly, buying & exchanging parts. I would have pulled my hair out if I did this whole thing mail order, plus it would have taken weeks instead of days. In the end I saved a lot of money, learned a lot and I'll never buy a PC from a store again.

Lots of knowledge on this forum, take advantage of it. Same with Tom's.

Good luck.

Tepid · 15 Apr 2011

I want this tower for gaming/designing/editing

I wouldn't worry about the Graphics card too much yet

You will need to make this a priority.
You will regret wasting money skimping here if that is the purpose for the build.

Stylah · 15 Apr 2011

Thanks for all the reply guys but has anyone got anything for basic parts?

whs · 15 Apr 2011

Stylah said:

Thanks for all the reply guys but has anyone got anything for basic parts?

That will be a matter of your budget, the prices in the UK and availability in the UK. The mobo (board), the CPU and the RAM sticks have to fit together. But here you can spend 150 quid or 1000 quid. The GPU is a bit easier because there is a lesser compatibility issue.

The rest, PSU, the Box and ventilation, wires etc. are usually easy. Here it is usually good to start a bit bigger than minimum (especially for the PSU).

ignatzatsonic · 15 Apr 2011

I listed 15 parts in my first post.

Which of those 15 parts will you need?

Colonel Travis · 15 Apr 2011

You've got £200 (which, like ignatzatsonic said is a little more than $300 in the U.S.) That could buy you a CPU and nothing else. Or it could buy you a GPU and nothing else. Or it could buy you a mobo and 4GB of RAM and nothing else. It's not a lot to work with right now, but it's a start.

I'd decide on the CPU first. Scratch that. Decide what you want your machine to be able to do. Then start with the CPU. The new Intel chips have knocked down the prices of the ones they're replacing, so you could find good deals if you don't want the latest and greatest. After that pick the mobo. Then the other stuff. There are a gazillion permutations for this sort of thing, so it's not like anyone could give you a list of specific items until you've decided your needs and budget.

You could build a very good machine for £500, a great one for £750.