The PC build/mod bug!

[paulpicks21]

Dam this stuff is addictive and costly

Its getting out of control for me now.

Allow me to go into detail and please feel free to add your stories...

Started off a few months ago buying a ready built cheapo PC , was £270 the spec was Windows 7 64bit (best bit on it lol) , 320 gig drive , 2 gig ram , celeron dual core 2.5 , onboard graphics etc , very low spec.

1st I decided to change the memory to 4 gigs of OCZ titanium £95 and the ball is rolling.
Next was the processor Q8300 bargain at £89.99 + delivery and an Artic cooler 7 to go with it.
Then a 700 psu £50
Then a Powercolor HD 5850 for £235.
Then a new motherboard as I found the original wouldnt allow me to overclock. Was cheap as it was still a MATX £40
Then I decided the case was to small for everything so got a cheap new mid tower £30

So the only thing left from the original PC is the HDD and the CD drive and card reader :shock:

Then I needed a decent monitor so got a nice LG 23" LED £175
Then I just picked up a 20.1" HP monitor for dual monitor lol dirt cheap at £20

Total spent so far this year around - £930

So thats how it stands , however I now totally want a SSD so that will be next month , recon 64gb OCZ Vertex 2 for £130ish

And then, just when you think hmm that should do , I will want to switch to the I7/DDR3 set up so that will be another £500 down the drain before the end of the year pmsl.

Like I say its so addictive, but I just can't stop!


Paul.

 

[truefoe]

Hmm, if only you had waited for all of the back to school specials that these online sites offer. One I found at newegg.com is an i7 with a nice X58 MB and pretty nice kit in all facets.
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
6gig of DDR3 RAM, coolermaster case, i7 T930 is one of the best rated of the lot. X58 board is sweet, but it is the A version not the D, A version is better from what I have read from reviewers.
This chip makes OCer's drool, it will upclock to 4.0 from 2.8 from what I have read, I wish I had the expendable cash to own one to see.
I am upgrading my kit this summer, but will hang in a few weeks longer to see if they drop the prices even lower. Back to school does not end just because the school opens, it takes a few weeks after that before they stop the deals.

 

[paulpicks21]

I know mate , I know!

If you look back at what I have spent then I could have built a sweet rig now , the biggest mistake I made was buying the cheap system for £270.

I should have just bought a case and started the build.

But I wasn't planning on doing anything to it , it just sort of happened bit by bit and all based around what I had in place which I guess was the crappy motherboard.

Still , you live and learn.

Next time eh lol.


Edited to add - Oh and welcome to sevenforums by the way

 

[pparks1]

Just don't attempt to always stay on the edge or it will cost you in the long run. Generally with things like CPU's...you can either go for a few years or a few months. I tend to go for a few years. My current build is a Q9550 CPU and it's 1 year old now and I don't forsee having to get a stronger processor for at least 1 more year...if not 2.

 

[paulpicks21]

Yeah I get ya bud , tbh when I bought the Q8300 it was so cheap I only envisaged it as a processor to keep me going til I could afford the big step to the i7/ddr3 setup.

The price was awesome on it , I have it clocked to 3.1ghz and it runs very well , it will do for now but its renowned for being a bad egg in the Q range so I look forward to moving on.

When I move to the i7 930 that will be to last me at least 2 years.


Cheers

Paul.

 

[profdlp]

...I wasn't planning on doing anything to it , it just sort of happened bit by bit...

I would bet that the vast majority of computer hobbyists started the same way. I know I did, at least. In my case it all started with a simple dial-up modem upgrade. Then I needed a bigger hard drive. After that it was more RAM. Then I discovered that you could move a jumper on your MB to raise the FSB, then drop in a faster CPU. Video cards, sound cards, home networking. It kept on coming.

When my original MB finally died I was able to replace it on my own. At that point I realized that the only thing left from my original P75 Acer Acros computer was the case, so I bought a new one. Then I put the original computer back together as a spare. At this point, friends and family were thinking about holding an "intervention" to dissuade me from my madness... :shock:

Just don't attempt to always stay on the edge or it will cost you in the long run...

So true. I had a great collection of "bleeding edge" stuff that never caught on. It taught me to wait and make sure that the latest and greatest was not going to become an obsolete curiosity a few years (or even a few months) later. Or at least wait a few short months until the price dropped.

I read years ago that the best value for your dough was usually in buying the 3rd best of anything. Manufacturers always have an outrageously-priced top of the line part for people willing to pay for bragging rights. They usually have another one just enough cheaper that once you talk yourself into that one you'll go "what the heck" and jump up to the big number. The 3rd best is where you get something well above bargain-basement quality at a decent price.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

My take on this having just built my first ground up and then having the upgrade bug bite is this. Location, location , location ! Start with a great case first, as it will always if bought correctly house what you need. Case first then think about cooling, because nothing is more frustrating than cramming all the cool stuff in and being shocked at the temps, plus it will totally screw up any interest in OC'ing. From there don't skimp on the power supply and do get a modular one. Just my thoughts but that is the under pinning of most all great systems and once invested will keep on giving throughout many mobo, cpu's, hhd's, ssd's ........god help us ! Cheers to all.

 

[Dzomlija]

My take on this having just built my first ground up and then having the upgrade bug bite is this. Location, location , location ! Start with a great case first, as it will always if bought correctly house what you need. Case first then think about cooling, because nothing is more frustrating than cramming all the cool stuff in and being shocked at the temps, plus it will totally screw up any interest in OC'ing. From there don't skimp on the power supply and do get a modular one. Just my thoughts but that is the under pinning of most all great systems and once invested will keep on giving throughout many mobo, cpu's, hhd's, ssd's ........god help us ! Cheers to all.

While everyone is entitled to doing things their own way, I believe that building from the outside in is a mistake. For those of us on a budget, anyways (and who among us can claim that money is no object?).

If you want to build a PC that lasts, and does what you need of her, and more, then the best way to go about it all is in this order:

1. Motherboard: Contrary to popular belief, the motherboard is the most important component, as it determines the path taken with any future upgrades. When all components are plugged in (memory, hard disks, graphics, etc), then there should still be room left over to add more without having to remove something first.
2. Processor: This is a primary factor in what kind of performance you can expect. I always try to go for the largest supported by the motherboard, but if I can't then I choose a lower specced model that can always be replaced later.
3. Memory: 4GB should be considered the minimum.
4. Storage: Don't ever go for one large drive that you can partition. Use a 120 or 250GB drive for the main system drive, and then 500GB or larger for data storage depending on needs.
5. Optical: Any standard DVD Writer will do
6. Graphics: Unlike system memory, more memory on a graphics card doesn't always equate to better performance. Better to go for 512MB/256bit over a 1024MB/128bit.
7. Power Supply: Always go for more than you need, with an average 80% efficiency. It must also have all necessary connectors (20+4 motherboard, 4+4 motherboard, 2x6+2 graphics, molex, sata) in sufficient quantity to handle all future additions. Even if some are not used right away, you'll eventually run into a scenario where you'll need them.
8. Chassis: A case that can hold all the above with room to spare should be your goal. If you motherboard supports 8 SATA devices, make sure that the case does too. A bottom-mounted power supply is also a plus, which seems to be the trend these days. And also: COOLING, COOLING, COOLING! Even if you need to purchase extra fans seperately, the case must at least have room for them.
9. Display: This is entirely subjective and depends on what you intend to do with it. If you're a gamer, then DON'T go for a 2560x1200 pixel LCD, as this will stress your games performance.
10. Input: Keyboard and mouse. This is something that people usually skimp on (myself included!), but a good keyboard and mouse is critical to comfortable operation.

That's about it really. Choosing the right parts in the right order will give you years of enjoyment, and will also save money in the long run. In nearly 6 years, I've upgraded my CPU and motherboard once only, and only now do I have to consider replacing the case, as all 11 drive bays are full (9 hard disks, 1 DVD writer, 1 Card Reader).

If you start cheap, like PaulPicks21, then you end up spending more money than you should've. This is a design philosophy I've lived by for as long as I can remember, and I've had no complaints from any of my customers ...

 

[truefoe]

I know mate , I know!

If you look back at what I have spent then I could have built a sweet rig now , the biggest mistake I made was buying the cheap system for £270.

I should have just bought a case and started the build.

But I wasn't planning on doing anything to it , it just sort of happened bit by bit and all based around what I had in place which I guess was the crappy motherboard.

Still , you live and learn.

Next time eh lol.


Edited to add - Oh and welcome to sevenforums by the way

Aye, you will learn. The base of any PC is the MB and power supply, get those two correct, then you can use any of the CPU's that the MB supports according to your needs and your budget. It will also determine what RAM you can use and which types of HDDs and other peripherals

The last time I bought was back in 2003, I bought a pre-made bit of average from Dell, just before they began dumping product on us all. An 8100 was expensive at the time but I got a few good ones(always buy a new one for the wife when you upgrade yourself... especially if you are both in to online gaming)

£270 quid is a bit low end for most systems. I never go for the lowest or the highest, try to stay in the middle of the price range.

The last I bought lasted 7 years after all.

Only real reason I am upgrading is at work they are moving from windows XP up to windows 7, I need to have it at home to learn and keep pace.

 

[Zepher]

1. Storage: Don't ever go for one large drive that you can partition. Use a 120 or 250GB drive for the main system drive, and then 500GB or larger for data storage depending on needs.

Actually, you want to use a drive that has a single platter, for example, a 500GB Western Digital Blue drive (the current model) that has 1 500GB platter and make the first partition for the OS, 100-200GB and either use the rest for general purpose storage or don't use it at all.
this will give you a very fast system drive, system will boot faster and programs will load faster.

 

[pparks1]

@Dzomlija: The list of components and importance was very nicely done.

However, I've always been a bit more on the other side of the fence and I "rarely" upgrade a machine...but rather usually start with all new components when I build and then I either retask my current machine for something else in my house or give the machine to somebody needy who would really appreciate it.

For me, it seems that things move too fast in the computer industry to try to get a motherboard that will really last. By the time it's really necessary to upgrade a CPU, it seems it's a new socket, or a new type of RAM (DDR2/DDR3), a new video card slot, etc. Therefore, I don't find it wise to spend $200-$300 on the newest of the motherboards to attempt to ensure that later on you will be able to put in a new CPU. I'd rather buy what I need now, that will work stable and solid for what I am building today and save the extra $$ for another build down the road.

With regards to processors....I don't try to skimp here....but then again I would never buy a low end processor with the intention of simply upgrading it later. A substantial processor upgrade almost always entails a new socket. Going from a 2.4Ghz quad core CPU to a 2.8Ghz quad core doesn't usually equate to a substantial enough performance increase for me to justify going through 2 CPU's and taking my machine apart again in the future.

With regards to storage....I'm all for large drives that can be partitioned. Why deal with more cabling, increased heat, increased power consumption and potential for more case vibration.

With regards to the chassis, it's really a matter or personal choice. Since I don't overclock much, and I'm very neat and clean with my wiring, I've never had a need to put extra fans into a case for cooling. Also, I'm somewhat preferential to smaller cases...as these large cases are simply too big and take up too much space in my opinion. And as case technology evolves, I like to buy new cases to take advantage of the functionality (bottom mounted power supplies, hot-swap drive bays, cable management grommets, etc). So, I don't usually buy my cases with the intention of using them for 2-3-4 builds down the road.

Again, I'm not saying that I am right....but just different. And in all of the time that I have been working with computers, this philosophy has always served me well and hasn't left me with any regrets.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Ladies and gentlemen,
By considering the outside and core components first and purchasing wisely we save time, money and also throw away and recycle less. The very important internals are constantly under attach by the must have upgrade blues but mark my words if you pony up for a 800D or the like it truly is the last case you will ever need or desire and how smart is that in todays disposable world. We as a society must think in different consumer terms and where possible purchase quality made products without planned obsolescence for the long term. Just my opinion and I value yours.

 

[paulpicks21]

Some very valid and interesting points.

Perhaps there is one thing that I missed off my initial post but also a very important thing.

The fact that I find it extremely enjoyable each time I upgrade bits , from researching/looking into what's hot/what I can afford at the time to ordering to awaiting delivery to installing and to using.

I know there are right ways to do things in the ideal world , like saving up for a year and getting all the bits to build the perfect system in 1 go , but that's perhaps not the most fun way of doing things.

And that's what life's all about isn't it?

If it makes you happy do it.


Cheers

Paul.