You don't need to be an engineer to build your own computer.
Building your own computer is a fun and rewarding experience. There are many pre-packaged systems available on the market, but finding one with all the features you want can be difficult and expensive. In many cases, there is little or no possibility to add to the system you bought. Putting a system together yourself allows you to spend what you want and be able to make future additions and upgrades.
Motherboard, Processor and Memory
Probably the most critical decision involves these components, and a little research goes a long way. Decide what brand (such as, Intel or AMD) and how much computing power is needed. Integrated sound and video can be convenient but usually does not provide high-end performance. Match the motherboard to the processor and the memory to the motherboard. Purchase sufficient memory for programs that will be run. Generally speaking, get the best that can be afforded on your budget.
Case and Power Supply
Choosing a case is primarily a matter of personal taste. It must, of course, fit the motherboard chosen. Decide what components will be installed and ensure there is ample room in the case purchased. If there will be a DVD drive, a Blu-ray drive, a tape drive and a card reader, make sure there are at least four external bays available in the case. Similarly, there must be enough expansion slots for any adapter cards to be installed. The power supply must have adequate wattage and connections to support the components installed.
Drives, Expansion Cards and Other Internal Components
Choose drives, cards and other internal components based on what the system will be used for. Select a hard drive that will allow plenty of room to store installed programs, pictures and whatever else will be saved. Multiple hard drives can be installed for added flexibility and capacity. Install other drives and components based on functionality, price and need. If DVDs will be played but not recorded, don't spend the extra money on a writable DVD+R drive. Purchase sound and video cards according to needs and wants. When playing high-end games or doing 3-D graphic rendering, a faster video adapter with more memory is required. For surfing the Web and general business functions, most motherboards with integrated components will provide all the performance needed. Cooling components also must be installed, such as CPU and exhaust fans.
Peripherals and Software
Purchase and install the operating system (such as Windows or Linux) and other software that will be used. Free programs, such as OpenOffice.org (an open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and more), can save money in this area. Monitors, a keyboard, mouse, printer and other peripherals are also a matter of personal preference. Size, space and clarity are primary factors in choosing a monitor. Keyboards and mice can be corded or cordless and come in many styles. When choosing a printer, consider the quality of prints in dots per inch (dpi), black and white versus color, the speed in pages per minute (ppm) and cost of ink.
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