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Budget Computer – How to build a fast, low cost PC
May 07, 2006
By: A.Retlick

Disclaimer: The author is not responsible for any negative feelings derived from reading this document. The contents herein may not be used in any form without written permission from the author.

In the past, when I need to upgrade my computer, I would buy one pre-built from a store. Most of the time I had to settle for a “package deal” which included parts and software that I did not want or need. So this time, when it came time for me to upgrade, I decided to build one from parts that I selected. The first thing to look at is what you will use the computer for. I needed a faster processor for video editing and a good graphics card for playing the latest games. After that you need to decide on a budget. My goal was to build the best computer I could for under $1000 dollars. What I found out is that you are aiming at a moving target, because prices for computer parts change almost daily. To start building your dream machine, make a list of parts and prices on a spreadsheet, or find an online computer parts store that allows you to create a “wish list” of parts. You can add everything you need to the list and then track the prices until you are satisfied with the configuration and are ready to place an order. Working with one supplier is always easiest, but you could buy parts from whoever has the best price by using a product search tool like Froogle.com.

Before I get ahead of myself, lets get back to the computer. Technology is constantly changing, so you may need to do some research when you find words that you don’t understand. Things like SATA, USB2, Lightscribe, PCI-Express, and Dual Core can be confusing. At the heart of every computer is the processor. Your choice is basically between Intel and AMD. Both have similar features and performance. But prices rise drastically as you move toward the latest and greatest models. I selected Intel because it is slightly better at the task of processing video files and I have had solid performance with Intel in the past. The motherboard is another key part of the computer and your choice depends on which processor company you select. If you are into overclocking or tweaking the speed of your system, then you need to select a motherboard that will allow you to do that. ABIT and ASUS are known for their ability to let you change clock and voltage settings. There are a few other things to consider when selecting a motherboard. The graphics interface, the number of expansion slots, the hard drive interface, onboard graphics and sound, and type of memory supported. Most motherboards these days come with an onboard network adapter for connecting to other computers. Some also have onboard sound and graphics. The latest graphics interface is PCI Express, AGP is obsolete, so it makes sense to get a motherboard that has a PCI Express slot for your graphics card. The two major graphics chipmakers are nVidia and ATI. Make sure you get a graphics card with at least 256MB of ram if you plan on playing any of the latest PC games. Memory is also confusing. There is basically two types to choose from, DDR and DDR2. DDR2 is a bit faster and thus cost a bit more. Hard drives have also changed with the advent of SATA (serial ATA), which replaces PATA (parallel ATA). There are two flavors of SATA available. SATA (1.5GB/s transfer rate) and SATA II (3 GB/s transfer rate). So, if you want the latest technology, make sure you get a motherboard that supports PCI Express, SATAII, and DDR2. If you are on a budget, you can get by with PCI Express, SATA, and DDR. That is what I did to meet my goal of spending less than a grand on my new system.

Selecting a case can be equally confusing. But don’t worry too much, you are basically looking for one that has a big enough power supply, is well built, and looks good. I would recommend a power supply of at least 420 watts. That might sound like a lot, but the latest technology needs more power. I went with a model from Raidmax that has a 450-watt power supply. You can get fancy lights and a bold paint job, but remember, you may have to live with that case for the next two or three years. On the bright side, cases are relatively cheap compared to the other parts in a computer system. I found the online customer comments to be valuable in determining if the part I was considering had any issues. You can find customer comments on web sites like newegg.com. Some of the comments are more detailed than others. But on newegg there is a customer rating system that also helps determine if a part is any good. After reading several customer comments, you get a good idea of what to expect if you purchase the part. I have found that most of the comments are quite accurate. But as always, don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.

The following is a list of the parts and some of the choices you will need to make:

· Case – w/420 watt power supply
· Processor – Intel or AMD
· Motherboard – Onboard sound, Network Adpater, expansion slots
· Hard Drive – SATA or SATAII
· Graphics Card – nVidia or ATI w/256MB memory
· Memory – DDR or DDR2
· Dual Layer DVD Drive

Once you settle on a parts list, don’t forget to include a copy of Windows XP or Vista. XP can cost as much as $180 for the retail version or $90 for the OEM version. The difference is that the OEM version cannot legally be moved to another computer after you have installed it on one machine. After the parts arrive, you are ready to start assembly. The hardest part about assembly is installing the fan on the processor and connecting all of the cables. Most of the newer processors require a huge fan that needs to be installed on top of the processor. You need to take your time and read every step of the instructions for each component. Once everything is bolted down and plugged in, the XP installation disk should do the rest. The scariest part of the whole process is that you don’t have a technician to call if you install something incorrectly and the system won’t boot up. But generally, if you have made upgrades to your computer in the past, this will be a piece of cake. You have selected the parts and decided on how much to spend on each component. This can also be done on the manufacturer’s web site and they will build it for you. But it’s a more satisfying feeling when you do it all yourself. For those of you that are not technically inclined, used and refurbished computers are a good cost saving choice. Many manufacturers have rebuilt computer systems listed on their web sites for reduced cost. Save even more money by using your old monitor, keyboard, and mouse and just buy a slightly used computer to replace that old one that isn’t performing well anymore.

-AR-