Basic PC Guide

When it comes to that time when you pc has finally had it, many are stuck on what they should buy, and what's the most they can get of their buck. A simple upgrade can give your pc a new, fresh breath of life, increase the speeds of your tasks and sustaining it for longer, therefore saving you money in the long run. But whether you are upgrading specific parts or an entire system, I will try to cover most of it in this article as best as I can.

So I don't have to repeat myself, consider the main aspects and uses you would use your computer system for. This will help you choose the right parts for your system to suit your needs by discussing what parts do what and to see what your budget can achieve. If you are looking for a certain upgrade(s) please go to the appropriate section.

Case
The Case is essentially the home of your computer, as it house all the parts of your system. And many just see it as that, the chassis that holds all their computer bits.. but you could getting yourself into deathtrap if you choose the wrong one. As there are many factors to consider when choosing that will affect the system components and at which the can be maintained.

Points to remember

• Check the component your wish to install or your system components can fit within the case. eg. many high-end graphics cards these days are very large so a small case wont cut it.
  


• It is important to have strong airflow throughout the PC, allowing the hot air to escape and the cool air in.
  


• The appearance of the case is entirely up to the user, but don't blind yourself with the appearance and still consider the other factors first.
  


• Fans are obviously essential when it comes to airflow, but if your aiming for your system to be very quiet, you may need to replace the fans with silent fans (hence the name) to reduce the noise. Though silent fans usually spin at a lower rate so this in turn would reduce the cooling ability the fan has.
  


• If possible search for a case that is made of aluminium, as aluminium acts similar to a heat sink, by moving heat away from the system. It is also a very lightweight material allowing easy transportation if needed. (eg. LAN)
  


• Check the layout of the case, seek out any possible issues you may have with the case. (Use the dimensions to aid you. An added bonus to a case, is having built-in cable management and helps with airflow of the case. Which is why it is important to tidy up the wires and inside of your case, cable ties are fine for when grouping wires.
  


• Everyone eventually wants to upgrade again once and awhile. So if possible choose a case that can suit your needs now and in the future, and save a little money down the track.
  

Products - Cases

- BitFenix
- CoolerMaster
- Corsair
- Fractal Design
- NZXT

Products - Fans

- Nexus
- Noiseblocker
- Xigmatek


Motherboard
Buying a new motherboard is replacing the backbone of the entire system. Choosing the right one allows the builder to install up to date features and using the full extent of today's technology. In today's time, most motherboards include such features as integrated Ethernet and surround sound which eliminates the cost of buying the parts separately for those on a budget.

Points to remember

• Motherboard has the correct CPU socket for the processor you wish to use with it. Using a old processor can restrict the performance ability your motherboard actually has.
  


• Look at the features it comes with, whether you need/want them. The amount of expansion slots depending on your system.
  


• A board that has power management capabilities can reduce the speed of your comp and power usage when your maximum power isn't needed. Therefore saving you money.
  


• Check whether the case that you have can house the motherboard you intend to use.
  


• Consider whether you graphics card, ram, power supply and hard drives will work with the new motherboard.
  


• If you are keeping the power supply, check the plug and confirm that it has a 24-pin.
  


• Depending on how old your system is, you may be able to use your graphics card but it would be very poor at handling the latest games. Be sure it doesn't use the AGP connection.
  


• Check the specifications on your planned motherboard, and whether it runs DDR2 or DDR3, also if you're planning to purchase DDR3 ram check the maximum Hertz that it can run on.
  


• In terms of hard drives, if you have a IDE you can bring it over but you can purchase the newer model SATA for around ~$60. Depends on your budget.
  


• If your building a system, all of your parts should revolve around your motherboard. So it is essential that you check each individual part before purchase. When purchasing your board, remember to ask yourself what you plan to use the computer for. If it is just light word processing and browsing the internet then a cheaper motherboard is fine but if you're planning it for a gaming system then buy a quality board to get the features and reliability you need.
  

Products
- BE SURE TO CHECK OTHER COMPONENTS ARE CAPABLE WITH THE SELECTED PART

- ASUS
- Gigabyte


Processor
The processor is essentially the brains of the computer and being one of the most important components of the system itself. If you're looking for a significant boost in performance, the processor is usually where it is found.

Points to remember

• Find out what motherboard you have or intend to use. If you are using your existing motherboard, and do not know how to find out what the model number is, use a program such as CPU-Z which displays all your component details and so forth. You can also physically check the model number on the board, it's up to you which ever is easier but if you don't know what you doing just use the software application.
  


• If you keeping your originally motherboard, find out what CPU it supports, which is found by checking the socket model.
  


• Depending on your primary use of the system, your clock speed and cores can differ. If your using light system work, a single core or dual core is fine. Gaming a dual core or quad core would be suitable, but if you're planning on using heavy resource programs or just what top performance four cores and above would be suited to you. Sometime next year there is speculation that 8 core processors are to be released, with 6 cores (hexacore) already in production.
  

Products
- BE SURE TO CHECK OTHER COMPONENTS ARE CAPABLE WITH THE SELECTED PART

- AMD: Is the gamers chip, if your on a budget but don't want to sacrifice performance this is where you will be looking, also as other AMD capable parts are usually cheaper than its competitor Intel.
- Intel: At this day and age, if your looking for performance, Intel is usually where it is at. Trustworthy, powerful and usually run cooler than AMD's but do tend to cost more upfront depending on your store.


Memory (RAM)
Additional ram allows heavy multi-tasking and the ability to open programs quicker. And therefore is a great way to boost your systems performance plus the ease of installation.

Points to remember

• Check your motherboard specifications to see what memory your board can run. These include the type (DDR2 or DDR3) and the clock speed (MHz). Using CPU-Z find your model number and look up your specifications on the net.
  


• If you're planning to upgrade or buy a new system go with the DDR3 ram as the ram is more stable. But if you're on a very low budget purchase DDR2 but you can still buy budget DDR3 ram anyway.
  


• Clock speed, can vary depending on the ram. In the newer DDR3 ram the Hertz are most commonly 1066, 1333, 1600 and 2000Mhz. Consider the use of your system again and programs such as video editing software or computer aided drawing will require faster ram. Also heavy gaming should be an option to be considered.
  


• Memory is calculated in Gigabytes, the heavier the program uses resources the more you will need. Gaming can run fine on about 4-6 depending on the settings you wish to run. (Black Ops seems to want more..) But as I said earlier with the editing programs you will also need more memory, especially programs that need to render images quickly. (eg. Photoshop)
  

Products

- Corsair
- G-Skill

- Both brands are very trusted, have solid products ranging from the low end value memory right up to the high end water-cooled memory.


Hard Drives
The storage of the computer, where all your backups and files are tucked away nicely. It houses all the programs, and information that you wish to keep but it also plays a part in keeping the computer running at its peak considering it holds the operating system.

Points to remember

• Most boards use SATA drives these days but they still allow one IDE slot for the older drives.
  


• There are two main types of drives, the mechanical drives (SATA) and then you have your flash memory (SSD) which have to moving parts and make them less likely to crash and lose your information but they do come at a cost.
  


• When purchasing a SATA hard drive make sure the RPM (revolutions per minute) is at 7200 as any slower this will reduce system performance.
  


• If you're planning to store movies, music and all your legal downloads then you will need mass amounts of space. The average Joe should be right with a 500-1000GB which is more than enough but for those who are networking or storing allot of information then you would obviously need more.
  


• Using multiple drives can be very efficient. Today's usual setup, is running the operating system on a Solid State Drive (SSD) which allows the system to run much quicker. And then have all your data on a separate drive with large amounts of space to suit your needs, usually SATA as the SSD's are very expensive in large amounts.
  


• Standard case drives are 3.5inchs
  

Products - HDD

- Samsung
- Western Digital

Products - SSD

- Corsair
- OCZ (Only over 180GB, due to bug though they are generally the fastest drive)


Graphics Card
Graphics cards decide on what resolution you can comfortably run your games at. If you are running a old graphics card you are most likely missing out on what technology has to offer. There is nothing worse than your picture failing right in the middle of a match or the frustration of a computer skipping frames during the action. So choosing the right card for your system is a huge matter.

Points to remember

• Most motherboards have at least one PCI slot which is where the graphics card is placed.
  


• Graphics card bandwidth is the speed at which it can transfer data. The higher it is the quicker your game will be able to run.
  


• Consider your power supply when choosing a graphics card, as some cards use immense amounts of power.
  


• When upgrading a graphics card, try to get cards with over 1GB of memory to ensure stable game-play.
  


• Graphics cards that have large heat-sinks need to vacant a slot above them, consider this if you are planning to purchase multiple cards.
  


• Always choose a graphics card with a substantial warranty.
  


• Monitor outputs on graphics cards are either VGA or DVI. DVI give better quality picture than the standard VGA. DVI connectors are the white slots on your card and the VGA slots are the blue.
  


• If you are installing two or more cards on a board make sure it supports SLI or Crossfire first. Also make sure that the specifications are compatible. SLI (Nvidia) cards need similar cards with the same SLI-capable GPU. Crossfire (ATI) on the other hand, you will need to identical cards. But your best bet is just to purchase the same cards rather than limiting yourself on a certain card.
  

Products

- ASUS
- EVGA
- Gigabyte
- Gainward (In most of their cards, have unique cooling designs which can help performance.)
- MSI

Cooling
Running components under heavy use generate a lot of heat, and need to be cooled to maintain the prolonged use. Using a variety of techniques, such as air cooling, water cooling and phase change cooling which each having their own pros and cons.

Points to remember - Cooling

• Your CPU comes with a stock standard cooler, but if you're planning over clocking your processor you will need an aftermarket cooler.
  


• First is to decipher what part of your system you are attempting to cool. Next would be to check up on the cooling capabilities of the cooling system you wish to use and whether it suits your needs. Also whether the cooler fits your CPU, never try to attach a cooler to a part that it is not designed to house, as you could potentially damage the component.
  


• If you're on a budget, air cooling is fine and is suitable for most users. If you plan to over clock your system, your best bet is water cooling or phase change. The only issues with this systems are they require upkeep and if there is a leakage it could possibly take your system with it. Also the price factor is to be considered.
  


• Your case should have good airflow, along with well executed cable management as it allows better airflow. Having multiple fans helps to increase the airflow as well, it also may be a worthwhile investment if you plan to over clock your system, is to purchase aftermarket fans which can provide better cooling than the standard fans on the case. If you want your PC to be absolutely silent then replacing the fans with specially designed fans (eg. Nexus Real Silent) that have little to no noise, but they are not recommended for cooling high performance systems.
  

Products - Air Cooling

- Corsair
- Noctua
- Thermalright
- Thermaltake
- Xigamatek

Products - Water Cooling

- Corsair
- Swiftech
- XSPC

Optical Drives
To be honest theres not much difference between standard CD Rom drives, there can be a slight difference in the speed at which they burn but other then that the main factor is Blu-ray. Blu-ray is the new video technology that provides ultra sharp picture, fine detail and intense colours. If you plan to burn data using blu-ray discs or wish to watch blu-ray movies on your computer then consider one of these. A cheap model can be purchased at around ~$60, which is really good compared to buying a blu-ray DVD player.

Products

- ASUS
- Pioneer
- Samsung
- Sony

Sound Card
The sound card is the componet that provides the user with their audio playback, all audio runs through it, whether it be your microphone or your headset with the quality of both of the components (speakers/headset and sound card) affecting the level and quality of the output of sound.

Points to remember - Cooling

• Unless you desire quality sound, through your music or want to hear your opponents footsteps very clearly then opt for a sound card. Otherwise your motherboard integrated sound will be fine.
  


• If you have a high-end headset but a poor sound card or motherboard sound, you may not be getting the full potential out of your headset.
  


• Consider your level of interest in audio and your specific needs to decide on whether you need a sound card or not, as if you don't 'really' need it you could be wasting money that could be used elsewhere on the system.
  

Products

- ASUS
- Creative

Power Supply

Using high performance components will require lots of power to run these components. And therefore you will need a large power supply (PSU) to keep them stable.

Points to remember - Power Supply

• The power supply is essential to run your system, if the PSU isn't large enough, this can cause crashes or the PC will not start. It is important to remember never be cheap on a power supply, as if this blows it can take your system with it as I know firsthand what happens.
  


• When deciding on your PSU you need to know your components, once again if you do not know your components either physically check or use a program such as CPU-Z. Once aware of the components use this tool, it's a free PSU calculator. Outervision have made a calculator which allows you to select components and then work out the required and recommended power needed to run your system. PSU Calculator
  


• Be sure that your PSU can handle the peak use of your system, which is the maximum withdrawal of power.
  


• Also check that your power supply has the necessary ports and connections that you need for your system.
  

Products

- Corsair
- Seasonic
- Silverstone


Monitors and TVs
To keep your pictures stunning visually and keep the virtual world as real as possible and good monitor is very important if you want your games to look at their best. And to keep the console gamers awake, the important of their visual image, the television. There are many features today but some are just marketing gimmicks to get you sucked in and not necessarily delivering what they claim to do.

Points to remember - Monitors

• Resolution is the amount of pixels displayed on each length, monitors displaying a higher amount of pixels provide a clearer, sharper, brighter image. Though the higher the resolution the stronger components you will need to run it at the level. When purchase a monitor by a monitor with 1680 x 1050 and above for quality imaging.
  


• Refresh Rate is the amount of times the monitor draws on the frame in a second. By having a higher refresh rate this improve the smoothness of the picture and reduced flickering.
  


• Always choose a monitors with a substantial warranty, in-case of dead pixels which are quiet common.
  


• Size of your monitor, depends on your uses once again. If you're planning to game on an LCD 22-24inches is fine for the common user. Above that is if you would like to multitask, watch movies or have a just a bigger visual.
  


• There are two common ratios, 16:10 and 16:9. These vary depending on the resolution that you wish to view.
  


• LED can provide crisper picture, blacker blacks and stronger colours and images of a higher quality but for the average user this isn't that necessary in monitors but in television it should be considered.
  

Products

- Acer
- ASUS
- Samsung
- Viewsonic

Points to remember - TV

• There is always a common debate on LCD vs. Plasmas, but there is one thing that differs the two. If you buy two televisions a plasma and a LCD and then put the two next to each other in five years time. The LCD will look exactly the same where is Plasma will be faded as it runs on gas, this is one of the reasons plasmas are being phased out but you can still pick up a plasma very cheap for their size.
  


• If your every purchasing a television today for quality and detail, always by full definition. This provides the clearest pictures on a television and looks great with the aid of bluray.
  


• As I said earlier about refresh rate, but in televisions they are much higher. If you are planning on using your television for sports then by a TV with a high refresh rate. As if it is to low, when there is fast paced movement, the picture will blur.
  


• Everyone loves their TVs as big as they can go, but it is important to remember when to be sensible with the sizing.
  

Products

- Pioneer
- Samsung
- Sharp
- Sony


3D Viewing

• With the aid of 3D glasses and a 3D capable TV, it can give viewers the experience of 3D viewing as seen in the cinemas right into their home. At this present point technology is expensive television wise, you can pick up a 3D capable monitor ~$300 but competitively I believe it would be annoying. If you have some money lying around it would be a great feature to have but you would need multiple glasses for many to watch television. Also the gimmick could wear off of having it, as many out of the cinema claim they are sick of watching movies in 3D.
  

Products

- Nvidia


Benchmark

• Once you have your new system, you will need to test that everything is in order and working to its full potential. This guide has everything you need to know about benchmarking your PC and getting the most out of it. Benchmark your PC
  

Products

Futuremark Benchmark

Cheers for reading, hope this helps some of this butting PC builders out there. I'm sure some of the PC experts are going to comment, so if my knowledge is off please let me know without flaming would be nice and I will update it.. if you have an addition I welcome that and hit me up and ill add it to the board and it is a BASIC guide to computer part selection, just remember that. When i get time, or with someone we can add recommended parts and so forth at a later date for the high, mid and low end users.

I used multiple resources and my own knowledge to write this article and I hope some get a benefit out of it. I will try to get this thread updated and so forth. Good Luck with your future builds.

Programs Used

CPU-Z - Gathers information on some of the main devices of your system.
PSU Calculator - Calculate the amperage your computer will need to run.

bizerk.

Edited 15 times, last edited 19/4/11 - 1:37pm.

c00l write up br0.

excellent post.
Stickied

wow, will help tons this chrissy

helped me alot man! /bookmarked

cheers mate.

good write up, but pitty people wont read the stickies and make random threads anyway

good post

p.s another good place to look is
xfire: karma83infidel

haha

great write up

Good write up, You should proof read from the PSU section down though. Heaps of spelling mistakes ))).

yeah ta for that i had a quick look over it, and fixed a couple of mistakes. Ill proof read it all at a later date.

hey, just before chrissy does anyone want to collaborate on the selection of parts and i will add it to the thread, making it an even stronger resource to others?

eg.

CPU

• High
  
• Medium
  
• Low
  

^_^ sufficient knowledge on computer parts will be needed so if you have little clue please dont ask.

thanks in advance, also slowly proof reading the thread

i swear i read this somewhere before...

probs some of the resources i used to write it.. i tried to make it sound as plain english as i could. anyone want to choose parts low-med-high.. would just be quick overview.

case -

cpu -
low - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T
med - Intel Core i7 950 - 60
high - Intel Core i7 980X

cooling -
corsair h70

memory -
Kingston HyperX
Corsair Dominator

mobo -

ps -
corsair tx
corsair ax

hard drive -
samsung
corsair ssd

optical -
lite-on
samsung blu ray

sound card -

monitor -
acer 24"
samsung 22" 120hz
alienware

idk that would be just a rough idea i guess.

Edited once, 16/12/10 - 1:29am.

words of wisdom karma would be good ^