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Building a computer - Six Things You Ought to Know

Here's a list of things everybody should know before they start to build a computer, but often wind up learning the hard way.

Number 1: Learn how to add up the voltage requirements for all the components that go in your PC. Its the only way to make sure your computers power supply will be big enough. There are some websites that can help you with this. As a start, consider this: a top end CPU will require 65 to 100 watts all by itself. A hot graphics card needs nearly as much. Remember, an undersized power supply can mean a smoked PC!

Number 2: Pick a case with lots of fan ports, or consider water cooling. The biggest enemy the do-it-yourselfer may face is heat. Currently, builders have gone to three fans, or two if one is a 120mm that can really pull air out of a case. Four isnt uncommon.

Number 3: The I/O plate on the back of the case almost never matches the motherboard youll buy. Dont worry. Motherboard manufacturers include a plate with their boards. The trouble is the one thats already installed on the case. Thoughtful case manufacturers have installed them with a screw, or at least made them easy to knock out from the inside. Others may have to be plucked out with pliers, and can be very irritating.

Number 4: The easiest way to install the CPU, heatsink, and RAM, is to install them on the motherboard before mounting the motherboard in the case. Lay the motherboard on an anti-static pad and build it up as a kind of sub-assembly. Youll thank yourself afterward. The space inside most cases is just too limited, particularly if you have big hands.

Number 5: When you buy a CD/DVD Recorder, it will usually come with an audio wire that plugs into the motherboard. Traditionally, these have been 18 inches long, plenty long enough until recently. Now, some motherboard manufacturers have placed the plug-in on the opposite corner of the board. If you have PCI-E cards to reach across, 18 inches may not be enough. Measure before you build, and have a 24 inch wire ready if you need it.

Number 6: If you have a couple of extra dollars to spend, put them on more RAM. Dollar for dollar, theres nothing that will improve performance like memory.

So, here are six things that will help your build be a success. I wish you the best of luck.

Michael Quarles is the author of "Building a PC for Beginners" and "Speed Up Your computer". His website is http://www.monkeyseemonkeydobooks.com

posted by thlrfp @ 5:01 PM