Custom build.

[Jahova]

Hello there. My current laptop has terrible spec and is very old. I have been wanting to upgrade for years now but I have never really wanted to because PCWorld and shops like that rip you off to be honest and also the online places that say they custom build PC's for you, also seem to charge alot.

But anyway, I have thought about custom building before and I have seen youtube videos on how to do it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPOsVb_5-S8) - This seems easy enough. I also have past (basic) knowledge, I once opened up two computers and took the graphics card out of one and put it into the other and I also know which part is which inside of the PC.

The problem is, I would be well, afraid of custom building a PC. I'm unsure of all the connector wires and putting the things in the right place. So anyway, let me continue..

I have seen another thread, thanks to Mentor (http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=580527) and I looked at the parts and thought I could make some adjustments to that, to make it 'futureproof' or top spec, if you know what I'm saying.

So anyway, thanks to Mentor for already suggesting most of the components for a custom build, I would like to ask if these following components are all suitable to build a custom PC. Also, if you could please notify me of any missing parts then that would be great, also the OS would be Windows XP 64bit, until Windows 7 is released.

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Case ## $20.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150289

Processor ## £200.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164047

Processor cooler ## £7.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126790

Motherboard ## £46.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160927

DVD-RW ## £16.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126226

PSU (120mm) ## £37.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150596

Hard drive ## £34.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161104

Card reader ## £10.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136392

GPU (Graphics Card) ## £40.00 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161559

Case fan (220mm) ## £9.00 ##
http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/A...-Fan_6320.html

Case fan (120mm) ## £7.00 ##
http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/A...-Fan_1786.html

Memory (RAM x2) ## £75.00 ##
http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/K...-Kit_8725.html

## TOTAL £501 (without P+P) ##

Monitor (20" Samsung, Same as TV) ## £120.01 ##
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158373

Can't afford monitor at the moment, but suggestions would also be nice. Thanks for looking, all constructive comments receive a +REP.

[N!ck]

Is your budget £500 for the base unit? Do you need a card reader? Do you need it to include things like a mouse and keyboard?

What will the computer be used for? Gaming or just general media, internet and work use?

[Jahova]

Card reader would be nice for my phone and stuff like that. £501 is my current bank status, maybe £20 more as I babysat last night.

It's for general use, no hardcore gaming but maybe the odd FPS such as COD4. Mouse and keyboard may not be needed but if they are, I can purchase somthing cheap from somewhere else.

I think so far it looks good, as long as it's compatible with each thing. The hard part will be setting it up, to be honest.

Edit: Also, I was hoping to OC the processor by 20% or whatever, I heard the black edition ships with a program to easily overclock your processor. Are the two fans enough?

[N!ck]

A decent all-round system capable of the occasional game.



I'm partial to a larger hard drive though.

[Jahova]

Looks good, but sorry to be a pain but if you could take a look at my system and tell me if I would HAVE to change anything, or is it all compatible and all there?

Edit: Also, would you think I would need some thermal paste, or should it come with the heatsink / fan?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/165340

[N!ck]

No, your system is fine. If you want the occasional game then i'd up the graphics card a little and if you do want to overclock get a better motherboard.

Take a look at the one I posted, I think it suits your needs more. The cooler will come with a thermal compound, but if you want some better stuff get some arctic silver.

[Technologic]

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

They build it for you, they are cheap, they're good.

[Jahova]

Hey nick. Sorry if it seems if I am ignoring your advice. To be honest I'd rather the system I posted because I just want to do my own thing.

About the motherboard, could you maybe recommend me an AMD motherboard that would be more suitable for processor overclocking. Regards.

Edit: This look any better? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152752

[Mentor]

I have about a much experience with building totally from scratch as you, but i noticed you upped the processor to one that uses socket AM3. It may be fine as the motherboards mention supporting socket AM2+ (so maybe am3 as well) but you may wana check that out.

Otherwise you'll probably want an socket AM3 Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/cat/Motherboar...Socket-AM3-AMD
(if you don't need too though i wouldn't as they all seem to be painfully expensive)

+ you can upgrade your hdd to a 500gb http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164274 for about £3 extra which is good value going by the gig

Also, make sure you included an Operating system in your estimates, as you'll want something along the lines of vista 64 to make use of all that ram. If your at uni/some colleges, check to see if they are registered with the MSDNAA scheme as you can get operating systems off that for free.

Other than that, your temping me to add some of this stuff to my planned spec :p Also great find on the 22" fan, i'll definatly be adding that to my build

[N!ck]

AM3 CPUs are generally compatible with AM2+ sockets so that shouldn't be an issue.

That motherboard would probably better, but I don't know much AMD motherboards and chipsets. You may as well take advantage of getting an ATX motherboard as your case supports it and ATX boards are longer than m-ATX so have more expansion sockets.