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Add to Train's list this list of "nice-to-haves", which may all be added at a later time when money allows (I'm sure someone can add the appropriate price ranges to the list):
- DVD-drive (incl. CD-read)
- CD-burner (preferably 8-12 x write speed)
- NIC (network interface card) to connect 2 or more home-machines and/or cable modem.
- HUB or Switch to connect 2 or more machines in a net and share a cable modem (in an easy way).
- RAID controller for added security (requires additional hard drive(s))
- Router for the easiest way to share cable modem.
- Ordinary (56K) modem for connecting to the internet.
Well, the list is really endless and you have to prioritize all the time so the spending doesn't get out of hand.
Remember, you can always upgrade later on - I think this is one of the great advantages of assembling your own machine. Recycling older parts is not a bad idea. Things like floppy drive, Cd-drive, maybe RAM (if same type), cables ect. may fall in this category.
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Karl, Denmark
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"..and may The Force be with you too..."
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Intel Pentium III 866MHz/133MHz system bus FC-PGA 256KB
Abit 133BX RAID Motherboard
20Gig Western Digital Hard Drive 7200 RPM ATA/100
256MB RAM
Hercules Prophet II 32MB Video Card
Creative Labs Sound Blaster LIVE! Value
56X CDROM
US Robotics 56K Internal Pro Modem PCI
InWin S500 Case
Burts interview was accurate...well...for the most part... https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
I really had no idea when we started the project.
BIOS was the frightening part. I had only briefly peeked in there on the OLD system and it was quite daunting. But bistros tweak sheets ( you went to a whole lot of trouble https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ ) and encouragement from all you guys made it not such a big deal. I still have no idea what all that stuff in the BIOS means, but it doesn't matter. I found the places that needed to be to enable or disabled just fine.
Another frustrating thing was all the acronyms. IDE DMA IRQ OEM ATA CMOS BSOD PCI AGP... huh? https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ But, I learned as we went along.
As far as the actual building...Pulleeze! that was just tooooooo easy. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ Less than a dozen screws. Slide it in and plug it up.
Oh...One bit of advice for the ladies. Be sure you got a good lookin' UPS man. You'll be seein' quite a bit of him during the orderin' and receiving componants phase, and be thrilled to see him when stuff starts arriving....poor man. You guys are fortunate this was a virtual build. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
You can do this.
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Queen of Hearts, Try this to take care of BIOS questions. Might help. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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I always thought the first step was to balance the check book and check all the credit card limits. Then make a budget and double that amount.
Hope QOH, Nonboxer, Theoran, etc have dried out down there.
https://discussions.virtualdr.com/Opovet https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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I know it is true because I read it on the internet from a VirtualDr link!!
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12 ft. gators swimming around on I10 in Winnie https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
Draining pretty good now Opovet.
Insurance Adjustor was here yesterday. Getting new carpet. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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Theoran said he lost two cars.
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Hi gang
Talked to Theoran recently. As greengoose points out, he lost both his vehicles. The waters came dangerously close to being in his living room as well, but are starting to go down now. Even with the loss of the cars, he feels lucky that nobody was hurt and the damage wasn't more severe.
As for the subject at hand regarding money and building...I have noticed something. When people are deciding whether to build, the one thing that seems to get overlooked is an operating system. With a full install, that is close to $200. Many veteran builders already have these discs, but a new builder is likely to only have restore/recovery discs. Just thought I would mention it. You may recall that in my pipe dreams about building, I had to account for this as well. Then disaster struck and the weight of the world crushed my spirit. Had to buy off-the-rack. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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I want my Win98 Emachine back !!!
MAXXIMILIAN'S
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Hi maxx, Thanks for bringing the OS up. We plumb over looked that. Looks like we need all the help we can get. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
What else can you come up with?
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heres the specs on the baby i just built:
ASUS P4t i850 Chipset 400Mhz FSB Motherboard = 200$
INTEL Pentium 4 - Pr 1.4GHz Processor 400 MHz System Bus = 200$
2 SAMSUNG RAMBUS 128MB ECC 800 MHZ RIMMs = 200$
Antec SX1030 300W ATX ps, 10 bay, 2 cooling fans, Case = 89$
ATI-All-in-wonder Radeon = 220$
Hercules game theater XP = 110$
wireless keyboard and wireless mouse = 100$
IBM Deskstar 75GXP: 15GB ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive = 95$
MAXTOR 5T060H6 60GB ATA100 8.7ms 7200RPM Hard Drive = 180$
for a total of = 1400$
I grabbed 2 WD 40gig 7200 ATA/100 drives from an old machine (along w/ a pci ATA/100 card); sony expressa 12/8/40 cd-rw; floppy drive; and network card
i dont think i would have been able to do anything close to that if i went shopping at gateway
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Hi Running_On_Wheel, Are both your hard drives installed? If so are they working good for you?
Have you run a defrag? Just curious how long timewise it takes.
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Greengoose1,
The OS is the only thing that popped into my mind. That, only because I had to give it thought when I was planning my build. However there may be incidentals that I don't know about. I've seen "Thermal paste" mentioned here before. I don't even know what this is, but a veteran probably has the stuff sitting around. A newbie doesn't. Maybe in the course of this thread, someone could list these minor items and also come up with a fair money alotment for them. My guess is it won't be much, though. I don't know about cables either. Do these items need to be bought seperately when you just buy components? I know a printer cable is rarely included with any purchase and can run $25. I know these are only a drop in the bucket, but can add up in the long run. What do you guys think...an extra $50 for incidentals for someone starting from scratch?
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I want my Win98 Emachine back !!!
MAXXIMILIAN'S
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Motherboard mounting screws (standoffs): often included with a new mobo, but have seen some without. Run around 3 or 4 bucks for a package of 8 or 10--order them when you order the mobo; if it happens to have some with it already, oh well--you're covered in case you happen to lose one or two. Come varieties of plastic and brass; sometimes will come with the case. Example of brass type
Extra screws: nice to have these also--screws for the I/O slots in the back, hard drive screws, etc. Can usually order these in a "variety pack". Some cases come with extras, some don't. Example
Computer tool kit: not entirely necessary, but comes in handy (non-magnetic). You don't really need the 356-tool Deluxe Nuclear Physicist Edition. One of those 15 or 25-tool versions will do. Run around 15 to 25 bucks. Curtis, Belkin makes some. Example
Cables:If you are cannibalizing from an older system; such as the floppy drive, CD-ROM, etc.; recommend getting new cables for those. Heat and age makes those cables hard and brittle. (Does the same to me...). Seen prices anywhere from 9 to 21 bucks. Some mobos also have 1 or 2 IDE cables, or 1 IDE and 1 ATA cable included with them. Use those instead of the ones supplied with the hard drives (just be sure to use ATA cables with ATA hard drives). In any case, you'll probably have to go get some new ones to cover for all your devices.
Thermal paste: For mounting the heat sink onto the processor to form a seal for better heat dissipation. A small tube is all you need, since you use only a miniscule amount(boxed processors will often have a small tube included). Silicone-based; can pick a tube up at any good electronics hobbyist store such as Radio Shack. However, recommend Artic Silver, better quality. A tube will run around 8 to 10 dollars; but it's worth it. Example(enlarged)
Compressed air: Even though it's a new case, it's still a good idea to blow it out first (dust from shipping). get a big can; not those ridiculous purse-size cans.
Optionals: Spiral wire wrap for the power supply wires (tidies up the interior).
Comes in black, clear and other colors. Example
Plastic wire ties work well too. DO NOT use electrical tape--heat will loosen it and all you'll have is a mass of sticky glue all over your wires.
Y-Extenders: Used to extend the power wires--a "splitter" in other words. Not absolutely necessary, but come in handy when you run out of plugs; especially if adding a few fans/extra devices. You will eventually have to pick up one or two if you plan on upgrading, tinkering, modding.Pictured here. Run around 2 bucks and you can find them on the Net or in any good computer store--even Radio Shack carries them. Come in different lengths.
(Almost forgot)Fans: Some cases come with an option for intake/exhaust fans--GET THEM. Otherwise, you'll have to get some on your own--will run anywhere from 6 to 15 bucks each depending on size.
When budgeting, I would figure anywhere from 50 to 75 bucks just for extras (just to begin with). You'll be buying more little goodies later, believe me.
[This message has been edited by bistro (edited 06-12-2001).]
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Seriously one of the things to check before buying any of the add ons, is to go to the web site for that part and see what kind of support they have. The cheap stuff is not the only ones with next to nothing support and while there down load and save any updates and FAQ's, as the way things are going now days they be out of business soon.
My personal experience is that the only time in a year a web site will crash or some under water cable to China will get cut is the very time I need acess to their stuff.
Sorry to hear about Theoran's cars, guess he needs to get a couple of those Texas Pickups with six foot lift kits, a john boat and beer cooler in the bed. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ Opovet https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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I know it is true because I read it on the internet from a VirtualDr link!!
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hehe ... that post on screws reminded me of something
my mb or case (i dont know who's responsible for it) did not come with the 2 types of screws needed to attach the mb to the case (at 200 and 95 respectively one would think they could ship a handful of screws)
greengoose: on the imb it take about an hour total (i can give specifics because its partitioned into 4 segments - im guessing an hour for all of them but i start one and then come back and then start the next ...)
the other 3 dont take long at all because there used solely as a/v storage w/ the (2) 40's storing mp3's and the 60 storing video.
and as far as the thermal paste ... it came w/ my processor and its just a matter of opening it spreading it on the chip and then snapping the fan down on top of it
out!
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ASUS P4t i850;PIV1.4GHz;2 RAMBUS 128/ECC/800;ATI-AIW Radeon;Game Theater XP;wireless key/mouse;IBM Deskstar 15GB ATA/100;MAXTOR 60GB ATA100;(2)WD 40GB ATA100; Espressa 12/8/40;PCI Nic;PCI ATA/100 card
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Bistro,
Nice list of potential incidentals you have put together there. Thanks. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
As for getting hard and brittle with age and heat...I'm not touching that one, but I fell off the chair laughing again. https://discussions.virtualdr.com/ https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
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I want my Win98 Emachine back !!!
MAXXIMILIAN'S
