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Computer Science Canada

Custom PC Creation

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Custom PC Creation
Well I haven't logged into CompSci for months now, and I've decided to finally come back to the community, and I'm going to start by creating this topic. OK I'm going to be creating my own custom PC during my summer vacation, and my dad has agreed to buy me all of the parts I'll be needing. I've found some excellent guides, and I found a site called tigerdirect.ca so I'm going to by my parts from the closest Tiger Direct store. I chose all of my parts, and I just need a little bit of help. First of all, you should know that I know how to take apart and re-assemble a whole PC, and I know all of the steps to create a custom PC. Steps -Choose PC parts. -Buy PC parts. -Assemble parts inside of case. -Install OS. -Install drivers. -Mainly done I selected all of my parts already and I need some help to check if they are all compatible. Motherboard and Procesor Gigabyte EP43-UD3L Motherboard CPU Bundle - Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 2.80GHz Retail Processor http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4517167&sku=B69-2078 Case Apevia X-Jupiter Jr.G Type ATX Mid-Tower Case http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3424761&sku=A107-1096 Power Supply iStarUSA TC-350PD1 350-Watt ATX Switching Power Supply http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3655216&sku=I202-1116 Graphics Card Galaxy GeForce 8400 GS Video Card http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4353968&sku=G458-8406 Hard Drive Hitachi 7K1000.B Deskstar Hard Drive http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4632151&sku=TSD-320H3 CD/DVD Drive LG GH22NS40R DVD Burner http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4502154&sku=L49-1020 RAM Corsair Dominator Dual Channel 4096MB PC8500 DDR2 1066MHz Memory http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3986479&sku=C13-8060 OK I know that most of the parts are compatible...but what about the power supply? 350 watts seems like a low amount for me. I found the exact same power supply except in 500 watts. So should I go for the 500? So for everything who's looking at this can you please check if all of these parts are compatible? And for everyone that helps thank you so much. I'm going to go buy the parts of Saturday

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:31 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
Also...if you think there is anything I should know about the assembling of the computer, please do write about it. And if there is something important I didn't mention, please do mention it

Author:	DemonWasp [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:02 am ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
Your power supply seems to be on the low end. Keep in mind that you want to run at a maximum of around 85% of your PSU's rated supply. Your processor is rated at (this is from memory) around 130W, and your GFX card is getting close too. Figure 20W for each HDD or optical drive, plus any USB devices, and you could be running dry. Additionally, you need to check that the +12V rail has sufficient current for your graphics card - the g80 and g94 cores were really bad about eating a lot of +12V. Compare the two carefully. You'll probably end up wanting the 500W supply. The only other trick is that you want to make sure of the following when assembling: 1. Keep yourself grounded! Touch the case frequently. 2. Have compressed air and a selection of screwdrivers handy. 3. Take a deep breath. The computer will get together, you don't have to freak out about it. Take your time and do it right - doing it wrong will create much worse problems down the road. Edit: Where's your screen?

Author:	andrew. [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:10 am ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
1. A 500W power supply should be the minimum. I always buy a bigger power supply because the last thing you want is for your computer to run lower on power. 2. The video card is decent, but there are a lot of better ones for a good price. This would be a better one IMO if you are willing to spend $6 extra.

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:34 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
OK well I'm planning on upgrading my ram, my hard drive, and my graphics card. I'm just buy a bit lower priced things for now. I might also get a Quad Core later on. Luckily for me the PC is easily upgradable. OK first of all DemonWasp what is the compressed air for? I know you ground yourself so you don't shock the pieces but what is compressed air for? OK for the screen I'm going to be using my Apple Monitor. OK I don't understand like ANYTHING with the power supplies so could you guys help me with it? Like explain it a bit for me? Could i just buy a 700 watt? Would that fix my problems? Also if you could...DemonWasp could you look through the Tiger Direct power supplies and like...recommend one for me?

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
Also...Andrew...like for 8 dollars more I can add fans to my memory. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3757080&CatId=2261 see ^^ lol but w/e this is my first custom PC so i DONT wanna screw up and adding fans to RAM is something im new to...so w/e... and the ram i have is already good

Author:	DemonWasp [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:38 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
The compressed air is for whatever dust you may have in the area. Generally more useful the second time you open the case, but it can't hurt to have it around the first time. Plus, I posted that at 3am local time, so that may have factored in. There's only a few things you have to understand about power supplies to get a good one: 1. Check the rated power of your CPU and GPU (these will be measured in Watts, W). Add these together and then add 100W for good measure. Buy the next step up from whatever you arrive at or higher. You will almost certainly want 500W. There is no limit to how big of a PSU you can buy, but they get expensive so don't go for too much headspace. If you think you're going to upgrade, either budget for a PSU upgrade, or buy a larger one off the start. 2. You need to check the available amperage on the +12V rail and compare it to what is required by your GPU. The GPU you have listed is so weak, however, that you should be fine with any 500W PSU. If you were going for a beefier card (8800, 9800, 2xx GTX series...) then you'd need to pay close attention. 3. If you can, get a high-efficiency one: less heat, less power consumed, less noise.

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:28 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
OK...well I think I might just go along with a 700 watt. Also...I was looking at this one other hard drive. I don't know whether I should stick with my current hard drive, or choose this other one. Current http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4632151&sku=TSD-320H3 New http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2928334&CatId=2458 250 gigs is definitely enough for me, especially since I plan on upgrading. So speed is definitely more important for me. So should I get the new one?

Author:	Amailer [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
How much does that PC come up to if you don't mind me asking. The one in your first post.

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:08 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
$1000 i also need to buy windows xp and other software...so itll go up to like 1300 more.... and im gonna upgrade it later on get an expensive video card...add more ram... and ya

Author:	syntax_error [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
instead of xp, if your really BUYING an OS buy windows 7 for $45 at Costco. A) its cheap B) its a 64 bit OS, you are getting 4GB of ram you kinda need a 64 bit OS for that. Better yet, save all money on software of any kind, go open open sourced with everything; then if you really want to pay for your software update later, but for the moment get a better PC, imho.

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
the PC im currently getting is fine O.O to me it seems pretty danm good very easily upgradable... also with 32 bit you CAN get 4 gigs of ram and there isnt enough support for 64 bits barely any software runs on it so ima stick with 32 bit.... im gonna have my friend help me with the power supply part...cus im not sure what power supply to get... btw....look at my above post... should i get the new drive or the old one?

Author:	Insectoid [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
Building a computer isn't nearly as hard as it's made out to be. I'm going to assume you've taken just about every piece out of a computer, so you know where it all goes. To get great start-up times, I would get a small (40-80g) SSD for the Windows install and games, as the SSD will load these faster. For data, pictures & movies I'd use a 250-500g hard drive, because these take a lot more space. This is nit-picky though and mostly because it's cool.

Author:	Sniper4Life [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
insectoid ya ive taken apart and reassembled a whole computer was easy sept for the frikin case >< i took apart most of the case...and it was like a dinosaur computer...so it was HARD to reassemble the case... btw....i found a new power supply i think its compatible O.O but w/e it took me FOREVER to find a power supply that would work for me http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276567&Sku=ULT-LSP750 edit: can you tell me if it IS compatible? and if its right for me? second edit: i also found this one... and it seems pretty danm good as well http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435075&CatId=2533

Author:	andrew. [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: RE:Custom PC Creation
syntax_error @ Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:19 pm wrote: buy windows 7 for $45 at Costco. Or you could just sign up for the release candidate from MS for free.

Author:	syntax_error [ Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: RE:Custom PC Creation
andrew. @ Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:05 pm wrote: syntax_error @ Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:19 pm wrote: buy windows 7 for $45 at Costco. Or you could just sign up for the release candidate from MS for free. Well that only last a year or so, and as time passes MS will be sure to let you know you you're using a free copy etc. @Sniper4Life In theory yes you can get 2^32 = 4,294,967,296 bytes / (1,024 x 1,024) = 4,096 MB = 4GB but if you end up with any MS OS you will only be able to use 3.2GB of ram furthermore, im not sure about this but the 3.2GB cap is for all the ram in your computer and if your graphics card as independent RAM then its part of the cap as well. Also you do realize you can run 32 bit programs on a 64 bit processer but not the other way around right? and why stick with something that will die out anyways, as most programs and such are going for 64 bit

Author:	rdrake [ Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:41 am ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
RE: 32-bit OSes only allowing for < 4 GB RAM. Read this most excellent article. It's a long but very interesting read. Seconding what syntax_error said above, you can run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit OS. I've run 64-bit Windows 7 since the beta came out and had no problem with programs not running. A lot of the programs are 32-bit still and run without issue.

Author:	andrew. [ Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: RE:Custom PC Creation
syntax_error @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:36 pm wrote: andrew. @ Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:05 pm wrote: syntax_error @ Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:19 pm wrote: buy windows 7 for $45 at Costco. Or you could just sign up for the release candidate from MS for free. Well that only last a year or so, and as time passes MS will be sure to let you know you you're using a free copy etc. So you will be able to upgrade to the full release of Win 7 if you buy it from Costco now?

Author:	Amailer [ Thu Jul 02, 2009 1:31 pm ]
Post subject:	RE:Custom PC Creation
If you live out side of BC try and get your stuff from NCIX. You don't have to pay PST and they allow you to price match their products (up to 20% I believe). You can get a pretty decent i7 920, 6GB RAM, NVIDIA 265 vid for around $1,500 after shipping/price matching and etc. However that excludes a monitor, keyboard, mouse and dvd/cd drive

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