Computers OverClocked

[TheTwitch1812]

I'm going to start off by saying I am no expert, but I feel that I have some information that a person completely new to computer building might find useful. Mostly I'll be dealing with picking parts that are compatible with one another.

There are two ways of starting off. What I do is I pick the motherboard first. Another thing that is often done is to pick a graphics card first - I only advise this if you know with absolute certainty that that card is the one you want. So, whether you pick the motherboard or the graphics card first, the first real step is to find a match for the other.

Graphics cards are one of the easier items to match with a motherboard. The comparable point is basically the expansion slot type. Each motherboard has multiple slots and slot types (if it doesn't, don't get that mobo, it'd make a better coaster). The usual types of slots are AGP, PCI, PCIE x1 and PCIE x16. AGP as a rule is faster than PCI, and used to be the main slot type for graphics cards. However, since then PCIE has come out, which is faster still. If you are looking to build a new rig and not just upgrade an old one, I'd suggest getting a mobo with a PCIE x16 slot(s), seeing as AGP has pretty much played out its usefulness. Most good video cards will use PCIE x16, seeing as such a slot maximizes the pipelines of the card. When picking a card, to see if the mobo is compatible, simply look at the spec for the card and see what slot type it works in, then look at the specs of the mobo you wish to use (or have already). In the mobo's spec list there is a section called "expansion slots." Simply see if the mobo has the correct slot for the card you want to use and you're golden. If you are looking to build a vista PC, make sure you pick a DX10 (direct-x 10) video card.

Next I'd suggest picking the RAM, but the order in which you pick the parts is not vital and the build can always be tweaked at the end. I'm only going to talk about DDR ram, because I'm not very familiar with RAMBIS ram, and DDR is much more widely used anyway. Picking RAM that is compatible with the mobo is a bit more tricky than the video card was. First look at the specs of the mobo under the section entitled "Memory." Whenever you see the word memory being used in conjunction with a mobo, it will pretty much always be talking about the RAM. Things to take into account as you look at the specs of your mobo are the amount of slots, the amount of pins, the maximum memory supported and the memory standard. The amount of slots dictates how many sticks of RAM you can fit on the mobo. Pins and slots are displayed in the same statistic labeled 'Number of Memory Slots.' Here is an example: 4x240pin. This means that there are 4 slots available and each one is a 240pin type. When you go looking for your RAM make sure its/their pin type matches the mobo's!!! The maximum memory supported is a simple thing to keep in mind while picking your sticks. This spec DOES NOT dictate how many sticks of RAM you can use, only the amount of memory added up between all the sticks. Next, look at the memory standard spec. Basically, make sure the standard memory type matches up with the RAM's type. When you put that all together you aught to have compatible sticks. I am a little hazy on what the spec "Dual Channel Supported" is, but if it says yes, the ram you get can be either way. I can only assume thats what it means. On a side note, Kingston and Corsair are very good brands to look for, while there are others. Its never a bad idea to get RAM sticks that have heat spreaders attached. When determining how many sticks of RAM you want to spread the total memory goal over, the usual idea is to get half and half between two sticks. If you want 2gb RAM, get 2x1gb sticks. That is what is usually done but it is not necessary. It is always a good idea to spread the RAM over multiple sticks though. Helps it run smoother somehow.

A good next move would be to pick the CPU, the processor. These are a bit more finicky yet. Each mobo usually has a few different types of processors that it is compatible to. However, usually it will have only one socket type. If you get a CPU with a socket type that doesn't match the one listed on the mobo specs, it physically will be impossible to apply it. Make sure you get this part right, or you'll be kicking yourself. One of the newer types of sockets is AM2. Some gamers do not suggest using AM2 due to some difficulties, but it is a debated fact. As a gamer myself I am purchasing an AM2 socket CPU. The next thing you want to make sure matches up is the CPU type. A mobo may list as many as three different types of CPU's that it can run (note: socket type and CPU type are two different things). Simply make sure that the CPU you picked matches up to one of them. Note: If you plan on running or upgrading to vista, make sure you get a 64-bit processor.

Hard Drive is next! Picking the hard drive is pretty simple. There are many types of hard drives, the newest ones being the ATA's and SATA's. I suggest not going with anything other than one of those lineups on account of their speed and general low cost. The list of compatible hard drives is located in a section of the mobo specs entitled 'Storage Devices.' Note: SATA & Serial ATA ARE the same thing, while Serial ATA and ATA are NOT the same thing. When picking hard drives, bigger storage and faster rpm is basically what you're looking for. By the way, if you're getting a SATA or ATA, its always nice if the mobo already has the RAID/Driver for that item already installed on it. It saves the hassle of trying to use a floppy disk & drive to install the damn thing in the BIOS.

I'm not going to cover cd/dvd rom drives and floppy drives, simply because there isn't really anything difficult about picking them. Don't sweat it, such drives are basically like monitors - plug and play.

I am a little hazy on the specifics when it comes to PSU's, or power supply units. The PSU is basically the box that goes in the top back of the tower and connects all the cards & drives to a power source. The most important thing when it comes to PSU's is the amount of watts it puts out. It is hard to judge how many watts you need, so I suggest this. Some parts of the computer you picked out will list minimum watt requirements. Look at all of those you can find and pick the highest one. Go a little bit above that one, by 20-50 in my opinion. The next thing to look at when picking a PSU is the power cords and pins. make sure it has the right types and amounts of the cords that you need. They are simply labeled by drive type etc etc. As for pins, the main power cable gets attached to the mobo. Different mobo's require different amounts of pins. The most common ones are 20 and 24. The mobo will, in its specs, say how many pins it needs in the spec labeled power pin. Simply make sure the PSU's main power cable and mobo's power plug match each other. Lastly, make sure the PSU is well ventilated. Two fans on the box is always nice. Note: I suggest not going all out on the PSU and getting some box with huge wattage and tons of lights etc etc. I have a friend that did that... a few minutes after he turned it on for the first time he blew a capacitor and fried his mobo and all his cards. Ouch.

The last thing you want to pick out is the case. First and foremost, search for cases BASED ON THE SIZE OF YOUR MOBO! I can't stress this enough. If that mobo and that case show up, and the mobo doesn't fit, you will be afflicted with an undying urge to kill something cute and furry. Some typical sizes of mobo's are ATX, Micro-ATX and Baby AT. Most cases are compatible with more than one size, but make sure your mobo's size is on that list. The next thing you have to worry about is cooling. Get a case with as many fans as possible. The single most important job of your case, other than the obvious use of giving frame to your PC, is keeping it COOL! You could have the best specs in the world and it wouldn't amount to much more than a PETA member's appetite at a steak eating convention. If you have a bad case your PC will overheat and you won't get much more than 4-10 frames per second, not to mention the damage overheating causes to the hardware. Also, with cases especially, read the customer comments. They often prove useful. Note: if your mobo does not match up to the backplate of the case, fear not, for that thing can be punched out and such a mobo will come with a replacement plate that is compatible. I just about had a cow in that regard when I built my first PC.

As for sound and network cards, I don't usually bother with them. Any decent mobo will come with them on-board. Admittedly, many people prefer separate sound cards but I've always run on on-board sound and network cards and never had a problem.

If you have followed this guide you should end up with a functioning 100% compatible machine. Don't be afraid to tweak your build at the end if you are not happy with some parts, just make sure to check and recheck the compatibility of the final product before purchasing it.

WELL! I hope this was helpful! This is the process I follow to pick out my parts and it tends to work pretty well - at least as far as compatibility goes. Please comment back with suggestions or even just your opinion on the guide. Thanks for enduring this text wall ^_^.

-------------------------------------------------------------Twitch-----------------

[TheTwitch1812]

I'm going to start off by saying I am no expert, but I feel that I have some information that a person completely new to computer building might find useful. Mostly I'll be dealing with picking parts that are compatible with one another.

There are two ways of starting off. What I do is I pick the motherboard first. Another thing that is often done is to pick a graphics card first - I only advise this if you know with absolute certainty that that card is the one you want. So, whether you pick the motherboard or the graphics card first, the first real step is to find a match for the other.

Graphics cards are one of the easier items to match with a motherboard. The comparable point is basically the expansion slot type. Each motherboard has multiple slots and slot types (if it doesn't, don't get that mobo, it'd make a better coaster). The usual types of slots are AGP, PCI, PCIE x1 and PCIE x16. AGP as a rule is faster than PCI, and used to be the main slot type for graphics cards. However, since then PCIE has come out, which is faster still. If you are looking to build a new rig and not just upgrade an old one, I'd suggest getting a mobo with a PCIE x16 slot(s), seeing as AGP has pretty much played out its usefulness. Most good video cards will use PCIE x16, seeing as such a slot maximizes the pipelines of the card. When picking a card, to see if the mobo is compatible, simply look at the spec for the card and see what slot type it works in, then look at the specs of the mobo you wish to use (or have already). In the mobo's spec list there is a section called "expansion slots." Simply see if the mobo has the correct slot for the card you want to use and you're golden. If you are looking to build a vista PC, make sure you pick a DX10 (direct-x 10) video card.

Next I'd suggest picking the RAM, but the order in which you pick the parts is not vital and the build can always be tweaked at the end. I'm only going to talk about DDR ram, because I'm not very familiar with RAMBIS ram, and DDR is much more widely used anyway. Picking RAM that is compatible with the mobo is a bit more tricky than the video card was. First look at the specs of the mobo under the section entitled "Memory." Whenever you see the word memory being used in conjunction with a mobo, it will pretty much always be talking about the RAM. Things to take into account as you look at the specs of your mobo are the amount of slots, the amount of pins, the maximum memory supported and the memory standard. The amount of slots dictates how many sticks of RAM you can fit on the mobo. Pins and slots are displayed in the same statistic labeled 'Number of Memory Slots.' Here is an example: 4x240pin. This means that there are 4 slots available and each one is a 240pin type. When you go looking for your RAM make sure its/their pin type matches the mobo's!!! The maximum memory supported is a simple thing to keep in mind while picking your sticks. This spec DOES NOT dictate how many sticks of RAM you can use, only the amount of memory added up between all the sticks. Next, look at the memory standard spec. Basically, make sure the standard memory type matches up with the RAM's type. When you put that all together you aught to have compatible sticks. I am a little hazy on what the spec "Dual Channel Supported" is, but if it says yes, the ram you get can be either way. I can only assume thats what it means. On a side note, Kingston and Corsair are very good brands to look for, while there are others. Its never a bad idea to get RAM sticks that have heat spreaders attached. When determining how many sticks of RAM you want to spread the total memory goal over, the usual idea is to get half and half between two sticks. If you want 2gb RAM, get 2x1gb sticks. That is what is usually done but it is not necessary. It is always a good idea to spread the RAM over multiple sticks though. Helps it run smoother somehow.

A good next move would be to pick the CPU, the processor. These are a bit more finicky yet. Each mobo usually has a few different types of processors that it is compatible to. However, usually it will have only one socket type. If you get a CPU with a socket type that doesn't match the one listed on the mobo specs, it physically will be impossible to apply it. Make sure you get this part right, or you'll be kicking yourself. One of the newer types of sockets is AM2. Some gamers do not suggest using AM2 due to some difficulties, but it is a debated fact. As a gamer myself I am purchasing an AM2 socket CPU. The next thing you want to make sure matches up is the CPU type. A mobo may list as many as three different types of CPU's that it can run (note: socket type and CPU type are two different things). Simply make sure that the CPU you picked matches up to one of them. Note: If you plan on running or upgrading to vista, make sure you get a 64-bit processor.

Hard Drive is next! Picking the hard drive is pretty simple. There are many types of hard drives, the newest ones being the ATA's and SATA's. I suggest not going with anything other than one of those lineups on account of their speed and general low cost. The list of compatible hard drives is located in a section of the mobo specs entitled 'Storage Devices.' Note: SATA & Serial ATA ARE the same thing, while Serial ATA and ATA are NOT the same thing. When picking hard drives, bigger storage and faster rpm is basically what you're looking for. By the way, if you're getting a SATA or ATA, its always nice if the mobo already has the RAID/Driver for that item already installed on it. It saves the hassle of trying to use a floppy disk & drive to install the damn thing in the BIOS.

I'm not going to cover cd/dvd rom drives and floppy drives, simply because there isn't really anything difficult about picking them. Don't sweat it, such drives are basically like monitors - plug and play.

I am a little hazy on the specifics when it comes to PSU's, or power supply units. The PSU is basically the box that goes in the top back of the tower and connects all the cards & drives to a power source. The most important thing when it comes to PSU's is the amount of watts it puts out. It is hard to judge how many watts you need, so I suggest this. Some parts of the computer you picked out will list minimum watt requirements. Look at all of those you can find and pick the highest one. Go a little bit above that one, by 20-50 in my opinion. The next thing to look at when picking a PSU is the power cords and pins. make sure it has the right types and amounts of the cords that you need. They are simply labeled by drive type etc etc. As for pins, the main power cable gets attached to the mobo. Different mobo's require different amounts of pins. The most common ones are 20 and 24. The mobo will, in its specs, say how many pins it needs in the spec labeled power pin. Simply make sure the PSU's main power cable and mobo's power plug match each other. Lastly, make sure the PSU is well ventilated. Two fans on the box is always nice. Note: I suggest not going all out on the PSU and getting some box with huge wattage and tons of lights etc etc. I have a friend that did that... a few minutes after he turned it on for the first time he blew a capacitor and fried his mobo and all his cards. Ouch.

The last thing you want to pick out is the case. First and foremost, search for cases BASED ON THE SIZE OF YOUR MOBO! I can't stress this enough. If that mobo and that case show up, and the mobo doesn't fit, you will be afflicted with an undying urge to kill something cute and furry. Some typical sizes of mobo's are ATX, Micro-ATX and Baby AT. Most cases are compatible with more than one size, but make sure your mobo's size is on that list. The next thing you have to worry about is cooling. Get a case with as many fans as possible. The single most important job of your case, other than the obvious use of giving frame to your PC, is keeping it COOL! You could have the best specs in the world and it wouldn't amount to much more than a PETA member's appetite at a steak eating convention. If you have a bad case your PC will overheat and you won't get much more than 4-10 frames per second, not to mention the damage overheating causes to the hardware. Also, with cases especially, read the customer comments. They often prove useful. Note: if your mobo does not match up to the backplate of the case, fear not, for that thing can be punched out and such a mobo will come with a replacement plate that is compatible. I just about had a cow in that regard when I built my first PC.

As for sound and network cards, I don't usually bother with them. Any decent mobo will come with them on-board. Admittedly, many people prefer separate sound cards but I've always run on on-board sound and network cards and never had a problem.

If you have followed this guide you should end up with a functioning 100% compatible machine. Don't be afraid to tweak your build at the end if you are not happy with some parts, just make sure to check and recheck the compatibility of the final product before purchasing it.

WELL! I hope this was helpful! This is the process I follow to pick out my parts and it tends to work pretty well - at least as far as compatibility goes. Please comment back with suggestions or even just your opinion on the guide. Thanks for enduring this text wall ^_^.

-------------------------------------------------------------Twitch-----------------

[BobbyG2]

Nice guide, good work!

[BobbyG2]

Nice guide, good work!

[Adam]

Nice write up. I'll make a separate computer building page one of these days and include it.

Thanks!

[Adam]

Nice write up. I'll make a separate computer building page one of these days and include it.

Thanks!

[Guest]

Excellent advice there, whilst I have never built a computer before in my life this has certainly provided me with some very valuable information that I'll need as I do plan on actually building my next PC.

Would anyone also know any other sites/forums that would include what sort of hardware specs i should be looking for within a fairly tight budget, along with recommended software with reviews?

Cheers

[Guest]

Excellent advice there, whilst I have never built a computer before in my life this has certainly provided me with some very valuable information that I'll need as I do plan on actually building my next PC.

Would anyone also know any other sites/forums that would include what sort of hardware specs i should be looking for within a fairly tight budget, along with recommended software with reviews?

Cheers

[Titan]

Hello all, I just wanted to share of another complete guide for building a PC under $1000. The guide is $37 but its worth it because it tells you what to do step by step and includes pictures as well.

http://bit.ly/b7jCvZ

[Titan]

Hello all, I just wanted to share of another complete guide for building a PC under $1000. The guide is $37 but its worth it because it tells you what to do step by step and includes pictures as well.

http://bit.ly/b7jCvZ