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Join the University of Lethbridge for a workshop on building your own PC. Learn about the components, choosing the correct ones, different OS options, and more. Gain control over your system and save money in the long run!
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PC Building Workshop:Part I: Planning & Design Presented by The University of Lethbridge, Department of New Media & IT Department
Overview Session I • Why build your own computer? • The Components that make up a PC • Anatomy of a PC Build • Choosing the correct components • Different Operating Systems (OSs) available • Q & A • Session II (sample builds, sourcing & purchasing components)
Why build your own computer? • You then have more control over your system and can build a PC specific to your needs • It can be very cost effective (short- and long-term) • Self-sufficiency with respect to support, repairs, and upgrades • An educational experience & provides useful skills (which can be shared with friends and family) • Nerdy enjoyment
PC Components • Computers are assembled from a number of different, interchangeable components • The compatibility of components is probably the biggest issue you will face • Some components are better geared for different types of users & needs • Common and currently-available components will be discussed
Power Supply Unit (PSU) • Converts outlet power • Choose a higher quality PSU • Make sure you have enough wattage (largely dependent upon CPU and graphics card(s))
Central Processing Unit (CPU) • Sometimes referred to as “the Brain” • Make sure socket type matches motherboard • Different architectures available • 32bit or 64bit (64 is becoming the standard) • Two main manufacturers, AMD and Intel • Use stock fan or CPU heatsink / liquid cooling)
Motherboard (mobo) • Main circuit board • Goes by different names (main board, system board, bread board, ‘mobo’) • Will support only specific components • This is especially true for CPU, RAM • This will be the foundation for many decisions for your system (size, slots, etc.) • Ensure the external ports match your needs: • USB (2.0 or 3.0), eSATA, Firewire, audio jacks • Back ports and front headers (for case I/O ports)
Motherboard (cont.) • Integrated (onboard) graphics is available (does not require a dedicated (discrete) graphics card) • Different sizes are available:
The Computer Case • Size & functionality are important considerations… not to mention aesthetics • Needs to accommodate motherboard size and optical drive & hard drive needs • Various front I/O ports are available • Consideration should be given to cooling and fans/vents... space and airflow are important to consider
Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) • Storage device… for long-term storage • Storage of operating system and data • Traditional (magnetic) or SSD • Different connections available • i.e. SATA, IDE, SCSI • Each have different capabilities
Random Access Memory (RAM) • Retains information while the computer is on (similar to short-term memory) • Many different sizes & types of RAM • Must be compatible with mobo • Most common type of RAM shipping currently is DDR3
Optical Drives • Different forms and capabilities (CD/DVD/BD); DVD-RW most common • Different connectors available (must be compatible with mobo) • SATA (data and power) connection most common
Graphics Card • Process graphical data (for output, physics) • Capture cards, TV tuner cards and other specialized graphics cards are available • PCIx connection slot (mobo) most common • Different capabilities from different cards • GPUs, clock speed, bandwidth, etc • Two main chipsets – nVidia and ATI/AMD • Make sure your mobo supports the card(s) you intend to use (this also pertains to upgrading to a new graphics card)
Using Two Graphics Cards • SLI or CrossFire must be supported by your mobo • If using SLI/CrossFire it’s best to identical cards (using cards with the same graphics chipset but different brands is usually OK) • Different outputs available: • Svideo, VGA, DVI, DVI-D, HDMI
Other components • Soundcards • If you are processing a lot of audio, this could be a good idea (takes pressure off CPU) • Monitor(s), touchscreen • Keyboard • Mouse, tablet, etc. • Printers • Speakers (stereo, 5.1, 7.1… needs to be supported by mobo or sound card) • Etc.
Tools, Equipment and Tips • #2 sized Philips screwdriver • Needle-nose pliers • Anti-static wristband (VERY IMPORTANT!) • Large, level and non-conductive workspace (avoid dust/pets or areas with carpets) • Handy but not completely necessary tools: • Electrical tape, nylon ties, hands free flashlight, extra working computer (with internet connection), compressed air, sandpaper, thermal paste
Safety precautions (for components and for yourself) • Static electricity is not your friend • Never remove components while the computer is on • Never cut off/snap off the grounding pin • Watch out for sharp edges inside the case • Do not dismantle PSU, monitors or anything that may retain an electrical charge
Operating System (OS) • There are various operating systems out there that are used for different purposes • It comes down to skill level and functionality • Some popular OSs include: Windows, Linux-based, and Mac OS • There are many other choices available • It is possible to dual boot with two different OSs (or use a virtual machine to run one OS within another)
Microsoft Windows • Several different variants (Windows 7) • The most widely-used OS out there (87% market share globally) • Good for office work, casual computing, workstations, gaming and for novice users (but security can become an issue) • Supports a lot of hardware • Supports different CPU architectures • Has some shortcomings when it comes to security
Linux-based OS • Open source, so it’s free… derived from UNIX • Many different variants (typically called distributions) • Community support available • Thus it supports more processor types than you could imagine • Sometimes the state of the art hardware isn’t immediately supported (without a lot of hacking) • Ubuntu, Linux Mint are suitable for casual users • Tends to be stable, fast, customizable and secure.
Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD) • Derivative of UNIX • Free • Less user-friendly and could require a bit more knowledge • Can be very secure • Not as many variants • Most common FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly BSD
Mac OS • Current version is OS X • Derived from BSD • Designed to run on Apple proprietary hardware • But… one can build a ‘hackintosh’ by installing OS X onto specific (but non-Apple) hardware… • But doing so would break the license agreement for OS X… and would therefore be considered to be illegal
Other Operating Systems • There are hundreds of different kinds of Linux-based ‘distros’ out there • There are even other operating systems available: • Plan9, inferno, Solaris, 9grid are some interesting options • A lot of “other” OSs tend to be UNIX based
Choosing the Right OS • The choice of an OS isn’t always an easy one; select based on what you want to do with the computer and convenience • i.e. a simple office/web PC could easily use a Linux-based OS (one designed for casual users) unless Windows and MS Office is absolutely a requirement • i.e. Gaming is better supported by Windows • Choose a 64-bit OS build if you plan on using more than 4GB of RAM. • Choose the OS that will most easily work with your hardware and software needs
Potential PC Builds • General Purpose PC (web browsing, light office, etc.): • Not that demanding, you don’t need ‘top of the line’ for a lot of your components • Spend the money on what will benefit your experience • Typically budget in this order: Monitor, case, PSU, mouse, keyboard, motherboard, CPU • OS: Windows or Linux-based • Server: • Needs to be reliable in multiple ways • Commonly you’ll want dual PSU, server grade CPU, lots of RAM, RAID 5 controller, fast HDDs, 100/1000 network card could be a good idea • OS flexibility • Do not necessarily need a monitor (or even keyboard/mouse)
Potential PC Builds (Cont.) • Office Work • Typically you want a better processor and more RAM • Integrated graphics or mid-level dedicated graphics card • Consider a reliable PSU, higher end case, 64-bit OS (if more than 4GB RAM is needed) • Workstation • Typically, a high-end or very high-end desktop • High-end CPU, high-end graphics card(s), lots of RAM • Useful for people doing CAD, intensive 3D work, HD video editing, etc.
Potential PC Builds (Cont.) • Gaming Rig • Not necessary since consoles exist… Just joking. • Mid- to high-end CPU, high-end graphics card(s) and a lot of RAM • Sound cards sometimes are useful as it can then handle digital sound processing – and frees up the CPU for other tasks • Depending upon the type of gaming, a mid-level or high-level graphics card would be necessary (two for very graphically demanding games) • Plan for future expansion/upgrading • A powerful and reliable PSU is necessary to support all the components • Windows-based OS • High-end components will generate lots of heat… a large case and fans are critical for good airflow and cooling (liquid cooling is an option)
Potential PC Builds (Cont.) • Video Editing • The most important component with video editing tends to be the hard disks. Consider going with 10,000 RPM drives if possible. SCSI is a great option if you can afford it. • Mid- to high-end CPU and graphics card(s) are useful, especially for encoding video • Specialized capture cards are available (consider a dedicated, high-speed drive for capture) • Try to purchase as much RAM as you possibly can • If transferring a lot of data from video equipment, look for good external connectors on your motherboard and case
Researching Components • When planning and designing your computer, research everything thoroughly (this saves time and money) • Budget accordingly… sometimes it may take time to build a computer • Don’t be afraid to ask questions in forums • Search engines are your friends… • as are (some) user comments on online retail websites • Check for component compatibility and reliability • Technology is ever-changing, there will always be new components, Operating Systems and software packages emerging, this is why it’s fun
Q & A • Questions? • Thank you for coming! • Look for Part II (Assembly) in the Fall of 2012 • Suggestions and comments are welcome • Kris Caldwell • David Clearwater • Matthew Fulton