ND-IEEE Computer Building Part 1 – Ordering Parts

1. ND-IEEE Computer Building Part 1 – Ordering Parts Andrew Velzen – ND IEEE President

2. Big Decisions • Budget • Determines the price range of everything you buy • $500 is what we are using for the IEEE computer • Purpose of Machine • Different price typical price ranges for each of the following: • Multimedia/Web Server • Large hard drive storage space • Gaming rig • Heavy cost on Hardware • Video/Visual Art Creation/Editing Station • Hardware is expensive and Software is Incredibly expensive • Primarily just a web browsing machine with basic productivity package • Cheap all around

3. Where To Purchase? • Standardized Prebuilt with Minimum Customizability • Dell, Apple, TigerDirect, CompUSA, BestBuy • Advantages because you know what you are getting • Usually make it incredibly easy (Even Grandma Jillian can do it) • Overpriced for what you are getting • Prebuilt with Tons of Customizability • Cyberpowerpc, iBuyPower • Lots of options without all the worry of assembly • Tend to marginally more expensive than if you buy parts individually and putting them together yourself (paying for labor) • Buying Parts individually and Assembling them yourself • Newegg • The cheapest price for the highest level of performance • Have the fun of putting your own computer together • Easiest to upgrade if you ever need to, because you know everything in it already • Usually a minimum of 1 year warranty on every part, especially the ones that are most expensive. This protects against Dead on Arrival (DoA) parts • Tons of reliable customer reviews to read on most parts

4. List of Essential Parts • CPU – Central Processing Unit • RAM – Random Access Memory • Motherboard • Case + Fans • Power Supply • Internal Hard Drive • Graphics Card • Some Motherboards have integrated graphics, and this isn’t technically an essential part, but almost all desktops nowadays have one, even if it’s really weak

5. List of Peripherals • Monitor • Speakers • Keyboard • Mouse • Floppy Drive…lol • CD/DVD/Blu-ray Drive • SD-Card Reader • CD-Burner/DVD-Burner • Printer • Webcam • Cables • External Hard Drive

6. Typical Order • Here’s my order from Black Friday 2010, just so you get an idea of where we are headed • Note: I did order some weird parts that aren’t essential • This machine was priced at $600, not including monitor • Also notice the combo deals • Usually a great thing to look for, especially on Motherboards and Processor

7. CPU – Central Processing Unit • AMD vs. Intel • Intel is probably the better known industry name • Heated arguments from both side about which is better • AMD is usually considerably cheaper for same speed, so we’ll go with that • Tech Specs to think about • Number of Cores (1,2,3,4,6,8) • Usually want at least 2 these days, typically 4 • Operating Frequency • 2.0-3.0 GHz is standard these days • Cache • Typically around 8 MB • Not that Important, just make sure it isn’t absurdly low • MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE: • It comes with a heatsink and fan. Almost none come without these in today’s market, but if it does you don’t want it • You remember the Socket type of the CPU. It is ESSENTIAL that you make sure it is the same Socket type supported by your motherboard, otherwise the two won’t work together. • Thermal Paste Pre-applied, if not, buy extra Thermal Paste (~$10)

8. RAM – Random Access Memory • Go with a name Brand for this one, as knock-off Memory is notorious for failing • G.SKILL and CORSAIR are great • Kingston is good • Tech Specs to think about • Speed • DDR2 vs. DDR3. DDR2 is cheaper, but DDR3 is pretty much standard these days • Number after the DDR2 or DDR3 • Make sure Motherboard supports that speed • Capacity • Most important spec. 2 GB is small. 4 GB is decent. 8 GB is good, and probably average for about now • Number of sticks • Almost always want 2 sticks of equal size. Leaves you room to expand as most Motherboards usually have 4 slots • Make Sure: • The number of pins on your RAM chip is equal to the number of pins accepted by your Motherboard

9. Motherboard • Pick to fit your processor typically, not the other way around • Again, typically don’t want to go with knock-off for this one • MSi, Gigabyte, and ASUS are all fine • Essential Tech Specs: • CPU Socket Type and Memory Standard • Form Factor • Ensure it is ATX, as opposed to Micro ATX – Much easier to work with • Important Tech Specs • Number of Memory Slots • USB Ports – USB 3.0 vs. USB 2.0 • PCI Express x16 slot required if you want a graphics card • Care about eSata, PS2 ports for keyboard/mouse, type of sound card???

10. Case • Mostly about what looks prettiest  • Cooler Master is very reputable, but most case companies are fine, just read the reviews • Don’t get a case with a power supply, as the power supplies are typically cheap • Relevant Tech Specs: • Size - Either ATX Mid or ATX Full so you know there is enough room for everything • Typically the more metal the better. Study than plastic • Steel > Aluminum obviously (Is heavier though if you plan on transporting it a lot) • The More Fans the better • Side-Panel window can be cool to impress your friends • Front Ports (Headphones, Mic, USB) are usually really nice • Nice if you can take it apart without a lot of tools

11. Power Supply • OCZ and Thermaltake are both good • Just read the reviews, and ensure you have plenty of power • 500 W is about the minimum you should ever have • 600-700 W is what you want to shoot for • Over 800 W is usually overkill

12. Internal Hard Drive • SSD vs. Regular • SSD faster, but not enough to account for the huge price difference for same size, in my opinion • Buy ONLY Seagate or Western Digital • Both great companies, stick with them • Relevant Tech Specs: • Size • Want at least 200 GB these days, I’d usually shoot for around 500 GB. Depends on personal preference • RPM • 7200 is standard, usually want this, don’t go lower • 10,000 VelociRaptor – Sounds cool, not worth it…

13. Graphics Card • NVIDIA vs. Radeon • All the same arguments as Intel vs. AMD • We’ll go with Radeon because it’s cheaper for same speeds • Very Important to read reviews on Gfx cards • Relevant Tech Specs: • Make sure it fits in PCI express x16 slot (Almost all do) • Memory size (128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB) • Memory Type – GDDR5 or GDDR3 • Usually worth getting GDDR5 if you can swing it • Output ports • If you have a TV or Monitor with certain inputs, make sure this Gfx card has that type of output, or that you can buy a connector to that type of output. Usually like HDMI or DVI. D-SUB = VGA

14. Peripherals • Almost always want keyboard/mouse • Nothing specific. Wireless vs. wired is biggest decision • Speakers and/or headphones are usually nice • Can get speakers sure cheap • Monitor is usually a requirement • Get cheapest one with size you want and ensure inputs will work with your Gfx card outputs • CD/DVD Reader/Burner Combo drive is usually a requirement. Unless everything you install comes from the internet • Just get the cheapest one with decent ratings. Usually < $20 • Blu-Ray drives are reasonably priced, but expensive enough where it isn’t worth getting if you aren’t pretty sure you are going to use it • SD-Card Reader? Printer? Webcam? External Hard Drive? • Usually not a requirement for most people • Cables • Your power supply and monitor will come with power cables, but you’ll want to buy a cheap HDMI cable or something and you’ll want an ethernet cable • Rosewill products are a good bet. This is Newegg’s own hardware company. Great for cables. They are reliable and always very inexpensive

15. Final Notes: • This is not currently a WiFi capable computer. You’ll have to buy a wireless card if you want to do that • Still need to buy software • Mac OS vs. Windows vs. Linux • Not going to get into this debate  • Windows 7 is $55 from OIT as a Student • Apple makes it very difficult to get Mac OS X for a non-apple computer • Linux is free, many different options  • We’ll probably put Windows 7 – 64 bit on the IEEE build • Microsoft Office • If you want it, you can get Office 2010 from OIT for $55 • Not putting it on IEEE build • Anti-virus • Plenty of great free ones out there, no need to purchase: • Anti-Virus Guard (AVG) • Avast • How’d we do relative to original budget? • Submit Order • We’ll receive an order confirmation, shipping tracking number, and receipt • Usually takes about a week or two for Newegg stuff to arrive (Shipped in 1 box)

16. The End Final Questions???