Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own

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Chapter 14

• Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own

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You Will Learn

• Some guidelines to use when purchasing a PC
• How to prepare for assembling a PC yourself
• How to assemble a PC from separately purchased
  parts

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Selecting a PCto Meet Your Needs

• Consider upgrading if cost of the upgrade does
  not exceed half the value of current system
• Dont upgrade a computer system older than five
  years

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Alternatives WhenSelecting a PC

• Buy a brand-name PC
• Buy a clone
• Buy parts and assemble a PC yourself (personally
  designed clone)

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Selecting a PC to Meet Your Needs (Hierarchical)

• Identify the intended purpose
• Define the functionality needed
• Define hardware and software needed to meet the
  functionality
• Decide on your budget
• If a clone will meet your needs, do you want to
  assemble it yourself?

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Purchasing a Brand-Name PC versus a Clone

• Brand-name
• Costs more than a clone
• Generally provides better after-sales service and
  additional support
• May be more proprietary, making upgrading and
  repairing more difficult

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Selecting Software

• Choose operating system first
• Choose application software
• Functionality
• Compatibility
• Training
• Documentation
• Upgrade policies
• Popularity

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Selecting Hardware

• Most important criteria
• Compatibility
• Functionality
• Consider motherboard first
• Other considerations (eg, PnP, modem selection,
  power supply)

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Considerations When Selecting a Total Package

• What hardware and software are included?
• Warranty and return or exchange policy?
• On-site or local service available?
• ACPI and Energy Star compliant?
• What software preinstalled?
• What documentation provided?

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Considerations When Selecting a Total Package

• Manufacturers Web site maintained?
• Motherboard allow for expansion of RAM?
• What expansion slots are not being used?
• Can features be disabled?
• How much does it cost?

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Selecting a Total Package

• High-priced to middle-range PCs offer more
• Network capability
• Expandability
• Support
• Prior testing

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Why Build Your Own PC?

• Knowledge gain
• Complete control over every part
• Availability of documentation and original
  software disks
• Personal satisfaction

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Why Not Build Your Own PC?

• Takes time
• High likelihood of encountering problems
• No overall warranty on assembled product
• Possibility of selecting components that are
  incompatible
• Need access to an experience technician or
  technical service center
• Probably wont save money

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Getting Ready for Assembly Selecting Parts

• Selecting each component requires reviewing your
  functionality, compatibility, and budget needs
• Select motherboard first, then CPU and RAM (all
  from same local dealer, if possible)
• Select the case and accompanying power supply
• Select hard drive and other drives
• Select video card and other peripherals (mouse,
  keyboard, monitor)

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Getting Ready for Assembly Final Preparations

• Prepare a work area that is well lit and
  uncluttered
• Read all documentation and plan entire assembly
• Get questions answered before you begin

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Steps for Building a PC

• Verify that you have all the parts
• Prepare the computer case
• Install case fans and I/O shield
• Remove plates covering drive bays and install
  spacers
• Install drives
• Determine proper configuration settings for
  motherboard set jumpers and DIP switches

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Steps for Building a PC

1. Install CPU and CPU fan
2. Install RAM on the motherboard
3. Install motherboard and attach cabling
4. Install video card
5. Plug computer in attach monitor, keyboard, and
   mouse
6. Boot the computer, check CMOS settings, and
   verify operation

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Step 1 Verify You HaveAll the Parts
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Step 2 Prepare Computer Case
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Installing a Fan
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Installing Spacers
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Step 3 Install Drives

• Set IDE jumpers on each IDE drive in the system
• Install CD-ROM drive
• Install hard drive
• Install floppy drive

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Installing the CD-ROM Drive
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Installing the Floppy Drive
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Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
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Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
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Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
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Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
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Step 5 Install CPU and CPU Fan
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Step 5 Install CPU and CPU Fan
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Step 6 Install RAM on the Motherboard
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
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Step 8 Install Video Card
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Step 8 Install Video Card
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Step 8 Install Video Card
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Step 9 Plug Computer in and Attach External
Devices
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Step 10 Boot Computer, Check Settings, Verify
Operation
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The Complete System
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Chapter Summary

• Guidelines for purchasing a new PC
• After-sales service and support are most
  important criteria
• Reasons for building a PC from parts
• Knowledge gain
• Complete control over every part
• Availability of documentation and original
  software disks
• Personal satisfaction
• Procedures for building a PC from parts