Build my own PC...

keano25 · 01-02-2014 8:02pm #1

Hey lads, looking for advice on the subject as I have never done this before.

Basically all I want is a good, fast, reliable custom made PC.

Mostly for downloading, streaming videos on youtube and also I would like to put a connection for null modem cables like the older PC's had in it.

Not really into online gaming.

Can anyone point me in the right direction on what I need and to do to start building my own.

Thanks

Luck100 · 01-02-2014 8:17pm

Use the form below, guys will come up with something then.

1. What is your budget? [€xxx]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming/Video editing/3D Modelling/HTPC/Internet] (If gaming include which games)

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes/No]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [Hard drive/DVD Drive/Case/PSU/etc.] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility)

5. Do you need a monitor? [Yes/No]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [19'/20'/22'/24'/etc.]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080/1440x900/etc.] [Yes/No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse/Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers/etc.]

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes/No]

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [In x days]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [South Dublin City/Cork City/Kerry/etc.]

If you have a sample build yourself, use Fluffy's script to format it nicely.

keano25 · 01-02-2014 8:41pm

1. What is your budget? [€300-400]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? HTPC/Internet

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [No]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? no

5. Do you need a monitor? [No]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080] [Yes]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers.] also null modem connection

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes/No] Whats the point?

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [whenever]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [Cork]

Excuse my ignorance what is Fluffy's script and the need for it?

yawhat! · 01-02-2014 10:29pm

keano25 · 01-02-2014 11:48pm

Thank you! Would this setup be suitable for htpc?

Also how did you put this list together ? Experience or is there someway of knowing what parts will match up?

keano25 · 02-02-2014 12:03am

The only thing I would change is getting a hdmi connection instead of a dvi, is that possible?

Also how do I go about getting a null modem connection?

keano25 · 02-02-2014 10:07pm

Any experts willing to lend a hand?

mad turnip · 02-02-2014 10:15pm

It would be suitable for htpc presuming you are going to be sharing via your local area network.

You could use this motherboard instead
http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=127053&agid=2242&apop=3

You are aware DVI and HDMI are essentially the same and a small converter can be bought, the only difference is HDMI supports audio while DVI does not.

keano25 · 02-02-2014 11:30pm

That looks a nice motherboard, ya I'm aware of the dvi and hdmi difference thanks.

Would I also need a wireless connector? Id prefer wireless to wired, or at least to have the option

mad turnip · 03-02-2014 5:26pm

keano25 wrote: »

That looks a nice motherboard, ya I'm aware of the dvi and hdmi difference thanks.

Would I also need a wireless connector? Id prefer wireless to wired, or at least to have the option

Wired would be preferred, if your upc I would recommend on using a wired connection as I've found the wireless (the 2.4Ghz signal anyway) to be unreliable but would work in most cases.

There's different options in this case. Most shops sell a usb wireless adapter which can be used. You also have the option of buy a card which can plug into a pci slot keeping it mostly hidden. Depending on your router once again you might differ. UPC supports connections on the 5Ghz bandwidth which can stream much more and much faster than the cluttered 2.4Ghz signal, so if you have UPC (and a router that supports 5Ghz) I would buy a wireless device capable of using that frequency.

If you shared more details of the setup you want to achieve with HTPC most people could direct you better, along with your current network setup.

keano25 · 03-02-2014 5:41pm

Thank you mad turnip, my router is a netgear n600 - http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-routers/wndr3700.aspx

I don't have broadband with UPC, it's a local provider but very good.

I think I would like something like this, http://www.hardwareversand.de/PCI-Express/101540/TP-LINK+TL-WN751ND+Netzwerkkarte+-adapter.article

Would that be compatible with most motherboards?

Thanks again, when I have this built I'll have to hand out prizes to the helpers!

mad turnip · 03-02-2014 6:04pm

keano25 wrote: »

Thank you mad turnip, my router is a netgear n600 - http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-routers/wndr3700.aspx

I don't have broadband with UPC, it's a local provider but very good.

I think I would like something like this, http://www.hardwareversand.de/PCI-Express/101540/TP-LINK+TL-WN751ND+Netzwerkkarte+-adapter.article

Would that be compatible with most motherboards?

Thanks again, when I have this built I'll have to hand out prizes to the helpers!

The motherboard I recommended would be compatible. The first one would not as it has no PCI slots in it. (You can check this by clicking "Extended specifications" and it should be listed under "Interfaces").

A few tips for choosing a motherboard.
1) The case must support the size, the recomended case supports ATX, microATX, Mini-ITX, this covers most motherboards.
2) The CPU socket type must be the same as the motherboard (LGA1150 Socket)
3) If you want an internal wireless card it must have a PCI interface.
4) It must support HDMI like you said.

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers.] also null modem connection

are you looking for an rs232 socket like below?
RadioShackRS-232%20Cable%20-%20Female%20DB9%20to%20Female%20DB9%20-%20Mod.%2026-152b.gif

this would be very uncommon now a days with most being usb to serial cables. ( I would love a decent interface myself for this). This is usually bought via another PCI slot as I find the usb versions are completely useless.

http://www.hardwareversand.de/serial/80983/LogiLink+PCI+Karte%2C+2x+Seriell+RS232+%289-pin%29.article

So you will need another PCI slot which the motherboard I recomended seems to support

2 x PCI

.

stevenmu · 03-02-2014 6:16pm

Some motherboards will still have a serial port header, but you would still need to get either a suitable backplate for the back of the case or an IO plate for one of the expansion bays at the front.

keano25 · 03-02-2014 6:18pm

Thanks mad turnip your easy to learn from, that is the null modem exactly I would be after(the USB are no good to me), so maybe I would be better off going for a motherboard with more than 2 PCI slots just in case I want to add anything else in the future?

Also I may change that case for a nicer looking one?

keano25 · 03-02-2014 6:32pm

These are some components I have lying around at home, can I get a motherboard that I can connect the serial plug to?

keano25 · 03-02-2014 6:35pm

stevenmu wrote: »

Some motherboards will still have a serial port header, but you would still need to get either a suitable backplate for the back of the case or an IO plate for one of the expansion bays at the front.

Thanks steve

Does this have a serial port header?

http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=127053&agid=2242&apop=1

And how can I tell if it does?

mad turnip · 03-02-2014 6:44pm

keano25 wrote: »

Thanks mad turnip your easy to learn from, that is the null modem exactly I would be after(the USB are no good to me), so maybe I would be better off going for a motherboard with more than 2 PCI slots just in case I want to add anything else in the future?

Also I may change that case for a nicer looking one?

If you change case you would want to check it supports a motherboard of size microATX and has at least 4 expansion slots (most support more).

Most people won't need more than 2, if you were to add a graphics card it would use one of two PCI-e slots, again it comes down to future proofing and what you may do in future and what your willing to spend.

Internal interfaces

2 x USB 2.0 - header ¦ 1 x USB 3.0 - header ¦ 1 x serial - header ¦ 1 x parallel - header ¦ 1 x audio - header

That graphics card is likely very outdated and probably not worth using. (Anything that doesn't require power from the psu is never too decent). The usb interfaces are likely old and may even be USB 1 and be slower than a dialup connection. Depending on the case you will get 6-9 usb slots, that should be enough right?

The serial card can be connected and will free up one PCI slot if you use that instead of the link I gave.

keano25 · 03-02-2014 6:56pm

Is there a need for a graphics card? I just put that in the pic as i had it lying around, your right about the USB too!

How can i tell that the serial card can be connected? Do all motherboards come with this option?

mad turnip · 03-02-2014 7:04pm

keano25 wrote: »

Is there a need for a graphics card? I just put that in the pic as i had it lying around, your right about the USB too!

How can i tell that the serial card can be connected? Do all motherboards come with this option?

The CPU has a built in graphics option that is fine for everything besides higher end games. So no graphics card is necessary for what your listing anyway.

Some motherboards do, see my last post

1 x serial - header

that is what your looking for if you want to connect that component.

mad turnip · 03-02-2014 7:09pm

may I ask what you want the serial port for?

keano25 · 03-02-2014 7:15pm

mad turnip wrote: »

may I ask what you want the serial port for?

I like messing around with old linux boxes!

if you were me mad turnip what case would you pick?

mad turnip · 03-02-2014 7:43pm

keano25 wrote: »

I like messing around with old linux boxes!

if you were me mad turnip what case would you pick?

You don't want that opinion, I pick the most plain case and don't care how it looks at all. The only difference with my newest case is its far quieter than most cases and the whole PC is designed around being quiet.

I use the serial port for that aswell =D

keano25 · 03-02-2014 7:48pm

I don't mind plain! I also just look for silence as I'll be shoving this in behind the back of the tv hopefully!

Will I need a sound card? Or will the hd out on the mother board cover that?

Haha great minds, couldn't do without the serial port!

mad turnip · 04-02-2014 11:50am

This is the case I use:

http://www.hardwareversand.de/Mini/113891/Cooler+Master+Silencio+352+Matt%2C+ohne+Netzteil.article

keano25 · 04-02-2014 2:55pm

I like that case with the dust filters and 3.0 USB on the front which would be handy as I use an external hard drive for passing files over.

keano25 · 04-02-2014 3:41pm

Just thought do I need anything else when Im ordering so that I can run 64 or 86 bit or does that not matter?

mad turnip · 04-02-2014 4:03pm

post the links to what your ordering just to confirm. You will want to install 64 bit.

Do you need a copy of Windows? [No]

Hopefully your install disk contains a 64 bit version of windows if not you can download it for free and input your serial key off your windows disk.

keano25 · 04-02-2014 6:59pm

Whats the advantage to the 64bit?

mad turnip · 04-02-2014 11:18pm

keano25 wrote: »

Whats the advantage to the 64bit?

You should do a quick google before asking some questions. If you don't understand the information ask away but a quick google should give you plenty of information.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ie/windows/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows#1TC=windows-7

keano25 · 07-02-2014 1:40pm

mad turnip · 07-02-2014 3:04pm

looks very good, I would be unsure on a power supply so low but I presume its fine.

http://www.hardwareversand.de/400+-+500+Watts/79284/Cooler+Master+B500%2C+500+Watt.article

Might be more suitable although you are using it primarily for just beside the TV aren't you?

keano25 · 07-02-2014 4:49pm

Ya just in behind the tv is the plan, with a wireless mouse and keyboard.

keano25 · 07-02-2014 4:51pm

Another thing I'm thinking of adding is a good DVD burner.

Any recommendations?

SterlingArcher · 07-02-2014 5:14pm

keano25 wrote: »

Another thing I'm thinking of adding is a good DVD burner.

Any recommendations?

The be quiet PSU is perfect for what you are using the pc for. Be quiet is a good quality make quiet good cooking. Cool master is not.

SterlingArcher · 07-02-2014 5:15pm

SterlingArcher wrote: »

The be quiet PSU is perfect for what you are using the pc for. Be quiet is a good quality make quiet good cooking. Cool master is not.

Maybe a micro case.

keano25 · 07-02-2014 5:38pm

SterlingArcher wrote: »

Maybe a micro case.

I don't understand?

SterlingArcher · 07-02-2014 5:48pm

keano25 wrote: »

I don't understand?

A small case , as you have selected a micro atx motherboard.

keano25 · 07-02-2014 7:16pm

As this is my first build I'm not sure would everything fit in a mini case?

Build my own PC...

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