My new computer... IF I do it right.

About a week and a half ago our computer started dying. It was making noises, freezing up, coughing and wheezing and begging for a priest. Anyhow, we went computer shopping and really couldn't find anything we liked. We don't want a laptop because we know ourselves well enough to know that we'd leave it where the kids could reach it, or even worse leave it on the floor and walk on it. But the only place that sells desktops around here is Wal-mart, and only packaged with the monitor, speakers, keyboards. All of that is just fine. Monitors are too expensive to just toss a perfectly good one. So we decided to shop online. And we decided we want something that will last us a while. Our older kids game on the computer some, and would more if we had a better system. And they're also starting to really want to download videos and music. Scott and I both take tons of pics, do a lot of our shopping online, etc. We want something that can do a lot. So over the weekend Scott bought the latest issue of computer shopper, wherein they give step by step directions for building your own computer from scratch, including which parts to order. I ordered the parts today. And yes, I will have to put all the guts in it and load all the software. It's a little scary but I have teens in the house. Teens breathe geek, don't they?

This is what we're getting. Except for the case. I found this case. I just couldn't resist it when I realized it was only $4 more than the plain black one.

Anyhow, I spent almost $590 after shipping, but I get $40 back in rebates. The only thing I'm not absolutely sure about is that I ordered Vista. I've heard some bad stuff about it, but I worry that they'll quit offering support for XP soon. I'm not gonna open it when it comes until the last minute so that I can exchange it if I change my mind.

You have nerve woman. Good Luck.
I am not sure I would attempt that myself. I get aggitated easy if it doesn't go the way it is suppose to.

There are step by step directions with pictures. If I ordered everything correctly (crossing my fingers) I shouldn't have problems. And it'll be a kickin' machine for only a few hundred more than what I could have got at Wal-mart. But I am definitely nervous.

Congrats!!

Its not hard. I have never built one from scratch, but I have installed scsi cards, memory, usb ports and other things, Plus taken a vaccum to the inside.

Do you know that if you open your computer you can build a new dog or at least a very large squirrel from the hair and nasty crap collected in there?

Ewww!

chelle wrote:Plus taken a vaccum to the inside.

I really have thought of doing this.

Good luck Karen. I am a bit confused though, why didn't you just order a tower with the stuff already installed? Wouldn't that be cheaper and easier? Before we switched to Macs, we replaced just the tower on our pc once. Like you said, the monitor was good so why replace that?

Vista is not that bad, and you can make it look like XP. I did not like Vista at first, but am getting used to it,and now prefer it.

Put a little piece of panty hose over the CPU fan intake, blocks alot of that crap....

I like that case.
I miss my Desktop, bought a lappie after the storm, and it just isnt all that.

I've been building PCs since I was 15, so if you need any help let me know. It's a whole lot easier than it used to be, I'm sure everything will go fine.

Hubby does it for a hobby Karen, we have several he built. It's not hard, well for him... I have ZERO interest on what's inside- I just want it to work. I think Vista sucks.... but I thought XP sucked as well. I want a Mac but wallet can't afford it.

I only paid $100 for my Mac desktop quite a few years ago. Got it used, but it was upgraded with a newer os. The good thing about Macs is that they do not get those nasty virus issues. So in the long run it has saved me money. It is getting too old now, as it doesn't work exactly right on all web sites now (Bzz is one of them). I bought my laptop from a friend who needed the money. I paid $850, but it is a top of line MacBook Pro, so worth much much more. I don't like the lap top as well as the desk top though. I don't really like the finger pad thingy, but am used to it now.

Honey wrote:Good luck Karen. I am a bit confused though, why didn't you just order a tower with the stuff already installed? Wouldn't that be cheaper and easier? Before we switched to Macs, we replaced just the tower on our pc once. Like you said, the monitor was good so why replace that?

I can afford a better system if I order parts and put them together myself, mostly because I can pick and choose the features I want and leave off the stuff I don't need. Like how I wanted a bigger drive than standard, but I didn't want to go all out and build a monster gaming system. Well, I did kind of want to, but I didn't want to spend extra money on it, LOL. I didn't mind spending a fair amount of money because except for Quinn we all use the computer daily. We don't have a wii or any other gaming console. The kids do that on the computer. Plus I think Zaven and Caly will get a real kick out of building it with me.

WhtTigress wrote:I've been building PCs since I was 15, so if you need any help let me know. It's a whole lot easier than it used to be, I'm sure everything will go fine.

Thank you! It's nice to know someone's got my back on this. I hope I won't have to take you up on that, though.

Good luck! Dh builds computers for a living so I've never attempted it myself -- I just get him to do it when I need a new one or need a new part installed. It is definately better to build your own and have exactly what you want and it will save you money too.

Good Luck,I have been thinking about doing this but not sure how it would end up. I have a good monitor as well so I am in the same boat. Let me know how it turns out.

Things finally calmed down enough that I started assembly today. I got the power unit installed and then started on the motherboard. Started, because Zoe stole my directions. Sigh. I'll have to get them online.

OK, I found the directions. I've got it all assembled but I'm not plugging it in until tomorrow or maybe even tomorrow night. I know that if it doesn't work right, I'll want to tear into it to figure out what's wrong, but I am too tired to stay up and fix it tonight. And I need to be sure that Quinn and Zoe are out of my hair if I have to open it back up. My nerves would not take them assisting me. So I'm going to wait until I know I have the time and space to make repairs before I try plugging it in and seeing if it works. It SHOULD work... but things don't always do what they should, LOL.

Good Luck. I have done a lot with computers but have never attempted to build one. We have both xp and vista both have their quirks.

Karen, I'd be interested in a specs list of what you got, especially the motherboard and CPU.

I built the computer I'm using now, but it's really showing its age and it's got an older type of power supply with the "wrong" type of connection for the newer motherboards. That means I'll have to gut the tower if I want to re-use it and put in a newer power supply.

As for the XP vs Vista argument, I have neither. I'm a Linux geekette and much prefer the choices and control I have over the system instead of selling my soul to MicroSloth. And no viruses (virii?).