Please Could Someone Help Me On Building Computers?

Question

I am new to custom built computers and i have some questions please could someone help me out

1. What is the "jumpers" on the back of certain hardware and how do i set them

2. I am not sure which componets will be compatable and which i should buy

3. Where can i buy a anti static device

4. Which prossesor should i buy for a easy and simple build

5. Can someone make me a list of components (Make Model Type) that will coordinate and fit into one PC



Thankyou For Your Time
(Please explain in simple and easy terms)

Answer 1

Wow. I'll answer your questions:

1) Jumpers connect two points together. They are quite small. The only time you'll need to mess with Jumpers is when you are declaring an IDE driver as Master or Slave.

2) Start with your Motherboard. The motherboard determines what kind of CPU (by socket), RAM (by speed), Harddrives (by interface), and everything else. If you want it simple, get a motherboard with onboard Video and onboard Sound.

3) You probably wont need Antistatic devices unless you are "shocking" people when you touch stuff. A good safety tip is to touch the Computer case before working with components. Don't move around after touching the case. Rubbing socks on Carpet can build up a static charge. I always touch the metal case before touching components.

4) All processors are easy to install. It depends on what you want.

5) That would take forever to do that. But like I said, start with the Motherboard and CPU. It will determine everything you need.

Answer 2

Physical assembly of the machine is only half the battle...you're going to have to know how to install all of the drivers as well as the windows os, and if you're doing it with and SP1 or older windows xp disk, you will need to make an install floppy if you plan to use a sata or sata II hard drive. As far as jumpers go, they are a cheap version of a toggle switch. If you install two drives on one ide ribbon cable, one has to be set as master (usually the one with disk write capability if refering to an optical drive) and one as slave. If going with an amd based system, make sure to get a socket AM2 motherboard and cpu. This combination will take ddr2 ram. You can put a wide (price) range of CPU's on this socket type. If going with a semperon64 cpu, make sure it has 256k L2 cache. As far as an antistatic device, just make sure your fore arm is on (touching) the power supply when you touch anything or plug anything in to keep your body and the computer chasis at the same relative level of static charge). Maxtor makes the best harddrives (from personal experience. Another pointer is to make sure you know if you have a 20 or 24 pin powersupply and mother board. Some 24 pin Main boards can still take a 20 pin supply, but not always. You have to plug in the LEDs and buttons in the front of your case correctly as well.



Are you scared yet?



You sound like you need to do a little more research on this kind of stuff. I suggest you find some motherboard manufacturers websites and study the manual for their socket AM2 mother boards. The nvidia 6100/410 or 6150/430 chipset boards are a good place to start. Good luck...you sound like you'll need it. Don't give up though...building your own computer is very rewarding once you have the hang of it, but it can be very frustrating too.

Answer 3

Jumpers are just a connectors that connects two pins together. If you don't have a leaflet telling you what you setting is or it's not obvious - then there is no way of knowing. The setting usually come with the hardware. If you're on a budget look for re-furbished computers. You can also get bare bones systems - basically the system box and you then need to get other bits like the operating system, keyboard, monitor and mouse. Look at the all the links I've given below - especially Maplin for parts. You basically need a system box, mainboard (that will take the processor) different mainboards take different processors. I'd go for an AMD processor - an Athlon. At least 512k of memory and look at clock speeds - faster the better. The CPU has a clock speed then there is a clock speed for memory. Just get the fastest you can afford. While you are buying your hardware you need software! The operating system is the main one. XP on discount and OEM (just the disk) will cost you £50 for the home edition and £80 for the professional edition. There isn't a great difference - since service pack two came out. If you're on a budget - go for the home edition. Then you have to choose MS Office (stupidly expensive) or MS Works, the former is OK - the latter does the crap. I would serious look at the first link I've given you. It's a new version of Linux. Look around the site for the desktop home edition at $10. You can't complain at that price. Even with VAT that works out to about £6.80 for a stable operating system - again about £50 for Microsoft XP - that I've had on here for a month or so and it has loads of "hotfixes" already!! It crashes regularly too. Linux is more stable. Plus you have a wide choice of free software to download with Linux. I'll also link Linux.org - where there is a forum to ask questions and get advice. I have 2 computers one with XP pro on and this laptop with XP home. I am putting that version of Linux on my desktop and multiboot - so I can choose which system I use - and see how well it works and the associated software. I need a web design program that will work under Linux if I switch. But the thought of saying bye bye to Microsoft is very attractive - when you have a home network and need separate licenses for each computer. That's separate licenses for all Microsoft stuff and a separate license for anti-virus and a decent firewall (Microsoft firewall is useless). I wouldn't worry about an anti-static strap - you will probably only fit the microprocessor - just don't touch the pins. If you do build from scratch. Make sure you get a kit for the microprocessor including heatsink and fan and use that heat conducting putty stuff to go between the processor and heatsink. Have a good DVD rewriter drive and choose Sonic software if you use XP. Otherwise, if you go Linux - just check out the free Linux stuff. I've including download.com for free software downloads and snapfiles.com. Ubuntu is again a newish version of Linux. If you have loads of money use f-secure for your firewall and anti-virus - they do a free on-line scan for anyone who just got hit by that new virus that came out on the 13th of August. If you are really in the crapper with a virus, download their free trial! Last but not least look at my website - click the Google advert! Sign the guest book and email me - the address is on the bottom of every page on my website - if you need more info. Nearly forgot, if Micromart is still going- that's a good magazine for buying bits and getting info. I suppose Ebay may be worth looking at too. Remember that most main boards fit in an ATX case. You may be able to scrounge one free - I know one company that dumps old systems in a skip! Criminal when people like us would "recycle" them. Excuse, all the mistakes - the spell checker couldn't cope with this answer.

Give me top answer - you got about 10% of the links I have on favourites! lol. More links on my website. I just remembered Misco have a computer - no operating system or monitor - but only £150 - that's worth a look - could be upgraded and the $10 Linux put on. Aria have flat screen monitors for under £100. Aria, also have a great forum for registered customers run by Lucy!I'm writing a bloody book here! The END!

Answer 4

Listen to The Warmth.

As hard as I have tried Ive never been able to build one as cheap as I can buy them.

However, one way is to look for a barebones PC. Usually this is a motherboard (or mainboard)with a CPU and fan, already installed in a mini tower case.You need to add a hard drive, memory, removable storage, and whatever else you want. I usually cannibalize the PC I am replacing to make things cheaper.

If you live in an area that has computer shows you can get a pretty fast machine for like $135-$200. Plus you know its been plugged in after they built it to make sure it works.

If you buy them online get ready to add like $45 onto the price for shipping.

Good luck and have fun!

I saw a GREAT Compaq64 at walmart for $349

Answer 5

1)Jumpers connect one point to another, you only need to do this to declare something a master or slave. if you only have 1 optical (cd/dvd drive) and a hard disk you probably dont need to mess about with these as you can connect them each separtly to the motherboard. it onl;y gets complicated if you want to join a floppy drive to a cdrom drive for example to make it work you have to declare 1 a master and1 a slave. instructions come with the devices and will explain the settings



2) get a kit from www.overclockers.co.uk - the guaratee to make sure the equipment is compactible and they are excellent value for money and very reliable. highly recommended. kits there come with motherboard, processor, heatsink, RAM memory i think. they also tell you what cases etc are good. very cheap as well for accessories



3 anti static devices often come in kits which can be found at pcworld etc etc and i think they have them on overclockers.



think this answers all your qustions



2)

Answer 6

I've built and upgraded my own pc over the years. I seriously advise you not to bother because very good computers are being sold at seriously cheap prices now - a lot cheaper than you can build them for.

Answer 7

Hi Harley. I gave you a 5 star rating on the question you answered for me about the Norton worm situation, but it only came up as a 1 star, sorry. HAGD

Answer 8

if you don't know what jumpers are you should not be doing this by yourself unless you are working on a p1 or a 486 (they are allot more forgiving). you make a mistake with anything newer than a p2 you can prob kiss the motherboard bye bye

Answer 9

you are better off buying one already built. It will be less time consuming and less expensive. Or you can get someone who has experience building one to help you out.

Answer 10

the answers to the questions are as folllows

1)jumpers are used on hard drives and optical drives(dvd,cd-roms) and are used to set the drives at master,slave,cable select....a standard hard drive will be set at master,and when you add a 2nd it will be set at slave...the same applies to a dvd/cd-rom ...a 2nd drive will be set at slave......cable select will automatically configure itself to fit your system

2) to buy the right parts you need to get 1.a processor(amd/intel) and 2.motherboard with a socket(or slot) that is compatible with the processor you have bought...i.e sockets a,775,754,939,478

you will need to buy a compatible hard drive ,udma(standard 20 pin connector) or ata (small red 4 pin high speed connector)

graphic card...check your motherboard for slot...agp normally brown with a 2 slot one small one medium....or pci expresss ....many colours longer than agp and a long slot and a smaller end slot.....for more advice consult motherboard manual

optical drives....buy a dvd-rw as this is backward compatible with all other formats(cd-r/rw...dvd-r/rw) 1 drive will do all formats but add a dvd-rom drive(2nd drive set at slave setting) for easier copying of disks

ram....the more the better...recommend at least 512mb but if you can afford 1gb this would be better....comes in different types...ddr,ddr2,sd-ram.....yours will probally take ddr(double data rate)2...comes in different frequency,s 266,333,400mhz

case+psu(power supply unit) case is up to your tastes,but recommended cpu is 350w +,this is important if you need to connect any more devices

modem and network card(ethernet) uf you use broadband a ethernet card is needed(but you will get one on your motherboard)

3) you can buy a anti-static band at any good computer retailer or pc-world(http://www.pcworld.co.uk/index.php?camp_id=ppc_overture_pc_world&ovmkt=64MEFNUOOR1BOM2RFQ99022QNS

4)good processors to use in a build are intel celerons and amd semprons...these are very cheap but can do anything you throw at them...celerons can have clock speeds of up to 3.0ghz and semprons up to 2.2ghz...plenty fast enough...if money is no object go for amd athlon64 and pentium 4 or d

5) a good basic shopping list for a build

processor celeron (intel) =£50

motherboard(socket 775) = £45

40gb hard drive(udma)= =£35

512mb ddr2 ram =£60

dvd-rw drive =£40

graphic card(ati x1600) =£105

case/psu =£60

sound(sounblaster audigy)=£28



this is only a basic list but as you can see it dosent cost that much to build a p.c and its much more fun buiding a pc yourself,i should know ,i built the one i am using at the moment last week,so just be confident in your work,and more imprtant"take your time!"

good luck

Answer 11

Are you sure you've got the wherewithall to do this? If you don't know what you're doing you could waste a helluva lot of time and money...

Answer 12

I agree with SundaeG1rl, *IF* you don't know the basics from your questions, you'd best not attempt such without a knowledgeable person's help.



It amounts to your asking how to build a car...........

Answer 13

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/



This website gives you step by step instructions. It's how I built my own PC.



Anti static wrist strap can be bought at Radio Shack