Build It Yourself Personal Computer
Considerations when taking the challenge on!

Making the decision to put together your own
PC is easier today with lower prices and great resources

Years ago we had a column on our website at TechtalkRadio.com on components and thoughts of building your own PC. It was amazing how many visits the page would receive years after the original article was published and the information and methods had changed. We have thought of publishing a follow up piece for years but as time moved forward, the technology continued to change. It still evolves quite rapidly and for many consumers who decide to take the plunge, they can now easily locate many helpful sites on the web to guide them through thier questions.

The idea of deciding to take the jump and DIY your own personal computer is one that shouldn't be taken lightly but will give you a better understanding at what happens inside your PC and why it works the way it should. I am not one to open the hood of a car or tinker with my motorcycle and try to fix things, if I was - my 2001 Honda Valkyrie would be running and not serving as a lovely bench for my loose power supplies. Honestly, building your own computer is not as difficult as it may seem and there is an entire community of "Geeks Like Me" that love to offer their two cents on not only the components that should be used to put together the computer together but also the choice of operating systems and ways to push the limit of your systems capabilities, otherwise known as over clocking.

We're not going to get into that thread of conversation however we will share some points over the next few weeks on putting it all together with some products we've been looking at and hopefully make you comfortable if you make this decision to Do It yourself.  

It is easy to look at a computer system on the shelf of any big box retail store and see benefits of buying the "Rack" system over building your own. The prices are down now on Retail systems and in some cases the quality is top notch. You should also remember that with most shelf systems you will usually receive bundles of software to go with your new computer including Microsoft Office, security software and products to watch DVD's, edit photos and even play some games. Some of these programs are 90 day evaluations and sometimes they aren't. A good suggestion is to research and study and if you go to the computer store, don't buy on the first look. Also, investigate the warranty and make sure your system will be covered if peripherals don't work or the system seems to hang when you try to get task accomplished.  If you build your own system, you will usually find a limited warranty which can be anywhere from 14 days to 1 year on the parts you purchase. Again, there are benefits to buying your system from a reputable retail outlet and there are benefits to building your own. Either way, we'll point you in the right direction for putting it together and would love to hear how your project turned out.

If I can recommend some websites and books for you, I would pick up the book "Building the PC in Easy Steps" by Stuart Yarnold or "Building the Perfect PC Second Edition" by Robert Thompson. While books can become outdated as far as the technology available, it can give you an idea of the processes to the BIY or Build It Yourself project. I am also a fan of magazines such as Sandhill Publishing's Computer Power User or CPU Magazine. There are tons of product reviews and tips for building your own and getting more out of your computer. A visit to the website at http://www.computerpoweruser.com should be a stop. Tom's Hardware is another great place to find reviews and information on new and upcoming gadgets at http://www.tomshardware.com Anand Shimpi has a great site as well but the tech level here can be a bit overwhelming, either way - it's another great place to stop in at http://www.anandtech.com

If you have made the decision, the next step is finding parts. Your local big box store won't have everything you need but may offer a way to order some of the specialty items online. In Tucson we have a couple of "Mom and Pop" stores that carry everything from Thermal Grease to inexpensive keyboards and processors from AMD or Intel. You more than likely will have a Mom and Pop store in your town if you want to support your local Computer Store.

If you decide you don't mind having a product shipped, one of the most popular places to order parts is from http://www.newegg.com . The company features virtually everything you would need to build the system and has a wonderful website for reading reviews of products from other consumers including the pros and cons of a particular item. On many items they offer free shipping as well as specs and warranty information right on the page. I've built a few systems with products from Newegg and have been pleased with the entire process.

Don't feel intimidated to join forums on some of the Tech Sites on the web. There is a great community that will answer your questions and in many instances will not have you feeling like a "Noob." This could be your first step into a larger world. For information on Cases and Power Supplies, take a look at our coverage of products from Cooler Master. Be sure to stop by our forum at http://www.techtalkradio.com/forum for helpful tips and questions you may have.