Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own

1
Chapter 14

• Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own

2
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

3
Selecting a PCto Meet Your Needs

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

4
Selecting a PCto Meet Your Needs

• Identify the intended purpose
• Define the functionality
• 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?

5
Purchasing a Brand-Name PC versus a Clone

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

6
Selecting Software

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

7
Selecting Hardware

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

8
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?

continued
9
Considerations When Selecting a Total Package

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

10
Selecting a Total Package

• Middle-range PCs offer more
• Network capability
• Expandability
• Support
• Prior testing

11
Why Build Your Own PC?

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

12
Why Not Build Your Own PC?

• Takes time
• High likelihood of encountering problems
• No warranty on assembled product
• Probably wont save money

13
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 dealer, if possible)
• Select the case and accompanying power supply
• Select hard drive and other drives

14
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

15
Steps for Building a PC

• Verify that you have all the parts
• Prepare the computer case
• Install drives
• Set jumpers and DIP switches on the motherboard
• Install CPU and CPU fan
• Install RAM on the motherboard

continued
16
Steps for Building a PC

• Install motherboard and attach cabling
• Install video card
• Plug computer in and attach external devices
• Boot the computer, check settings, and verify
  operation

17
Step 1 Verify You HaveAll the Parts
18
Step 2 Prepare Computer Case
19
Step 2 Prepare Computer Case
20
Step 2 Prepare Computer Case
21
Step 3 Install Drives

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

22
Step 3 Install Drives
23
Step 3 Install Drives
24
Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
25
(No Transcript)
26
Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
27
Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
28
Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on the Motherboard
29
Step 5 Install CPU and CPU Fan
30
Step 5 Install CPU and CPU Fan
31
Step 6 Install RAM on the Motherboard
32
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
33
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
34
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
35
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
36
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
37
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
38
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
39
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
40
Step 8 Install Video Card
41
Step 8 Install Video Card
42
Step 8 Install Video Card
43
Step 9 Plug Computer in and Attach External
Devices
44
Step 10 Boot Computer, Check Settings, Verify
Operation
45
Step 10 Boot Computer, Check Settings, Verify
Operation
46
Chapter Summary

• Purchasing a new PC
• After-sales service
• Support
• Building a PC from parts
• Knowledge gain
• Complete control over every part
• Availability of documentation and original
  software disks
• Personal satisfaction