Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own

1
Chapter 23

• 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 Personal Computer to Meet Your Needs

• Consider an upgrade if
• Cost does not exceed half the value of current
  system
• Resulting system does not contain legacy
  components that might compromise performance
• Dont upgrade a computer system older than five
  years

4
Upgrading a PC

• Verify availability of drivers
• Match motherboard bus types to expansion cards
• Consider number of available expansion slots
• Heed voltage requirements of processor
• Consider new memory modules and processor for new
  motherboard

5
Upgrading a PC (continued)

• Verify that OS supports dual processing (if
  desired)
• Match memory modules to motherboard
• Verify available space on hard drive
• Flash BIOS before installing new peripheral

6
Alternatives When Buying a New PC

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

7
Considerations When Buying a New PC (Hierarchical)

• Intended purpose
• Functionality needed
• Hardware and software needed to meet
  functionality requirements
• Budget
• Assemble clone yourself?

8
Purchasing a Brand-Name PC versus a Clone

• Brand-name
• Costs more than a clone
• Generally provides better after-sales service and
  additional support
• May be more proprietary
• Potential for difficulty in upgrading and
  repairing

9
Selecting Software

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

10
Selecting Hardware

• Most important criteria
• Compatibility
• Functionality
• Consider motherboard first
• Other considerations (eg, processing power,
  modem, power supply, case, documentation,
  internal versus external devices)
• Peripheral devices

11
Considerations When Selecting a Total Package

• Hardware and software included
• Warranty and return or exchange policy
• On-site or local service
• ACPI- and Energy Star-compliance
• Preinstalled software
• Documentation

12
Considerations When Selecting a Total Package
(continued)

• Manufacturers Web site
• Motherboard allows for expansion of RAM
• Unused expansion slots
• Ability to disable features
• Price
• High- to middle-priced PCs offer more network
  capability, expandability, support, prior testing

13
Why Build Your Own PC?

• Can be fun
• Knowledge gain
• Availability of hardware and software
  documentation and original software disks
• Complete control over every part

14
Why Not Build Your Own PC?

• Takes time and requires patience
• No overall warranty on assembled product
• Possibility of selecting components that are
  incompatible
• Need access to an experienced technician or
  technical service center
• Probably wont save money

15
Getting Ready for Assembly Selecting Parts

• Review functionality, compatibility, and budget
  needs
• Select motherboard first, then CPU and RAM
• Select case and accompanying power supply

16
Getting Ready for Assembly Selecting Parts
(continued)

• Select hard drive and other drives
• Select video card and other peripherals (mouse,
  keyboard, monitor)

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Getting Ready for Assembly Final Preparations

• Prepare a well-lit, uncluttered work area
• Read all documentation and plan entire assembly
• Get questions answered before you begin

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Building a Personal Computer Assembly Process

1. Verify that you have all the parts
2. Prepare the computer case
3. Install drives

19
Building a Personal Computer Assembly Process
(continued)

1. Determine and set up jumpers and DIP switches for
   the motherboard
2. Install CPU and CPU fan
3. Install RAM on the motherboard

20
Building a Personal Computer Assembly Process
(continued)

1. Install motherboard attach cables and power
   cords
2. Install video card and other expansion cards
3. Install modem card

21
Building a Personal Computer Assembly Process
(continued)

• 10. Plug in computer connect mouse, keyboard,
  and monitor
• 11. Boot the computer, check CMOS settings, and
  verify operation
• 12. Install peripheral devices and software

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Step 1 Verify That You Have All Parts
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Step 2 Prepare Computer Case

• Install case fans and I/O shield
• Remove plates covering drive bays and install
  spacers

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Installing I/O Shield
25
Installing Spacers
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Step 3 Install Drives

• Configure jumpers on each IDE drive
• Install the CD-RW drive
• Install the hard drive
• Install the floppy drive

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Configuring Jumpers on Each IDE Drive

• With parallel ATA, up to two IDE controllers can
  be on motherboard (primary and secondary)
• Each controller can support up to two drives
  (master and slave), for total of up to four IDE
  drives
• With serial ATA and parallel ATA, up to six IDE
  devices can be supported

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Installing the CD-RW Drive
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Installing the CD-RW Drive (continued)
30
Installing the CD-RW Drive (continued)
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Installing the Hard Drive
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Installing the Floppy Drive
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Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on Motherboard
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Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on Motherboard
(continued)
35
Step 4 Set Jumpers or Switches on Motherboard
(continued)
36
Step 5 Install CPU and CPU Fan
37
Step 5 Install CPU and CPU Fan (continued)
38
Step 6 Install RAM on the Motherboard
39
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
40
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
41
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
42
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
43
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
44
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
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Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
47
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
48
Step 7 Install Motherboard and Attach Cabling
(continued)
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Step 8 Install the Video Card
50
Step 8 Install the Video Card (continued)
51
Step 8 Install the Video Card
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Step 9 Install the Modem Card

• Not considered an essential device
• Can install after testing the system and
  installing the OS
• If you choose to install it now
• Install in a PCI slot
• Remove faceplate, insert the card, and secure it
  with a screw

53
Step 10 Plug In the Computer and Attach External
Devices
54
Step 11 Boot the Computer, Check Settings, and
Verify Operation
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Step 11 Boot the Computer, Check Settings, and
Verify Operation
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Step 12 Install Peripheral Devices and
Applications

• Modem card
• Printer
• Applications

57
Summary

• Reasons for purchasing a new PC
• Better after-sales service and support
• Reasons for building a PC from parts
• Knowledge gain
• Complete control over every part
• Procedures for building a PC from parts