How to Design a New Computer

Designing a computer can be fun and challenging. You have a lot of questions to answer for yourself about how and where the computer is going to be used before beginning to look at specifications. But once you have your perfect computer sitting at your desk, you will be once again, on top of your game.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose a chip manufacturer. Mac enthusiasts should work with Apple's configuration team to get the chipset and system base that works best. On the other hand, a PC connoisseur should look at dual core or quad core technology from Intel and AMD, and can go through many different suppliers to purchase the chip.

2. Identify your video requirements. A system designed for gaming or multimedia design will have much higher video requirements than a system designed to run your basic office accounting applications.

3. Decide how much RAM you need. In part, your RAM requirements are based on the operating system you chose to run. Vista needs a minimum of a gig to run effectively with basic applications. If you're building a Vista gaming system you should install 3 gig of memory.

4. Weigh your options on storage and back up devices. You have the option of hard drive storage space, speed and buffer size. If you simply cruise the Internet and send email, then a 120GB hard drive may work for you. If you are a hard core gamer, then consider acquiring a 500 or 750GB drive.

5. Settle upon a sound card. Gaming and home recording studio systems work best with multi-channel surround sound audio cards. A standard business computer can typically function on the sound system built into the mother board or a card from the bargain bin.

6. Research video monitors and sizes. Gamers need large screens, and it doesn't hurt to have a large screen for business purposes either. A wide screen LCD monitor upward of 20" will provide you with less eye strain, when set at an appropriate resolution, than a smaller screen run at a high resolution for space awareness.

7. Select a keyboard and mouse. Keyboards now come customized for specific functions. Internet users can purchase keyboards with preprogrammed Internet access keys, while gamers can have boards with their own internal lighting systems for night raids. You can get ergonomic, wireless, separated or even gaming boards you can tie into the server functions of your favorite MMORPG.

Tips & Warnings

• When designing a new system, always err on the side of more power, more memory and more features.
• The hardest part of designing your own computer is finding a motherboard that supports all of your other requirements. Use resources such as Fry's and Tiger Direct to find a motherboard and case that can handle the options you require for your new computer (see Resources below).

Resources

• Tiger Direct
• Frys