Build a Quality PC for Less Than $200

It is possible to build a homemade PC for less than $200 dollars. I ran a computer lab for a non-profit for an entire year, and let me tell you, I've built quite a few jerry-rigged units for the betterment of humanity.

Keep in mind that you may not get the best system in the world, but it is possible to get a quality computer for cheap. If you're looking for a gaming machine, capable of playing the latest and greatest first-person shooters, you may have to spend a bit more.

I will go over the basic categories and provide some useful links.

Places to purchase equipment:

(A CHALLENGE FOR YOU - See if you can build a hardware-only PC for less than $200 using the combined supplies from these websites.)

www.newegg.com
www.geeks.com
www.compusa.com
www.microcenter.com

Case

Computer cases come in several different sizes, based on the size of the motherboard.

(Large to small)
ATX - 12"x9.6" or less
MiniATX - 11.2"x8.2" or less
MicroATX - 9.6"x9.6" or less
FlexATX - 9"x7.5" or less

Understand that a small case cannot hold a large motherboard. A large case, however, can hold a small motherboard. It's a box; a big box can hold big and small things, a small box can hold small things.

A quality case means that you will spend less time worrying about heat and fitting all the components in the unit. Also, cases will sometimes offer additional USB, firewire, or drive mounting space. Choose based on your needs.

TIP: This site has a thorough listing of case information. http://www.pcguide.com/ref/case/formATX-c.html

Motherboard (or Mainboard)

The motherboard is the hub of all function on a PC. It carries the processor, any PC cards, and connects all other parts of the PC. Choose wisely; a motherboard is one of the most important parts of a PC. I'll break down this explanation. And as far as companies go, I recommend most of the majors (Asus, AMD, Intel, Biostar, ECS, MSI, Gigabyte, and VIA). However, you never know when you're going to get a bad apple. Save all receipts and get a refund for a non-working unit.

To begin:

Processor Socket
Motherboards come in the ATX sizes (see above) and have a socket for processors. Modern sockets are categorized as follows:

Common Intel-based sockets:
Socket 775 - Intel dual cores, latest pentium 4's, and pentium D.
Socket 370 - Pentium 3, celeron
Socket 478 - Pentium 4, Pentium D, some dual cores

Common AMD-based sockets:
Socket A(462) - Geode, Athlon, Duron
Socket 754 - Athlon, Sempron, some Athlon 64's and Turion.
Socket 939 - Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2
Dual Socket L - Dual core AMD chips, Athlon Quad FX.

Choose your company preference, I've had good and bad experiences with both Intel and AMD. Also from my experience, more money invested in a system means more computing POWER. If you're looking for a hot-rod gaming rig, equivalent to a NASCAR super-fast speed machine, get the newest Motherboard you can find.

In addition, some of the alternative companies (like VIA's C7) produce adequate processors, and are worth investigating. Do your research!

Cooling

Cooling is necessary. You may want to purchase some "Thermal Grease" and at least one fan unit for the processor. If you're overclocking, you absolutely need cooling.

For most purposes, a simple two-fan setup will be sufficient for cool a computer. One is placed on the processor, and one placed at the rear-exhaust.

Front-side Bus

Think of the frontside bus as a main highway out of the processor pipeline. The faster this pipeline, the better.

SATA (Serial ATA) vs. IDE

The standard today is Serial ATA. All devices should be serial ATA. Reason being, it's faster, easier, and if you're not up to date, your computer will suffer the consequences.

You may be tempted to purchase cheaper PATA/IDE equipment; if the main concern is price, keep in mind how long you want to keep the computer and its main use.

RAM

Random Access memory is a very important part of the system. The more RAM, the better. Most applications today require a minimum of 512 Megs. RAM usually comes in a few flavors, so you NEED TO KNOW WHICH RAM YOUR MOTHERBOARD TAKES BEFORE YOU PURCHASE. Look at the box, or the instructions.

(For common purposes, get at least 512 Mb. If you plan on doing anything else with the computer, get at least 1,024 Mb.)

RAM Memory amounts
128 Mb
256 Mb
512 Mb
1,024 Mb
2,048 Mb

RAM SPEED Classifications

PC 100
PC 133
DDR 266
DDR 333
DDR 400
DDR 433
DDR 500
DDR2 400
DDR2 500
DDR2 667

RAM pin-connector classifications
168-Pin SDRAM
184-pin DDR
184-pin RDRAM
240-pin DDR2

Hard Drive

Hard Drives are the main storage for your computer. Applications require vast amounts of storage these days. As stated above, I recommend Serial ATA: it's going to last longer. If on a budget, it's not a bad thing to use a cheap IDE harddrive costing less than $50.

Video Cards

Video cards provide video power. Typically, the ratio of money spent to quality is fairly stable. For basic use, you don't need to spend much money. For gaming, research the top units and purchase with impunity. (For CHEAP VIDEO CARDS, look for ones integrated on the motherboard itself.)

Audio Cards

Again, unless you plan on recording, or making a home studio, a simple audio card will suit your purposes just fine.

DVD-ROM Drive

DVD is almost a thing of the past. DVD drives are cheap and inexpensive; find a reliable brand and unit and purchase that one.

Power

Power units are the final piece of the hardware puzzle. Get at very least a unit capable of providing 250W of power. For more applications, try at least a 300W power supply. Also, make sure that the power supply will fit within your case!

SOFTWARE

Either use an open-source operating system and learn some specifics about programming, (Linux, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, or any of the variants require some basic knowledge of computer code) or purchase an OEM disk of Windows.

OEM Disks allow Windows to be installed on a machine by someone who is building a PC for that PC only. OEM Windows XP Home (soon to be discontinued) costs roughly 100 dollars.

To Summarize:

Building a PC can be one of the most rewarding experiences, especially if you are intimidated by technology.

With some elbow grease and a few hours spent in assembly, you can make a device that will serve an immense purpose in your life - friends, family, jobs, education, and even love!

(End note: This article was written on 5/10/2007. By the time you read this, Moore's Law has been in effect.)v