Here are the suggested parts, how to order them and current prices.
Now you are ready to order the parts for your new computer! I have listed below the exact parts for you to order. I am recommending Tiger DirectRemember, I am not trying to sell you anything. I recommend the following parts because my experience has shown they work very well and have a great price. You can buy any parts you want and still use the assembly guide on this website.
I chose these parts with the goal of building a very powerful computer that can be easily upgraded in a few years. All of these parts are popular, proven components of the highest quality. If you went to the store and bought a name brand computer you probably would be getting much lower quality parts than the ones I have recommended.
This first list is for the required parts you must have in order to build your own computer. After the list of required parts I will include a list of optional components that will help you increase your enjoyment of your new computer.
Ordering Checklist for Required Parts
| Family Computer -- Fast and Reliable | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU Processor: | Intel Core i5 750 | $200 |
| Motherboard: | EVGA P55 LGA 1156 | $150 |
| Computer Case: | Cooler Master Centurion 590 | $65 |
| Hard Drive: | Western Digital Caviar 500GB | $55 |
| Optical Drive: | Lite-On DVD Burner w/Lightscribe | $40 |
| RAM Memory: | OCZ 4GB DDR3 Dual Channel 1333MHz | $82 |
| Video Card: | XFX Radeon HD 4670 1GB | $70 |
| Power Supply: | Corsair 450W 80Plus Active PFC | $65 |
| Keyboard and Mouse: | Microsoft 1850 Combo | $30 |
| Speakers: | Logitech LS21 Stereo | $25 |
| Operating System: | Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium | $110 |
| Monitor: | Acer 22" Flat Panel LCD | $180 |
| Total Price as of November 18, 2009 | $1072 | |
Now that we know which parts to order, let's gain an understanding of each part's function. Each of the components plays a vital role, so I made sure to recommend only top-quality name-brand parts.
The CPU (or processor) is the brain of your computer. It performs the calculations necessary for your computer to carry out the tasks you want it to do. It is the primary factor in determining your computer's overall speed and power. The Core 2 Duo chip is made by Intel and will fit into the LGA775 socket on your motherboard.
The motherboard is a large circuit board loaded with microchips performing many vital functions. All of your computer's components fit on or are connected to the motherboard. The motherboard I have selected is loaded with features, provides excellent sound quality and includes many ports for connecting your peripherals such as a printer, digital camera, MP3 player etc.
The computer case is the box that all your other components will be installed within. This attractive case is designed for maximum airflow to minimize heat buildup, which can damage computer parts. The case has abundant drive bays to ensure you can upgrade your computer in the future if you wish.
The Hard Drive is the long-term memory and file storage device. The one I recommend is quiet and fast while storing a massive amount of files including documents, pictures, music and games.
The optical drive (also known as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM) allows you to install the software you buy. It is also for playing and recording both CDs and DVDs.
The RAM is your computer's short-term memory and it is very fast. Your computer will store frequently-used information in the RAM for quick access rather than having to utilize the slower hard drive. I recommend this set of 2 chips, each of these RAM chips is 2GB (2048MB) so you will have a total of 4GB. If you want to save some money you can get by with 2GB, which is the minimum amount your computer will need to maintain it's full speed and power.
The video card (also known as a GPU or graphics card) is the component that allows visual media to be displayed on your monitor. If your video card is outdated you will experience choppy, grainy graphics when watching movies or playing games. Video cards can be the most expensive component of your computer and are usually the first part to go obsolete -- especially if you like to play the newest action games.
The power supply is the device that plugs into your home's wall outlet and breaks the electricity into smaller voltages and distributes it to the rest of the computer. Almost all of your computer's components will plug into the power supply to receive the proper amount and type of power. Getting a high quality power supply is essential to the long-term health of your computer.
I recommended a high quality keyboard and optical mouse with all the standard features you are familiar with. If you want a wireless set with added features see the optional items below.
The speakers I chose will provide full, rich sound to enhance your enjoyment of movies, games, videos and music because your computer is also an awesome high-tech entertainment center.
The Windows operating system is the software that runs your computer and allows you to manipulate all the programs in a user friendly, intuitive way.
You may use the monitor from your old computer, but I highly recommend buying a new monitor. After all, your monitor is the part of your computer you will use the most. I think it is the most important piece of your computing experience. Nobody will be impressed with your new computer system if they see an old ugly monitor. The new widescreen flat-panel LCD screens are vastly superior to the ones available a few years ago. You will be glad you spent the money for a nice screen. You can spend several hundred dollars for a monitor if you wish, but the one I selected represents great value for the money in my experience.
Ordering Checklist for Optional Accessories and Cool Stuff
The following accessories are purely optional but can greatly improve the efficiency, comfort, appearance or enjoyment of your new computer system.Anti-static Wrist Strap
Antistatic Wrist Strap- $7
A wrist strap will help to ensure you don't accidentally fry any of your components when you are handling them. Even a tiny spark of static electricity can ruin sensitive electronics such as RAM memory chips and motherboards. It happens a lot, believe me. Buy this little device to make sure you don't have any problems.Laser Printer
HP LaserJet P1006 Laser Printer- $100
and
Belkin 6-Foot 2.0 USB A/B Cable- $13
This is a quality laser printer that will provide you with trouble-free printing for a long time. The days of fighting with inkjet printer cartridges that dry out, clog up and only print a few pages are over. The toner cartridge in this laser printer will print 3000 pages! Compared to inkjets, laser printers provide better print quality, are cheaper per printed page and will last much longer. This model is black and white only. Don't forget to buy the cable separately because printers don't ship with cables.Color Laser Printer
Samsung CLP-315- $180
and
Belkin 6-Foot 2.0 USB A/B Cable
This laser prints in full color. If you want the best-looking printouts then this is for you. This will give you much better performance than an inkjet printer. Don't forget to buy the cable separately because printers don't ship with cables.Scanner
Epson Perfection V30- $80
A scanner is great for copying photographs onto your computer so you can edit them or email them to friends and relatives. You can use it like a copy machine to print copies of important documents and receipts. This scanner is perfect for all your creative projects and record-keeping tasks.Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop- $50
Going with an ergonomic wireless keyboard and mouse enables you to lean back in your seat and put the keyboard in your lap if you want. It also gets rid of some unsightly cables and just makes your desktop cleaner and neater so you can arrange things how you like them.Surge Suppressor with Uninteruptible Power Supply
OPTI-UPS ES800C 6-Outlet 800VA 480Watt- $100
This unit protects your computer, monitor and peripherals from being damaged by power surges - even those caused by lightning. It also serves to regulate the power from the wall outlet by eliminating minor "brownouts" and spikes that can damage your components. In the event of a power outage this unit's battery will provide power for several minutes to allow you to save your data and safely turn off your computer. Highly recommended.Case Fans
Masscool 120mm- $5
It can't hurt to order a couple extra 120mm case fans. The case fans increase the air flow inside your computer case. It is important to keep the components of your computer as cool as possible. The fans bring cool air into the case and blow out the heat created by the electrical components and microchips.Floppy Disk Drive
1.44MB Floppy Disk Drive (Black)- $15
The floppy drive allows you to use 3.5inch floppy disks in your computer. You might be able to get by without one of these, but I think they are still useful. You can re-use a floppy drive from an old computer if you have one. You might be able to find one at Walmart or eBay for less than $10.Modem
Generic 56K Internal PCI Data Fax Modem- $13
You will only need this if you are using dial-up Internet access over your phone line or if you need to send faxes using your computer. If you are using any sort of high speed Internet access such as cable or DSL then you will not need to buy a modem.Headphones
Logitech ClearChat Comfort USB Headset with Microphone- $35
These headphones are perfect for listening to music, watching movies and playing games. They come with a built-in microphone so you can use Internet phone service, use speech-recognition software and speak to your teammates in online games.Blank CDs
Memorex 100-Pack 52x 80Min CDR Spindle- $20
You will need blank CDs to save backup copies of your data files. You can make CDs full of your photos to give to friends. You can burn music CDs full of your favorite songs. These high-quality CDs are only 20 cents each.Blank DVDs
Memorex 50 Pack 16X Lightscribe DVD+R- $30
You can use blank DVDs to make copies of movies or to store your home videos from your digital camcorder. The Lightscribe technology allows you to burn a label directly onto the DVD instead of applying a sticker.Digital Camera
Olympus Stylus 7010 12 Megapixel- $180
This top-quality camera will enable you to take ultra-clear pictures and videos. Then you can transfer them to your powerful computer to edit the photos, print them out, email them to friends or burn them onto CDs. How cool is that? Working with photos is one of the most popular activities that people enjoy doing on their computers. If you don't have a digital camera yet you really need to get one.MP3 Player
Microsoft Zune 8GB- $100
The Zune is one of the most popular MP3 players in the world. You can download hundreds of songs from your music CDs to the Zune using your computer and then listen to them wherever you go. You can also view your photos and videos on the Zune's full color screen. You can also download songs, TV shows and news broadcasts from the Internet to your Zune using the new computer you just built.Computer Desk
Bush - Vantage Cherry Corner Computer Desk- $225
Since you are building yourself such a great computer you really should have an equally awesome workspace to display it. Your new computer is too nice to cram it in the corner of the spare bedroom. Plan to put it in the family room or home office on a presentable wooden desk. Your desk should be comfortable, attractive and functional because you are going to be spending a lot of time there. The desk I recommended is just one out of hundreds available at ComputerDesks.comso feel free to look through their website to find one you like.
Computer Chair
Sculpted Task Chair II- $135
Since you will be spending a lot of time using your new computer you will need a comfortable and attractive chair, preferably with wheels and arm rests. The one I recommend is nice, but there are hundreds more available at ComputerDesks.comNetwork Router
Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless G Router- $45
The router allows all your computers to share a high-speed Internet connection, printers and files. Each computer can surf the web at the same time, send documents to the printer, play games against each other and access files on the other computers' hard drives. It is also easy to set up.
Ordering Checklist for Optional Software
The following software programs are optional but can greatly improve the efficiency, productivity, security and enjoyment of your new computer system. The best part is some of them don't cost any money!Productivity Programs for School and Office
Microsoft Office 2007 Basic- $170
Contains the programs you will need to use for your school classes or your business. Microsoft Word is for writing documents such as letters and school reports. Microsoft Excel creates spreadsheets for tracking your finances, inventory or collections. Microsoft PowerPoint is for creating presentations and speeches for your classes or business. Microsoft Outlook is for managing your email.Anti-Virus Software
$0 AVG Free Edition Anti-Virus
This program is just as good as the expensive name brand anti-virus software and it won't bog down your computer and interfere with other programs like the most popular ones do. Just click the link to go to the download.com page, then follow the instructions. After you install it you can set up the program to automatically run virus scans periodically.Spyware and Adware Prevention Software
$0 SpyBot Search and Destroy
$0 Ad-Aware SE Personal
$0 SpyWare Blaster
Spy-ware and Ad-ware are malicious files that can infect your computer. They are less harmful than viruses but much more common. These files can track your computer usage (hence the spyware) or cause pop-up ads to appear when you are on the Internet (hence the adware). You can spend a lot of money on software to fight them, but these free programs work just fine. Click the link for each program above to go to the download.com pages, then follow the instructions. Don't forget to run the programs every couple of weeks to make sure you are protected.
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