The Right PC for You

Building Your First PC

• We have done a lot of parts-ordering; I hope you checked that you had some place to plug in the monitor and the network cable

• Likely you will make some mistakes along the way – I still do on occasion; the last one cost me $55 for the wrong sized optical drive

Evaluating Parts

• Often it is far more than price – need to keep in mind the intended use of the system

• PCMag.com, extremetech.com, Newegg.com are good places for information

• Google part(s) with “review” in the search box• Read the fine print for specs and warranty info• We are lucky to have Fry’s close by

Thick Client

• ComTIA’s term for general-purpose SOHO system

• Not the best, nor the cheapest parts• Start with the OS requirements• Mike recommends 64-bit OS editions – why

limit yourself?

Case

• Not the first part I would pick• Mike recommends mid-tower• Lots to choose from as you have seen• A rather personal choice

Motherboard/CPU• This one comes as a set since you can’t put Intel

chip on AMD motherboard• Try to get a modern socket; allows for

expansion (for a little while)• Avoid both the low-end and the high-end for

most applications – price is easy way to tell• Do some research on chipset – or look at the

input and output ports on the motherboard• Buy known brand motherboard unless you just

can’t pass up the deal

Video

• Often the on-board video is good enough, but make sure motherboard has x16 slot for upgrade

• Tomshardware.com does monthly review of video cards – cool!

• Most applications work just fine with mid-range video card (mid-priced)

Monitors

• Personal choice – I really stay away from picking a monitor if I can

• Mike thinks a 20-inch widescreen is a good idea – I have not made that transition yet

Storage

• Lots of space costs not very much• Solid-state drives still coming down but still

continue to have price gap with mechanical drives

• Need space for applications and data• I am running just fine on 160GB drive with 62

GB free and two virtuals

The Thin Client

• Designed to handle very basic applications with minimum hardware

• Student systems, point-of-sale• Usually small in size to be unobtrusive• MS Office does not demand that much from a

system

Virtualization Station

• Lots of RAM, hard disk space and CPU power• Saves power, floor space and running around

Graphics Workstation

• Primary need is for a high-quality, large monitor

• Ideally you want a fast, multicore 64-bit CPU and lots of RAM

• Big hard drive as CAD and CAM take up lots of space

• External drive to backup work• Consider a professional graphics card ($$$)

Audio Workstation

• Same fast CPU, RAM, large monitor and big hard drive; also high-quality audio interface

• Audio interface connects microphones and instruments

• Really a high-end sound card with inputs• Add (expensive) high-quality speakers• Control surfaces – specialized input devices

Video Workstation• Combines graphics and audio workstations• Can use two monitors to track input and

output• Powerful CPU, lots of RAM and big hard

drive(s)• Professional level graphics card• Similar audio interfaces and control surfaces• Might even have custom keyboard set to

video editing software

Home Server

• As more devices move into the home, need centralized storage space

• Microsoft’s idea; Mac uses the cloud• Media streaming, file sharing and print sharing• Fast network connection and lots of storage

(fault tolerant)• Can use Win 7 or OS X

More Home Server

• Network speed (gigabit ethernet – wired)• Large hard drive to hold media – at RAID 1• RAM important to active server• Network Attached Storage (NAS) for multiple

drives for multiple access

Home Theater PC• Monitor, television or projector– HDMI connector on video card– HDMI to stereo receiver to television– DVI and DisplayPort support 1080p HDTV

• Surround sound speakers– S/PDIF to receiver

• Stereo receiver• Home theater PC– HTPC case to look like other components

• Network connectivity (cable box or ethernet)

Software for Playback

• Windows Media Center, XBMC or Plex• “Skins” for XBMC• Plex is not flashy, but free!

Gaming PC

• Most games have pretty low system requirements (on the box); ported from game stations

• Same components, just taken to next level• Future-proofing – keeping PC relevant for a

few years

Internals• Mike thinks quad-core Intel best way to go;

next step: AMD – either at 3GHz or better• First place you want to splurge a little• 4-Gig RAM is ok; only enough hard drive to

store game; single monitor• Graphics card is the other big-bucks item– Tomshardware.com for reviews

• Sound cards: 5.1-7.1 • Make sure system stays cool – case fans

Externals

• Speakers or headphones• Monitor with 1920x1080 at 24 inches• Fancy keyboard and mouse• Mike likes plain black case with no windows or

lights

Big Dollars

• 6- or 8-core CPU; no game needs it, but future-proof

• NVIDIA and Scalable Link Interface; AMD and CrossFire; link up to four cards…

• Motherboard has to handle all this, and case and power supply

• 16 GB RAM, Blu-ray Disc, 7.1 sound card and Gigabit networking

Externals

• Two or three monitors• How about 3-D monitor (and glasses)• Home theater speakers• Gamepad• Good chair for long hours

Picking Parts

• Make sure socket on motherboard and CPU are the same size – can get embarrassing

• Make sure video card will fit – pretty easy with x16 slot(s)

• Make sure you get the right memory for the motherboard