Constructing a Personal Computer

Yohan YonEnglish 1005

Professor Noonan8, August 2011

Table of ContentsCreate a budgetFeaturesCompatibilityPrecautionsRequired Components

BudgetOverspending

Compare parts, pricesAdvantages

No proprietary parts Unique

DisadvantagesMultiple warrantiesDifferent vendors

FeaturesPerformance

Motherboard ProcessorMemory

MultimediaGraphicsExpansion card

Regular UseBalance

CompatibilityForm Factors

ATX Motherboard, power supply, PC case More popular

BTX Successor to ATX

RisksPurchasing wrong componentsDamage

CPU and socket on motherboard don’t match

PrecautionsStatic Discharge

Degrade or cause permanent damage Prevention

Ground yourselfWear anti-static wristbandsTouch anything metallicNo magnetic tools

Components Motherboard

Heart of the PC

Specifications Socket TypeChipsetForm factorMemoryExpansion

ComponentsCpu

Brains of the PCProcesses data

Main VendorsAMD

Phenom seriesIntel

iSeries

ComponentsTypes of PC cases

Towers Mid-Size

Versatility, expansion Full-Size

Servers, multiple hard drives Slimline

compact., low end user

ComponentsCooling

Prevents overheating, and damageFans

Case Cpu

Heatsinks, thermal pasteExpansion slots

ComponentsGPU(graphical processing unit)

Second or third most expensive component

VendorsNvidiaATI

Installed on expansion slotsAGPPCIPCI express

ComponentsMemory

Temporary storageUp to 16 Gigabyte

Types of Double Data RateDDRDDR2DDR3(most recent)Installed near the CPU

ComponentsMedia Drives

Blu-RayDVDCD

Hard drivesMagnetic Solid state

ComponentsPower Supply Unit

Supplies electricity to all componentsAll adapters on PSUCount wattages of all components

Add 30% for future/external upgradesForm factor

ComponentsInput Devices

MouseKeyboardMicrophone

Output DevicesMonitorSpeakers

ConclusionCreative, challenging, learning experienceKey to success

PlanningBlueprintHazardsSpecifications