For the sake of simplicity, we will limit our discussion of How a Computer Works to mostly physical aspects and leave out the more technical details. We want to get your computer put together as fast as possible, but at the same time we want you to be somewhat familiar with the pieces before you open the boxes. The following computer parts will be the major focus of this guide:
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We tried to list these in order of necessity, but be warned; your computer will not power on without at least the first three items. It won't make it past the POST (Power on Self Test) without RAM, and it won't make it past the BIOS setup screen without something to boot off, such as a Windows 7 Install Disc or a hard drive with an OS (operating system) already installed. |
Below you will find a section for each major computer part including pictures and descriptions to help you learn which components go where. You'll notice that a monitor, a printer, speakers, a keyboard and a mouse are not part of this guide. These are considered computer accessories or peripherals. They attach to the computer from the outside; just plug them in and you're done. Nevertheless we will provide you with some great recommendations for these devices.
Power Supply
This is one of those "underrated" parts. Most people think that all they need is enough power to feed the computer whatever it needs. This is where the saying "quality over quantity" holds especially true. You do not want to grab the cheapest power supply you can find. Spend a little extra on a quality brand and this component will most likely last longer, have a higher efficiency and produce consistent and safe power. Some power supplies are "modular" meaning you only use the wires you need by plugging them into the main unit, but most power supplies come with all their wires and plugs hanging from the unit.
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Our power supply recommendation:
Motherboard
The motherboard is a large circuit board designed to connect a computer's components to one another. Every single bit of data that goes through a computer reaches the motherboard at some point. It also facilitates power transfer to the CPU, RAM, graphics card, and any external devices that draw power such as a keyboard or mouse. A motherboard has an appropriately named "controller" or "bridge" that looks a lot like a processor, normally sits near the middle of the board and usually has an attached heat sink. Since the motherboard is such a large and important part of a computer, we will do it justice with a nice big picture.
Our motherboard recommendation:
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The Central Processing Unit's name says it all. Even though it is usually the smallest part in a computer, it is typically the most expensive. This is the brain of your computer. It executes complex calculations and instructions. A processor these days can have several "cores," each of which is similar to an independent processor. The most common number of cores as of July 2009 are 2 (dual-core) and 4 (quad-core). If a program on your computer is coded to utilize multiple cores, then its performance should increase with additional cores. Your CPU will get very hot very quickly if its heat sink is not properly installed. Don't worry; we will address this in the Building a Computer section.
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Our CPU recommendation:
RAM (Randomly Accessed Memory)
Memory is what allows your programs to run without constantly accessing your hard drive. Files stored on your hard drive are loaded into memory when they are used because the CPU can access them much faster and more conveniently there. There are different types of memory, the most common these days is DDR2 and DDR3. We will recommend DDR2 because it will match our motherboard's requirements. DDR3 is the new memory technology, but it is still roughly twice the cost of DDR2 and not yet worth the possible performance gains for normal computer tasks.
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Our memory recommendation:
Hard Drive
This is where all the data on your computer is stored: the operating system, the programs and all of your documents. When your computer powers down, the data on a hard drive remains intact. These days you can get a lot of hard drive space for very little money, so in this guide we have selected a nice beefy size that will allow you to store plenty of movies, music, pictures, games and whatever else you can imagine. As of July 2009, the new "solid state" hard drives are still much too expensive for a sub-$1000 computer. We recommend waiting another year or so until prices settle down at affordable levels.
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Our hard drive recommendation:
Computer Case
Your computer's case will play a large role in several areas, but we will focus on two: temperature management and noise control. It is important to have a spacious case with fans at the front and back as a minimum. Bonuses include fans at the top and bottom, side vents, good cable management and built-in temperature sensors. Computer cases also vary in their ability to suppress internal noise. Other areas in which a computer case can make a big difference: expandability and portability.
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Our computer case recommendation:
Video Card
A video card (also called a GPU) is an optional component of a computer. As long as you purchase a motherboard with "onboard" or "integrated" video, you can plug your monitor directly into the board. But forget about playing games or doing anything graphically intensive. If you want to be able to use your computer for work and play, we highly recommend a dedicated video card. Just like other parts of a computer, video card price-to-performance ratios have skyrocketed lately. You can pick up an "extremely powerful" video card for around $300 or just a "very powerful" video card for under $200. In our opinion - for the average gamer - the extra cost is not worth the performance gains. We suggest you stick with a "very powerful" card for under $200.
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Our video card recommendation:
CD/DVD/BR (Blue Ray) Drive
A computer's disc drive is a simple and standardized component. Just choose which kind you want (are you watching DVD or Blue Ray?), then pick a popular brand name like Lite-On, Samsung, LG or Sony. Since all computer disc drives are so alike, we suggest reading consumer reviews to see which ones have the fewest problems and last the longest.
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Our disc drive recommendation:
Doing Your Research
You may have noticed that we specifically suggested doing research on certain computer components. Well the truth is; we recommend doing research on every computer part you purchase. We have done hundreds of hours of research to find which parts perform best within a reasonable price range. While we are sharing this information with you, remember that everyone has slightly different needs and our $800 computer build will not necessarily work for everyone. Additionally, if you do not currently own a computer, then you will need to purchase an operating system like Windows XP, Vista or the new Windows 7. This will add around $100 to the cost of the computer.
To get you started on some research, we have included links to some of the most popular online computer hardware stores found below. To enhance your knowledge about computer parts and their performance, we also recommend visiting some hardware review sites, which we will also provide links for:
Online Computer Hardware Stores:
Hardware Review Sites:
