Menu
What's new
Troll Kingdom

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Frankenputer

Archibald Nixon

Archibald Nixon

anti-life coach
There was a thread I can’t seem to locate where someone was attempting what I'm probably going to attempt this summer: Building a computer from scratch.

I'm only just learning about all the different hardware as well as electronics, soddering etc so I may have to be spoken to like a child on much of this.

What I want out of it is mainly:

-large screen
-high speed processing & internet
-surplus of RAM (although how much I need is open to question)
-excellent graphics capability
-scanner: something larger than 8&1/2 x 14
-CD/DVD burner

One little twist is that I work at a place that has literally tons of old equipment lying around, waiting to be disposed of. I know that I'm going to have to purchase a number of things, like the screen, CD drive & a speedy processor if I want to make the thing something I’d use over my current system, but I'm wondering how possible/time-consuming/pain-in-the-ass/worth-the-effort it would be to cannibalizel materials from these older, considered-obsolete units. We also actually have lots of old sound racks with shelves, etc. that I was thinking of using. I don't care how much space it takes up or if if winds up lookings like some dystopian future CyberMedusa.

Software is a whole other kettle of fish...I'll get to that later

I appreciate any advice or help anyone would be interested in giving, even if it's just a link to one ot more of those threads that dealt with the same.

Tyia,
Archie Nixon
 
Oecodus said:
-high speed processing & internet
Click to expand...
For a processor get a multiple core one if you commonly run a lot of programs at once, especially if the programs take up a lot of processing time.

As for Internet that mainly depends on your ISP but as long as you get a decent motherboard it shouldn't matter.

-surplus of RAM (although how much I need is open to question)
Click to expand...
You can never have to much Ram. If you want to keep your computer somewhat up to date for a few years I'd suggest no less than 4 Gigs of RAM.

-excellent graphics capability
Click to expand...
Video cards are generally impossible to figure out how good they are unless you check an in depth review of it.

I've typically gone with ATI but Nvidia is apparently the more popular brand.

-scanner: something larger than 8&1/2 x 14
Click to expand...
You can pick those up anywhere. Just check your local retailers.

-CD/DVD burner
Click to expand...
You can get these extremely cheap.

One little twist is that I work at a place that has literally tons of old equipment lying around, waiting to be disposed of. I know that I'm going to have to purchase a number of things, like the screen, CD drive & a speedy processor if I want to make the thing something I’d use over my current system, but I'm wondering how possible/time-consuming/pain-in-the-ass/worth-the-effort it would be to cannibalizel materials from these older, considered-obsolete units. We also actually have lots of old sound racks with shelves, etc. that I was thinking of using. I don't care how much space it takes up or if if winds up lookings like some dystopian future CyberMedusa.
Click to expand...
It simply won't work.

The motherboards won't work with new RAM, new CPU's, new videocards, or new power supply's. Not even the slots in the cases will line up properly.

Other than the floppy drive you won't have any use for old parts.

I'd also like to note that I've always gone with the ASUS brand of parts and I've never had an issue with them.

Also when putting it all together be patient, be gentle, and always have the motherboard layout diagram handy. Be extra careful installing the CPU as well.
 
The NVIDIA is 256m for about 50 bucks and takes care of most any glitches if you have a couple gig on top for your OS
 
This one rules..

computationalengine4.jpg
 
Caveat to the RAM issue: Don't bother getting more than 2 Gigs of RAM if you're going to be running a 32-bit system. Windows can't address more than that in a 32-bit environment.

64-bit systems can, but applications haven't been programmed to take advantage of it on a large scale.
 
Bickendan said:
Caveat to the RAM issue: Don't bother getting more than 2 Gigs of RAM if you're going to be running a 32-bit system. Windows can't address more than that in a 32-bit environment.

64-bit systems can, but applications haven't been programmed to take advantage of it on a large scale.
Click to expand...
It's 4 Gigs actually. I've got 3.25 out of four as a result of that architectural fuck up on Microsoft's part.

If you are savvy enough with software and operating systems it might be worth a go with dual booting a linux distro and whatever preferred Windows version you want. XP is cheap now a days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top