Building a PCPARTS REQUIRED AND CUSTOM BUILDS

Important Parts:

Processor

Motherboard

Memory

Storage

Power Supply

Video Card

Case

Optical Drive

Operating System

Processor (CPU)

“Brain” of the computer

One of the most important parts of a computer

Carries out instructions from programs to perform different operations such as output and input

Example picture:

Motherboard

Connects all the other parts to form the computer itself

Controls them as well (except for power supply)

Most have a built in sound card and video card

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Memory (RAM)

Pulls data from storage and stores it temporarily

Makes accessing things faster

Dedicated video cards have their own RAM (used for video)

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Storage

Different kinds (HDD, SSD, etc…)

Stores long term data so it may be accessed at a later time

HDD’s store more data and are less expensive than SSD’s

SSD’s are A LOT faster but store less data and are more expensive

SSD usually used for boot drive

Example pictures:

Power Supply (PSU)

Very important

Sends power to each computer part

Converts power to specific voltages for each part

Example picture:

Video Card (GPU)

Arranges pixels on the screen to form an image

Different kinds…

Integrated are built into the motherboard and are on the CPU

Dedicated are separate pieces that attach to the motherboard

Example picture:

Case

Covers all the inner components of a computer (motherboard, CPU, graphics card, etc.)

Not actually required to make PC run, but is usually recommended

Comes in different sizes (mini, mid tower, full tower, etc.)

Example picture:

Optical Drive

Reads and writes disks (CD, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.)

Usually used to install the operating system

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Operating System (OS)

Allows users to interact with the system by making an interface

Communicates with the hardware that is in the pc

Handles other things such as programs and actions from the user

Examples:

Processor (CPU)

High Performance PC: Intel Core i5 4670k Unlocked

Quad core (4)

Clock speed of 3.4 GHz

Supports up to three monitors

Turbo Boost Technology 2.0

Good overclocking

Media PC: AMD Athlon 5350

Quad core (4)

Clock speed of 2.0GHz

Processor (CPU)

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Cooling

High Performance PC: Corsair Cooling Hydro Series

H90

Liquid cooling

Included fan

Tubing – low evaporation and easy to bend, guaranteed leak free

Low noise, high performance

Thermal compound pre-applied

Looks cool

Media PC: Fan comes with the CPU and with

pre-applied thermal paste

Cooling

High Performance PC:

Motherboard

High Performance PC: ASUS Z87-A

USB 3.0 Boost (1.3x faster than traditional USB 3.0)

Realtek 8-channel high definition audio

Remote GO!

Looks cool

Media PC: ASRock AM1H-ITX

Mini ITX (tiny)

USB 3.0

Surge protection

Has DVI and HDMI outputs, including two more

Motherboard

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Memory

High Performance PC: Corsair Vengeance Pro Black

8GB

Two sticks (2x4GB)

Built for overclocking making it easier and better

Looks cool and matches everything else inside

Heat spreader allowing it ti run better

Media PC: G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB

Two sticks (2x2GB)

Loos awesome and will make inside look less plain

Memory

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Storage

High Performance PC: ADATA 128GB SandForce SSD

and Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD

SSD read and write speed – read of up to 555MB/s and write of up to 530MB/s

HDD – rotation speed of 7200rpm, good price-to-performance ratio

Media PC: Western Digital Caviar Blue

1TB

Rotation speed of 7200RPM

64MB cache

OEM (save some money)

Storage

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Graphics Card (GPU)

High Performance PC: EVGA GeForce GTX 770

Looks cool

2GB of memory

Total of 4 display outputs

2 fan coolers

3D vision and PhysX ready

Processor speed of 1046MHz

Comes with FREE Watch Dogs PC game download

Media PC: Using integrated from

motherboard

Graphics Card (GPU)

High Performance PC:

Case

High Performance PC: NZXT Phantom 530

Full tower

ATX Steel Case

Color – Matte black (only color available)

Fully modular hard drive cages

Eight motherboard expansion slots

Just look at it…

Media PC: Bitfenix Prodigy mITX Artic

White

Mini-ITX (small and cute)

Steel

Lots of flexibility despite its size

Case

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Power Supply (PSU)

High Performance PC: XFX Pro 750W

80+ Gold certified

Power efficiency of up to 90%

Fully modular

Lots of safety and protective features (over current protection, over temperature protection, under voltage protection, etc.)

Media PC: XFX PRO 550W Core Edition

80+ Bronze certified

Power efficiency of up to 85%

Nice and quiet at moderate to medium loads

Power Supply (PSU)

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Optical Drive

High Performance PC: ASUS DRW DVD Writer Black

Just picked cheap one with good ratings really…

Media PC: ASUS BC-12B1ST Internal

Blu-Ray

Just found random Blu-Ray player for decent price

Optical Drive

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Operating System (OS)

High Performance PC: Microsoft Windows 7 Home

Premium Edition

64 bit

OEM, so it’s a little less expensive

Better for older games and programs

Media PC: Same as high performance pc

Some of the hardware is not compatible with Windows 8

Operating System (OS)

Wireless Cards

High Performance PC: ASUS PCE-N15 Wireless

Network Adapter

300Mbps

802.11B/G/N

Once again just picked cheap one with good ratings

Media PC: Same as high performance pc

Wireless Card