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Have you built a computer?
- Thread starter Hellhammer
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Yeah, really on a whim. Got a cheap acer and upgraded the processor to a dual AMD from a single. Then I ended up with a new case, Antec P182 (or something) new MB and graphics card. Never done it before and it was the easiest thing.
Of course not even a month later I got a Mac Pro for cheap. Nice not to mess with things.
Of course not even a month later I got a Mac Pro for cheap. Nice not to mess with things.
I built the computer I had before I switched to Mac... It was an OK experience, apart from an RMA on a board, and slicing my hand open on a CPU cooler.
Yeah - loads. I'm OS ambivolent, and use 3DS max on a PC workstation of my own building (and that's been the case for 15 years nearly). about to start researching my own render nodes for home projects - tossing up the best bang/buck for rendering at the moment.
My first computer I built was a 386DX 25 in 1992, which ran linux version 0.92
my first computer I upgraded was an IBM XT in 1987, and in 1988 I purchased a PC Amstrad 512 dual floppy, swapped out a 5 1/4 drive for a 20MB drive, upgraded the ram from 512KB to 640KB, and switched the 8088 for an 8086 4 MHz processor, quite a powerful machine back in those days
my most proud computer I built was a 486DX100 with 12MB ram and a 405MB drive. It ran fast, back in 1994, good linux computer. would load MS XL in less than 1 sec, when boot in dos.
I upgaded last summer my first apple intel, an iMac core duo, I put in a C2D 2.0 GHZ processor and 1.5 TB drive to be my iTunes server, for all the
TV's and mac in the house.
my first computer I upgraded was an IBM XT in 1987, and in 1988 I purchased a PC Amstrad 512 dual floppy, swapped out a 5 1/4 drive for a 20MB drive, upgraded the ram from 512KB to 640KB, and switched the 8088 for an 8086 4 MHz processor, quite a powerful machine back in those days
my most proud computer I built was a 486DX100 with 12MB ram and a 405MB drive. It ran fast, back in 1994, good linux computer. would load MS XL in less than 1 sec, when boot in dos.
I upgaded last summer my first apple intel, an iMac core duo, I put in a C2D 2.0 GHZ processor and 1.5 TB drive to be my iTunes server, for all the
TV's and mac in the house.
To many to count...... I haven't done one in since 2008. Come to think of it since I got my first Mac. I completely lost interest in building them and tinkering with them. Now I just help friends who are building them trouble shoot them etc.
I have that case, its pretty nice. Tons of fans keep it cool and quiet. I only wish they would have put the hdd bay in 90º from what it is so that drives can slide straight in. Though my gtx260 is so long it sticks into the drive bay anyway, so i guess i'm kinda glad they didnt.
Yes.
Quite a few, really.
I got started when 486 computers were around $2,000 and you could literally build one for much less. I continued because for a long time commercially available PCs were short on memory, often used proprietary components and then started with the Bloatware.
Then just as store-bought PCs started to get competitive, I got into Video Editing. At the time, you either built your own or had someone do it for you.
Then I got a Mac and now I don't bother anymore. Why re-invent the wheel?
Have Fun,
Keri
Quite a few, really.
I got started when 486 computers were around $2,000 and you could literally build one for much less. I continued because for a long time commercially available PCs were short on memory, often used proprietary components and then started with the Bloatware.
Then just as store-bought PCs started to get competitive, I got into Video Editing. At the time, you either built your own or had someone do it for you.
Then I got a Mac and now I don't bother anymore. Why re-invent the wheel?
Have Fun,
Keri
My very first build I did all on my own was my first mac experience. I had finished it just after apple's "We are going to intel!" announcement. At the time AMD was the bee's knees performance (and heat) wise, but I was lucky I scored one of the first chips that was SSE3 compatible.
So what did that mean? Yeah, I rolled a Tiger hackintosh dual boot way back in the day
Since then I've built many more machines, some for friends, some for clients, but for a while I always had 2-3 macs to keep me happy.
With that said though, the bug got me again and I just finished my $400 hackintosh build. 100% of everything is working, and my i3-530 is over clocked from 2.93ghz to 4.40ghz stable.
Geekbench scores are a whole 2000 points higher than my Macbook Pro.
And no...windows will never be installed.
So what did that mean? Yeah, I rolled a Tiger hackintosh dual boot way back in the day
Since then I've built many more machines, some for friends, some for clients, but for a while I always had 2-3 macs to keep me happy.
With that said though, the bug got me again and I just finished my $400 hackintosh build. 100% of everything is working, and my i3-530 is over clocked from 2.93ghz to 4.40ghz stable.
Geekbench scores are a whole 2000 points higher than my Macbook Pro.
And no...windows will never be installed.
Yes often for business and personal but stopped when Dell started offering sub 1000$ PCs...
I use Mac now at home so no need whatsoever...I do console gaming...
-J.-
I use Mac now at home so no need whatsoever...I do console gaming...
-J.-
Same here. I built several machines when I was younger, but as the price dropped, I just started buying pre-built PCs. I do have a Franken-PC Ubuntu box that I built out of spare parts, but that is about it. I've gotten lazy as I have gotten older. I just don't feel like doing all the research on parts anymore. Another problem is I built lots of them for work, so I just got sick of doing it.
Yep
Start with:
1. what you ultimately want the computer to do ('all around' for me)
2. Computer components definitely follows the 'you-get-what-you-pay-for' motto.
2a. Set a budget
3. Choose your chip
3a. Choose your motherboard
3b. Choose your memory
4. Choose your video card
5. Choose your power supply
6. Choose your hard drive
7. Choose your case.
You'll soon find out these things are interrelated but following the steps above will get you from 40 choices for each and every component to 4-5 for each component.
The chip will determine the motherboard which will determine the amount of ram, etc.
The case will determine how many hard drives you can install which (unless you add an expansion card) relates to the motherboard you chose .........
That should give you a good start.
Nice rig! I'm not really looking for advice as I build them for living
Was just wondering how many people have actually built one. It's fairly easy, the hardest part is to decide what components to buy to get best performance/quality/price ratio Quite a few people seem to have built one, mainly before they switched to Apple though
Yes I prefer to build them myself. If they would standardize motherboard, case and internal connector specifications I would build any future laptop as well.
This is my latest personal computer, the Radeon 3850 pictured died and has been replaced by a 4850. When I can convince myself that I could use a Core i7 and Radeon 5870 I will build a machine using PowerMac G5 case which should require a lot of cutting and sheet metal work though I suppose a Lian Li motherboard tray would lessen the work needed.
This is my latest personal computer, the Radeon 3850 pictured died and has been replaced by a 4850. When I can convince myself that I could use a Core i7 and Radeon 5870 I will build a machine using PowerMac G5 case which should require a lot of cutting and sheet metal work though I suppose a Lian Li motherboard tray would lessen the work needed.
