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Preparation:
A mistake often made by the first, and perhaps last, time builder is to
shop for the fastest components without consideration of compatibility
among components. IBM compatibility is a myth. A random combination
of super components is not apt to make a super system. The whole
is greater than the sum of the parts. Or, at least, the whole is
different than the sum of the parts. As a guide to help you decide
on components, check DejaNews. Others may have paved the way.
If your going to be a pioneer, plan on stocking alternate parts.
This especially true if you enjoy overclocking. Consider stocking
parts adequate to build several computers. Learn what works.
Afterwards, take the left over parts, build a couple of extra computers
and sell/give them to your friends. They make great presents for
HS graduation. You will not save money by building your own computer.
The freedom and knowledge you gain will offset the expense. Computer
upgrading is progressing at a feverish pace. Bloatware is keeping
pace. The sooner you learn about such things, the more independent
you become. Technical support is going by the way of the dinosaur.
You often get better support from users than from manufacturers.
For this reason, Bill ought to watch out for Linux.
The popularity of the ATX style board causes me to lament over the passing away of the AT standard. When faced with the inevitable, look for a silver lining. How many times have you unscrewed the I/O mounting hardware on an AT system when the intention was to unscrew the cable? A worthwhile tweak when building AT style systems is to use lock washers on the I/O connectors. This is not a problem with the ATX style board. Risers on system boards are not without risk. The overzealous attempt to attach an misaligned I/O cable could stress risers to the point of breaking the system board. This was the case for boards known to be of the highest quality. Hopefully, these problems are relegated to the past. Getting Started: An overriding goal is neatness. A computer that looks clean has a stability edge over marketed computers. Most marketed computers resemble a plate of linguini. Carefully planned homebrew is apt to be more stable than marketed systems. I routinely overclock whatever I build. These systems tend to be more stable than marketed systems running at specification. Non-restricted air flow is a major plus in a high performance computer. Shielding is also a plus. Both shielding and air flow are enhanced by optimal construction technique. When you take the cover off a system to show the unfamiliar, they should say, "What, there is nothing in here." If instead, they say, "Wow, look at all of those wires and dodads, you must be a genius to have built this", your in trouble. The most impressive is the least impressive. Make the system look like there is nothing to it. Take your time. Plan on using as many as 50 cable ties. The first stages of building a compouter are less stressful if the power supply is removed. This gets those pesky wires out of the way. The case becomes lighter and easier to handle. You will spin and flip the case every which way as you mount the hardware. I build systems on a half-round that projects from my kitchen sink. The round is at table height. I burn in and benchmark systems on the kitchen table (I eat standing up). A sink cutout makes a handy "Lazy Susan" allowing you to spin the case around as you work. This also protects your table top from scratches. You can usually buy a sink cutout for a couple of bucks at a local cabinet shop. Resist attaching the feet until the system is otherwise completed. The feet will get in the way and make positioning the case difficult. In addition to removing the power supply, remove the mounting plate for the system board. There is temptation to mount the system board first. Your rewarded with the false impression that your closer to completing the system that you truly are. This puts the system board in harm's way as you work on the drive bays. Giving in to this bit of self-indulgence could cost you a system board before you ever power up. Construction:
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