Build Your Own - Step by Step ( i7 2600k)

Hi everyone

This is my second time coming back to this (massive!) thread and it's the second time that I feel a little overwhelmed by some of the jargon being thrown back and forth!

Although my current PC is keeping up with my trading the one market (e/u), recording software and a few other programs, I feel like I should at least start preparations for a first build.

I have basic PC knowledge and think I know all of the essential components required to build one but haven't got a clue how to go about actually starting it!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Tired of relying on the PC repair guy

 

How to start?

Start with your pick list of all components, then make sure they are compatible and work together.

Start with CPU, may be extra heat sink
then motherboard (depends on CPU - socket type)
then memory
then hard drive / SSD
and DVD-RW drive
and video card (if needed)
and power supply (depends on CPU chosen and number of video cards)
and chassis (depends on form factor of motherboard)
plus trivial stuff, such as mouse/keyboard/monitor(s)
and OS software (if needed)

 

In next year when I save enough plan on building a cool trading getup. Plan on using this below to help make right selections:

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

Let us know how it works for you.

 

Thanks for the reply A few questions...

1) Is it necessary to have a DVD-RW drive? Would the machine run faster without it?
2) Don't you have to have a video card in order to use even one monitor?
3) By chassis, I'm assuming that's the case to house all the components?

Are there any brand names to look for/avoid when looking for the parts? Where would be your first choice for looking for components on the net?

 

JamesEM:

RE: 1) Is it necessary to have a DVD-RW drive? Would the machine run faster without it?

The machine will not run faster with or without it. You do need at least one media reader in order to load the operating system. Or else how do you install the operating system on a brand new computer with a blank hard drive?


RE: 2) Don't you have to have a video card in order to use even one monitor?

Not necessarily. It depends on the motherboard chosen. These many motherboards have onboard video for 1 VGA output to feed one monitor. But the new ones come even with 2 outputs to feed 2 monitors. And there are motherboards that don't have any built-in video... those you need to buy a video card. And if you want to support multiple monitors beyond what the motherboard supports, you need to have extra video cards. Many video cards support dual monitors. So say if you want to drive 4 monitors, you would need 2 of those video cards.


RE: 3) By chassis, I'm assuming that's the case to house all the components?

Yes. Computer case. It is the "frame" where you mount everything... motherboard, power supplies, and it provides cooling fans to cool the CPU and motherboard and video cards.


RE: Are there any brand names to look for/avoid when looking for the parts? Where would be your first choice for looking for components on the net?

Well these things change very rapidly. It's been a couple of years since my last build. If I were to build one now, I would definitely start with the i7 third generation (Ivy Bridge) CPU. Start from there. Find a motherboard with a matching socket. Memory - 8GB minimum, maybe 16GB. Motherboards with 3 PCIeX16 slots for flexibility on future expansions. Potentially you can put 3 dual video cards to support 6 monitors. DVD-RW or even Blu-Ray drives.

There are websites, maybe even neweggs.com, that you can click on "help me configure a computer" or something like that and they give you a suggested component list. You can try that.

 

I have seen some Ivy Bridge bare bones systems with z77 mobo and 8a gb ram, case, psu, dvd rw and hdd on the shell shocker emails from newegg for under $600. A good place to look for deals is reddit.com/r/buildapcsales

 

the key word is barebone pc
http://www.pricewatch.com/gallery/barebones_computers/core_i7/32

 

Yes, but if it is a trading pc only wouldn't you rather it not be loaded up with all the ather programs and what not? They don't skimp on hardware (no graphics cards though). My trading pc runs excel, execution and charting only.

 

Bootable USB??

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

 

Thanks to everyone for the help.

I'll keep all of that advice in mind and start getting an idea at those two websites.