# Building a computer from the ground up? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092 "2015-06-21T20:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainAmerica_1987)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/1 "2015-06-21T20:04:09Z")
Hey folks my brother and I are looking to build our own computer from the ground up. We need some help in getting started in figuring out what parts we will need, what the cost would be, etc. Thanks for any help you can throw in and as always please feel free to throw in any extra advice you think would help! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/2 "2015-06-21T20:22:38Z")
First, get a work table. Preferably with an anti-static mat, and a static discharge wristband. Trying to do it on the ground is just asking for trouble. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/3 "2015-06-21T20:35:41Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > First, get a work table. Preferably with an anti-static mat, and a static discharge wristband. > > Trying to do it on the ground is just asking for trouble. I thought you were _supposed_ to ground yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/4 "2015-06-21T21:15:28Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > First, get a work table. Preferably with an anti-static mat, and a static discharge wristband. > > Trying to do it on the ground is just asking for trouble. No, it’s when you try to do it on the **fly** that you run into trouble. A fly’s back is much too small to support a computer. ---
**Author:** ![fubar.gr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/898d66/32.png) [@fubar.gr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubar.gr)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/5 "2015-06-21T21:34:10Z")
What do you mean by “from the ground up”? Do you want advice on what motherboard, CPU, PSU etc. to buy or do you want to design and build your own computer from scratch using discrete electronic components? ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/6 "2015-06-21T21:36:17Z")
Here’s a question I can answer! I really like the [System Guide](http://techreport.com/review/28198/the-tech-report-system-guide-may-2015-edition) from Tech Report. Even if you don’t choose the components they recommend, you can learn from their decision process. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/7 "2015-06-21T21:45:58Z")
Building a system from well-chosen, standard-package components is the only serious way to buy a computer, IMVHO. I’ve bought three box machines in my life, and hated all three with a passion, even though two were visiting-staff workstations and the third was our office manager’s meaning I never had to use them. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/8 "2015-06-21T23:04:04Z")
My brother and I want to build: A. A house B. A truck C. A music system “from scratch” What do we need? “a computer” is an incredibly vague term. A few details, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/9 "2015-06-21T23:19:14Z")
Here is a site that I think a lot of people use: [https://pcpartpicker.com/](https://pcpartpicker.com/) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/10 "2015-06-22T00:04:42Z")
These days most people buy a motherboard, power supply, dvd drive and case. A graphics card can be a nice upgrade. Buy the motherboard with the cpu already installed. Bundle deals are a good option because they’ve already selected compatible parts. Matching a compatible cpu and memory with the motherboard can be tricky. There are so many variations and you can ruin the motherboard powering up the wrong components. I used a vendor for several years that sold motherboards with the cpu and memory installed. They did a burn in test to certify it worked. Took the responsibility off me. I don’t want to get blamed for a dead motherboard. or a dead cpu because of a bad install. [newegg.com](http://newegg.com) is one of the few places that still sells parts. (20 years ago there were dozens and dozens of places) I like Gigabyte motherboards. I’ve used them for several builds with good results. here is a bundle deal with everything needed [http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.2284711](http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.2284711) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/11 "2015-06-22T00:13:36Z")
oh, you’ll have to install the cpu and memory yourself with any newegg bundle. Read the motherboard manual very carefully. It has step by step installation instructions. Its not hard. The cpu just plugs in. make sure to plug in the cpu fan cable too. Some cpus require you to install the fan. A PITA because you have to spread white heat sink grease first. I think all modern cpu’s come with the fan already attached. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/12 "2015-06-22T04:20:16Z")
> [@CaptainAmerica\_1987](#): > > Hey folks my brother and I are looking to build our own computer from the ground up. We need some help in getting started in figuring out what parts we will need, what the cost would be, etc. > > Thanks for any help you can throw in and as always please feel free to throw in any extra advice you think would help! If you’re doing this for the experience, that’s fine. But if you’re doing it because you want/need a PC, well you’re taking the long way round. It won’t be cheaper, easier, or better building it yourself. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/13 "2015-06-22T04:23:38Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > If you’re doing this for the experience, that’s fine. But if you’re doing it because you want/need a PC, well you’re taking the long way round. It won’t be cheaper, easier, or better building it yourself. Easier? No. Cheaper? Yes. Better? As in faster, and more customized? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/14 "2015-06-22T04:43:54Z")
^^^That ^^^ ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/15 "2015-06-22T06:07:56Z")
I’d question the “cheaper” part (I have built 12 (I built up a bunch for relatives) or so). You can end up paying the retail mark up on each part vs. one just the completed unit. This is where Dell came from - they would build to order and not try to ding excessively. If you can find a shop which sell OEM-packaged stuff, it will/should be cheaper than the stuff in retail boxes. And I folks I used also sold the software - at OEM, NOT retail. If you are doing the building, you are the manufacturer. It is getting the software at OEM prices that make build-your-own attractive. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/16 "2015-06-22T12:54:42Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > First, get a work table. Preferably with an anti-static mat, and a static discharge wristband. > > Trying to do it on the ground is just asking for trouble. No, no, no… first you excavate and pour the foundation. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/17 "2015-06-22T13:14:20Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I’d question the “cheaper” part (I have built 12 (I built up a bunch for relatives) or so). > > You can end up paying the retail mark up on each part vs. one just the completed unit. I think it depends a lot on what you’re trying to build. Someone who just wants an office box that runs Netflix would be better served buying off the shelf. Someone who wants an optimized gaming machine within their price point is almost certainly better hand-picking the components and building it themselves. Pre-built gaming machines almost always have some skimpy parts or stuff that’s oddly balanced (16gb of cheap memory but a 450W no-name PSU, for example) and the build-to-suit places have their markups and installation costs baked into the component price so you’re not getting wholesale savings from them. Agreed though that it’s not like the 90’s where you’d save 50% by building it yourself. These days the main benefits seem to be knowing exactly what’s in your case and the knowledge & confidence to get in there and upgrade it later. In my opinion, the cost savings are largely off-set by the time I spend doing the labor (especially if anything goes wrong). ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/18 "2015-06-22T13:31:24Z")
It is far easier to upgrade and update a scratch-built computer than 95% of box computers. I have replaced parts in 6 and 7 year old systems, sometimes several times, from whatever was current and appropriately priced at the time… and tossed box systems that could only be repaired with an insanely expensive proprietary-footprint part. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer-from-the-ground-up/723092/19 "2015-06-22T21:42:16Z")
While it can be amusing to build your own computer, there can be serious pitfalls. If you get it built and it does not work it may be difficult for you to ascertain what the problem is (it could be a part or it could be how you put it together). It’s not like you have much in the way of support to rely on. I built three computers and this happened to me once; it took me about a week to discover that I had inadvertently grounded the motherboard. You need to have a lot of patience and good (or at least persistent) google-fu. If everything goes right, it takes a couple of hours. As far as cost is concerned, it used to be said that you could save money by building a high end (gaming) computer, but if you were looking for a simple, cheap computer you would likely not save any money. I am not sure if this is still true. Certainly the rather small amount of money you might save would not likely be worth the possible problems. Do it only if you have time on your hands and view it as a challenge. There are a crapload of websites out there dedicated to “build your own” enthusiasts. Just find the most recent one.