How To Build Your Own Computer

If you want to know how to build your own computer, read our basic guide to building computers from cheap computer parts ...

[Note: We'd love to learn about your own computer building adventures. Check out the comments page here: Build Your Own Computer Stories]

This page gives you an overview of the hardware you need with links to step-by-step guides to follow once you have all the parts and are ready to build your own computer.
I think this type of computer offers the best value if you want to save money and build your own computer.

Currently Pentium 4/Celeron socket 478 CPUs and motherboards are very cheap parts. This is a fast platform and a huge number of these computer systems are in use today.

If you want a list and description of all the computer parts you need then click here.

If you want to build your own computer the best place to start is with the motherboard.

Since all the other computer parts plug into the motherboard you can learn about the whole system from here.

Here is a standard socket motherboard:

• A = CPU socket 478. This is where you plug in your pentium 4/celeron CPU. Step-by-step CPU installation guide here.



• B = SDRAM slots. This is where you plug in your PC 133 memory. This board can have from 1 to 3 RAM chips installed. Step-by-step computer memory installation guide here.



• C = IDE cable plugs. This is where you plug in the gray IDE cable that links the hard drive, floppy and CD ROM to the motherboard. Step-by-step hard drive and CD ROM installation guide here.



• D = AGP graphics card slot. This is where you install your graphics card. Step-by-step graphics card installation guide here.



• E = PCI slots. This is where you install other things into the computer such as modems and sound cards.



• F = External ports. This is where you plug in your monitor and printer.



• G = Mouse, keyboard and USB ports. You know what a mouse is right? USB ports are for things like scanners.

The installation guides on this page are for the type of computer parts I recommend. If you want to get the best value I think you should get a Pentium 4 computer system like this. You will not only get great performance but if you build your own computer you will save hundreds of dollars.

Barebone Computer Kits:

Recently it has become common for barebone computer kits to be sold. Barebone computers are very cheap and often come without a couple of components you have to buy and install yourself.

I really like barebone computers as they come partially built and are easy for new computer builders to finish off.

You get to choose which parts to install and thus save money or spend more for better performance.

You can get a cheap bare bone computer for less than $100

This is one way to get a really cheap computer. There are always some on sale at less than $100that includes the motherboard installed in the case along with the CPU and memory. Of course the CPU is not very fast but you can always upgrade it later.

Check out these great prices on barebone computers!

You will have to buy a hard drive and CD ROM drive to complete a barebone computer system. Generally a cheap computer would be fine for school reports and surfing the Internet. It will not be that great for games, unless you go for the multimedia barebone computer kits , those are wicked fast.

It is totally upgradeable so you can increase performance in the future with a new graphics card, more memory or a faster CPU.

I think it would be very hard to get a computer for less any other way ... so I do recommend you consider barebone computers.



Click here to return to the top of Build Your Own Computer.