Choosing the Choosing the Components of your Components of your

PCPCSelecting compatible Selecting compatible

components for your PCcomponents for your PC

MotherboardMotherboardIn most cases, it will be the In most cases, it will be the MotherboardMotherboard specification specification that will determine the best that will determine the best components to compliment components to compliment it. When making purchases it. When making purchases of the following items, refer of the following items, refer to your to your MotherboardMotherboard manual so that you can be manual so that you can be advised by the sales person advised by the sales person on which items will be on which items will be compatible.compatible.

Reputable Motherboard Reputable Motherboard BrandsBrands: ASUS, Redfox, MSI: ASUS, Redfox, MSI

PC CasePC CasePC CasePC Case style is always a style is always a personal preference. If the personal preference. If the PC CasePC Case is supplied with a is supplied with a PSUPSU, make sure it is the , make sure it is the correct type for your correct type for your motherboard. Newer motherboard. Newer Motherboards need an ATX Motherboards need an ATX PSUPSU, whereas older versions , whereas older versions require an AT require an AT PSUPSU. Make . Make sure that your sure that your MotherboardMotherboard will physically fit inside the will physically fit inside the PC CasePC Case before buying. before buying.

Reputable PC Case Reputable PC Case BrandsBrands: Akasa, Antec, : Akasa, Antec, Chieftec, Coolermaster Chieftec, Coolermaster

Power Supply Unit (PSU)Power Supply Unit (PSU)If not supplied with the If not supplied with the case, be sure you buy the case, be sure you buy the correct type of correct type of PSUPSU for for your your MotherboardMotherboard (see (see above) Be aware that above) Be aware that certain newer CPU's will certain newer CPU's will require a high power require a high power PSUPSU. Try to find a . Try to find a PSUPSU with a high power rating with a high power rating - 500W for example.- 500W for example.

Reputable PSU Reputable PSU BrandsBrands: Antec, : Antec, Enermax, TaganEnermax, Tagan

Central Processing Unit Central Processing Unit (CPU)(CPU)

The type of The type of CPUCPU you need you need will be determined by your will be determined by your Motherboard specification.Motherboard specification.

Try to buy the best/fastest Try to buy the best/fastest CPUCPU you can afford, as this you can afford, as this is one of the most significant is one of the most significant factors in the overall factors in the overall performance of your new PC. performance of your new PC. Be sure to buy and fit an Be sure to buy and fit an appropriately rated Heatsink appropriately rated Heatsink and Fan for your and Fan for your CPUCPU - they - they will get extremely hot in will get extremely hot in operation and can be operation and can be damaged by overheating.damaged by overheating.

Reputable CPU BrandsReputable CPU Brands: : AMD, IntelAMD, Intel

Random Access Memory Random Access Memory (RAM)(RAM)

Your choice of Your choice of MemoryMemory will be determined by will be determined by your Motherboard your Motherboard specification. Newer PC's specification. Newer PC's will use will use DIMMsDIMMs, older , older machines use machines use SIMMsSIMMs. . The more 'slots' your The more 'slots' your motherboard has, the motherboard has, the more more DIMMsDIMMs//SIMMsSIMMs you will be able to fit.you will be able to fit.

Reputable RAM Reputable RAM BrandsBrands: Corsair, Crucial, : Corsair, Crucial, GeIL, Kingston, OCZ GeIL, Kingston, OCZ

Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)Most Motherboards Most Motherboards can support up to can support up to two two floppy drivesfloppy drives but one will do just but one will do just fine for most PC's. fine for most PC's. As long as you buy As long as you buy a 'PC compatible' a 'PC compatible' Floppy DriveFloppy Drive you you can't really go can't really go wrong here.wrong here.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)Hard Disk Drive (HDD)Most Motherboards can Most Motherboards can support up to 4 IDE support up to 4 IDE devices (2 per IDE devices (2 per IDE channel, one 'Master' and channel, one 'Master' and one 'Slave'). A basic PC one 'Slave'). A basic PC will usually have one will usually have one IDE IDE Hard DiskHard Disk onto which onto which the Operating System and the Operating System and games/applications will games/applications will be installed.be installed.

Reputable HDD Reputable HDD BrandsBrands: Toshiba, Maxtor, : Toshiba, Maxtor, Samsung, SeagateSamsung, Seagate

CD/DVD DriveCD/DVD DriveAn IDE An IDE CD-ROMCD-ROM or or DVD-ROMDVD-ROM will also be will also be useful, as most of useful, as most of today's software today's software packages are supplied packages are supplied on on CDCD as standard. It's as standard. It's also nice to listen to also nice to listen to music music CD'sCD's or watch a or watch a DVDDVD once in a while too. once in a while too.

Reputable CD-ROM Reputable CD-ROM BrandsBrands: LG, LiteOn, : LG, LiteOn, Plextor, NEC, Phillips, Plextor, NEC, Phillips, Samsung, SonySamsung, Sony

VariationsVariations CD-RCD-R

Compact Disk RecordableCompact Disk RecordableAllows you to write your own data/music Allows you to write your own data/music CD'sCD's using blank using blank CDCD disks disks

CD-RWCD-RW Compact Disk Re-WritableCompact Disk Re-Writable

As above, but allows re-recording several times onto the same As above, but allows re-recording several times onto the same CDCD

DVD-ROMDVD-ROM Digital Versatile Disk Read Only MemoryDigital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory

A higher-capacity format than standard A higher-capacity format than standard CDCD, usually used for Films, usually used for Films

DVD-R / DVD-RWDVD-R / DVD-RW Digital Versatile Disk Recordable / Re-WritableDigital Versatile Disk Recordable / Re-Writable

As with As with CDCD, allows writing and re-writing to blank , allows writing and re-writing to blank DVDDVD disks disks

'Combo''Combo' A A CDCD or or DVDDVD drive that has any combination of these features built in drive that has any combination of these features built in

to one unit.to one unit.

Video CardVideo CardThe best The best Video CardVideo Card to buy will to buy will depend on what you will require depend on what you will require from your PC. If you will be from your PC. If you will be running business applications running business applications and other 'visually' low and other 'visually' low performance applications, then performance applications, then a reasonably low specification, a reasonably low specification, low price low price Video CardVideo Card will will suffice. However, if you are suffice. However, if you are building a PC with the intention building a PC with the intention of playing the latest 3D games, a of playing the latest 3D games, a Video CardVideo Card of a much higher of a much higher spec. will be necessary to spec. will be necessary to handle the very demanding handle the very demanding output from such games. output from such games.

Reputable Video Card Reputable Video Card BrandsBrands: nVidia, ATI, Matrox, : nVidia, ATI, Matrox, Asus, MSI, Leadtek, XFX Asus, MSI, Leadtek, XFX

Sound CardSound CardAs with the As with the Video CardVideo Card, your , your choice of choice of Sound CardSound Card will be will be dependant on your dependant on your requirements. Business requirements. Business applications will have very applications will have very little benefit of a little benefit of a sound cardsound card, , whereas games can whereas games can sometimes seem unplayable sometimes seem unplayable without one. A without one. A Sound CardSound Card with a 'stereo' output is fairly with a 'stereo' output is fairly standard, but many now standard, but many now come with all manner of extra come with all manner of extra sound options to enhance sound options to enhance your PC's audio output. your PC's audio output.

Reputable Sound Card Reputable Sound Card BrandsBrands: Creative Sound : Creative Sound Blaster, M-Audio, Terratec, Blaster, M-Audio, Terratec, Voyetra Voyetra

PC MonitorPC MonitorYour Your monitormonitor could be could be either a CRT (standard) either a CRT (standard) type or newer LCD (Flat type or newer LCD (Flat Panel) style depending Panel) style depending on your budget and on your budget and usage requirements.usage requirements.

Typical Monitor display Typical Monitor display sizes: 15", 17", 19", 21", sizes: 15", 17", 19", 21", 22"22"

Reputable PC Monitor Reputable PC Monitor BrandsBrands: Iiyama, Taxan, : Iiyama, Taxan, LG, NEC, Neovo, Sony, LG, NEC, Neovo, Sony, ViewsonicViewsonic

Keyboard and MouseKeyboard and MouseCheck the connector type on Check the connector type on your motherboard. In the case your motherboard. In the case of the of the KeyboardKeyboard this will be this will be ATAT, , PS2PS2 or or USBUSB. The . The MouseMouse will be either will be either SerialSerial, , PS/2PS/2 or or USBUSB..

MouseMouse and and KeyboardKeyboard style style are personal choice, but be are personal choice, but be aware that if you will be using aware that if you will be using your PC for extended periods your PC for extended periods of time, ergonomic of time, ergonomic KeyboardKeyboard and and MouseMouse designs will help designs will help prevent conditions such as prevent conditions such as RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury.)RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury.)

Reputable Keyboard/Mouse Reputable Keyboard/Mouse BrandsBrands: Logitech, Microsoft, : Logitech, Microsoft, CreativeCreative

Operating SystemOperating SystemFinally, to complete your new Finally, to complete your new PC system, you will need to PC system, you will need to install an install an Operating SystemOperating System. . This fundamental piece of This fundamental piece of software controls the hardware software controls the hardware in your PC and presents you in your PC and presents you with an easy-to-use, graphical with an easy-to-use, graphical interface.interface.

Buying the most recent version Buying the most recent version of your chosen of your chosen Operating Operating SystemSystem is strongly advised as is strongly advised as this will greatly simplify the this will greatly simplify the setup/installation process and setup/installation process and minimise the need for minimise the need for additional driver installations additional driver installations to support your new hardware.to support your new hardware.

Common Common Operating Operating SystemsSystems include: include:

Windows 95 (now out-Windows 95 (now out-dated) dated)

Windows 98 Second Windows 98 Second Edition Edition

Windows Millennium Windows Millennium Edition Edition

Windows XP (latest Windows XP (latest version)version)