Author Topic: about a homemade computer  (Read 26090 times)

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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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about a homemade computer
« on: March 03, 2008, 03:29:16 PM »
Ok my computer that I use to program my robot broke down. I've decide that i'm going to make a computer. i found this instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-your-own-computer but unfortunately the motherboard that he lists is not for sale anymore and the other one doesn't have enough memory slots for me and i want my computer to be more expandable. nobody seems to be answering my questions there so i thought i would ask here. Is there another motherboard that would work for that instructable??
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Offline ed1380

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2008, 04:32:56 PM »
www.extremeoverclocking.com go to their forums. they helped me. I'm so out of the loop right now. cant help you. but i do know you should get the crucial ballistix for ~$40 after MIR. they've been serving me great. except they cost $280 when i got them  :'(  ;D
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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2008, 06:33:05 PM »
thx  ;D any other help would be greatly appreciated!
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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2008, 10:55:35 AM »
After hours of searching the web i think i have all the parts. Can someone tell me if it will work?
processor http://www.stalliontek.com/product_p/cpc2d-e6550oem.htm
motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131222
memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178154
hard drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262
lightscribe dvd burner/CD-rom http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151154
I still have to find a power supply, can some1 tell me how to pick the right one? I really want to know if the parts I picked out will work.
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Offline javafiend

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2008, 11:40:40 AM »
Check out the buyers guides on sharkyextreme.  The guide gives you a good starting point.  Some costs can be knocked down by buying things like a case that includes a PSU or motherboard/processor combo's.

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/
« Last Edit: March 13, 2008, 11:45:15 AM by javafiend »

Offline pomprocker

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2008, 12:16:10 PM »
I use a 10 year old laptop that originally had windows 98 on it to program my robot.

I formatted it and loaded up TinyXP Beast Edition. No memory requirements and runs fast as hell.

You could find it in a torrent somewhere.

So you could put it on any old PC to work like a new computer. A lot of Car PC guys use it as well as nLite.

Offline pomprocker

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2008, 12:18:55 PM »
I still have to find a power supply, can some1 tell me how to pick the right one? I really want to know if the parts I picked out will work.


A power supply with more power will have more molex connectors coming off of it  ;D

So it just depends how many things you want to power off of it. You main concern is that the mainboard is getting the proper voltage.

Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2008, 12:41:05 PM »
Thanks for all the tips! Pomprocker, my problem is If i got a 250w power supply for something that consumed 500w it just wouldn't work, so I don't know how to calculate what wattage power supply I need!!! Maybe I'm just stupid  ::). Can some1 plz tell me if the parts I listed above will work?
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Offline javafiend

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2008, 12:57:52 PM »
Your components all look fairly standard and you shouldn't have any conflicts with them.  Have you given any thought to a video card?  I didn't notice if your mobo had built in video.  But even if it does you should REALLY look into getting a video card since the on-board video uses your system RAM.

For power supplies, there really is no such thing as overkill.  You can't go wrong with a nice 500+ watt, Antec PSU.  I'm partial to Antec, but Sparkle, Thermaltake, and others make decent PSU's as well.

Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2008, 01:51:54 PM »
Thanks for the help. Yeah i'm thinking of getting a video card. Maybe 1 or 2 of these  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130025
I'm pretty sure my motherboard has built in video so i might wait a bit on those. What do you think? Good to know about the PSUs. It sounds like you have made a few computers. :)
« Last Edit: March 13, 2008, 02:01:57 PM by Trumpkin »
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Offline javafiend

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2008, 02:08:57 PM »
I would suggest going with one solid card, like an 8600 or better.  You won't notice much performance gain, if any, with SLI for most applications, including gaming.  If you're building a gaming rig, you might check the particular games forums or google SLI and the game for compatibility and performance.

Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2008, 02:18:32 PM »
Nope i'm not building a gaming rig. Since I'm trying to build this pretty cheap, do you think this case and PSU combo will be okay? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156139&ATT=11-156-139&CMP=OTC-Froogle&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Cases+(Computer+Cases+-+ATX+Form)-_-Raidmax-_-11156139
Oh yeah, the hard drive is an OEM so is it possible to get the right hard drive driver somewhere?
« Last Edit: March 13, 2008, 02:20:05 PM by Trumpkin »
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Offline javafiend

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2008, 02:32:05 PM »
The second review for that case says the power supply went out on startup.  I'd be wary of that one...  Just remember you get what you pay for.  Generally a decent PSU will run about $50 or more (I think mine was about $109).  Add a case on to that and you're edging close to $100 for both.  This one from Raidmax is below $100, gets good reviews, and should meet your power needs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062.  My PSU and case loyalties lean toward Antec, so I can't say I've had much experience with other brands.

Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2008, 04:05:00 PM »
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Offline javafiend

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2008, 05:08:49 PM »
Those should work.  Good luck with the build  ;D

When you want to trick out your box, check out these sites:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/
http://www.gruntville.com/

Those folks are way smarter than me  ::)

Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2008, 07:22:59 PM »
Ok, thx!
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Offline ed1380

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2008, 07:56:53 PM »
dont skimp on the PSU. if you get a cheap one, it might blow and take the whole system with it.

the 7300gt is ok, but if you can find the one with gddr3 memory it'll be better.

goodpower are a ok brand of psu. there is a good powersupply sticky at the forum i mentioned
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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #17 on: March 14, 2008, 07:58:44 AM »
Quote
the 7300gt is ok, but if you can find the one with gddr3 memory it'll be better.
You mean with the video card, right? The cheapest one at tiger direct is $220 and the most expensive is almost 3k! Went to Newegg and found a good one for a reasonable price http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127295. That might have to be an add on later tho.

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Offline ed1380

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #18 on: March 14, 2008, 01:41:37 PM »
sorry to confuse you. i meant a 7300gt with ddr3 ram. 2 varieties of the 7300gt were made, but seeing the price of the 8XXX cards, a 8600gt will be more than enough for you if you dont plan on gaming, and still most games will run on high-medium
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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #19 on: March 20, 2008, 01:37:29 PM »
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Offline airman00

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #20 on: March 20, 2008, 01:46:27 PM »
ma ma mia!

where are you getting all the cash to spend on this?
Check out the Roboduino, Arduino-compatible board!


Link: http://curiousinventor.com/kits/roboduino

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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #21 on: March 20, 2008, 03:08:15 PM »
Umm, I found out a couple of old PDAs i had are worth a couple hundred bucks apiece so i sold those. I have a bunch of other stuff i'm going to sell 2. I probably won't get the video card and extra Ram right away so that will cut down the price a little. I almost have enough money to build the basic computer right now.
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Offline airman00

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #22 on: March 20, 2008, 03:10:41 PM »
Umm, I found out a couple of old PDAs i had are worth a couple hundred bucks apiece so i sold those.

how much did you make per PDA ? I have some old ones I might sell as well
Check out the Roboduino, Arduino-compatible board!


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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #23 on: April 24, 2008, 03:24:08 PM »
sorry it took me so long to reply, for some reason it didn't show up on the unread posts thing.I sold them both for $300. Now the guy I sold them to says there is a problem.  >:( It took him over a month to say something, and they were working when I had them  >:( >:(. I've decided to go ahead and try to get enough money to build a computer anyway. Incase you were wondering the were symbol spt 1550 PDAs. I just want to double check that these RAM sticks are okay with the motherboard  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231144
« Last Edit: April 24, 2008, 03:25:32 PM by Trumpkin »
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Offline ed1380

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #24 on: April 24, 2008, 04:05:28 PM »
will do but you dont need the 8500 ram. anything over 6400 wil be overkill unless your planning on overclocking
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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #25 on: April 29, 2008, 01:46:56 PM »
I ordered my first couple of parts, I ended up going with this PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182030 I'll be running Ubuntu.
« Last Edit: April 29, 2008, 01:48:51 PM by Trumpkin »
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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #26 on: May 06, 2008, 04:32:08 PM »
I'm kinda confused with drivers and stuff.....can someone tell me how to install all the necessary drivers? Since I'm going to use Ubuntu I will need different drivers than what comes with the products, right? If so where can I find said drivers??? Ughh I feel like a noob all over again  :-[  :P.
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Offline ed1380

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #27 on: May 06, 2008, 08:15:45 PM »
the vast and mysterious internets AKA
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Offline TrumpkinTopic starter

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #28 on: May 07, 2008, 01:29:58 PM »
tried it.  ;)
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Offline Nyx

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Re: about a homemade computer
« Reply #29 on: May 07, 2008, 08:01:00 PM »
Ubuntu will likely have the necessary drivers for your essential hardware, like the network card, etc. Just install it, get it on the internet, and then download the nvidia drivers to take better advantage of your videocard.

By the way, my upgrade (which I should get tomorrow) got you beat... Muahahaah:
- Core 2 Quad 2.4
- 4GB DDR2
- EVGA 9800 GTX

;)

 


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