I'm a 68 year old retired geezer who is finding that the laptop that I used for business before I retired is no longer adequate for my post-retirement activities. I'm going to semi-retire it and put it in the family room for quick access to the net. I had planned on buying a brand name computer to replace the laptop, but the more I read, the more I’m inclined to try to build a custom machine that will fit my requirements and then some in order to prepare for future needs. It seems to me that the problem with off-the-shelf, brand name computers is they are usually under-powered with 200 – 300 watt PSUs which don’t provide adequate power if one chooses to grow the system. The graphics are also usually integrated and/or minimally capable, to say nothing of the junk software added as sales gimmicks.
Anyway, from reading the comments in several forums, it seems that I ought to be able to put a custom computer together if I knew what individual parts to obtain. That is a problem, because I am not very tech savvy. I have been a user of prebuilt equipment and commercial software. So I need the help of you younger guys and girls who understand the technical aspects of computers much better than I.
A couple of weeks ago, member 101381 asked you guys to recommend discrete components for a computer he planned to build. It seems to me that some of the recommendations were ones that I can live with very comfortably. I especially liked the completeness of the answer by bomberboy. However, before I could list all of the specific parts, Newegg discontinued the PSU and case special they had, and I couldn’t determine which case and PSU was recommended. I made note of the other components, however. I’m wondering if bomberboy could please restate the discrete case and PSU recommendations or make other recommendations.
I noted that the total of the components recommended by bomberboy was about $612 not including the PSU and case. That is about the amount I planned to spend on a computer, but I figure that I might be able to do a little better if I take advantage of various sales and purchase the parts over a period of about a month.
I am involved in radio controlled aircraft. I fly, crash, build and buy and sell systems, so I need a computer to communicate with potential buyers and sellers and provide photos and videos of various pieces of equipment to those I communicate with. I also need good (not great) graphics capabilities to handle a RC aircraft simulation called Real Flight 4.5 which is a very good RC flight simulator. I would also like to get involved in a full scale simulator at some point. I would like to use the computer to store, manage and manipulate photographs, and I want to convert my 33 1/3 record collection to digital media with my digital turntable. Digital music is something in which I want to get more involved. I also have a vinyl cutter which is computer driven and converts various graphic designs to vinyl film for decal-like appliqués which are used to cover/decorate RC aircraft among other things. This is essentially a graphic plotter with cutting capabilities.
The most the computer will be used for traditional computer games is when my grandson visits and decides to use my computer to play games that are probably less graphics intensive than what more serious gamers are used to, although I’ve seen some of the games he plays and they are pretty impressive.
So, the bottom line is I want to learn a little bit about putting a computer together and at the same time build a machine that will likely satisfy my basics requirements for some time, but also provide enough room to grow down the line. If any of you guys can help me, I would appreciate it. One of the things I don’t know about is how to determine how many fans or cooling devices one needs to build into a case, or are the fans included when you buy the case. I have been looking at some of thee customizable computer systems from various sources including http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/, Tiger Direct, Micro Centers, Velocity Micro and others. Problem is, I kind of like most of the things I see at these sites.
It looks like more than 4 Gb of RAM might be overkill, and many of the off-the-shelf units I’ve been considering have 8 Gb of DDR2. I gather DDR3 would be a better decision looking at the near future.
So here I am a 68 year old geezer looking for advice from young people at least 50 years younger and much more knowledgeable about this subject than I. Feel free to ask questions and make in depth explanations that you feel might help. I’ll try to soak it up. I live almost next to Tiger Direct and obviously have access to other suppliers via the web.
As for you, bomberboy, I noted your interest in aircraft and suggest you check out the following link. I think you will like it. In fact, this is cool enough that many others might like it if you like aircraft.
http://www.asb.tv/videos/view.php?v=1bf99434
Thanks for any help you can give me,
Harlan
Anyway, from reading the comments in several forums, it seems that I ought to be able to put a custom computer together if I knew what individual parts to obtain. That is a problem, because I am not very tech savvy. I have been a user of prebuilt equipment and commercial software. So I need the help of you younger guys and girls who understand the technical aspects of computers much better than I.
A couple of weeks ago, member 101381 asked you guys to recommend discrete components for a computer he planned to build. It seems to me that some of the recommendations were ones that I can live with very comfortably. I especially liked the completeness of the answer by bomberboy. However, before I could list all of the specific parts, Newegg discontinued the PSU and case special they had, and I couldn’t determine which case and PSU was recommended. I made note of the other components, however. I’m wondering if bomberboy could please restate the discrete case and PSU recommendations or make other recommendations.
I noted that the total of the components recommended by bomberboy was about $612 not including the PSU and case. That is about the amount I planned to spend on a computer, but I figure that I might be able to do a little better if I take advantage of various sales and purchase the parts over a period of about a month.
I am involved in radio controlled aircraft. I fly, crash, build and buy and sell systems, so I need a computer to communicate with potential buyers and sellers and provide photos and videos of various pieces of equipment to those I communicate with. I also need good (not great) graphics capabilities to handle a RC aircraft simulation called Real Flight 4.5 which is a very good RC flight simulator. I would also like to get involved in a full scale simulator at some point. I would like to use the computer to store, manage and manipulate photographs, and I want to convert my 33 1/3 record collection to digital media with my digital turntable. Digital music is something in which I want to get more involved. I also have a vinyl cutter which is computer driven and converts various graphic designs to vinyl film for decal-like appliqués which are used to cover/decorate RC aircraft among other things. This is essentially a graphic plotter with cutting capabilities.
The most the computer will be used for traditional computer games is when my grandson visits and decides to use my computer to play games that are probably less graphics intensive than what more serious gamers are used to, although I’ve seen some of the games he plays and they are pretty impressive.
So, the bottom line is I want to learn a little bit about putting a computer together and at the same time build a machine that will likely satisfy my basics requirements for some time, but also provide enough room to grow down the line. If any of you guys can help me, I would appreciate it. One of the things I don’t know about is how to determine how many fans or cooling devices one needs to build into a case, or are the fans included when you buy the case. I have been looking at some of thee customizable computer systems from various sources including http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/, Tiger Direct, Micro Centers, Velocity Micro and others. Problem is, I kind of like most of the things I see at these sites.
It looks like more than 4 Gb of RAM might be overkill, and many of the off-the-shelf units I’ve been considering have 8 Gb of DDR2. I gather DDR3 would be a better decision looking at the near future.
So here I am a 68 year old geezer looking for advice from young people at least 50 years younger and much more knowledgeable about this subject than I. Feel free to ask questions and make in depth explanations that you feel might help. I’ll try to soak it up. I live almost next to Tiger Direct and obviously have access to other suppliers via the web.
As for you, bomberboy, I noted your interest in aircraft and suggest you check out the following link. I think you will like it. In fact, this is cool enough that many others might like it if you like aircraft.
http://www.asb.tv/videos/view.php?v=1bf99434
Thanks for any help you can give me,
Harlan
