Handmade computers

[Blitzkommando]

I'm just curious as to how many people here build their own computers. I've built my last two with the older going towards four years old now and still running (albeit with RAM swapped, a new motherboard, and two video card changes). My newer machine is gone on since January with a motherboard change due to the original failing on me.

I find building my computers just about as much fun, if not more, than actually using them. Like any good builder though I am never finished building and will likely make a few more changes to this machine before exchanging out the whole system in 2008 for a quad-core with hopefully 8GB of RAM as I tend to find myself bogging down even my dual-core and 2GB of RAM today but would rather not deal with XP and 4GB as it is a pain in the lower body to run properly.

It can be a challenge and frustrating, but getting to essentially hand-pick everything makes it well worth it to me. Just having the knowledge of, "Hey, I built that and it works better than anything I could purchase pre-built at the same price." is an awesome feeling.

[VioletSkye]

I build my own http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_smile.gif

I've been building custom pcs for over a decade now (back when components still needed switches, dials and jumpers set properly to run.) It's become so incredibly easy to build pcs now that everything is pretty much plug and play. No more worrying about IRQs and I/O ranges. So much has changed since I first started putting together systems for businesses.

I still build custom gaming machines for people and I do quite a lot of specialized systems for businesses. Business machines are usually in the category of needing a money till machine for handling cash and credit card transactions, servers for company machines and databases, and custom built security camera machines that use specialized $10,000 - $30,000 DVR systems that use a special type of compression for recording the data from multiple security cameras. The videocards alone costing thousands of dollars depending on how many cameras you want, if you want color, level of image quality, etc. (and you thought $600 was alot to spend for a videocard lol.)

I agree though, picking out EXACTLY what you want and putting it all together into a working machine is an awesome feeling.

I forgot to mention I'm putting together a system for guy that wants a new Intel setup, so I'll be using an E6600. I ordered the parts Thursday. I'm excited to test out the new Intel CPUs http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Lastly, for those interested, Vista RC1 will be available within the coming weeks. If you participated in the Beta 2 program, you are automatically eligible to download RC1. Not sure if the Vista Beta 2 keys will work, but it doesn't really matter since you will be able to get a key anyway for RC1.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: VioletSkye on 2006-08-20 21:11 ]</font>

[astuarlen]

I decided to try my hand at building my own PC last summer, which was kinda scary 'cause I don't consider myself a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination but also a kinda fun learning experience.
I, ah, don't know that I can agree with you on the whole "Just having the knowledge of, 'Hey, I built that and it works better than anything I could purchase pre-built at the same price.' is an awesome feeling." business, though. ;p I definitely feel like I have a lot invested in the ol' box, though, and every time something goes wrong I flip out. http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wink.gif Sucks when you can't blame it on someone else's shoddy design, but I try to think of my adventures in troubleshooting as a learning experience.
Anyone else name theirs? My lump-o-junk's called Rolf. :>

[HUnewearl_Meira]

I've always had a computer that I've built myself, though in buying the parts for my current configuration from Jared_T, he insisted on building it himself; I don't know if it was just out of his enthusiasm to see the whole thing go together, or if he was insuring a warantee or what.

Otherwise, I've also got my wife's computer which was built also by Jared_T, which I am frequently inside of and moving things around (I really need to get her a new video card, as the onboard video just isn't getting the job done). Beyond that, I've got my Linux box, which is built largely from a PC that was replaced at my former place of work. This, also, has often been re-arranged by myself.

So yeah, I too, know the joy of tinkering with a computer. Also VioletSkye, I also remember having to deal with jumpers and dials and switches to configure RAM settings, FSB, processor speed and such. My first adventure in this direction was a 33mhz 486; two of them, in fact. My brother went to college at USC, and while he was there they replaced a great deal of computers in the library. He got two of them for me, each with 20MB of RAM (configured with 2 8MB sticks and 2 2MB sticks). These two machines were repeatedly cannibalized into eachother, in vain attempts to improve them. I still have boxes full of archaic equipment from that era in my life, that my wife dearly wishes I would throw away.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: HUnewearl_Meira on 2006-08-20 23:32 ]</font>

[Link00seven]

I've wanted to build my own, but i've never had the funds to do it. I've just done what I can to keep this one up and running. For 5 years old, its not too bad, but it is starting to show its age.

Sometime down the road, however, I do plan on building my own, although for college I want to get a Macbook Pro, especially if I major in Music Technology. (Music Editing + Mac = w00t)

[ulyoth]

Just built my own a few weeks ago, its very satisfying when it all works. Well the fan on the side rattles...but if i put my tv remote under one side to lift it up abit it stops XD

[KodiaX987]

I've never handbuilt one outside of school - although I do choose which parts to fit into the box. My last two compies have been handpicked by me, and I love both the freedom of choosing and knowing what's in there, and also the fact that there's nothing pre-bundled into the hard drive. http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif

And yes, I do name mine:

Free-Porn-Here (gaming machine turned business, dead)
Holy Barbecue (Business machine turned gaming, re-turned business, dead)
Roadrunning Bitch (Old laptop)
Party Animal (New laptop)
Little Tight (New business machine, replaces Holy Barbecue)
Sweet Monster (New gaming machine, replaces Free-Porn-Here)

[PandaMasterX4]

I built my last three computers and gave one to my brother. It was stolen within the year.

[Blitzkommando]

I do name mine as well. My old machine has recently been christened "MESA". The eMachine I used for a couple months was "BLACK". (See a trend there?) And my newest machine is Deep Silver (A play on the name of Deep Blue the supercomputer that beat Kasparov at a game of chess).

I to am anxious about building my father's next machine rather soon. It too will be running an E6600, 2GB of RAM, most likely an X1800 XT (Possibly X1900 XT if prices continue the way they are going), and an assortment of drives coming to over 1TB of storage for his high quality video, music, and picture editing needs. I know it would whoop my machine, which is no slouch, but I really want to see just how much it will whoop it, especially if I make the upgrades I plan to make.

[ulyoth]

I wouldnt mind naming mine, it was built for PSU and has to be tilted so it doesnt make a noise. I cant think of anything at the moment.

[HUnewearl_Meira]

On 2006-08-21 15:38, Norvekh wrote:
(A play on the name of Deep Blue the supercomputer that beat Kasparov at a game of chess)


Which in turn, evolved from an earlier chess-playing computer named Deep Thought, named for the computer from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that was able to provide the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything, but was unable to provide the actual question.

As well, I like to name my computers. My old computer was named Jube, after a favorite personal character of mine. After Jube was upgraded to the point of being a new computer altogether, and a much faster and more powerful powerhouse at that, I re-named him after a higher form of the character, Neo-Jube. My linux box is named Wheeljack, after the Autobot scientist from the original Transformers series. This name was chosen because the computer is used for tinkering and otherwise generally experimenting. My wife's computer is named after her first Guardians & Demons character (GxD is my own home-brewed RPG), Crystel (spelling is correct).

My brother-in-law, Kirk (Gold_Dragoon on PSO-World), has gone through a number of names for his computer, which has a history of behaving strangely. For the longest time, his computer was known as "Baka", Japanese for "Idiot", of course, but currently holds the name, "Mr. Blue", named for his own first Guardians & Demons character, a demon who continually makes failed attempts to be "good" and is really quite adept at performing less than intelligent acts at high frequencies and short intervals.

I don't recall off-hand what Jared_T's computer is named, but I believe that his brother Jamas' computer is named Sheila.

[Charmander02]

I wish i could build computers.

[Ketchup345]

I've built one, using suggestions from Violetskye for parts (I still have to get over to my Godfather's house and get it set up and show him how the programs work though).

It is easy and fun. I don't think I will ever let my family buy another desktop (I may look into building a laptop later on, maybe after college). I plan to turn my current desktop into a DVR when it gets replaced (I am trying to get my mother to accept a 4 year cycle for desktops) and I get the money for the part upgrades.

Charmander: Building computer is easy, most parts come with instructions, and there are countless guides on the internet (including one in this forum, just use a forum search).

[VioletSkye]

On 2006-08-22 08:04, Charmander02 wrote:
I wish i could build computers.


You can. As Ketchup345 mentioned, there are plenty of instructions online and the parts come with manuals. Any of us can help you pick out compatible components and help you with any snags you run into http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif