New computer

Hi guy's. Just a quick one. Looking to build my own PC from scratch as you can see from my specs I'm a laptop lay person at the mo. Are there any decent step by step sites to make sure I don't set my house on fire or electrocute the dog? Thanks in advance.

Hi Mulreay,

I'm assuming that you are wanting to build a new desktop PC? Here's a few sites that might get you started ....

1. http://www.buildeasypc.com/

2.http://lifehacker.com/5151369/

3.http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/build_perfect_pc_stepbystep_illustrated_howto_guide

Cheers mate that was it.

Cheers mate that was it.

Your welcome. 

Youtube has some fairly good step by step guides by Compita.  There is no electro here just possible ESD to parts if you dont discharge your self. 

Aint no ESD's going on here I got my big *censored* rubber gloves on the go! And there day glo orange!

maybe I shouldnt help you, but thats a good start then.

Yeah thanks for that.

just treating you how you want too be, I tried I had really.   

Thank you Squall I appreciate the info. 

If you relax like I have recently what else do you need to know?

Just got the specs for my new computer not sure what to make of them at the mo.

can you list what your new pc's specs are? 

Q8200 4gb Ram, iTB Hdd, DVDR-W, WIFI, 9400st??, win o/s Vista. £656
Not sure about the 9400st bit?? His writing is not the best.
What do you think?

Q8200 4gb Ram, iTB Hdd, DVDR-W, WIFI, 9400st??, win o/s Vista. £656
Not sure about the 9400st bit?? His writing is not the best.
What do you think?

9400ST probably is meaning the 9400GT (the nvidia graphics card). Everything looks decent, but that graphics card isn't that great it you want to be playing video games but it's good for video playback and all that! 

Now you mention it he did say it was a quad core graphics card which was top notch. May be not then!

Its okay probably enough to get a sound card an few other things.

Yeah I'll probably get a sound card.. not decided yet   

It depends on were your getting your parts at which you maybe able to save a bit more.

Price seems a bit off to me ... seems a little expensive, depending on the motherboard, PSU and actual graphics card.
Still a good computer though, no disrespect intended or anything.

Hi Calum are you English? Always a little easier to price things up if your from the same country. Would appreciate your advice.

I am English, yes.
For that price, I found a prebuilt system (not typical prebuilt, better quality) with a dual core 2.6GHz, SLI GTS250's, XP Home, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, EVGA 750i SLI FTW motherboard, and OCZ modular 600W PSU.
I know that's not a great match up, but if you take off some of the price as it's prebuilt, drop a graphics card and get a cheaper Intel board, upgrade the case, CPU and HDD, and maybe change the PSU, it'd work out around the same price but (hard to say here as we don't know the full details of the system we're discussing) possibly better components and much better graphics (vs. 9400GT).

Yeah good call. Manchester by the way you? If you were to create a PC what would you use? I'm thinking of going to Micro Direct to see what they can do.

I'm in Derby (check my profile).
I use Overclockers for my supplier, they do a lot of prebuilt systems (which are fully configurable if you call them)and components too.  Customer service is fantastic, I usually go and collect my orders because I'm not too far from them.  40 minute drive = £10 of petrol, vs. at least £5 for delivery and having to wait.
No, I don't work for them, heh.

Anyway, a quick build I just threw together from there:
Q8200 CPU
HD4870 graphics card
EP45-DS3P motherboard
Barracuda 7200.12 1TB HDD
PC P&C 610W PSU
Antec 300 case
OCUK 4GB 800MHz RAM
Pioneer DVDRW drive
XP Home

£636.71 including delivery.

That's easily configurable and upgradeable, or downgradeable.  Changing to Vista Basic would be the same price, Home Premium adds another £15.
There's a 512MB version of that graphics card for a little cheaper which is fine for lower resolution gaming, or if you're not a hardcore gamer you could drop to a 4850, 4830, or 4770 for up to £30 less.  A 9600GSO would be quite a bit cheaper and would be fine for lower end gaming.
For the RAM, you may want to change that for something with a better warranty - this kit is on offer and is pretty good for an extra £8 with a lifetime warranty.

Those are just some examples of how you could change it anyway, you know better than me what you want.

Hope this helps.

I'm a true hardcore Gamer to be fair. Thanks for the advice though much appreciated.
Derby... were almost neighbours.

I'm a true hardcore Gamer to be fair. Thanks for the advice though much appreciated.

You're welcome.

Derby... were almost neighbours.

Indeed.  I have a friend who lives almost in Manchester actually, and we go through there occasionally on our random travels heh.

Oh ... almost forgot.  You may want to swap the CPU for the Q6700 in fact, it should be a fair bit better for gaming than the Q8200.