How to build your own PC

BY CHRIS GARDNER

Buying a new computer can be a minefield for the average user.

They know what they want it to do but often have no idea what parts, and specifications, are best for the job.

In this eight part series technology editor Chris Gardner, with the help of Need A Nerd, demystifies the personal computer by building a one from scratch so that next time you buy a machine you know what to look for. Heck, you might even decide to build your own. This week they look at the console and power supply.

Console: SilverStone GD05 Grandia series SST-GD05B

Power supply: Thermaltake EVO Blue 550W-750W

The personal computer has come a long way since it was introduced to the world by IBM in 1981.

Microsoft, whose Windows operating system is installed on nearly 93 per cent of the world's personal computers, is probably to thank for turning the PC from an office tool into an entertainment centre.

Before computer console designers could think about designing a console which integrated with existing stereo systems, Microsoft was working on the Media Center component of Windows which was introduced in some editions of Windows XP.

Windows Media Center came bundled with all but the most basic version of Windows Vista, in 2007, and Windows 7, released in October. Like the more basic Media Player software also included with Windows Media Center can be used to listen to music and watch films and also includes the ability to record digital television.

In moving the personal computer from the office to the living room the console designers came up with the media centre console.

While it is not necessary to use such a console in a media centre build, any other console that fits the components will do, it does integrate better with existing home entertainment gear.

The SilverStone GD05 Grandia series SST-GD05B media centre console has the look and feel of a CD or DVD player, albeit a 151mm high one. Because it is 440mm wide and 325mm deep it stacks nicely with any stereo system comprising separate amplifier, cassette and CD units.

The SST-GD05B console can carry Micro ATX, Mini-DTX and Mini-ITX motherboards. It can hold one 5.25" CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or Blu-Ray drive. It also has the capacity for two 3.5" and one 2.5" internal hard drives or one 3.5" and two 2.5" internal drives. It comes with three of its own 120mm cooling fans, all operating at 1200rpm to keep the central processor unit from overheating, and has two more fan slots. Five expansion slots, used for adding the likes of digital television tuners and wireless broadband cards, are also included in the console.

As well as the four standard USB 2.0 ports on the back, used for connecting peripheral devices like keyboards, mice and printers, the SST-GD05B also includes two USB 2.0 ports on the front - perfect for connecting portable music players like iPods or other brand of MP3 player.

No media centre console would be complete without an audio jack on the front, which can be used for outputting to an amplifier or speakers, as well as a microphone jackpoint, enabling the recording of old vinyl or cassettes via free software like Audacity available from www.audacity.sourceforge.net.

In short, the SST-GD05B offers lots of options when it comes to compatibility with the components that make up the guts of a machine.

Consoles come in many shapes and sizes.

The laptop is the most common due to its compact size and portability. It's an ideal machine for business people, and students, who are constantly on the move, but because of its compact design it is harder to upgrade.

Most offices are fitted out with the mini tower, the second most common console, whose big brother is the tower. Because of their size - both usually have plenty of room to upgrade with extra hardware - they usually sit on the office floor but it's not unheard of to see one on a desk top. The mini tower has, for the most part, replaced the older desktop console which was once the most popular form.

The desktop console usually sits on the desk with a monitor atop it. For that reason it's a shorter and wider console than most. The mini-desktop console is a smaller, and thus cheaper, option but has limited space for upgrades.

Recent advances in computing have ushered in the One PC which combines the console and monitor into one unit. The disadvantage is that if the monitor fails you lose the PC while it is being serviced, and vice versa. It is also impossible to upgrade the monitor without losing the PC.

NEXT WEEK: The motherboard

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WIN!

For a chance to win a personal computer, built by Need A Nerd to your specifications, visit www.needanerd.co.nz. 

- © Fairfax NZ News