If you want to build your own PC, you gotta get parts. If you have an existing PC that’s more than three years old, chances are you won’t want to use many of the parts from that unit. Some exceptions include the modem, hard drive, monitor, keyboard and mouse. Here’s a shopping list of what you’ll need:
• Computer case with power supply. This holds everything else. You can spend less than $50 for a case, or you can spend several times that. But look for a case that makes it easy to add and remove items, and has lots of airflow to allow heat to dissipate. Remember that the faster your processor and more high-end your components, the more heat your system will generate. The case may or may not come with a power supply. Make sure the supply is rated to at least 300 watts. The more goodies you’ll put in your PC, and the more powerful they are, the more wattage you’ll need.
• Processor. This is the brains of your computer, and also the most expensive component. The faster the chip, the higher the cost. Your best bang for the buck may be the processor that was state of the art six months ago, but has been superceded by a slightly faster model.
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