computer builders

[bortas1]

  I h others I just cant rememberave seen diastorm, pcpartpicks, and others . how about maingear, xidax, ibuypower(I think) few others I just cant remember. please file in I really respect all inputs.
thanks in advice
<S> bortas

[Ramesis]

Hiya bortas <S>

Having had 2 strokes and a HA, I still build my own boxes and coming
from the old school of computers, I still follow the following guidelines:

   1) Decide what you will use the computer for (word processing, spreadsheets, gaming,
       internet is a given, dedicated etc.)

   2) After you have settled on the boxes use, decide on what your budget will be

   3) Once you have decided 1 and 2 above, begin researching the components

         1) The CPU and its form factor

         2) The mobo that will accomadate the CPU form factor, SLI (if you are going to use 2 or 3 monitors),
             the RAM, SSDs, CDROM, etc.

         3) The graphics card

         4) The power supply and wattage that will support all of the above

             Note: I was taught in engineering classes to add 10% to each component's
                      specs and therefore I run a 1200 watt power supply. Granted its a little overkill
                      but oh well 

         5) Now you select the monitor based on your graphics card specs and the case

             Note: The case is pretty much a matter of preference just as long as the
                      power supply will fit

I'm sure others will chime in, add to what I have suggested and critisize my steps to building a box
but to each his own 

Ramesis/Osiris

[TequilaChaser]

Heya bortas,

if you can nail down an amount in your budget that you are looking to spend on a new pc (whether you build it yourself or buy it pre-built) will get you some solid replies, sir!

also include what you might like Nvidia vs ATI/AMD,  Intel vs AMD, etc...

hope this helps,

TC

[Masherbrum]

Digitalstorm over those you listed.   

[Dragon Tamer]

Something like this?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kqC4XL

[Bizman]

Good suggestions there. One thing about power supplies to avoid potential issues: A massively oversized power supply can cause harm. For a single video card system around 600W is usually sufficient. The situation changes if you have two or three top AMD cards crossfired together, they really need a 1000W psu. After knowing what you're going to get, check the need of power with a tool like http://outervision.com/power-supply-calculator. Adding 10% to that might do good, doubling that not so much.

[Drano]

Biz how can a larger psu harm anything? Honest question as I never considered it when I got my 1200w psu. The idea was to future proof thinking I might put another card in until it was pretty much determined that doesn't really work for AH, which is all I play and I scarcely have time for that anymore.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Skuzzy]

Switching power supplies are most efficient when they are under approximately 80% load.  Below that, a number of issues can manifest.  Least of which is noise in the power which can shorten component life, as well as increase heat loads in all analog devices (hard drive motors, fans...).

If the load gets too low, the power supply might actually shut down, but before it does, it can introduce massive spikes of power into the system.

It is the nature of switching supplies.  If it is a linear supply, then it does not matter, but then again, it would be three time the size and weight of a comparable switcher.

A lot of what might happen will depend on the quality of the supply components.

[Bizman]

Biz how can a larger psu harm anything? Honest question as I never considered it when I got my 1200w psu. The idea was to future proof thinking I might put another card in until it was pretty much determined that doesn't really work for AH, which is all I play and I scarcely have time for that anymore.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Skuzzy nailed it. That's the exact explanation.

As you might have noticed, I'm not an engineer. My thinking is more on the simple side. Our physics teacher talked about the law of conservation of energy. So, logically thinking, if you can't use all of the energy your PSU produces, it doesn't just vanish. It will turn into heat and as we all know, heat is something we'd like to get out of our computers.

That explanation may be full of flaws, but in my opinion it's something that a layman can understand and accept and act accordingly. As the Jesuits used to say, "the end justifies the means".

[Ramesis]

I beg to differ but ya'll think what u wish...
A larger PS whether switched or not, is not going to
produce spikes unless the load begins to drag on the
max available current
Case in point, a cryogenic magnet running 600 amps at 10v
will quench if the current exceeds the 600 amps by more than 10%
The PS is a switching PS
Ramsis/Osiris

[Skuzzy]

I beg to differ but ya'll think what u wish...
A larger PS whether switched or not, is not going to
produce spikes unless the load begins to drag on the
max available current
Case in point, a cryogenic magnet running 600 amps at 10v
will quench if the current exceeds the 600 amps by more than 10%
The PS is a switching PS
Ramsis/Osiris

Spikes happen at either end of the load.  Too high or too low.  In the middle, simple transient noise is all that happens until the supply is within its designed load spectrum. Typically, that is about 80%.

Once the load gets outside of the intended parameters, the filters which filter out the switching noise become less effective and in some case magnify the noise instead of suppressing it.  It depends on the filter and its implementation.  Choke and/or differential filters have limits they operate best in.

Again, it will depend on the design as to what will manifest.  The safe bet is to never operate a switching supply outside its intended load.

[bortas1]

  thanks gents im still trying to figure out and understand all the components needed. im beginning to get a somewhat understanding with them. mostly trying to understand how they relate.
thank you all.
bortas

[bortas1]

Something like this?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kqC4XL

its a start thank you

[bortas1]

Hiya bortas <S>

Having had 2 strokes and a HA, I still build my own boxes and coming
from the old school of computers, I still follow the following guidelines:

   1) Decide what you will use the computer for (word processing, spreadsheets, gaming,
       internet is a given, dedicated etc.)

   2) After you have settled on the boxes use, decide on what your budget will be

   3) Once you have decided 1 and 2 above, begin researching the components

         1) The CPU and its form factor

         2) The mobo that will accomadate the CPU form factor, SLI (if you are going to use 2 or 3 monitors),
             the RAM, SSDs, CDROM, etc.

         3) The graphics card

         4) The power supply and wattage that will support all of the above

             Note: I was taught in engineering classes to add 10% to each component's
                      specs and therefore I run a 1200 watt power supply. Granted its a little overkill
                      but oh well 

         5) Now you select the monitor based on your graphics card specs and the case

             Note: The case is pretty much a matter of preference just as long as the
                      power supply will fit

I'm sure others will chime in, add to what I have suggested and critisize my steps to building a box
but to each his own 

Ramesis/Osiris

thanks for the guideline that will come in handy