Choosing motherboard (mainboard) and CPU

Motherboards and CPUs are the most important parts of the computer. They are like the ribs and the brains of human beings. That’s why we should select them carefully at the beginning. The rest of parts will be chosen accordingly. When you choose motherboard and CPU, make sure that they are compatible with each other, and make sure that there are 2 or more slots for RAM. The most important thing is that motherboard and CPU models should not be older than 2 years. Otherwise, we will have trouble with hardware upgrade later on.

My recommendation: if your computer is for basic work (surfing web, checking email, doing office applications) choose motherboard with built-in video and sound card.

Choosing memory (RAM) and storage devices

These 2 parts are really important for your computer to run.

Memory helps your system run faster. The more memories you have, the faster your PC runs. There are several popular types of memory that you should consider: DDR (old, slow and expensive), DDR2 (most popular, fast, cheaper) and DDR3 (new, fastest, and most expensive). It really depends on your motherboard to choose your suitable types of RAM.

My recommendation: 1GB DDR2 RAM.

Storage devices (hard drives) are for you to save your files. They also help you improve the performance of your system if you choose correctly. Here are some tips for you to get a good hard drive:

• Interface: IDE/ATA /SATA (slow/normal/fast) depends on your motherboard
• Round per Minute (RPM): 7200
• Capacity: the more, the better

My recommendation: 160GB SATA 7200 RPM hard drives

Choosing computer cases

We already have enough basic computer parts to get the PC run, but they are still apart. We need to get a case to hold those parts together. There are several types of cases: ATX (most popular), BTX, Desktop, MicroATX, Rackmount, and Server Tower. Again, it depends on your motherboard and your needs to select the right case type for the computers. My own tips for you when selecting computer cases:

• Case should comes with a Power Supply 400W and up
• Light: if you choose the heavy case, it is really not easy for you to carry your computer when you put all the parts together.
• Make sure that the case is not too small inside because it’s hard for you to install motherboard and parts later on
• Select a case that has many USB ports (front and sides)
• Don’t choose the case that is too tight because it make the computer hotter when it works.

My recommendation: Antec Sonata III 500 (Piano Black) for ATX motherboard

Choosing other devices:

• Optical Drives (DVD/CD): pick combo DVD-RW with LightScribe Technology is the best choice.
• Card Reader Panel (in front) is highly recommended
• Floppy-drive is an optional devices
• Sound card and video card if you need more sound and visual effects.

The computer hardware are getting really cheap nowadays because of the growth of technologies. Ask yourselves that what your systems are used for. If they are for basic web surfing, email checking, or office drafting, you don’t need to have “heavy-duty” computers. However, for servers and gaming system, make sure that you pick components that have enough power to serve your needs.

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written by Brian Nguyen