First-time Builder: Good (v. Bad) Instructions

  • Thread starter Thread starter jimmyleadfoot
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J

jimmyleadfoot

There seems to be a limitless number of "how to build a pc" guides on
the internet.

Can anyone recommend one that they like?

Thanks!

Jimmy
 
Buy a cheap second hand computer.
Take it apart and note where everything goes.
Then put it together and try troubleshooting it to get it going again. Best
experience you can get.
 
Buy a cheap second hand computer.
Take it apart and note where everything goes.
Then put it together and try troubleshooting it to get it going again.  Best
experience you can get.







- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...


I actually am starting with Sony Vaio box that runs slowly...

I figure I will replace the motherboard first, but that is just a
quess...
 
jimmyleadfoot said:
I actually am starting with Sony Vaio box that runs slowly...

I figure I will replace the motherboard first, but that is just a
quess...
Click to expand...
I wouldn't start that way.

What are the specifics of the Sony Vaio? Specifically the hardware
resources, cpu, ram, hdd, modelno of the box.

What OS are you trying to run in it/ on it/ that is 'slow'?

What resources do you own/ have access to/ in terms of installable
operating system?
 
I actually am starting with Sony Vaio box that runs slowly...

I figure I will replace the motherboard first, but that is just a
quess...
Click to expand...

SkyHigh's suggestion is good -- problem w/ brandnames, some, is they
can be a Chinese jigsaw to figure. I'd add a qualifier to that -- get
a *generic* ATX case that will fit virtually all standard sized
motherboard mounting holes, with the same holding true for power
supplies. What's left -- a hard and optical drive, and things start
to look pretty simple from the assembly point. Meaning, there's more
time to concentrate on the component factor, researching and
understanding what's going inside a box, facilitating "swapping",
instead of unwanted proprietary part hairball issues. Also, since the
box is square one -- think about one with adequate cooling. Starting
up a "clean machine" shouldn't involve heat, or be fundamentally
problematic about causing software-related glitches and potential
hardware failures.

I've got a lot of older gear I built that's been holding up "OK" over
the years. Not worth much now if I were to sell the stuff -- which I
guess means cheap *and* good. Good being a matter of focus and
application, and what-if scenarios when eventually, as will happen,
stuff quits, breaks, or gets too outdated and has to be replaced.
 
I actually am starting with Sony Vaio box that runs slowly...

I figure I will replace the motherboard first, but that is just a
quess...
Click to expand...
What is the spec? It may be that the slow running is down to lack of
maintenance/malware.

I went to one that took over 10 minutes to fire up a browser. By the
time I'd finished, it was down to a few seconds. All I did was use
CCleaner, IOBit Smartdefrag and make sure there was no malware on it.
 
Buy a cheap second hand computer.
Take it apart and note where everything goes.
Then put it together and try troubleshooting it to get it going again.  Best
experience you can get.
Click to expand...

I second this advice.



Tim Mastrogiacomo
 
Buy a cheap second hand computer.
Take it apart and note where everything goes.
Then put it together and try troubleshooting it to get it going again. Best
experience you can get.
Click to expand...

"Noting where everything goes" may be too laborious.
It seems easier to get an (older) PC and a manual of
similar date on how to build your own PC, then begin
disassembly, writing in the margin of the manual every
feature that seems different from the manual. This
is likelier to speed reassembly and successful testing.
 
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