[Discuss] PC Build

[slitt at troubleshooters.com (Steve Litt)]

On Tue, 2 Jun 2015 10:01:48 -0400
"Greg Rundlett (freephile)" <greg at freephile.com> wrote:

> My 13-yr-old wants to build a PC and came up with a parts list.
> https://freephile.org/wiki/PC_Build
> 
> He's big into playing and hosting Minecraft, plus creating Minecraft
> graphics customizations with blender and gimp.  He currently uses a
> chromebook, plus crouton for a chrooted Ubuntu.  (The minecraft
> _server_ is on another host in a VM -- not on the chromebook.)
> Although the chromebook is good for portability, it's not very
> powerful when it comes to 3d rendering in blender.  And actually, he
> broke it (he is a 13 yo boy).  So he wants to upgrade to a
> "entry-level" gamer system using his own money.
> 
> I put his list at https://freephile.org/wiki/PC_Build and also
> referenced a system build that the blogger "Canton Matt" (Peteris
> Krumins) put together.  There are also a short list of the resources
> I've found for compatibility checking.
> 
> I hardly know anything about hardware and mostly buy from newegg or
> tigerdirect.  It's been years since I built my first linux box from
> scratch.  Any comments, advice from regular or recent builders?

You forgot the DVD reader/writer for $35.00.

Biggest tip I could give you is I like to have a big, wide space to
work, and I usually like to "dry build" it outside the case first. One
way or another, be sure good thermal compound gets between the CPU and
the heatsink/fan, and make sure you don't bend the thin, hairlike pins
on either the CPU or the mobo. Naturally, disassemble your dryfit and
turn off the power supply before assembling in the case. Extra points
to the kind of power supply with an on-off switch, because it can be
plugged in, to ground the case, without sending power to the CPU.

Obviously, use static protection. I'm not going to tell you to wear a
wrist strap, because that can put you in danger in a shock situation,
but certainly touch the case every few seconds, and never walk across
the floor holding a part, and when you've been walking, touch the case
before anything else.

HTH,

SteveT

Steve Litt 
June 2015 featured book: The Key to Everyday Excellence
http://www.troubleshooters.com/key