Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#1

Post by snowbird122 » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 3:42 PM UTC

I have always put together my own computers, because I can buy only what I need and don't have to pay markup for a full system. I really don't enjoy following every PC hardware trend. Historically, every few years, I would pull up the system guides from Ars Technica and buy all the parts for one of their systems. It appears that this guide has gone away and the closest thing I can find is a ton of articles from Tom's Hardware which don't really compare.

Is there anything online that just tells me what to buy.

I'm looking for the equivalent of a friend that keeps up on all the hardware trends that can tell me what parts he would buy if he had $500 to spend.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#2

Post by dman » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 3:45 PM UTC

a) http://www.anandtech.com/tag/guides has guides that are updated frequently and are pretty good. b) You can also head to www.hardforums.com and get recommendations from techies themselves. People on hardforums are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#3

Post by arpitnext » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 3:50 PM UTC

this will certainly help you

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-idiots-guide-to-building-yo... (MUO)

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#4

Post by jat850 » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 4:22 PM UTC

Your profile doesn't have a contact e-mail address. Drop me an e-mail at (my username) at gmail.com if you'd like, because I have some interest in discussing this a bit.

I had begun working on a site that tracks current hardware trends, pricing, shopping, and recommendations but I haven't looked at the project in a while. If anyone is interested in collaborating on something like this, please feel free to contact me as well.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#5

Post by jgg » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 4:27 PM UTC

This book might be of interest to you: http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Computing-Systems-Building-Pr...

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#6

Post by dfreidin » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 4:41 PM UTC

The Ars Technica guide is still there. Here's the most recent one: http://arstechnica.com/hardware/guides/2009/10/ars-system-gu...

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#7

Post by bbulkow » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 4:49 PM UTC

dfreidin wrote: post #6

The Ars Technica guide is still there. Here's the most recent one: http://arstechnica.com/hardware/guides/2009/10/ars-system-gu...

That Ars article is 9 months old and there have been no postings in the ars hardware guide section since January. Since then, Intel updated its product line with i3/i5/i7, so I think the poster is right to ask for a different source.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#8

Post by piotrSikora » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 5:15 PM UTC

In that price range?

ASUS P7H55D-M EVO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131...)

Intel Core i3-550 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115...)

OCZ 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227...)

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EARS 1TB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136...)

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#9

Post by jasonlbaptiste » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 5:21 PM UTC

jat850 wrote: post #4

Your profile doesn't have a contact e-mail address. Drop me an e-mail at (my username) at gmail.com if you'd like, because I have some interest in discussing this a bit. I had begun working on a site that tracks current hardware trends, pricing, shopping, and recommendations but I haven't looked at the project in a while. If anyone is interested in collaborating on something like this, please feel free to contact me…

There's probably significant value in building something that works like a DELL build your own PC tool, but pulls in components from all the sites over the net, then puts together the shopping cart for you:

1) Takes you through each component choice: memory, case, cd/dvd, hd,etc.

2) As you choose the size for each one. 1tb hd? 8gb of ram?, it pulls together the lowest price, and sets up the shopping cart for you.

Problem I see- getting orders from multiple vendors.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a guide to build a PC

#10

Post by jat850 » Sat, Jun 19, 2010, 5:28 PM UTC

jasonlbaptiste wrote: post #9

jat850 wrote: post #4

Your profile doesn't have a contact e-mail address. Drop me an e-mail at (my username) at gmail.com if you'd like, because I have some interest in discussing this a bit. I had begun working on a site that tracks current hardware trends, pricing, shopping, and recommendations but I haven't looked at the project in a while. If anyone is interested in collaborating on something like this, please feel free to contact me…

There's probably significant value in building something that works like a DELL build your own PC tool, but pulls in components from all the sites over the net, then puts together the shopping cart for you: 1) Takes you through each component choice: memory, case, cd/dvd, hd,etc. 2) As you choose the size for each one. 1tb hd? 8gb of ram?, it pulls together the lowest price, and sets up the shopping cart for you. Pro…

Roughly what I had in mind - along with other shopping options, such as (mentioned by the OP) "what is the best computer for application X for $Y?"