Assemble your computer

This is the smart thing to do when it comes to computers. You have to assemble them yourself. It's fast, easy and will save you thousands of dollars. Simple how to :
(Browse http://www.rue-montgallet.com/ to easily filter components)

1) Choose your processor brand : mainly Intel or Amd

This is a personal choice though Intel have easier to find linux drivers, and are the only way to go for hackintosh.

2) Choose your processor according to your budget and computer need. The best computer power per $ is around a 350$ processor. Each processor has a specific "Socket" that will allow to interface with the motherboard. For example for Intel i7 3770K the socket is 1155.

3) Choose the form factor of your computer. Should it be small or big. Should it possible to add lots of cards in it. What your computer should look like. For example if you want a small computer you can choose the mini-ITX format.

4) Choose the mother board : It must have a compatible socket, and a compatible format, and a compatible chipset. The mother board is what will allow you to connect your computer to the world, so choose one with the functionality you need (like hdmi output, wifi, bluetooth, pci16x ports, usb3). It will have a ram specification frequency and maximum ram memory. And an hard drive format.

5) Choose the ram, with a compatible frequency in the allowed sized range, Most important criterion is size, then frequency, higher frequency ram is faster but more expensive per dollar, and the best speed / $ is for ram around 1600Mhz.

6) Choose your disk. Solid State Drives are silent and fast but small, ideal for system disks. Hard-drive are bigger but noisy and slow.

7) Optionally, if neither your processor or mother board has a graphical unit, you will need a graphic card. Choose one that will interface with the mother board. Check the compatibility on-line on the graphic card manufacturer site.

8) Choose the power block and box.

Should be compatible with the mother board format. It will contribute a lot to the noise level of the computer. Should be able to provide enough power. If you don't use a graphic card, and don't use a lot of power, use a mini-itx format you can use a silent small power source from mini-box.

My configuration : 680€ all tax included (less than 1000$), in France, probably cheaper in the US.

Processor : Intel i7 3770k (4 cores - 8 threads @ 3.5Ghz overclockable up to 5Ghz with water-cooling)

Motherboard : Gigabyte Z77N-wifi It has the mini-ITX format, dual Gigabyte, dual HDMI, usb 3.0, 2 sata III ports, one pci 16x port, wifi, bluetooth. (This mother board is a really good bargain)

Memory : Kingston 1600Mhz 16Go

Hard-drive : Baracuda 3To 7500rpm (quite silent)

Box : Elite Advanced 120 (quite silent), mini itx could have a much more smaller box, but this one allow for about any graphic card.

Power : Be quiet 480 W (quite noisy) but I will soon buy picoPSU-160-XT from minibox so that it become more silent

Graphic card : None

Display : Any recent Tv, although you will need a DVI monitor to access BIOS if it does not recognize your TV.

Operating System : Tested on Ubuntu 12.04 fully operational. Should work on Windows 8. Should work for hackintosh except for the integrated wifi.

Please do not install Ubuntu 12.10, it is spy-ware.

Assembly in 30 minutes with experience and 4 hour with no experience including time to watch youtube video to learn how to assemble the pc, or reading the motherboard manual.

First elementary rule to follow to avoid frying a component : always plug off your computer when you insert or remove parts or components.

Second elementary rule : don't panic; there is no need to. Double-check when in doubt. Computer parts are quite robust (much more than you think), but yet avoid putting your finger on the processor connectors.

For the first boot you will need a bootable usb key which you can create with linux live usb key creator, or a windows 8 usb key which you can create via the microsoft site. You then just have to follow on-screen instructions.