Custom Built Gaming PC

Choosing a computer power supply can be easy, provided that you don’t fall for the common mistakes. One of the most common mistakes people make when building their own computer is to neglect the importance of computer power supply. Tending to cut down their budget on it and get the cheapest one available. If you really care about the longevity of your computer system this advice should help you put in some effort to choose the right power supply.

Power Rating
The problem with today’s PC users is that they have not realized how much more powerful a computer has become, and because of that how much more power it needs Here is a table listing the parts for your computer and how many watts are generally devoted to each of them:

Computer Parts

Watts
Motherboard: 15-30
Low-End CPU: 20-50
Mid To High-End CPU:40-100
RAM: 7 per 128MB
PCI Add-In Card: 5
Low To Mid-Range Graphics: 20-60
High-End Graphics: 60-100
IDE Hard Drive: 10-30
Optical Drives: 10-25

Add up the power required for your system and get the power supply with a power rating higher than that required power. If you are building a high-end gaming computer, chances are you’ll need a 600 - 650W power supply.

Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
This is essentially the lifespan of the power supply; it represents the average hours the power supply can perform before it fails. Most power supplies will have MTBF ratings of 100,000 hours or more, but know that these figures were not collected from actual real-time testing. Typical ratings are based upon the comparative failure rates of the power supply’s individual components.

Short Circuit Protection
When choosing a computer power supply, make sure that it is equipped with a short circuit protection feature. This is a preventative action, making sure the computer parts don’t draw excessive currents, which could lead to its internal chips being burned.

Low Noise
The main reason a power supply is noisy is its inability to dissipate heat fast. The fan has to work on overdrive to maintain the required temperature. When choosing a computer power supply, make sure that it comes with a big powerful 140mm fan or two 80mm fans to effectively dissipate the heat and avoid any issues.

Load Current (Maximum and Minimum values)
Each computer part requires different voltage and current to function. It’s important that the power supply can support the various voltage levels and the ones currently being supplied. Some terms to remember:

Maximum load current - The maximum current that the computer part can accept for a particular voltage level.

Minimum load current - The minimum current the computer part needs to be functional.

If the part is not getting the minimum load current from the power supply, the power supply is in trouble.

Form Factor
Most of the power supplies in the market are of the ATX form factor. However, if you are using a micro ATX computer case, make sure to get a micro ATX power supply, otherwise it won’t be able to fit inside the case.

Recap
Power supply is a computer part that you must pay attention to. When choosing a power supply, always go for one that has a higher power rating than what your system needs.

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NEW OKIA 500 WATT MAX COMPUTER PC POWER SUPPLY ATX    US $9.95

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If there is a single component that is constantly overlooked by gamers, it has to be the computer case. After all, it’s only a metal case, what difference does it make which one you get?

Typically, gamers spend huge amounts of money on the newest video or the fastest processor, but when it comes to the computer case, they choose the cheapest available model. If you are guilty of the crime, then read on at how it’s just as important, if not more, than many of the flashier components of your PC.

How the computer case can save your system
The main issue with a computer is the heat, building up inside the computer case. As electricity flows through the components, heat is generated as a by-product. If nothing is done to dissipate the heat, the components will be put under a lot of strain and worst case could actually start afire.

A good case allows you to arrange your components in an orderly manner so that heat doesn’t built up easily. Additionally, it provides ample ventilation to dissipate hot air out of the computer.

How to choose the computer case?

1) Size
There are essentially three categories of computer cases that you can choose from: the mini tower, mid tower and the full tower. Unless you have limited desk space, do not go for a mini tower since you can’t upgrade your parts in the future.

The mid tower is the most commonly used computer case for PC enthusiasts. It’s roomy enough to accommodate up to 4 CD/DVD drives and 5 hard drives. These cases can be as much as 17 inches tall and 8 inches in width, making it ideal for a standard computer desk.

The full tower is much bigger than the mid tower. The standard is 21 inches tall and 8.5 inches wide, with some even as tall as a computer desk. The bigger size also means that there are more rooms to hold your CD/DVD drive. All full towers can accommodate at least 5 CD/DVD drives and 5 hard drives. The benefit is that it gives you more options for expansion in the future. You never know when you need another hard drive, or CD/DVD drive. Not to mention, a full tower offers better airflow between your components.

2) Form factor
Form factor refers to the physical shape and size of a device. When choosing the computer case, it is important to choose the form factor that matches the motherboard; otherwise you won’t be able to install it inside the case.

The form factor that you’ll usually come across is ATX; this is the standard for most computers. Most of the mid towers and full towers are of the ATX form factor; however, the mini tower usually comes in mATX (Micro ATX) which is suited for the smaller compact size motherboard.

3) Cooling Ability
This is the important factor to keep in mind. Your case must be able to provide ample ventilation to aid in the cooling.

Cooling conditions to consider when buying your case:
* Vents on both side of the case to allow cool air to flow in and hot air to flow out.

* Pre-installed intake fans to suck in cool air and outtake fans to draw out hot air.

* Large internal air space with all the components laid out in a manner that promotes airflow.

4) Convenient Factor and Extra Features
Some of the newer cases have extra features built in that makes your usage more convenient. Functions such as extra USB and FireWire ports in the front panel are always appreciated.

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Compaq EVO D310 P4 24 Ghz Computer Tower WinXP    US $95.00

Dell Pentium 3 Computer Tower with Modem FREE SHIPPING    US $119.99

Getting a barebone gaming computer kit is one of the best ways to build your own gaming computer with ease. The ‘barebone’ of the computer consists of the computer case, power supply, motherboard, CPU and memory RAM, though some add in hard drive or graphics card into their barebone kit.

There are many advantages going barebone; for starters, the biggest challenge of compatibility issue is solved. You can leave the trouble to the expert. They will provide the matching motherboard for the CPU and RAM and a power supply enough to support plenty of add on.

Another benefit is the hassle free installation. You don’t have to spend as much time assembling the parts as the retailer will assemble for you before it’s delivered. For those who don’t prefer the manual work but still want control over their computer, the barebone kit is the right choice.

On top of that, the barebone gaming computer kit is cheap; you can usually find a barebone kit for under $100.

Where can I get a barebone kit?
Most of the regular computer distributors provide barebone kit packages. Take your time to look around and find not only the best kit but the best warranty and service as well.

Remember, different barebone kits have different configurations. Before you make your purchase, check out which parts you need to make it to a workable PC.

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