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Essential Question: How can I build my own computer and make sure the parts are compatible?
Objectives:
Identify tools and resources to determine whether computer parts are compatible.
Learn how to compare performance, size, or capacity between two similar computer components.
Determine the wattage of your computer components to identify a power supply that can handle the total wattage.
Learn how to use a WYSIWYG to create a simple web page.
Assignment:
Your assignment is to research various computer part manufacturers’ websites and pick the best computer parts you can find to build your own computer. The best should be judged on the following criteria: hardware, price, customer support, features, speed, and software. You will also need to choose an operating system and give the reasons why you chose that operating system. You will search for parts as if you were assembling the computer yourself and you document the process on your web page. Give 2 sentences in your own words describing why you chose that particular part. Use the specifications for each part. You must provide evidence demonstrating how your part is compatible. There is no price limit, this is your dream computer.
Calculating actual price:
If a part has a rebate then you may calculate the rebate into the total cost of the computer. For instance, if your motherboard has a $100 rebate, then deduct $100 from the total price of the computer. If a part comes with another part, for instance a motherboard with an onboard sound card, then you don’t have to buy an extra sound card.
Checklist:
Each entry for a computer part should have the following items:
Picture
Name of the part
Vendor's name
Price
Description - in your own words
Specifications - choose 3 specifications that are the most important for determining the quality of the part
URL
2 sentences why you chose it (in your own words)
Explain how you know that it is compatible with your computer
Here is an example of an entry for my web for the CPU:
Name: AMD FX-6100 Zambezi 3.3GHz Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6100WMGUSBX
Vendor: New Egg
Vendor Description: 32nm 6-core desktop processor with AMD Turbo CORE Technology and AMD OverDrive and AMD Catalyst Control Center software suites.
Specifications:
CPU Socket Type: Socket AM3+
Core: Zambezi
Multi-Core: Six-Core
Name: FX-6100
Operating Frequency: 3.3GHz
L2 Cache: 6MB
L3 Cache: 8MB
Manufacturing Tech: 32 nm
64 bit Support: Yes
Hyper-Transport Support: Yes
Virtualization Technology Support: Yes
Thermal Design Power: 95W
Cooling Device: Heatsink and Fan included
URL: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103962
Price: $119.99
Why did you choose it? I chose this CPU because it has the following features: blah, blah, and blah. It is compatible with my motherboard because of blah, blah, blah. I was able to check the compatibility by blah blah blah.
Your website should have the following parts:
Paragraph describing the type of computer you plan to build and what specifications you will need for this computer
Processor
Motherboard
Memory/RAM
Hard Drive
Cables
CD/DVD/Blue-Ray/RW Drive
Video Card
Sound Card
Mouse
Keyboard
Speakers/Headphones
Fan/Cooling System for CPU
Power Supply (include screen shot of how you calculated wattage)
Case
Operating System
Monitor
Network Card
Submitting your assignment: Insert the URL for your website into a word document and post the word document onto google classroom in the assignment labeled: “Dream Computer".
Steps to Completing the Assignment:
1. Setup a web page to display your project
I recommend using a WYSIWYG like google sites, wix, adobe express, or wordpress.
Web Page:
You will present your research to the class in a web page. Your options are: use notepad and create it using HTML (most difficulty), use a free webhosting site and use their template (medium difficulty), create a blog (easier). Here are some websites that do free web hosting:
www.google.com - sites
2. Write a paragraph about what kind of computer you are looking for
Give one paragraph at the beginning of your web page that describes the purpose of the computer that you built and describe how your computer parts satisfy the requirements. For example, is your computer a gaming computer? Then what do you need for a gaming computer to make it perform at its best capabilities?
3. Find a processor
Processor (CPU) – choose this first. You can use the www.intel.com website to check for compatibility if the processor is an Intel processor.
Getting Started:
The best method for getting started is to first find your processor. Look for a great processor then find out where the socket is located. The motherboard that is compatible with your processor will have the same socket location for the processor. Also, if it is an Intel processor, you can go to www.intel.com to search for compatible motherboards. Then type the name of the motherboard into www.google.com and you will find a vendor that sells the motherboard.
Processor Manufacturers:
Intel http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processor-comparison/compare-intel-processors.html
AMD http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/processors/Pages/desktop-processors.aspx
Texas Instrument http://www.ti.com/lsds/ti/dsp/embedded_processor.page
Qualcomm
4. Find a motherboard compatible with your processor:
Motherboard – choose the processor first then check to see if the processor socket location is compatible with the motherboard. Use the website above to look for motherboards.
- website to check CPU/Motherboard compatibility; gives list of motherboard manufacturers
http://support.amd.com/us/System-Building-and-Compatibility/Pages/SystemBuildingandCompatibilityInformation.aspx website that checks motherboard and memory compatibility for AMD processors.
5. Find compatible memory for your motherboard:
Memory/RAM – the number of pins on the RAM should match the number of pins in the slots on the motherboard. Sometimes the specs for the motherboard will mention what type of memory to use.
www.kingston.com – check memory compatibility using this website
www.crucial.com – website that sells RAM
6. Find a hard drive
Hard Drive – with hard drives there is no concern for compatibility. All hard drives are interchangeable with any motherboard.
Just make sure the hard drive is an internal hard drive for a desktop NOT a laptop.
You do need to make sure that your motherboard is compatible with the type of hard drive you select. For instance, if your motherboard is a SATA motherboard, you need to have a SATA hard drive. If you have an IDE motherboard, you need to have an IDE hard drive. If you have a solid-state Drive motherboard, you need a solid-state hard drive.
7. Find the cables that go with your hard drive
Choose SATA, SSD, or IDE cables for your hard drive. The specifications will indicate which cables you need.
8. Find a CD/DVD/Blue-Ray/RW drive
CD-Drive – CD-ROMs can come with different speeds, they can record (Read/Write) and they can act as DVD players
You do need to make sure that your motherboard is compatible with the type of CD-drive you select. For instance, if your motherboard is
a SATA motherboard, you need to have a SATA CD-drive. If you have an IDE motherboard, you need to have an IDE CD-drive.
9. Find a Video Card/Graphics Card
Video Card – video cards can range in price to inexpensive to very expensive. Very expensive video cards are for video editing and movie making. Choose your video card based on the function of your computer.
Need to have the same slot compatible with your motherboard. Most motherboards are ATX motherboards and so videos are now designed for ATX motherboards.
For high-performance computers, make sure your video card has a processor.
10. Find a sound card
11. Find a keyboard
Keyboard – can be wired or wireless, ergonomic or standard, uses PS/2 port or USB.
12. Find a mouse
Mouse - can be wired or wireless; ergonomic or standard, use PS/2 or USB. If mouse and keyboard come as a package, please indicate that and make sure to only calculate it once in the price.
13. Find speakers
14. Find a fan for your system
15. Find a power supply
Power Supply – the power supply should have enough wattage output to supply electricity to all of your parts. You can calculate the wattage by looking at the specifications for the parts and checking how many watts of electricity they need, then add the number up.
https://www.newegg.com/tools/power-supply-calculator - website that will calculate the wattage for each of your parts and give you a total number for wattage requirements
Directions: Calculate the watts required for your system using the website above and take a screen shot of the website. Here's an example:
16. Find a computer case
Case/Shell – cases can be found at www.newegg.com or any other website. Make sure you think about ventilation when purchasing a case.
17. Find an Operating System
Operating System – you need to choose an operating system for your computer so make sure that there is enough money left over in your budget. Think about the purpose of the computer before choosing an operating system. If you want the computer to be a gaming computer, then you need a gaming operating system.
List of Operating Systems:
Windows– www.microsoft.com
Linux – www.redhat.com – there are other Linux OS’s
Mac OS – www.apple.com
Sun OS - http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/ called Solaris
http://www.linux.org/ - linux resource page with free versions of linux from various OS companies
Ubuntu – www.ubuntu.com
18. Monitor
Your monitor can be any kind of device that projects the contents of your computer. For instance it can be an LCD, Plasma, Projector, CRT, etc.
List of resources:
www.cnet.com - CNET
www.bbb.org - Better Business Bureau
www.consumerreports.org - Consumer Reports
www.newegg.com – computer parts store
www.tomshardware.com – gives you reviews on different computer parts, they test the parts and do benchmarks on different parts
Page updated
Google Sites
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