Prepare the case for the motherboard First the case must be prepared for the installation of the various components. First remove one of the hard drive caddies from the front of the computer and put it on one side for when this is fitted. The backing plate at the back of the case may need [...]
External Space The first factor to consider is how much space your PC case is going to take up. Are you placing it on a tight, crammed desk? Or on a large desk? If you have the space, tower PC cases are a good choice. If you’re short of space, you may wish to consider [...]
PC Component Selection Most computer retailers do not publicise what PC components they use. They will describe the cthe round about of a custom built computer, but don’t detail the brands of the computer parts they use. They use generic hardware with a list spec but is seldom as high quality as inferred . Building your own [...]
Best value graphics cards HOW TO BUY Most graphics cards are based on either the Nvidia Geforce or ATI Radeon family of chips. Each has their strengths and both offer state-of-the-art image acceleration and comparable features. Performance improves as you move up a range. Top chips offer more features and draw more pixels or textures [...]
Most PCs are Windows XP, and the Home Edition is fine. If it’s for a small business or you need features such as remote access, buy XP Professional. Few PCs are sold running Linux, and we’d recommend only the technically confident buy a Linux-only system. Linux can always be installed later. Finally, don’t overlook the [...]