A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PCFifth Edition

Chapter 23

Purchasing a PC or Building Your Own

2 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Selecting a Personal Computer to Meet Your Needs Upgrade an existing PC

Cost does not exceed half the value of current system

Resulting system does not contain legacy components that might compromise performance

The computer system is less than five years old

Buy or build a new PC

3 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Upgrade Hardware

Memory

CPU

Hard drive

Video card

Motherboard

Cooling fans

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Upgrade Software

OS Device drivers Applications

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Upgrading a PC

Verify availability of drivers

Match motherboard bus types to expansion cards Consider number of available expansion slots

Heed voltage requirements of processor

Consider new memory modules and processor for new motherboard

6 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Upgrading a PC (continued)

Verify that OS supports dual processing (if desired)

Verify available space on hard drive

Flash BIOS before installing new peripheral

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Buy a New PC

A brand-name PC

A clone: a PC assembled by a local company

Assemble a PC yourself

8 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

A Brand-Name PC versus a Clone

A brand-name PC

Costs more than a clone

Generally provides better after-sales service and additional support

May be more proprietary

• Potential for difficulty in upgrading and repairing

9 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Selecting Software Choose operating system first Choose application software

Functionality Compatibility Training Documentation Upgrade policies Popularity

10 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Selecting Hardware Most important criteria:

Compatibility

Functionality

Consider motherboard first

Other considerations (eg, processing power, modem, power supply, case, documentation, internal versus external devices)

11 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Considerations When Selecting a Total Package Hardware and software included

Warranty and return or exchange policy

On-site or local service

ACPI- and Energy Star-compliance

Preinstalled software

Documentation

12 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Considerations When Selecting a Total Package (continued) Manufacturer’s Web site

Motherboard allows for expansion of RAM

Unused expansion slots

Ability to disable features

Price High- to middle-priced PCs offer more network

capability, expandability, support, prior testing

13 A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition

Why Build Your Own PC?

Can be fun

Knowledge gain

Availability of hardware and software documentation and original software disks

Complete control over every part

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Why Not Build Your Own PC?

Takes time and requires patience

No overall warranty on assembled product

Possibility of selecting components that are incompatible

Need access to an experienced technician or technical service center

Probably won’t save money

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Getting Ready for Assembly: Selecting Parts

Review functionality, compatibility, and budget needs

Select motherboard first, then CPU and RAM

Select case and accompanying power supply

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Getting Ready for Assembly: Selecting Parts (continued)

Select hard drive and other drives

Select video card and other peripherals (mouse, keyboard, monitor)