November 19, 2009 | Comments Comments

Offer your Tips for 1st time Builders and your Suggestions for Computer Builds

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Hardware Revolution

Hardware Revolution

While the last and most expensive of our Custom Gaming PC Builds, the $2000 one, will be published Friday, I’m already getting ready to start updating the other, less expensive Gaming Builds, with the $400 and $500 that are already due for a update.

I know that some of you built their first PC based on my builds, suggestions and help. Of course, we also have more experienced builders around. Well now, it’s your chance to help others who are thinking of building their first computer. How?

By offering your tips to first time builders.

I’m looking for any of your tips that can be useful to someone building their first computer. For example, things that I or another experienced builder may overlook as being a logic step, but that stopped you and made you think. It can be simple tips, something more elaborated, it’s as you wish.

Offer your Suggestions for Future/Updated Computer Builds

Needless to say, with computer parts and prices changing so quickly, I need to update the builds on a regular basis to keep them relevant and priced correctly. That’s part of my job here at Hardware Revolution and while it may seems like an overwhelming job to some of you, with all the information that you need to read/test to stay on top of things, I love it!

However, you will help me greatly if you would give suggestions to improve the computer builds. What I’m looking for here are suggestions on content to add, to make the content as user-friendly as possible, so it’s easy for everyone to understand and interesting for you to read. Whether it’s on the content itself, the way it’s presented, things that you would add, anything! I’m open to all your suggestions.

What’s your opinion on the way that I present the builds?

Right now, if you take a look at any computer builds, you’ll see that there’s introduction regarding that particular build, an headline about my experience, a few answers to the main answers, then a summary of all parts brands/models with the prices. Followed by a part by part detailed explanation.

What do you think about the small change I have done in the last article?

Like PC parts manufacturers, I’m always looking for ways to improve my builds. Something that I’ve tried yesterday with The Best CPUs For Your Money: November 2009 article was to put the summary at the very top of the article, followed by the introduction and then a detailed part by part explanation.

Something else that I did in that article was to replace ugly long links for parts, such as this one: http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3067296-10440897?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct%2FProduct.aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16819115215&cjsku=N82E16819115215 by something much more friendly like this: http://bit.ly/45HD22.

What do you think about that? Is it a clear improvement?

Let me  know your opinion, your tips for first time builders and suggestions on how to improve the builds presentation by commenting below. Thanks!

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  • Jeremy
    Hi just want to say that I enjoy reading your articles when I visit weekly and some have really influenced my purchases!

    A tip I have to first time builders:
    Make sure that when you are buying a motherboard always check the form factor to see if it's the same as your tower case. I missed this step the first time I built a computer and had to send it back and order a new one. Idk if you already mentioned this in one of your articles so that's my tip!
    Also don't screw your motherboard in to tight or you could risk fracturing it (really obvious but some people get carried away with a screw driver lol)

    That's all I got and keep up the good work!
  • Mathieu
    Jeremy,

    Thanks for taking the time of commenting and I take joy in knowing that you enjoy my articles and that I have influenced your purchases.

    Regarding the tips:

    Indeed, choosing the right form factor for your motherboard to match your case is important.

    In my case, while I don't mention it in my articles, I make sure that my recommendations/upgrades are all compatible with each other.

    I couldn't agree more with not screwing the motherboard too tight! While it's a given to me and experienced builders, it's exactly something that a first time builder needs to know.

    Thanks for your comment Jeremy.
  • Theo
    You can stick your hand in a sandwich bag to apply 3rd party thermal compound.
  • Kevin
    If you are going to use thermal compound you _must_ clean the already-present thermal gunk off of the heatsink! I learned this the hard way. Someone will probably post a better way, but you can clean it off by scraping with something plastic (e.g. expired credit card), then cleaning the surface with acetone and a lint-free cloth.

    For new builders, if you're not going to be overclocking your machine, don't bother with a fancy heatsink or thermal compound. It adds to the complexity of your first build, and just isn't necessary. Just use the stock heatsink. If you decide you'd like to upgrade later, it's easy to do so.
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