Once you have decided what youre going to use your computer for, and have
reviewed which parts are available for reuse, you should make a list of what
components you will need to buy. A few hours of research can save you years
of regret, so make sure that the computer you build will do what you need it to
do.
Computer terminology can be confusing, so if there are terms you dont
understand, be sure to look them up. Wikipedia is an excellent place to start
if, for example, youre not clear on the difference between, say, DDR and DDR2
memory.
There are several places to buy parts:
• Internet retailers generally offer the best price for new parts. If a part
needs to be returned, you may be stuck for the shipping; check return
policies before you purchase.
• Auction sites like eBay and several others offer very good prices for used
parts. This is especially useful for parts which do not wear out. Returns
can be problematic or impossible. Some auctions may not be legitimate.
Always check the shipping cost before you bid.
• Local PC shops—Their prices are often higher, but they may make up
for this by providing a lot of expertise. Get opinions from other sources,
however, as they may be eager to sell you parts you don’t need.
• Big local retailers often lack technical expertise and higher prices, but
can be useful because they usually handle returns quickly. Also good if
you need something right then.
• Trade shows that occur from time to time also provide a good place to
shop, as the prices are often significantly reduced.
Also, your local town dump may have a special section for computers &
monitors that others have got rid of. These can be more or less brand new
computers with trivial problems such as a busted power supply or faulty cables.
Of course if the dump does have such a section, you should ask permission of
those in charge. They’re usually glad to let you go through it, but don’t leave
a mess. Taking advantage of this can yield incredible finds, with a price tag of
nothing or very little.
OEM vs retail
Many hardware manufacturers will sell the same components in both OEM and
Retail versions. Retail hardware is intended to be sold to the end-user through
retail channels, and will come fully packaged with manuals, accessories, software,
etc. OEM stands for “original equipment manufacturer”; items labeled as such
are intended to be sold in bulk for use by firms which integrate the components
into their own products.
However, many online stores will offer OEM hardware at cheaper prices
than the corresponding retail versions. You will usually receive such an item
by itself in an anti-static bag. It may or may not come with a manual or a
CD containing drivers. Warranties on OEM parts may often be shorter, and
sometimes require you to obtain support through your vendor, rather than the
manufacturer. OEM components are also sometimes specified differently than
their retail counterparts, parts may be clocked slower, and ports or features may
be missing. Again, do your research.