Selecting Your Parts

Now that you have a general idea of how all the parts work together, and have a good idea of what you're looking for, it's time to learn how to compare the various components and get the best computer for your money. It's very important to select your parts carefully because two incompatible components can create a real pickle later on down the road.

I personally do almost all of my shopping for computer related equipment at http://www.newegg.com because of their excellent customer support and good return policy, in addition to great prices. You might be able to find a slightly better bargain deal somewhere on the net, but, especially for a first timer, it's important to have a website that can be helpful in case you need to return a part for some reason. This is not too uncommon even for experienced computer builders. Newegg is also where I do all of my research for products because it has an easy to navigate website as well as a good listing of information over a large range of products.

Below is a list of all of the major components of a basic computer as well as their attributes that pertain to your purchase decision. They are listed in the order that I would recommend you select them in because the decision of one item may affect your decision on the next, and picking out the components in a certain order can help make your life easier.