Before I digress into the specific components and my choices for each computer build, I'll explain the general purpose of them. These aren't very in-depth nor extremely well-versed, but they should give you an idea of why the components are there.
The Motherboard:
The motherboard is the basis on which a computer runs. It houses the CPU, RAM, graphics card and more. It if filled with countless connections and chips to facilitate the flow of information within the computer. It is often the largest component in a computer, averaging about 10x10 inches. It is where all of the components interact and communicate. A good motherboard can set you up very well for future additions and improvements to your computer.
This is the component of the computer that handles nearly all of the calculations. It is the brain of a computer, controlling other sections of the computer, completing tasks, organizing information, etc. Often this is the most expensive component in a computer, being that it handles the brunt of work. A good CPU can go a long way in the function of a computer. Most CPUs are manufactured by Intel, with AMD and more making a range of CPUs. These come with multiple cores that act to increase the speed of processing data; the more cores a CPU has, the better it tends to be. These chips are often very small, but generate a lot of heat and require a significant amount of effort to draw away this heat.
Computer Case:
The computer case contains all of the parts of a computer. This includes the power supply, motherboard, hard drives, etc. It is really the limiting factor when deciding on building a computer, since only the components that fit in you case can be used in the computer itself. Cases can come with fans to draw away heat, or a clear panel on the side so you can view your motherboard as it runs. They come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Usually they are focused on the type of computer inside (gaming, business, etc).
Graphics/Video Card:
This component does what the title implies, it controls and processes the graphics or video on a computer. It will take this load off of the CPU and it can often improve the video and graphics quality of a computer. It functions from commands from the CPU but it processes data of its own accord. These cards can range from something to just improve the graphics, to cards that can run 3D at 4K video resolution. They are completely vital to a computer, but computer owners who are more serious about gaming or media will find this very important to have.
Random Access Memory (RAM):
RAM is one of the storage functions within a computer. The data stored here is kept close and easily accessible by the CPU. Due to the need of fast data access, storage in RAM is very expensive. The RAM is essentially a place to hold important information from the hard drive so the CPU can use it very quickly whenever it needs it. Due to the large cost of creating this storage, the RAM only keeps the information as long as the CPU needs it; the RAM draws and returns data to and from the hard drive. More RAM space can mean faster processing which can be very important to a dedicated computer user.
Hard Drive:
The hard drive is the vital component which holds all of the data the computer needs to access. It is where information is sent and kept until it is needed again. Since some people need a lot of space to store information, a hard drive with more space is better. But more space means it takes longer to access the desired information. Traditionally computers have used hard drive disks, in which the data is stored on a spinning disc, like a CD. Now with the development of solid state drives, data can be accessed faster, but it costs a lot more to add storage.
Power Unit:
This component really does what the name implies, it provides power to the motherboard and therefore the whole computer. These range from outputting 200 watts of energy to over 1600 watts. They often contain a built in fan used to cool the heat producing power unit and draw overall heat away from the computer. Usually the power plug goes right into the power unit. Some special features of these can include quieter fans, better heat draining, power surge protection, etc.
High End Computer
The components that are pictured and explained have been chosen for an exceptional computer. This nice computer would probably be dedicated to rendering graphics or running games smoothly. The components I have chosen would all work together and be the best choices for this purpose. For instance, I chose a very good graphics card and lots of RAM because they would be needed to run the programs I intend to use. This computer overall is going to be very expensive and I wouldn't really have need of it.
The above component is an Asus P9X79-E WS ATX motherboard, it costs about $500. With Asus being one of the best known and most reliable brands for motherboards, you can know this is a great part. It has eight DIMM RAM card sockets and can accept up to 64GB DDR3 RAM power. It also has 8 PCI Express 3.0 x16 connections for eight more components like sound and video cards. Overall this is a well designed board that will have you well set up for future improvements.
Here is the case I would choose for this computer, the Corsair Obsidian Series 900D. It is a sturdy tower structure that has many capabilities and it costs $350. It includes a large amount of expansion bays for future upgrading and it has an easy-open panel to access hardware. This case allows for the computer to run the best it can.
This is a OCZ RevoDrive 350 solid state hard drive. Being one of the newer methods of data storage, it boasts a healthy 960GB of storage and very fast read/write speeds. This single hard drive costs just less than $1400 but is well worth it for it's blazing speed. But with the tendency of these drives to lose data, I would probably use some method of data backup. Oddly this hard drive connects to the motherboard via one of the four PCI Express 3.0 x16 ports, not a SATA III cable. With an ample 960GB of space and very fast speeds to read and write new data, this hard drive is a great combo.
This optical drive would be a great match for the needs of this computer. It is the LG 16X Blu-ray Burner and it costs $110. This driver can read and write Blu-ray discs at very good speeds. This component connects via a SATA cable. It can also support 3D playback, which would be good for gaming and media enjoyment. It's a high end drive for this high end computer.
The power unit for this computer would have to be the Corsair HX1050 Series. It is modular and keeps cool and quiet very well. It works with all ATX motherboards and has a very good amount of power output. It puts out 1050 watts which is enough for my needs and then some. It costs $230 and fits in well with the computer case for this particular computer.
Overall this computer would be very successful in running games or video creation/editing software. The total cost of these components would be just under $7350 with current prices from tigerdirect.com. I feel like considering the total power of this computer, it is a reasonable price. I certainly wouldn't need anything like this in a computer, but it would serve its purpose well.
Computer I would Build Myself
The following components would be used to build a computer I would use myself. They aren't as nice as the other parts, but they are good enough to run whatever I would need a computer for. That computer would mostly be dedicated to surfing the internet and some games. I don't run many things on my computers so I wouldn't need fantastic components. It would serve as a great starter computer that I could build on and improve later.
For a computer I build myself, I would choose the Asus Sabertooth 990FX ATX motherboard. It is a great board that works with all of the components I am looking to use with my computer. There are four DIMM memory slots that accept DDR3 RAM cards. It has one PCI slots, one PCI Express x1 slot and four PCI Express x16 slots. The CPU socket accepts AM3+ chips which is what my CPU is, they are actually both made by Asus. It is set up in a great way so that in the future I can add or interchange better parts at my pleasure. It is a bit pricy, at $200, but seeing that it fits many of my other requirements, this is my best choice.
This case meets all of the standards I would have for a computer, it's also only $20. The Ultra Gladiator tower is a great fit for the computer I would build. All of my components I want would fit easily and there are multiple expansion slots for future upgrades. It has a good aesthetic and would be a great starting off point if I were to build a computer.
This hard drive would be my choice when building a computer. This is one of the Western Digital Black series hard drives. It has 2TB of storage for a low $150 and it would communicate with the motherboard by a SATA III cable. This would provide me with ample space to keep my documents. Another option I would consider if I wanted speed is the PNY Optima SSD. It has 480GB of storage and the immense speeds of a solid state drive. I would choose one or the other depending on what use the computer will be for.
If I were to add an optical drive to the computer I was building, this would be the one. This is the LG Internal 12X Blu-ray Drive and it costs $35. This drive connects via a SATA cable, which easily works with my motherboard. It is a fairly simple drive because it probably wouldn't see much use by me. However it does have some really good read and write speeds plus it plays Blu-ray discs. It's a good addition if I were ever to need a drive like this.
This power unit is the Ultra LS Series V2 and it costs $35. It produces 400 watts of power and has 120mm fans that would cool the computer enough. This is more than enough power for the components I'm using in the computer and it is formatted for the ATX motherboard I would use. It has a good lifespan and will serve me well in the future if I wanted to upgrade to components that may draw more power.
I feel like these components would make a great computer for my personal use. They balance cost effectiveness and power very well. The total cost ends up at $880, again from tigerdirect.com. This seems very doable for a computer that would run well enough for me and allows for plenty of future improvements. I might consider this for when I would actually build a desktop for my own.
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