Building your own computer can be a long and difficult process if you do not know a few basic rules. However, if you stick to the basics loyally, they will prove to make the process not only easy, but fun too.

The first rule is simple. Make sure you have a clean, open area with plenty of light to work in. It is a lot harder to put a tiny screw in a slot if you can not see what you are doing.

The second rule is optional but always recommended. Purchase a static-free mat with a grounding wrist strap. Computer chips are very sensitive to power surges of any kind. Even a small charge of static electricity can cause hardware to fail. If no mat is available, you can always ground yourself by holding on to the metal of the computer case at all times. It may sound trivial, but it will be a long and aggravating task to identify this type of problem.

Now, continue to the next two rules. Buy all your hardware brand new and buy the motherboard first. If you buy used hardware you are only asking for problems Besides, the computer market prices today are reasonable enough, and they come with warranty's and manuals that make up for the few dollars you would have saved. Choose the motherboard first so you know what kind of case you need to support it and the watts necessary for the power supply. In order to build a smooth running system with optimal performance, you should read the reviews of your top three choices and then settle on the best motherboard between them. This may not even be the one that costs more, but it is always the one recommended more. The reviews in the computer magazines are good for helping narrow down your choices, but the online reviews are most helpful because you can read good and bad reviews to see if there are any problems or disadvantages to buying a particular board. Actually, it is a good idea to research all the hardware you want ahead of time by subscribing to a computer newsgroup and reading the articles and feedback that pertain to the hardware that interest you. The most important things to ask about are the type and speed of the CPU it will support, the type and amount of memory it supports and the maximum clock speed at which the system can run.

Some other factors to consider are:

1. How many slots do you need for accessories and for your memory?

2. Do you want a motherboard with sound or video built on board?

3. What type of hard drive do you want?

This strategy will make it easier to narrow down the

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