(01-10-2012, 06:16 AM)-Magi Wrote: Do you think I can put one together myself? I saw an article in a magazine once in 2006 that showed how to do it!
Yes! It is a lot easier today than ever.
http://www.youtube.com/user/newegg
On the link above, Newegg has posted video tutorials and guides where they walk you through almost every step of the process. If you go to the link above, then click playlists, that will bring you to their list of video tutorials for building your own computer, and explaining various computer components in a very friendly fashion.
Also down below is in written format, step by step, what to do, from Tomshardware.com
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/buil...,2601.html
Pete linked me to tomshardware originally and I've come full circle giving it to you. The guide covers every step involved, from choosing what kind of computer you want, the parts involved, selecting motherboard, memory, and other parts, to putting them all together, and installing software.
There are a lot of suggested builds for 600$ budget 1200$ for system builder marathons almost every month, that give good examples of what you could do.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/How-...ur-Own,16/
That links to their build your own links in general. Here's the one for the 600$ gaming PC in December, which can link to their other december builds as well, and discussion about it.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core...,3097.html
Note there are also a lot of deals from say, newegg.com's email list, or logic buy, or what not, for refurbished and clearance sales. They can potentially be a good deal. For example, I saw last year's Asus G74SW series laptop for 800$, which will run a LOT of games at med-high settings, when to get the equivalent price would cost a lot more.
Build-Your-Own, however, can be a really fun hobby, and I know Pete liked to advocate that (as seen previously in this thread). So I think you'd have fun going over what parts you want, and perhaps having enough money left over budgeted for the computer for some nice scotch.