Joseph

Joseph-Building a PC

For my CoRE project I did research on the many parts in a computer as well as helped a friend choose parts and build a computer with a budget of about $1000.

Parts of a Computer

Motherboard

• PCI Slots: (Peripheral Component Interconnect) Where the graphics card and other such extras are connected.
• Memory Slots: Where you place the RAM.
• Back Panel Connector: Contains many different connections to the computer such as USB Ports
• Firewire: Extra efficient connection to the motherboard
• CPU Socket: Where the processor is placed
• Main Power Connector: Where the power supply is plugged in.

CPU:Central Processing Unit

• Computational engine: Does all the algorithms required to run a computer

Underside of the CPU contains hundreds of pins

• Socket types:
  • LGA: (Land grid array) has many different pins that make contact with the underside of the CPU
  • PGA: (Pin grid array) Has sockets that the underside of the CPU is inserted into

RAM(Random Access Memory)

• data is temporarily stored while in use by the processor
• Information is more readily processed with increasing amounts of ram for instant access
• All memory on RAM is erased when the computer is powered down

Graphics card

• Takes information from the CPU and displays that in the pixels of the monitor
• A graphics card contains
  • RAM: temporarily stores information for graphics
  • graphics processing unit (GPU): like a CPU, does all the complex calculations to produce an image
  • a BIOS chip (input/output): stores basic settings

Power Supply

• The power supply does exactly what the name suggests: it supplies power to all the components in the computer
• Actual wattage of the power supply varies and how much power you need depends on the parts you get

Memory: Hard drives and Solid state drives

• Computer’s main memory
• Where information is stored long term
• Solid state drive: no moving parts, more reliable, faster at accessing data and it uses less power.

Parts We Bought

Motherboard

Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3, Asrock, Socket type: LGA 1155, Amt of RAM Supported: 32 GB, # of Memory Slots: 4, USB ports: 4 USB 2.0/ 2 USB 3.0, Firewire (IEEE 1394)

• LGA socket compatible with an Intel Core i5 CPU
• Financial Sponsor required Firewire for video editing

CPU

Intel Core i5-2500, clock speed: 3.3 GHz, 4 Cores, Cache: 6MB

• Reliable brand
• good clock speed for the money

Graphics Card

01G-P3-1561-AR, EVGA, GPU: GeForce GTX 560 Ti, Ports: 1 mini HDMI and 2 DVI, Memory size: 1GB, Fan for cooling

• A friend uses it as well
• Runs games and video editing programs smoothly

RAM

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3, 1600MHZ, (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

Hard drive & Solid State drive

Hard drive donated: 500GB Solid State drive: Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G, OCZ, 120 GB

• Hard drive donated

Power Supply

eXtreme Power Plus RS700-PCAAE3-US, 700W

• Came with very nice wiring

Case

Com Corp A3728-Series A3728-Red Glossy Black SECC Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

• Cheap cost
• came with 2 fans
• space to expand and improve on the computer
• red LEDs (very important)

Problems with the Motherboard

When we put the computer together, plugged it in, and turned on the computer, the fans ran smoothly but the system didn’t start and we heard no beeping noise from the motherboard.We are assuming the motherboard was dead on arrival and may have broken in the mail.Currently we are waiting for a new motherboard to be shipped. until we get a working motherboard I won't know if we actually built this correctly.

Pictures from the Building Process

My Imgur Album: CoRE Project