Hardware and Software Resources

When you are planning to build a system, it is important to consider how all your selected components will work together and how the software you run must support them. It is not enough to be sure that you have sufficient slots on the motherboard for all your expansion cards and enough bays in the case for all your drives. You must also consider the resources required for all the components.

For example, if you are planning to use FireWire devices, you need to know whether your new motherboard has FireWire ports built in or whether you will need to add a separate adapter card to achieve compatibility. With the many changes in processor speed and voltage, you also need to verify that the processor, memory, and motherboard combination you prefer will work correctly.

Essentially, you should completely configure the system before you begin ordering any parts. Planning a system to this level of detail can be a lot of work, which is one reasonbesides costthat the vast majority of PCs are prebuilt.

Tip

In most cases, you can download or view online the manuals for the motherboard, processor, and other major components before you purchase them. Check the component vendors' websites for these manuals and technical notes and read them carefully. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from www.adobe.com, to view most online manuals.

Another consideration is the operating system and other software you need. Prebuilt systems nearly always arrive with the operating system installed, but when you build your own, you must be prepared with a copy of your selected operating systemincluding a system disk so you can boot the system the first time. Because nearly any operating system in use today is distributed on CD-ROM, you must get your computer to recognize the CD-ROM drive before you can install an operating system. This is not usually an issue on modern systems, but if you intend to build a system based on legacy hardware and older versions of Windows (or DOS, for that matter), you should create a bootable CD. Note that the OEM versions of Windows 98 and later are bootable, but the retail upgrade versions of Windows 98 and Windows Me aren't, nor are any older versions of Windows. You can boot from both OEM and upgrade versions of Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

See "Making a Bootable CD/DVD for Emergencies," p. 810.

The operating system you select for your new computer is another important decision. You must be certain that the OS supports all the hardware you've selected, which can occasionally be a difficult task. For example, you will need Windows 98 or later to properly support USB devices in your system, but in reality you should consider Windows XP or Windows 2000 Professional as your primary choices instead of Windows 9x or Windows Me.

About OEM Operating Systems

Because Microsoft doesn't allow OEM versions of its operating systems to be sold separately, if you intend to purchase one, be sure you order an OEM edition of whatever operating system you will be running at the same time you buy your hardware. The terms of the Microsoft dealer (or system builder) agreement allow dealers to sell the OS only with hardware. At one time you needed to buy a complete PC, a motherboard, or a hard disk to get an OEM version of the operating system, but you can now buy any hardwareeven a device as inexpensive as a case fan or mouseand qualify to buy the OEM version. No matter what, be sure you get the original OEM version on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

Tip

If you don't have the OEM version of your OS, or the system you are assembling does not support booting from CD (called El Torito support after the Phoenix-created standard), you must create a boot floppy with CD-ROM drivers. Windows 98 and later include a disk with a set of universal CD-ROM drivers that work for most systems; for Windows 95 and older operating systems, you must either borrow a Windows 98 or later startup disk or create your own bootable floppy with the correct drivers.

Drivers for specific hardware components, such as your motherboard chipset, might also be a problem. It is a good idea to gather all the latest driver revisions for your hardware, as well as BIOS flashes, firmware updates, and other software components, and have them available when you begin the assembly process.