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Need help from computer whizzes.. Building my first desktop!

by oldwarrioruser1
13 replies
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What's up guys.

Well, I'm kinda building my first gaming dekstop.

To be honest, I have no idea what I'm doing.

So, I'm actually ready to purchase this pre built computer(which I have the option to change anything I want).. so I just updated the graphics card a bit blah blah.

My only issue is, I can't tell if it's compatible for my wireless internet or not! I've always purchased laptops which obviously are wireless enabled.. but I can't figure out if this is..

Mega Special II

Would it be "Wireless Network Card" that I need?

Guess it seems quite obvious for some of you, but eh... new to all of this

P.S. I had to click on "accessories" on the bottom left of the screen to even see the option for wireless network card.. which is what confused me. Why would that be an accessory? That's almost mandatory ~.~
  • Profile picture of the author Dames Jean
    Yes, you will need to get a wireless network card. You can pick one of the cards they have listed or go on amazon or newegg and get one with good reviews. My favorite brand in TP-Link for wireless products. You can get an inexpensive usb card for 20 bucks or less.
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  • Profile picture of the author oldwarrioruser1
    Do I need to add something else to the computer if I just want to plug in the ethernet cord instead? Or is that part of another piece?
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by LegitSells View Post

      Do I need to add something else to the computer if I just want to plug in the ethernet cord instead? Or is that part of another piece?
      I think MOST people with a desktop plug into a wireless router. That what I do. You need an ethernet connection on the desktop to do that. I think MOST have them, but CHECK to make sure.

      The "Asus P8Z68-V LX Intel Z68 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard" listed as the default motherboard says it has GBLAN. That is PROBABLY an RJ45 Lan vonnection that is compatible UP TO 1 Gbps, etc... CHECK. If that is the case, just take a cable and plug it into a client port of the router. If it is the main server, you can plug it into the uplink.

      Newegg.com - ASUS P8Z68-V LX LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

      Says the board supports 10, 100, and 1GBps LAN! So there you go, THIS motherboard has the functionality BUILT IN!

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    BTW you PROBABLY want to make sure any ethernet you get supports 10 and 100! They are standards that have been around for DECADES, and are supported by almost 100% of all hardware, etc... made. ALSO, some cables may have problems at higher rates. Again though, this one, like all I have seen, does.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author oldwarrioruser1
    Thx man! Appreciate the help.
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    Putting it together is the easy part.
    The hard part getting it to run.
    Getting the settings right;
    The bios, etc.

    It's been a few years since I built my daughters, so it may easier.
    But, I had to get my 'PC Wizard' buddy to help.
    And it still took him a couple of hours.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

      Putting it together is the easy part.
      The hard part getting it to run.
      Getting the settings right;
      The bios, etc.

      It's been a few years since I built my daughters, so it may easier.
      But, I had to get my 'PC Wizard' buddy to help.
      And it still took him a couple of hours.
      The first computer I setup required:

      1. Special setting to properly allocate memory. Setting them wrong would mean memory couldn't be used. That was due to a cheap fix microsoft made to help make an intel design flaw less of a problem.

      NOTE, they fixed the flaw with the 80386, but it was incompatible with ALL software! TODAY, nearly all software uses newer methods to ERADICATE the need for such settings. This has been the case since about the mid 1990s.

      2. Special setting to properly tune memory. Setting them wrong could mean a slower or unstable system!

      NOTE, they now have a marketing gimic to hide this. It is since about the late 1990s.

      3. Special setting to properly setup the disk drive(for NON MFM system compatible NON HBA systems). Setting them wrong could waste space, make the drive unstable, or even corrupt the drive.

      NOTE, The LBA setting is a newer setting, and now the default. It is since maybe the late 1990s.

      4. ALSO, the power connector was almost MADE to be problematic! If you didn't know what you were doing, or weren't careful, you had a 50% chance of blowing everything.

      NOTE, The newer power supplies use a more reasonable connector! It is since maybe te late 1990s.

      5. ALSO, you had to get the right drivers! If not, the system could be unstable, or THOUSANDS of dollars of hardware could go to waste!

      NOTE, They now integrate standard drivers into Linux and MS Windows, and they integrate a lot of hardware into the motherboard.

      6. ALSO, you had to judiciously mount all the connectors! One wrong move could cause all sorts of problems.

      NOTE, The new motherboard format puts most of this on the motherboard, and the cases have a punchout in the back.

      In short, you certainly WERE right, but things are FAR simpler now!

      It STILL could take hours to assemble a PC though. You STILL may need new standoffs. You may STILL need screws. A good fully standard system just SNAPS in place. You STILL need to connect the cables, put in the memory, and put in the CPU. You STILL may need to make a cable for the drives. You STILL need to put the drives in.

      Remember to watch polarity, connect all the cables, and make sure the motherboard CAN'T touch the case. ALSO make sure there is a good clear airflow, and no cables touch anything that can get hot.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    if i was a carpenter
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    These guys helped me with the feedback for my site
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Steve is right,but in this case I also think maybe a little overly pessimistic.
    When I built my last custom build back in 2005,from the time UPS dropped off the boxes with the parts to the time it was up and running took about 3-4 hours, and that includes putting it together and installing the OS.
    Good Luck.
    Kim
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      Steve is right,but in this case I also think maybe a little overly pessimistic.
      When I built my last custom build back in 2005,from the time UPS dropped off the boxes with the parts to the time it was up and running took about 3-4 hours, and that includes putting it together and installing the OS.
      Good Luck.
      Kim
      How was I pessimistic? You said 3-4 hours! Could you setup a simple PC from scratch in less than an hour, assuming you have all the parts, and not counting installing software? Probably! But it can vary a LOT! Some systems may be well organized, and made virtually screwless. Others may be poorly organized, and have screws all over. Still, the old ones were often NASTY! And there was really NO standard! Some placement could be close to 1/8" off. That is LARGE enough to cause a LOT of grief. BESIDES, for a person that is doing this the first time, I try to strike a balance.

      I once had a business partner that wanted to do this. This was with the OLD system. I think it took a bit over 2 hours to FULLY setup. But the board didn't fit PERFECTLY, the slots weren't right, and there were a lot of screws. Also, I WAS showing him all the concerns.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Spock1
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Steve,
    I was just saying that I think that more thought does go into the design nowadays and some of your concerns are not as big as they were even 5-10 years ago.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      Steve,
      I was just saying that I think that more thought does go into the design nowadays and some of your concerns are not as big as they were even 5-10 years ago.
      If you are talking about the numbered points I had, I was showing the problems that existed BEFORE! In the notes following, I showed how and why they aren't concerns anymore.

      It wasn't to show a problem, but show how things IMPROVED, as you said here!

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author melad
    If you have computer or laptop problems let me know and I will be happy to help.
    In order to make your computer wireless you need a wireless card. If you purchase a wireless card, I can show you how to install it.

    taleamsystems.com
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