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So Welcome! It's good to have you here to share my experiences researching and building My Super PC. The information on these pages should streamline your research and save you hours of time, a fair amount of money, and you'll end up building your own super computer. Although technology changes quickly, I update this site frequently to keep it up-to-date. This site provides:
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Special message insert from Rob
The following great deals are available right now! This message box only appears when something really good has come along! As usual, if the items in this box are of interest to you then work fast because they disappear quickly! When the inventory runs out, the coupon expires or the deadline is reached, then the hot deal is over and this message box disappears! You'll have no problem getting any deal shown if you click on the link and follow the instructions! Enjoy!
MySuperPC - How to Build an Affordable, Quality, Fast PC! - Printed!
Now you can have my full assembly tutorial in printed format! The book contains the same information as the assembly web-pages. It is over 350 pages and includes nearly 700 pictures, with many pictures enlarged for the book. The cost is less than any computer component, $19.95. And no sales tax for most (sorry, New York and North Carolina). Shipping destinations include North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim. It is a soft-cover, full-size 8.5 x 11 version that is up-to-date with the web version. It takes you from parts list and component breakdown, through step-by-step detailed assembly, entering the BIOS settings, installing the operating system, installing each hardware driver, running tests and diagnostics, trouble-shooting common problems, to fine-tuning your final creation. The book is spiral-bound so it will lay flat when you have it out next to you as you work. Now you don't need a computer to read the tutorial!
MySuperPC - The Book! American Express Blue - Perfect For PC Builders! 
This great credit card is 100% free to get. It has no annual fee and costs nothing if you don't use it. But use it for your component purchases to give them Return Protection, Buyer's Assurance Plan, and the Purchase Protection Plan. These plans extend the product warranties, allow items to be returned up to 90 days (and pay the restocking fee), and provide insurance against accidental damage. The card provides a grace period on payment. There's no catch at all! You can have this American Express card in addition to other Amex cards. Once you click-through, the description of the card benefits can be seen by clicking on the Learn more about Blue link.
Apply now! Many approvals are given instantly! Crucial Memory! Free shipping! 
All Crucial memory is available with free shipping! Their prices and quality are already unbeatable, and now you get free shipping, too! Crucial makes outstanding memory and it's what I use in My Super PC!
Crucial Web Site Hosting via iPowerWeb for $7.95 per Month 
Excellent value! Free setup. Free domain name. 200 Gigabytes of storage. 2000 Gigabytes of transfer. Up to 2,500 Email accounts (now that should do it). Supports FTP, Frontpage, Server Side Includes, subdomains and much more. This is the per month price for the 12-month package, so it's only $96 for a full year of hosting including the domain name. This is who I use to host this site. They have a great reputation for quality and customer service.
iPowerWeb Hosting My Super PC - Build Computer - Laptop Deals
Unfortunately, it is not an option to build your own laptop computer. Here are links to top sellers of laptops and their current specials.
Newegg Laptop DealsDell Laptop Offers
HP Laptop Deals
This first page lists the components I recommend to build a computer today, including the reputable online retailers where I would get them. Following web pages go into more detail regarding each component within a computer, such as the computer case, motherboard, processor, memory, video card, hard drive and so on, describing what type of technology is currently available and what features and capabilities to look for in each component. Finally, my free, detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions provide the most comprehensive guide available anywhere on how to build a computer, with hundreds of pictures and listing every single part that was used, right down to the cables and screws. The steps include not just one way of building the computer, but a variety of common PC configurations.
Here are the highlights of My Super PC today!
| Motherboard | ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition |
| Processor | AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ AM2 (dual-core) |
| Ram | Crucial 4096MB (4GB) PC8500 DDR2 (about 3.25GB usable) |
| Video Card | eVGA Geforce 8800 GTS 320MB DDR3 PCI-E |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm SATA |
| DVD RW | Sony DRU-840A Dual Format Double Layer |
| Sound Card | Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (but the motherboard built-in sound is very good) |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 (Service Pack 2) |
| Monitor | Dell UltraSharp 2001FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor |
It wouldn't take long for My Super PC to become just an average PC. But My Super PC was built with upgradeability as a primary consideration and it's as upgradeable as it gets!
Which brings me to the first rule of building your own PC which I call the "six month rule of delayed acquisition". Only use hardware and software that is at least six months old. There are three big reasons. First, as you may guess, is that prices drop drastically in even as short a period as six months. Second, as you may guess again, is that any problems will shake out in this time. But a third very important reason is that in only six months there will be volumes of information about an item – from how it performs to how you can best use it.
My Super PC is built entirely from high quality components in the "sweet spot", meaning each component gives the most bang for the buck. This also means that the ultimate money-is-no-object component is not used. Doing so could easily double the cost, while only marginally improving on the final result.
The components in My Super PC are outstanding in terms of quality and performance, and all were in the "sweet spot" at time of purchase. Today there are upgrades or alternatives for some components that are even more attactive given the current technology-price curve. In addition, there are alternatives to some components that are acceptable if the price is right or depending on your own situation. For example, I wanted a case that was not over 20 inches tall, but you may have a taller space available.
For each type of component, here are my recommendations for specific components and resellers. This may be the same as the component that I currently have in My Super PC today, or it may be a component that I would choose today if something better has come along. I also include other choices that may be better for your situation, or that I would prefer myself were I buying today. For each item, the price shown is the lowest price you can find it today from a reputable, well-established reseller. The resellers listed do not play games, such as overcharging for shipping and handling. You should have no trouble at all purchasing the items listed if you click on the link provided and follow the instructions under Comments. If you run into any trouble purchasing an item then don't hesitate to contact me via the message boards on the forums.
The components listed are compatible with the two processor technology choices commonly used for desktop computers, one by AMD and the other by Intel. My Super PC is built using an AMD compatible motherboard and processor. The processor and motherboard must be of compatible technologies, identified by the "socket type". My Super PC uses "socket AM2", a dual-core socket type. Prices fluctuate frequently, and it's not unusual to find an Intel compatible motherboard and processor a better buy. The competitive Intel socket type is "socket LGA775", which supports both dual-core and quad-core processors. Each table provides a short summary about the component, and later pages include a dedicated page for each core component providing more detail and a fuller explanation behind each choice.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Antec Sonata III with 500-Watt power supply Amazon $129.95 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This newer version has replaced the Antec Sonata II that I'm using. It's very similar to the Antec Sonata II computer case I have in My Super PC. It has front port connections for USB, audio, and eSATA (the eSATA port has replaced the Firewire port). It has plenty of open bays and it's not imposingly tall. It features low-noise cooling, including vibration absorbing drive mounts. The power supply has been beefed up to 500-watts. And the air duct is no longer included, which is nice since it saves the trouble of removing it. Here are the Antec Sonata III specs.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Processors - AMD Socket AM2AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ AM2 with Fan Newegg 
$153.00 Free shipping! Retail box. Includes a standard CPU cooler. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ AM2 with Fan Newegg $159.99 Free shipping! Retail box. Includes a standard CPU cooler. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Even more speed!
Processors - Intel Socket LGA775Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 LGA775 with Fan Newegg 
$179.99 Free shipping! Retail box. Generally speaking, this Intel processor has roughly a 10 percent performance advantage over the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 LGA775 with Fan Newegg $219.99 Free shipping! Retail box. Quad core! Performance generally won't be that much different than the E6750, but the bragging rights alone can justify the price difference. Clicking the link takes you directly to it.
CPU CoolersZalman CNPS9500 AM2 Newegg 
$44.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Some, like me, prefer to purchase a CPU cooler separately. The CPU cooler that comes in the retail box will do the job, but with more noise and less cooling capacity. This CPU cooler does a nice job for all speeds of Athlon 64 processors. And just as important, does it very quietly. Like most CPU coolers today, it's quite big, but users report that it does not block access to any nearby memory modules like some CPU coolers do. For thermal compound I use Arctic Silver 5. Zalman CNPS9500 AT Newegg $43.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. The version of the CPU cooler for Intel LGA775 processors.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments
Motherboards - AMD Socket AM2ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition Newegg $179.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This socket AM2 motherboard is feature-rich with support for SLI to run two identical NVIDIA video cards in parallel, RAID, 8-channel on-board sound, and plenty of Serial ATA ports, USB 2.0 ports and IEEE 1394 Firewire ports. Be aware that this motherboard did not support the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ processor until BIOS version 1201 which came out June 28, 2007. Although the one I purchased from Newegg in November 2007 came with this BIOS version, motherboards with older BIOS versions can still be found in the retail channel. If the motherboard has a previous BIOS, it can be flashed to a newer BIOS if it's booted with a slower processor. Otherwise, it will have to be sent to ASUS to be upgraded.
Motherboards - Intel Socket LGA775ASUS P5N-E SLI Newegg $119.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. ASUS has an outstanding reputation for making quality, feature-rich motherboards. This one packs in all the essential features with top-notch performance. ASUS P5N32-E SLI Newegg $199.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This motherboard is the next step up, but most would probably find the ASUS P5N-E SLI a better buy. The ASUS P5N32-E SLI offers similar performance, and the feature differences would not be compelling for most, such as the improved audio, an extra Gigabit Ethernet port and an additional two USB 2.0 ports.
Bundles, Barebone KitsAMD Bundles TigerDirect 
Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the page for bundles and systems. All of the components in My Super PC were purchased separately so that I got exactly what I wanted. But if you come across a bundle you like then you can be sure that all of the components are compatible. Bundles typically include at least the processor and motherboard, but can include much more. Intel Bundles TigerDirect 
Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to Intel bundles and systems. Combo Deals Newegg 
Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the combo deals page. Once there you can search by category, such as "AMD Motherboards" and brand, such as "ASUS".
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Crucial Ballistix 1024MB PC2-8500 DDR2 Crucial Memory $48.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to the right Crucial web-page for the RAM best suited for either an AMD socket AM2 motherboard like the MSI K9N Platinum SLI and ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless motherboards, or an Intel socket LGA775 motherboard like the ASUS P5NE-SLI and ASUS P5NE32-E SLI motherboards. Here's a direct link for Crucial UK/Europe. The "Ballistix" memory is high-speed memory. RAM prices are very low and that makes the decision for how much RAM to get for the computer much easier. The minimum amount of RAM to have is 1024MB (1GB). Both Windows XP and especially Windows Vista will perform better with 2GB. My RAM page on computer system memory discusses the importance of the memory type and speed to overall system performance, as well as the maximum usable amount of computer memory.
Crucial Ballistix 1024MB PC2-6400 DDR2 Crucial Memory $37.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Without tweaking or overclocking, the memory tests I have run for DDR2 RAM indicates this RAM performs nearly as well the PC2-8500. Here's a direct link for Crucial UK/Europe. All Other Memory Crucial Memory Varies Free shipping! Click the link to get to the Crucial web-site and follow the easy steps to find the right RAM for your motherboard or computer. Crucial Memory UK/European Crucial Memory UK/European 
Varies Free shipping for UK orders! Click the link for UK/European pricing.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments eVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB DDR3 Amazon $158.36 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. A GeForce 8800 GTS like this one is great for demanding graphics environments, including digital video and top-tier gaming, without spending too much. SLI compatible. Fast DDR3 memory. Power supply of 400-watts or better recommended. Does use an extra slot. Uses the 6-pin PCI-E power connector from the power supply. eVGA GeForce 8600 GT 256MB DDR3 Newegg $79.99 Retail box. Click the link to get there. Then find it fast by entering N82E16814130062 in the search bar. Price reflects this $30 rebate good on purchases through May 30. Not the powerhouse of a GeForce 8800 GTS, but a powerful video card nonetheless. This will get the job done and save quite a bit of money if top level gameplay is not one of your needs. It includes a DVI connector for using with a flat panel LCD monitor. Fast DDR3 memory. Power supply of 350-watts or better recommended. Does not use an extra slot. Does not use the 6-pin PCI-E power connector from the power supply.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments An add-on sound card is not needed by most. The built-in sound provided by motherboards such as the EPoX 8RDA+ and the MSI K8N Neo Platinum will satisfy most listeners, including me. But if you want a sound card for even better sound or to maximize performance, the line of model I like is Soundblaster made by Creative Labs. Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card Amazon $89.98 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Creative's new line of X-Fi sound cards replaces the Audigy series. The X-Fi models provide better sound quality, more voices (128, up from 64) and support for the the next version of EAX (version 5.0 instead of version 4.0) which is Creative's technology for providing positional, effects, and environmental audio. The XtrememeGamer model is plenty for most of us, and much cheaper than the other Elite Pro, Fatal1ty FPS and Platinum models. All models have the same core hardware. The more expensive models include extra RAM and even a remote control.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Cambridge Soundworks PCWorks Multimedia Speaker System Hifi.com 
$49.99 Click the link to get there. Then find it fast by entering the description PCWorks into the search box. This is a three-piece speaker system. Two satellites and a sub-woofer. Very compact and they sound great. Logitech X-530 5.1 Speaker System Amazon $52.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. If you want even better sound and can accommodate the extra pieces then this six-piece speaker system provides terrific sound at a great price. Plantronics Audio .90 Headset Buy.com 
$18.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Sound is much more detailed and directional with headphones like these. The difference is amazing. I describe my computer headphones on this page.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB 7200rpm SATA 300 MB/s Newegg 
$69.99 Free shipping! OEM version. Serial ATA II hard drive. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This hard drive has the very large 16MB cache. Don't forget to include a floppy drive in your purchases if you don't have a used one available. Combine it with other purchases to save on shipping. Any brand is fine, such as Teac, Mitsumi, even generic or pulled from your old PC. Amazon has a good selection . If color coordination with the case is a factor then this Sony floppy drive with multiple colored faceplates included is nice.
Western Digital Caviar SE16 750GB 7200rpm SATA 300 MB/s Newegg $134.99 Free shipping! OEM version. Serial ATA II hard drive. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This hard drive includes the very large 16MB cache. This hard drive has everything going for it. It ranks near the top in all categories: high performance, low noise and low power consumption. Portable Storage
SanDisk 4GB USB Flash DriveAmazon $37.21 Free shipping! A portable storage device like this can come in handy for for transferring files from one computer to another. It fits easily into your hand or pocket, and works simply by plugging it into a USB port on the computer, which often is on the front of the case.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Lite-On LightScribe Dual Formal Double Layer DVD RW/CDRW Newegg $29.99 Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This drive not only provides advanced single layer support for both the plus (+) and dash (-) formats, but it also includes "Double Layer" (or dual layer) write support with speeds of 8x for DVD+R and DVD-R. The retail box includes an excellent Nero software suite for video editing, burning and backups. These are Nero Vision 4 Essentials for DVD editing and authoring, Nero Express 7 for CD/DVD burning, InCD 5 Essentials for drive letter recording, Nero Showtime 3 Essentials for playing DVD's, and Nero Backup 2 for making backups. The retail package includes two different front bezels for the drive, one suitable for beige cases and one for black cases. Sony DRU840A Dual Formal Double Layer DVD RW/CDRW Amazon $64.35 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Similar to the Lite-On in terms of functionality, software and front bezels. The difference, other than price, is the Lite-On comes with LightScribe but the Sony is significantly quieter. The Lite-On is a bit noisy.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Zoom Telephonics V.92 V.44 PCI (Model 3025) Amazon $51.61 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Chances are if you are buying a modem today then you'll want one that supports the new V.92 and V.44 standards. These standards offer a number of improvements, including support for faster data transfer. Zoom Telephonics has been one of the best modem makers for years.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Logitech Cordless LX 710 Laser
(Keyboard and Mouse)Amazon $59.99 Free shipping! Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This keyboard and mouse have a great feel to them. And cordless is very nice - less clutter on the desk. The mouse is cordless and laser. Laser is much more precise than optical, which is something that gamers and those doing photo editing will appreciate. The keyboard and mouse take standard batteries. The batteries in the keyboard last about 18 months. The batteries in the mouse last about 6 months.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments DELL Ultrasharp 1908FP 19-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor Dell 
$284.00 Click the link to ge there. Then find it fast by entering 1908fp in the search box. Dell is the place to go for high quality LCD flat panel monitors for great prices. Although LCD costs more than CRT, the image quality is amazing. And LCD flat panels have more viewing area than comparably sized CRT's because their viewing area goes nearly all the way to the edge. It comes with an adjustable stand and side mounted USB ports. DELL Ultrasharp 2007FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor Dell $399.00 Click the link to ge there. Then find it fast by entering 2007fp in the search box. The viewing area is vast at just over 20-inches, yet the monitor face dimensions are exactly the same as the 19-inch CRT monitor it replaced which only had an 18-inch viewing area. It's nice to get back the extra desk space, and now there's room for the monitor to sit back a bit so my face is not right up close to the monitor screen. It comes with an adjustable stand and side mounted USB ports.
Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade
with Service Pack 2Amazon $99.49 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. The "upgrade" version requires you already have the CD from Windows 98 or better. You can do a new, clean install of Windows XP using the upgrade version, so it's not necessary to actually install Windows 98 first. Windows XP Home Edition
with Service Pack 2Amazon $189.99 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it. Goback 4.0 Amazon $44.99 Free shipping! Retail box. Clicking the link takes you directly to it.
Thank you for enjoying my site! Did I save you lots of research time? Did I find you great deals? I hope it helped you build your own computer and keeps you informed as technology changes! A delightful practice is to recognize quality, personal service such as this through tipping. If you would care to do so then I thank you very kindly and provide this PayPal tipping button for your convenience. The amount is up to you. It's been my pleasure to help you!
Biggest tip last month: $30.00 - Thanks, David!
Biggest tip ever: $200.00 - Thanks, Carol S.!One good tip deserves another! I bet you already know that Amazon.com is a great low-cost reseller, and not just for books but also for Computer Components and Computer Software. But did you know:
Just about any order for $25 or more ships free! There's no sales tax in most states. There's no restocking fee on returned items. Are you a "My Super PC Graduate"? If I helped you build your own computer and you're agreeable to a little recognition for your accomplishment then check out the My Super PC Graduate message board forum.
