Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
• Memory (RAM)
• Hard disk/solid-state drive(s)
• Optical drive(s) (CD/DVD/BD)
• Keyboard
• Pointing device (mouse)
• Video card (may be integrated into the motherboard or CPU)
• Display (monitor)
• Sound card (usually integrated into the motherboard)
• Speakers
• Network interface card (usually integrated into the motherboard)
• Cables (usually included with the motherboard)
• Hardware (screws and brackets, usually included with the case)
• OS and other software
Some of these components are either optional or don't have to be purchased separately. For example,
most motherboards have integrated sound and network cards, and a growing number have integrated
video. Each of these components is discussed in the following sections.
Before You Start: How to Decide What to Build
One of the benefits of building your own system is the ability to customize it to specific needs.
According to the CompTIA A+ Certification 2012 exam objectives, there are at least nine types of
custom configurations for PCs. Let's briefly look at these as a guide to help you select the appropriate
components for your custom PC build.
System Optimized for Graphics (Photo Editing, CAD, CAM Design)
If you're building a system optimized for graphics editing, it should contain
• A fast, multicore processor from Intel or AMD.
• High-end 3D graphics. For photo editing, you can use consumer 3D cards based on the fastest
AMD Radeon or NVIDIA GTX series GPUS. For CAD/CAM, choose workstation graphics
cards based on GPUs, such as AMD FirePro series or NVIDIA Quadro.
• 16GB or more RAM.
System Optimized for Audio/Video Editing
If you're building a system intended to create or edit audio or video, it should contain
• A fast, multicore processor from Intel or AMD
• High-end 3D consumer graphics
• 16GB or more RAM
• Dual 23-inch or larger displays
• 2TB or larger SATA 6Gbps hard disk running at 7,200RPM or faster with a 64MB or larger
cache
• High-end audio card optimized for music creation
System Optimized for Virtualization
