Building or Upgrading Systems - Upgrading and Repairing PCs - page 946

the process for calculating the power your system hardware requires and selecting an appropriate
power supply for your needs.
See the Chapter 18 section, “ Power-Use Calculations ,” p. 901 .
When you build your own system, you should always keep upgradeability and repairability in mind. A
properly designed custom PC should last you far longer than an off-the-shelf model because you can
more easily add or replace components. When choosing a case and power supply, leave yourself
some room for expansion, on the assumption that you will eventually want to install additional drives
or other new devices that appear on the market that you can't live without. To be specific, be sure you
have at least a few empty internal drive bays, and choose a higher output power supply than you
initially need for your current equipment, so it won't be overtaxed when additional components are
added later.
Processor
Both Intel and AMD sell processors through two primary channels or methods. They are referred to
as boxed (or retail) and OEM.
The most obvious difference between the boxed and OEM processors is the physical packaging. It
could be argued that both technically come in boxes, but the Intel or AMD boxed processors come
individually packaged in a colorful shrink-wrapped box that includes the processor, the heatsink and
fan, installation instructions, a certificate of authenticity, warranty paperwork, and so on. Of
particular note is the cooling system, which is designed to work under worst-case thermal
environments and is a high-quality and heavy-duty unit.
On the other hand, OEM processors come in a much larger box with multiple trays containing up to 10
processors each, or up to 100 total. No heatsinks, fans, installation instructions, warranties, or other
paperwork are included. OEM dealers may provide a heatsink and fan with an OEM processor;
however, these are often of uneven quality and offer subpar performance. Major system manufacturers
purchase OEM processors in large quantities.
A boxed processor generally includes a 3-year warranty direct with the processor manufacturer. So,
if the CPU fails within three years of purchase, the end user can contact Intel or AMD directly and the
company will replace the chip. OEM processors have no warranty with the manufacturer (Intel or
AMD); however, the company you purchased it from will likely offer a 30- or 90-day warranty. The
warranty length and the way in which it is administered are entirely up to the dealer that you
purchased the chip from, which could be a problem if, for example, that dealer has gone out of
business.
Because the motherboard you choose dictates or limits your choice in processor, you should choose
your processor first, which will then dictate the type of CPU socket (or slot) that must be present on
the motherboard. For more information on processors, refer to Chapter 3 , “ Processor Types and
Specifications .”
See the Chapter 3 section, “ Processor Socket and Slot Types , ” p. 75 .
Tip
Check the Newegg.com site for information on motherboards and processors that are for sale.
The site serves as a useful research tool for checking to see what components are currently
available, what they cost, and what the specifications and compatibility requirements are. The