Building a games PC can be a stressful and confusing process. There are so many parts to choose from and sometimes the will to build it yourself can dim and you start to become tempted to buy one ready made from manufacturers or retailers such as Dell or PC World. While it is definitely the easiest option it is much more expensive to buy a ready made PC than it is to build one yourself.

By building a PC you’ll understand just what is inside and how your machine works. It’ll be easier to upgrade later and you’ll be able to build a better machine for the same cost.

I’ve built several PCs for gaming and there are always several things that I look out for and consider to be most important. The main component of any gaming computer is the graphics card, and this is the area that you really cannot afford to cut back on. With the rate that games are increasing their demands on PCs you’ll need to spend the money and buy the latest graphics card that you can afford. It is well worth stretching your budget as far as you can go for the GPU as it will make a world of difference when rendering the 3D environments that all modern games use. I would generally give 30-40 percent of my budget to the graphics card.

The next things to consider are what I feel are the real backbone of your PC, the motherboard and processor. If you search the Internet you can find some really great deals on motherboards and processors so make sure you shop around. A dual core processor is mandatory these days and make sure that your motherboard can support all the components that you intend to buy. For this reason the motherboard is often the last item that I choose when building a PC.

For most gaming I would say that 2GB of RAM is sufficient. There doesn’t seem to be much need for any more yet and if you’re running Windows XP you won’t be able to make use of any more anyway. When choosing your power supply bear in mind that this is another area that you can’t afford to cut back on. I’ve had three power supplies blow up in the same machines before finally deciding to spend the money on a decent one. Turned out it was money well spent and the expensive power supply lasted me for three years. Make sure you don’t do the same mistake as a blown PSU could even fry your other components, ending in a very expensive accident.

Some people view peripherals with greater weight than others. I think they’re definitely important as they’re the parts that you actually spend time touching and using. Make sure you get a large flat screen monitor to save on desk space and enable to you run in nice large resolutions.

When choosing a keyboard I find that a regular keyboard is quite sufficient for everything I need, but make sure that the buttons are smooth and not too chunky to press. You’ll want something that is really easy to use. A mouse is worth spending a little on, I’d recommend a five button infra red mouse.

As for sound a good set of headphones is superior to speakers and a lot cheaper so if your budget is stretched at this point I’d certainly endorse buying a good headset. Ensure you get a large hard drive as well, as you’ll definitely want to store music and film on your computer, so the bigger the better. You can pick up 1TB drives for around a hundred pounds these days.

The final part is the case, and I think a lot of people spend too much time and thought on it. I would really cut back and get the cheapest case you possibly can and save the money to spend elsewhere. I have had the same old case for six years and it’s served me just fine.

Building a PC is a difficult task and it can seem more effort that it’s worth, but when you save so much money you’ll be able to have a computer that lasts a much longer time that if you’d gone to a retailer. Good luck building your PC and hopefully you won’t blow anything up, like I’ve done on too many occasions.

Runtime errors are generated when computers running certain program applications encounter issues. An example of this is the runtime error code 7. This type of runtime error has to do with “out of memory” problems. Conflicts with the Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs or other open apps, memory issues, computer viruses and software trouble are the main causes of runtime errors.

Dealing With Runtime Errors

Most runtime errors can be fixed. Troubleshooting runtime errors starts with entering the specific runtime error code that appeared on major search engines. Gathering as much info on the particular code will help in finding the appropriate solution for it.

Once more information is available regarding the runtime errors encountered, it’s time to do something. Consider performing the following activities:

* End-task all of the TSRs and other programs that are currently running to ensure that none of these are the culprit. To do this access Task Manager and hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

* For issues that have to do with the operating system (OS), consider OS reinstallation, but this is a pretty serious undertaking. In Windows 2000 or XP, a better option would be to try repairs for either Windows 2000 or XP computers. Scanning and repairing files can be done this way: Go to Start then Run. In the field provided, type: sfc/scannow and hit Enter. Make sure there’s a space between “sfc” and “/.”

* If the problem again and again happens with a particular application, visit that website of that program’s developer and download any patches and updates. If there’s none available, consider uninstalling then reinstalling the program concerned.

* Some runtime errors are cause by other plug-ins, add-ons or extra program software that were installed on the PC and are associated with the application generating the runtime error. If the additional program software installed is related to the application generating the run-time error message, make sure there are no available updates for the said programs, or try uninstalling to verify that they’re not causing the issue.

* Update the definition files of the utilized anti-spyware and antivirus programs. Run regular exhaustive bug detection scans as these malware have the ability to cause a number of runtime errors.

* If the runtime errors still persist, the problem might lie with the system memory or it could be a hardware issue. In this situation, it would be best to get in touch with the program’s technical support center for assistance. Contacting the motherboard or PC manufacturer could also be useful.

Issues with memory can often be settled with a simple reboot. But treat reboots as temporary fixes. Reboots clear up the memory, however, if the computer has insufficient memory or hard drive space for the applications being run, users will soon run short on memory again. Check that the hard drive has a minimum of 100 to 500MB free space so the swap file size can still expand.

To find out how much free space a PC has: go to My Computer. Right-click the hard drive (usually drive C:) and then from the menu select Properties and view the capacity of the disk. If the space is cramped, run disk cleanup by hitting the tab labeled Disk Cleanup and following the instructions.

Failing memory chips could also give rise to runtime errors. Taking out the troublesome memory chip and replacing it with a functioning one will get rid of the problem. For other runtime-related issues and errors like installation run-time error messages, consider cleaning out the registry’s flawed or invalid portions using a registry cleaner.

Computers are not super machines that can stand alone and maintain itself without the use of preventive maintenance software. It is a machine that needs to be taken cared of and overhauled from time to time to achieve maximum performance.

Just like any machine, a computer needs periodic checks and hardware preventive maintenance. Though it is easier to spot problems and concerns with the other components of your computer, but what goes on inside the CPU is almost always out of reach; until it happens on the spot and there’s almost nothing you can do.

You may not notice it, but somewhere in your hardware there could be a problem that needed to be fixed. Manifestation of hardware issues are more often absent, that’s why scheduled or periodic computer hardware preventive maintenance is needed to ensure that your machine is running at its best all the time.

What Are Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software

As mentioned earlier, physical manifestations of some issues that need fixes are often undetectable. The best way to ensure that these issues are fixed is to install preventive maintenance software that can detect and make even the tiniest fix.

CMMS or computerized maintenance management system is a software system developed to keep up with your hardware’s performance and to repair or fix problems real time. CMMS is also vital to your computer hard disk as it aids and allows compatibility between new and already existing hardware.

Other than CMMS, there are also diagnostics that can detect and alert you if your computer hardware is in potential risk.

Disk defragmenters are software that manages your hard disk drive’s space. It fixes your hard drive and allows smooth and fast access.

Computer hardware preventive maintenance also includes checking, testing and protecting your machine from potential viruses. This is where anti virus software comes in. Anti virus software uses shield-like protection to prevent viruses from penetrating your machine. There are many anti virus software that you can buy at affordable prices and there also free downloadable versions from reputable sites.

Live file update capability is vital for hardware preventive maintenance software. Regular file updates are essential for hardware preventive maintenance software to keep them up-to-date as viruses and problems can evolve and become intolerable in the process.

Ideally, a fully maintained computer can withstand any failure risks provided that the hardware preventive maintenance software are run and updated regularly to meet the performance of the machine.

Every computer user should know at least a bit of computer troubleshooting. There will always come at time when you need to do some computer troubleshooting of sorts to meet an urgent need of your computer.

Before resorting to taking your computer to a computer repair guy or calling a technical support, it is best to try a few simple computer troubleshooting techniques first.

If you have been using your computer for more than a year now, it is expected that you know your computer well enough to be familiar with its basic information such as brand, model, processor, RAM or memory, operating system you are using and hard disk capacity.

You need to keep in mind that every detail prior to a computer error counts. Try to recall what you’ve been doing before the error occurred and note them down to make it easier for you and the technical support people to determine what troubleshooting strategy to use.

Computer Troubleshooting In Few Easy Steps

If you are quite familiar with your computer’s performance, you will be able to determine the right button to push and the correct tweaking to administer. But for now, here are the basic easy-to-follow steps that you can routinely practice in case errors persist.

1. Try rebooting first your computer. It’s no surprise that rebooting resolves most errors.

2. Update and run your anti-virus application. If you have an active anti-virus it will automatically update while you are online.

3. Determine the error- if it is a network, software of hardware problem. If you’re having trouble accessing the internet, surely enough it is a network error. You can also check the network status or connectivity of your computer by looking at the network icon on your system tray. It should be active and both computer icons should have blue lights.

4. Check the cables that are attached at the backside of your computer tower. Sometimes we overlook this, but it happens, so it’s best to check as part of this routine.

5. Check the hardware attached to the power supply. All should have their lights on when the power supply is turned on. If there are lights on, check if the computer will start and if sounds will come out of your speaker. If nothing happens, there could be a problem with your power supply. You need to replace you power supply and not use it to try and check your computer. Seek a computer repair man’s help.

6. If your computer hangs up on you, reboot your system and immediately press F8 to put rebooting into safe mode. Uninstall the last application you installed to see if this is causing the problem.

If in case still nothing happens to your computer, you may seek the help of a computer repair man or an online technical support. You can supply your findings to them to make it easier for them to do computer troubleshooting.

There are many reasons why a computer slows down after years of usage, but the most common reason is the lack of computer maintenance from the user. Owning and using a computer requires basic knowledge on the hardware and software, and computer troubleshooting. The bit of know-how is important to sustain the life of your computer and its performance.

If you have a computer that has the best hardware and software features, you still need to check the integrity and the performance of your machine. It is not enough to leave your computer on its own especially if you are connected to the internet and using it extensively.

A weekly or monthly computer maintenance check will make a difference in the performance of your computer. You need to know the basic tools that can help maintain your computer’s good-as-new performance. If you are awkward and daunted by this task, you can pay a computer technician to do the job for you.

Do-It-Yourself Weekly Computer Maintenance

There are some basic tasks that you can do to maintain your computer. But always remember that your need to do these tasks on a weekly or monthly basis to help protect your computer from deadly elements that can penetrate it through a number of ways.

* Defrag your computer at least once a week. If you do so, your computer can write and rewrite data files in order, improve your computer’s speed, organize scattered data files and utilize blank spaces in the hard disk accordingly. Defragging your computer allows it to work at a minimal a mount time, speeds up processes efficiently
* Computer scanning is a must everyday, so make sure your anti virus software is turned on and running real time. Updates are quite crucial for anti virus software as viruses are being developed each day.
* Spyware scanning. Use you anti spyware software everyday and make sure it is updating every time. You want to make sure that this is happening everyday to prevent spyware from penetrating your machine.
* Extensive virus and spyware scanning. You can do this weekly apart from the daily live scans. Extensive scanning can detect and destroy remnants from viruses and spyware that have been deleted. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Compute maintenance is a small responsibility that makes a huge difference. Being careful and conscientious about your computer usage will extend the life of your machine.