How long does it take for you to build a computer?

[0roo0roo]

2+hrs. not much for physical build, maybe 30 min. installing os +updates + drivers +download drivers etc and office apps is mainly dead time though. pain in the ass. this is assuming yuou've ordered/bought your parts together and they've all arrived without troubles. and you've not bought any dud parts. once u hit that snag of a doa part u are fuxored if u bought online, thats uncool turn around time that makes the build time extend by a week

 

[Lord Evermore]

Normally I'd say less than 2 to build it, and install the OS and drivers, and get the OS fully updated if I've got broadband. Less than 4 if we talk about tweaking out the OS to get all my personal preferences set up, and install all the software I need, do a defrag run after it's all set. (Add another hour for time to get a list of all the software I needed before the install started, download all the shareware/freeware, make backups of my mail files and settings for all the software I could. Forty-five-plus freaking applications and utilities I had to download to match the ones I had before for this new build, plus the other software I have the install CDs for.)

The build of the machine I'm typing on now took about 12 hours, including the initial list compilation and software download time. Also including the time for ghosting the hard drive to a backup disk since I was re-using the drive and for a recovery in case something went horribly wrong, as well as wiping the drive before re-use, as well as a few Ghost backups of the OS during setup and installation so I could fall back if I screwed something up, which I did and which the backups didn't help at all. The actual hardware build only took an hour, including removing the existing hardware from the case I was re-using, and cleaning the case out.

I ran into some problems with software and hardware compatibility with this build though. Discovered that Ghost would NOT run when I had the hard drive plugged into the SATA ports. I assume that this was due to the IDE to SATA adapter I'm using since I didn't want to buy a new drive. If I plugged it into the IDE port it worked fine (only one IDE port on the board and I don't want to have the HDD and optical drive on the same cable); so every time I made a Ghost backup I had to disconnect all the drives and put it all back. In hindsight, I should have just left it on the IDE cable during the installation.

I also had to reinstall Windows 3 times, due to issues from using XP MCE and trying to make it work without the MCE software.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Haha yeah I curse alot too...I usually also take a break when trying to do something like plug in the power switch/led wires to the mobo and grab a beer. I never get them right the first try.

I thought I was the only one who did that

 

[SuperFreaky]

<1hr is doable if you are using ghost...

 

[jonnyGURU]

Less than an hour is the lowest vote?!?!

With a sysprepped master of XP and a disk duplicator, I can knock out about five or six and hour.

 

[OSX]

My motherboard, the Intel DP965LT, has the little pins color-coded.

Overall, it takes about an hour, though my most recent build took longer because I had some issues getting the goddamn IO shield on. Also, I found the LGA775 heatsink very easy to install. I've never done an A64, but the LGA775 HS with the Core 2 Duo was very easy to install.

 

[NiKeFiDO]

i absolutely HATE doing all the little plugs (depending ont he motherboard and case) for USB, firewire, sound ports etc etc.
those are a pain to get in bc they are small sometimes.

Also, takes longer if you try to wire your case nicely and clean up the case, esp if you bundle the wire with that mesh stuff, i forget the name bc it's been so long.

 

[stevem326]

I've never actually physically built a computer but I've reinstalled operating systems, drivers and other software. To install Win XP, all of the XP updates, MS Office, games, drivers, and all of the updates related to that software takes me about 3-4 hours on a DSL connection.

My next project might be to learn how to physically build a PC. I just haven't had the time to sit down and read exactly how to do it...doesn't sound too hard, though.

 

[rise]

flash bios
run memtest
install OS
install drivers
install benchmarks and test
install antivir/programs/games

anyone who says thats less than 8 hours is on crack.

and that doesn't even consider oc'ing.

 

[Crescent13]

Originally posted by: rise
flash bios
run memtest
install OS
install drivers
install benchmarks and test
install antivir/programs/games

anyone who says thats less than 8 hours is on crack.

and that doesn't even consider oc'ing.

don't forget download the thousands of windows XP updates.

I agree with you.

 

[nismotigerwvu]

hardware....less than 20 minutes...software....depends on how much is integrated into your mobo and how obscure some of your add ins are.....lets say you built a new conroe based system with igp and everything and didn;t have a single pci/pci-express slot used....the drivers are common enough that you'd be able to have the whole system working on your 2nd reboot....so less than an hour in that regaurd...but lets say you built an althon fx-62 system with quad sli, some killer sound card, one of those (useless at this point) physics cards and raid up a raid-0 array and wanted to get some games installed and working....over a week

 

[Lord Evermore]

Originally posted by: stevem326
My next project might be to learn how to physically build a PC. I just haven't had the time to sit down and read exactly how to do it...doesn't sound too hard, though.

You should contribute to the economy and pay one of us to do it for you.

 

[thewhiteboy]

Like most ppl have already said, the hardware is the faster part. If you only have 1HDD and 1optical drive and 1 card, maybe 30 mins tops to get it all in there and connected right. If you're getting high-end video cards and going the mad OC route w/aftermarket cooling options, it'll take more time cuz you have to remove the stock crap, clean the chips, install new cooling, you know how it goes.
Depending on the hardware, the software could go fast or slow. I would have to say maybe 4-5 hours, tops, from opening the case all the way through to the end.

 

[1N0V471V]

Well, for sleeving the cables with black, including heatshrink - 4 hours
To test fit the motherboard and Install the water blocks - 1 1/2 hours
Install the PSU, put carbon fiber on the DVDRW and install it, install the HDD - 4 hours
Cutting holes for the radiator (three of them), including pilot holes, etc. and laying it out - 2 hours
Mount the radiator - 1/2 hour
Drill holes for pump and mount it - 1/2 hour
Cabling - 6 hours
Install Windows XP and all other applications (including games) - 4 hours

Total - 20 1/2 hours

I'll have pictures tomorrow (just finished lastnight)

 

[cr2250]

I think the a64 are the best heatsinks to install. Compared to like a p4 or something.

 

[Unkno]

meh, testing stability is the longest....

 

[Philippine Mango]

I usually take about a day for a computer, usually more if it's one I own. It's not the hardware but the tweaking, benching, testing, probing, tuning etc. that takes the most time. Also installing games takes the longest on my gaming rig so...

 

[Sniper82]

Takes me roughly 45mins to a hour to put a complete system together since I try and take my time. Thats if I don't run into any mounting problems.

 

[knght990]

Took me right around two hours from opening the box the parts were shipped in until I started playing the first 3d game on my current build.
-TL

 

[Electric Amish]

I'm usually around 3 hours including full XP install with all updates and updating all hardware drivers to the latest. This doesn't include any other applications.

I really don't know how you can do it much faster unless you have all the latest drivers and OS updates already available.

I also like to kinda take my time with the hardware.

 

[FearoftheNight]

hey. can i ask what software you use to do this "Just recently I found a program that will help me out with the drivers if I were to happen to re-install the OS on the same computer setup. This should hopefully cut out about an hour or two." Thanks in advance,.

 

[footbal07]

On my latest build I spent a good 15 hours or so, and i still have some time before I have everything setup how I like. This time includes sorting through 800gigs of assorted media and files; sound deadening my case through a combination of bedliner, bquiet, and foam; setting up my cooling including the ultra120 I decided to upgrade to from my zalman 7000alcu; cable routing,;and then ocing/stability testing. Now in spite this I just build a second rig from spair parts in about 30 minutes including install, programs, and updates; of course, of that rig I used an unattended install cd I made up.

 

[savvy]

Interesting timings for different people.

 

[ForumMaster]

i voted for 3 cause i include everything. but for hardware i'd say 30 minutes, OS with latest patched about 30 minutes plus the firewall, AV, anmd all my stuff that i like such as office. for anyone who doesn't know, i suggest nLiteOS which let's you create a fully patched windows installation with all your drivers. can save hours.

 

[Capitalist]

Usually less than three hours, depending on how muc hsoftware I install/update.