While I had "ancient history" designing and building my own computers from scratch (in the 1970s when the Z80 chips first came available), I quit when they started selling usable computers that worked. Did not start again until retirement (2000AD not BC ).

In 2000, I remember the fear well. I really sweated it. And, given the state of the computers in 2000 -- I was rarely disappointed -- your law was alive and well

So, have fun. There are some real experts here, but the rest of us had "growing pains". Worst can happen is you'll trash something -- and have to wait for the replacement. But, when done, it will be very satisfying I assume

1998 - 2005 was the Glory years, where I was able to find a PC Hobby shop ANYWHERE, walk in and buy literally every peice and take it all home and build it.

Going from Beep Beep to Sound Blaster was like the best thing ever.


Early Years 1989ish
Atari 2600 - (?) was given to me by my father when I was 5.
IBM AT - Was given to me when I was 7

1994
Packard Bell 486DX2 - Given to me when I was 10ish,
- Upgraded to 586DX4 (100Mhz Upgrade).
That Upgrade is what started it for me

1996
Then Built A Custom Intel 200MMX System

1997
Then Built A Custom AMD K6-II 400Mhz System
-Upgraded it with a 3dFx Voodoo 3 GPU

2000
Then Built A Custom Athlon 750Mhz System
- Upgraded that system to Athlon 1.1Ghz w/ 1GB of Ram
- Upgraded to add a ATi All In Wonder Radeon 7200 GPU
- Upgraded to Add a Sound Blaster Live Platninum 5.1 (onboard sound sucked back then).
- Later Upgraded to an ATi All in Wonder Radeon 9600XT

Then built A 2nd Machine using the Spare 750Mhz Chip.
- Upgraded it to A Geforce 4 MX 440

2003ish
Bought a Pre-Built Compaq System with a Sempron CPU

2004
Built a custom Athlon64 PC for my brother.

2006
Ordered a Custom System from IBuyPower as a Base
- Upgraded it HDMI Recording, More HDDs/Raid-0+1 Array.
- Upgraded CPU Cooling to Zalman 9700NT

2010
Built a Custom AMD PhenomII Budjet Gaming PC for My brother

2012
Built a Custom AMD FX Gaming PC to replace the Ibuy Power PC.
(this one is in my SIG)

Yeah Skate, I've read lots of your posts.
I copied a lot of what I bought from signatures of guys like you and Allen, JAMF, Speedbump, Murph, and many more.
I've only built one myself, back in 2004 I think it was.
Joe helped me, and speedbump too IIRC.
Never had a glitch, they walked me through the start-up and BIOS tuning, even the XP install.
Real patient.
I never forgot that.
It gave me thousands of hours of enjoyment, and I learned more from the guys who skin and mod.
Paul Lowengrin is another amazingly talented guy. Some people just amaze me, how much they do for other people.
Back when EAW was strong I helped Osram build B.O.B. from the code they gave us, by 'help' I mean I tested the work.
He was a rare man.
Wish I could do more....but the best I can do is be a fan, my first game was 'Pacific Air War' back in the 90's.
I tried skinning once, but I wouldn't even use them...lol...
I've given some financial assistance when I could, but I've taken much more than I could ever give back.

I appreciate people like you guys, more than you know.

Cause....I gotta fly, can't stop. I'm a real addict.
Thanks again, for all the time you guys spend on Newbie's like me.
I don't think people appreciate how much 'others' do, to keep this hobby alive.
I do.