Build Your Own Notebook
Contents:
Knowing what kind of laptop you need is the first step. Are you just an average PC user? Do you play online games with the maximum possible quality? Or you like to take your laptop and use it anywhere you like. Depending on your need, the price for customizing a laptop can be very different. Many computer users like to build own laptop not only to get a perfect one but to save a substantial amount of money. And yes, you really can save a lot of money.
So even just for the sake of saving money, it is not bad idea to try to build own laptop. We discuss here and recommend laptop parts for average users, but this is just a suggestion and guide, so keep in mind that you are the one to make your own laptop.
What things are required in a laptop today for average users? Before we go any further though, let’s think about what average PC users would be. Average users in our own definition is those who:
1. use PC everyday for work or study.
2. gets online often to chat, play games (not as dedicated gamer), download files.
3. often run several programs at a time.
Let’s take a look at three main parts
Many laptops these days are built with Core Duo CPUs. But CPUs are the most expensive parts of all. If you want to save money, think carefully.
1.6Ghz or 1.8Ghz is the minimum speed we recommend. About2.0 Ghz to 2.2Ghz would be the best choice for average users. If you really want a faster CPU than those, 2.4Ghz for example, is your target. But the price is not friendly. ($200+ compared to 2.2Ghz CPU) Faster CPUs in laptops are not always great either. Laptops should not have too fast CPUs inside. They are not made to have bigger fans inside. Check also the latest CPU by Intel, Core Duo Processor. See under Additional.
Budget choice — 1.6Ghz
Our recommendation — 1.8 - 2.2Ghz
Gamers — 2.4Ghz or Faster
As Intel’s Core Duo processors are becoming popular, old CPUs would be available with reasonable prices. If you are ok with CPUs around 2.4 Ghz, you can’t miss the chance.
Core Duo 2 Mobile Processors (Price comparison)
1.66GHz, 2×1MB, 667MHz FSB, LGA775 Socket T $220 - $250
1.83GHz, 2MB, 667MHz, Socket 478 $250 - $280
2.16GHz, 4MB, 667MHz FSB, Socket 478 $430 - $480
*One of the hottest debate on CPUs is to choose either Intel or AMD. We do not
discuss that matter here as it is usually no point to do so. The companies use different technologies anyway. But as to save money, AMD processors are better.
Intel’s 7 Core Processors (Initial release)
| Processor | Processor Number | Clock Speed | Price |
| Intel Core Duo Processor | T2600 | Dual 2.16 GHz | $637 |
| Intel Core Duo Processor | T2500 | Dual 2.00 GHz | $423 |
| Intel Core Duo Processor | T2400 | Dual 1.83 GHz | $294 |
| Intel Core Duo Processor | T2300 | Dual 1.66 GHz | $241 |
| Intel Core Duo Processor LV | L2400 | Dual 1.66 GHz | $316 |
| Intel Core Duo Processor LV | L2300 | Dual 1.5 GHz | $284 |
| Intel Core Solo Processor | T1300 | Single 1.66 GHz | $209 |
Selecting a hard drive is easy. Just ask yourself if you want a bigger capacity or not. Bigger the better for sure. But again, if you want to save money, you don’t need 120 GB hard drive. 80 to 100 GB is our recommendation. But 80 GB is still enough.
Rotational Speed is another thing you should consider when purchasing hard drive. 5400 RPM is common in laptops.
Budget choice — 80 GB with 5400 RPM
Our recommendation — 100 to 120 GB with 5400 RPM
Gamers — 160 GB 7200 RPM or better
512 MB RAM was common just few years ago. Today, 2 GB is more common. The reason 512 MB (or 256 MB) was common back then was that we were still using Win 2000 or Me. After Win XP, however, operating Win XP itself was a little too much for 256 MB memory even though they said that was enough for using Win XP. Just adding 10 or more software, filling up to the half of your hard disk + opening several windows to surf the net, 256 MB RAM is not enough at all. Win XP is very stable OS, but it can get very slow if your PC has only 256 MB of memory.
Budget choice — 256 MB RAM
Our recommendation — 2GB or 3GB RAM
Gamers — 1GB to 2 GB RAM
A barebone computer is a half-assembled platform that consists of a case with
a power supply, a motherboard preinstalled into the case, and a cooling system.
Barebone computers are available in nearly any form factor.
Battery
The weight of your laptop and battery life are very important if you carry it often. Among many brands, Sony laptops are good for battery life. If you must have a good battery life, you should buy a Sony laptop. Battery life of 5 to 6 hours is what you need, but such laptops may require use of five pound supplemental batteries, which destroys the purpose of its mobility. The longer battery life is better or the lighter the weight is better for carrying your laptop?
Performance vs. Battery life
Core Duo Notebooks with Centrino Mobile Technology are the next generation notebook. The CPU handles many tasks by using two independent processing units simultaneously, simply the CPU works with two brains. However, the battery life is rather short.
So whenever you put the performance at the top of your list, you are putting the battery life at the bottom of your list. The same dilemma seems to keep going.
The easiest way to customize your laptop is done by online purchase. Dell and other computer companies
provide choices for PC customization. You can select components for your need, including CPU, which is usually based on a brand of computers. For example, most Dell computers use Intel CPUs. The good thing about online customization of PC is that you just need to select what you want. There are choices for software, too. Though selections are fairly good, this is not about building a unique laptop.
Laptop computers are less upgradeable compared to desktop computers because of the proprietary nature of their internal components. Therefore, consumers are limited with the selecting specific hardware components. You would have to purchase a pre-configured notebook and select particular models that contain the features with the user desired. Nevertheless, this is the way to make your notebook very unique.
Now several companies offer barebone laptops for consumers to build their own laptops. All you need to purchase and put together are generally:
If you have built a desktop computer with a motherboard before, you will find out that the process is actually very simple. With a hard drive pre-loaded with the OS, it takes about 15 minutes to finish the entire assembling process. The process should be easy because the motherboard and almost all the cables are pre-connected already. The engineers already worked out the details for you to install the memory, CPU, and hard drive. It is highly recommended that you should purchase a barebone to save your time. Connecting cables can be very tedious job, and it is better to pay a little more to make it easy.
