![\"blog2010rivervaleDSC_5721newpc1\"](\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/blog2010rivervaleDSC_5721newpc11.jpg\" "\\"blog2010rivervaleDSC_5721newpc1\\"")
<\/p>\nInterestingly, the parts that go into a computer system haven\u2019t changed too much over the last 15 years since I first tried assembling my first computer in 1995. The parts back then were\u2026<\/p>\n
Computer casing
\nCPU
\nMotherboard
\nRAM
\nPower supply
\nStorage (e.g. hard disk drive, floppy drive, optical drive)
\nSound card
\nVideo card
\nInput \/ output peripherals (e.g. keyboard, mouse, display)<\/p>\n
\u2026 which is fundamentally the same as it is today. The couple of things that have changed over the years include the different connector standards, and that there\u2019s stronger integration or input \/ output ports between the motherboard and the casing today (e.g. several connections built-into the motherboard are now also duplicated on the computer casing).<\/p>\n
In any case, I usually assemble a new PC every 2 years or so. The current one I assembled and had been using since August 2007 is still pretty good for normal application work like emailing, word processing and the like \u2013 but slow for other things, including video encoding all the HD videos I take these days, or image processing \u2013 especially stitching panoramic shots and HDR processing.<\/p>\n
So, on 2010 New Year\u2019s eve, we made a trip to Sim Lim Square to pick out all the components for a new rig and got about assembling it all back together. I was determined too to do a better job than I did 2.5 years ago too \u2013 cables and wires were crazily criss-crossing each other in the last work.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what the new assembled rig looks like on New Year\u2019s day \u2013 after spending most of the night and early morning working on it:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It probably looks hugely complex to persons who\u2019re unfamiliar with computer assembly. It\u2019s also not nearly as neat or well-organized as what skilled enthusiasts can do of course, but it\u2019s reasonably alright for someone of my limited skill \u2013 especially considering that I only do this every 2 years or so. There\u2019s still a huge mess of cables and wires though. The casing holds six hard drives and optical drives, and there\u2019re two cables for each (one for power, the other for data) \u2013 but all of them are sandwiched on the other side of the casing and hidden away from view LOL.<\/p>\n
Ling looks at this hobby with indulgence, and also has offered a couple of anecdotes whenever she sees I\u2019m intensely at work assembling a new computer system. When we were driving from Sim Lim Square back home the other day, she mused aloud: \u201cOK; he\u2019s likely going to stay up all night again trying to put it all together. If it works, it\u2019ll all be good. If it doesn\u2019t, he\u2019ll be tearing his hair out again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fortunately, it all worked this time. Cleaning up the old and other computer to replace Ling\u2019s uber slow Acer PC however was a different story, but that\u2019s for another blog post.:)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Interestingly, the parts that go into a computer system haven\u2019t changed too much over the last 15 years since I first tried assembling my first computer in 1995. The parts back then were\u2026 Computer casing CPU Motherboard RAM Power supply<\/p>\n