Building a PC isn't really as hard as you think it is, there are even a couple of websites that have an outline for bargain builds all the way up to the most uber-leet gaming machine on the face of the planet, money no issue (tomshardware.com is one that I used to frequent). I'll just line out what some of the requirements on iRacing's website mean and then how I would go about interpreting them:
Code:
* Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
This is your Operating system, what you see your mouse in and what helps you run applications. We're in trouble if you get stuck here
Code:
* Hyperthreaded Intel CPU, AMD Athlon 64 CPU, or any dual-core CPU
In terms most people understand, this means "A processor that is newer than 3 or so years old, or was cutting edge 4 years ago." Intel and AMD are two competing companies and both have their own designs as to how a processor works, so the processor socket and the motherboard socket MUST be compatible. Picking a processor and a motherboard pair is normally where I start building a PC. I would shoot for something in the range of 3.6-4.0 Gigahertz with two or four cores.
Code:
* 128MB Pixel Shader 2.0 (ATI 9700Pro or nVidia 6600 or better);
256 MB Pixel Shader 3.0 (ATI X1600 or nVidia 6800 GT/GS or better)
graphics adapter recommended
This part is decribing the minimum specifications for the graphics card, arguably the heart of a gaming PC. Since a graphics card is sort of its own computer anyways, it has it's own RAM (explained next) as well as a processor. Normally, the higher the number in the series (nVidia 6800GT vs. nVidia 6900GT) the better the processor for the graphics card. Just as an example, the recomended nVidia card can be far outclassed by other cards for under $50, so you can spend as much, or almost as little as you want in this area. IMPORTANT: Make sure the card fits in the motherboard! If your motherboard has multiple PCI slots, use a PCI card, if your motherboard has PCI Express(PCIe) slots (big difference) use a card that is a PCI express. Choosing a graphics card is normally around step 3 for me if I'm building a system that's going to be used for everyday tasks, and not hardcore gaming. Choosing a graphics card is step one... ONE... when building a PC for hardcore gaming. Just with some quick searching, a screaming fast card would only run around $150 and would probably be a good card to start with if you want to build for the future. Most new graphics cards use the PCIe 2.0 slot, so keep this in mind when choosing a motherboard.
RAM (or 'memory') is like your system's desk; It's used to file things that you're going to need immediately, but not for long-term storage. RAM is what things like tracks, cars, and skins are loaded to while they're being used. Normally, the bigger the number, the better with RAM, just remembering that 512 KB is smaller than 1 GB (512 kilobytes < 1 Gigabyte). RAM is another one of those things that MUST fit the motherboard socket. Stick with around 2GB of RAM. This is more than enough to run most of our racing sims. For the socket type, 240-Pin DDR2 has been the standard for quite a while, and with plenty of products still being made, will stay around for quite a while.
Code:
* 3Gb free hard disk space
This is your hard-drive, the computer's long term storage. Get something that is 500GB or more and you wont have any problems. Get a Hard-drive that connects via a SATA 3.0Gb/s style connection (Serial ATA: 3 Gigabytes per second) since most new motherboards have plenty of SATA 3.0 connections.
Basically this is what I would personally do if I had to build a PC for gaming.
1. Pick a graphics card. Bigger $$$ will get you further down the road. Note what kind of connector the graphics card uses. (AGP, PCI, PCIe, PCIe 2.0, etc.)
2. Pick a processor. pick AMD or Intel, then pick what kind of speed you want (3.6-4.0) and the number of cores (2 OR 4). Note what socket type the processor is (LGA775, Socket AM2, etc.)
3. Pick a motherboard that uses the type of connection for your selected graphics card
AND your selected processor. Make sure the motherboard supports 240-PIN DDR2 memory. Make sure the Motherboard supports SATA 3.0 style connections. This isn't as hard as it sounds, but can be the most frustrating part. Just take your time, double, tripple, and quadruple check your connections. Most newer motherboards come with built-in stuff like audio cards, network cards and USB drive cards, so we can keep our case less cluttered.
TAKE NOTE of what style of power connector is used for the motherboard and CPU power supply, as well as the form factor (ATX, microATX, etc.) we'll need these later.
4. Pick memmory that is supported by the motherboard. 2GB should be fine.
5. Pick a hard-drive. At least 500GB and uses the SATA connection.
6. Pick a power supply unit (PSU). If you're going to run one graphics card, a 600 watt PSU is recommended. If you're using two graphics cards, go for at least 1KW of power. Make sure the PSU form factor is the same as the Motherboard's. This makes life easier.
7. Pick a case. This is just a wrapper to hold everything in. It can be as plain, or as fancy as you want it.
BUT.... make sure it's in the form factor of your motherboard and PSU. I even broke out a CNC plasma cutter to cut custom designs in the side of my case, but that's just because I used to frequent LAN parties.
8. CHECK
9. EVERYTHING
10. MULTIPLE
11. TIMES... Checking to make sure everything is compatible is where I spend about 50-60% of my time when building a PC. It only takes one component not fitting to grind everything to a halt.
12. Add periphrials like a mouse, keyboard, monitor(s) and sound.
13. order it... All of it. All at once. Do not try and stagger your orders, as you can loose place of what you have and haven't ordered, possibly leaving you rig-less for 2-3 weeks.
14. Put it together. Don't get intimidated, just remember that it only goes where it fits. Two different types of connectors (anymore) cannot be interchanged. The guts of a PC are arranged so that most anyone could put it together correctly on their first try. The first time I put a PC together it only took about an hour. 10 minutes before that, I had never even seen RAM, a hard-drive, or a motherboard. It can be done, and it's quite easy.
15. Pick an Operating system and install. OS's can be ordered through most hardware vendors, so you might just want to tag that on to your shipment. I would personally just stick with Windows XP for now... Too many people are still using it for XP to be phased out, and Windows vista sucks.
15a. Install the drivers. They come on CDs with the hardware.
16-end... ENJOY! PLAY GAMES! SURF THE WEB! YOU are now one of the few people in this world that can BUILD a computer... Go out and advertise yourself! Just keep in mind that your grandparents will now automatically think that you can fix their e-mail for them every time Solitaire crashes
As a cost sort of thing, you can go as wild or as tamed as you want when building because you are the one in control. Just by glancing at the minimum requirements, a system that would just barely run iRacing could come out to anywhere between $400-500 (Don't quote me on that, I'm just guessing). A PC that would last you a good 4 years (as the one I'm using now) will cost you in the range of $900-1500 ($1500 obviously is a large number, but think about having to re-build a $400 computer every year when a new sim comes out... for 5 years. You'll come out ahead if you spend more now.)
If you have any questions, just PM me... I tend to build a computer for someone at least once a month and I'll help out as much as I can.
And to make this post a little more relevant to the thread, I just renewed my iRacing account. They have a good Black-Friday promotion going on if you want to get back into it.. Like, one year's worth of subscription for $75 instead of $99. Epic win on iRacing's part.