I used to get a new computer once a year. That was back when I was a self-employed and I needed the tax write-offs (and the newer technology was fun.) But that stopped in 1998, and I haven’t bought a new computer for my home use since. I used that 1998 computer up until the move this last summer; something with the motherboard/cpu didn’t POST right when I tried to bring it up in my new house. (I hope that it’s only a mobo issue, and my drives are still working okay. I don’t have good backups, and that’s one of the first things I want to address.) So, I fixed that today and bought a new PC.

Okay, technically, I bought the pieces to a new PC. New motherboard, CPU, memory and case (since all of those were required,) and a DVD burner and new keyboard/mouse. I could have bought a whole new cheap machine from Dell, but I got quality pieces (read: not Celeron/Sempron and the mobo has SATA.) I’ll upgrade the hard drive and video card later – what I bought was just enough to get me back up and running at home. I used the ARS Technica buying guides and basically spec’d the pieces from the Budget Box. Plus there’s something cool and fun about building a computer from pieces. (Although when I’m swearing because stuff isn’t playing nice together or I didn’t order the right stuff, you can laugh at me.)

The stuff should be here in a few days, and I’m sure I’ll post more when I get it up and running. I went cheap this run because I ultimately want to get a laptop for home use (daaaaamn you Kresl) but that’s going to wait until grad school.