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I've been building my own PCs for nearly 30 years, until this year. A few months ago the CPU fan started making a lot of racket on my 13 year-old machine, and since it would have been hard to find a replacement, and the CPU didn't meet Win 11's requirements, I started looking at NewEgg and other places and pricing things. Turns out I could buy a brand new Dell with everything I needed for about 2/3 what it would have cost me to build it myself. I do my music recording on my Mac now so I don't need a powerhouse (though I still bought one with an i7 and 16 GB memory, you never know what I might need it for some day) so buying the Dell made sense.
There are no solutions, only trade-offs. - Thomas Sowell
A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.
- Calvin (Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes)
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Your item list seems in logical order.
I have built numerous systems from the ground up,
but gave that up in favor of buying a built system using your list as a shopping list.
I got lazy and lost interest. It became somewhat repetitive.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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search more ... CP has this type of content
«The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled» Plutarch
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Try pcpartpicker.com. They have recommended builds that list suitable compatible components. It seems to be very game based but if that's not what you want their basic builds are based on cpus with an igpu. It's regional, so you'll get the local prices for each part.
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I forgot to say, check the motherboard specs to see what features are included - a basic motherboard will have some of these outputs: ethernet 1 GHz, wi-fi, sound. You might have to go up a price bracket to get them all. Storage: check that number of SATA ports match what you want and have a look at m.2 nvme for fast storage for the OS.
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m.2 nvme seconded. The motherboards which support it might (or might not) be a jump in price, but it's so good and so much easier than SATA cables.
You probably? want to be sure the board you get supports USB C just so you don't kick yourself in a year when you want to plug in something USB C without futzing with a converter.
You'll most likely want a 32 GB+ USB thumb stick or two. You'll drop install files onto them ahead of time, mainly windows and motherboard drivers and maybe the latest BIOS to flash for whatever board you get. For windows, MSFT has a program which will create installation media for you.
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Compare CPUs -- the newest and fastest are not necessarily necessary, and you can get a better deal on 1 rev back. Read gaming PC blogs to get advice on which to buy.
Don't go with less than 16 GB RAM. Windows and applications are always eating more RAM, and save yourself a future upgrade if you start with more RAM.
Make sure the MOBO supports the USB connections you need. USB is horribly confusing -- USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1, and 3.2 Gen 1 are functionally identical -- they support 5 Gbps with Type-A, Type-C, Type-B, and Micro connectors.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 and 3.2 Gen 2 are functionally identical -- they support 10 Gbps with Type-A and Type-C connectors. The "Gen" is what matters, not the version #.
My MOBO supports USB 2, which is actually useful as many things do not need the speed of newer USB versions, things such as wireless kbd/mouse dongles. However ... my CASE doesn't have USB 2 ports on the front.
I spent a lot of time picking a case (more than any other component) but missed that point, so I have the two USB 2 ports on the back of the case. I'd like two on the front, but that's a nope.
Video? I found that having a dedicated GPU, even a lower end one, makes a difference in overall system speed. Onboard video typically uses some of the total RAM, and you get better performance with a dedicated GPU. Note that this can easily be the most expensive component.
Lastly, power supply. Several online sellers have power calculators. Modern components draw a lot more power -- use a calculator, add at least 100 W to the figure, and then buy the next unit above that.
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"...Compare CPUs -- the newest and fastest are not necessarily necessary, and you can get a better deal on 1 rev back..."
The single most important purpose of this computer will be creation and editing of Video.
My initial thinking is that I should get an AMD Threadripper with 24 cores
Your thinking may be superior to mine.
"...Don't go with less than 16 GB RAM. Windows and applications are always eating more RAM, and save yourself a future upgrade if you start with more RAM..."
My thinking exactly. I'm shooting for 256 GB. From the looks of things, And the reality of money, I'm going to have to reduce my expectations and dreams, And settle for 128 GB. The current motherboard market is the source of this disappointment.
Looks like there are about 5 or 10 great motherboards out there with enough space for that kind of RAM.
The first problem is their price.
The second problem is: Who sells them ? Their makers have gorgeous photographs of them on their websites. The distributors also have great photographs with this phrase underneath them: "...Out Of Stock..."
"...Make sure the MOBO supports the USB connections you need. USB is horribly confusing..."
YIKES ! Thanks for that warning. I was clueless. Guess I will be learning a few things here.
"...I spent a lot of time picking a case (more than any other component) but missed that point, so I have the two USB 2 ports on the back of the case. I'd like two on the front, but that's a nope...."
Interesting concept and difference in Attitudes and stuff; In my case I don't want any USB things on the front because that is nothing but an invitation to Junky, Cluttered, Disorderly space in front of my face which just does things to me psychologically.
One of my ideas is to get a couple of USB hubs off of eBay and have all those wires organized at the back of the table with some type of wiring underneath the surface of the desktop.
USB front ports mean: Wires, Wires, and More Wires; A quiet source of constant distraction and a reminder of Disorganization
That's just my feeble brain.
I'm not really clear on exactly how I'm going to handle this at this time.
For the moment that's definitely something for me to think about and plan.
"...Video? I found that having a dedicated GPU, even a lower end one, makes a difference in overall system speed. Onboard video typically uses some of the total RAM, and you get better performance with a dedicated GPU. Note that this can easily be the most expensive component..."
Thanks; for real. This is exactly the kind of advice that I really need right now, It helps to confirm my Gut feeling that I need a separate card, dedicated for this purpose, and keep that stuff out of the CPU and motherboard.
"...Lastly, power supply. Several online sellers have power calculators. Modern components draw a lot more power -- use a calculator, add at least 100 W to the figure, and then buy the next unit above that..."
Makes sense.
Thank you.
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C-P-User-3 wrote: USB front ports mean: Wires, Wires, and More Wires; A quiet source of constant distraction and a reminder of Disorganization
Other than a USB-3 hub, I don't keep anything plugged into the front. However, it's handy to have USB ports on the front of the case so I don't have to crawl under the desk to plug in temporary external devices.
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I gave up on CMSIS. I need to support different chips, and be able to change the chips i support rapidly to keep up with sourcing concerns. I need a HAL that a bunch of other maintain. I can't do it myself.
Cube is a non-starter. Their app doesn't even work right for me, since the screen doesn't repaint properly 80% of the time. Sometimes when I get lucky and launch the app it behaves for awhile before becoming almost unusable.
And that's still forcing me to deal in visual nonsense.
Enter ZephyrOS. This is a great project for embedded. The problem is that they stopped supporting PlatformIO so poof - there goes my smooth and easy workflow.
Oh well. I can use west from the command line and manually edit my .cpp_properties file to put in the zephyr include directories and use the ARM compilers.
But then there's "devicetree"
Holy socks, Batman! It's got its own syntax, and you use it to map pin assignments and devices for your board(s), and perhaps include more driver modules (I'm not sure about that last bit - still learning) etc.
It could probably stand a book or two.
Coding against it is easy enough, but configuring it is a real chore.
I've been trying to use the nRF VS Code extension to build devicetree files but i think it's Nordic Semiconductor specific. *sadface*
Check out my IoT graphics library here:
https://honeythecodewitch.com/gfx
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I am a long-time Chrome user. We use generated HTML documents for a lot of things in our products. Microsoft's incessant pushing of Edge pisses me off, especially when they constantly reset my file associations for HTML files to point to it. I know my prejudice doesn't have a sound technical basis.
I may have to finally surrender  . I create the system images we install on the industrial PC's we use in our products. The Microsoft Update Catalog[^] site will not download files using Chrome, so I've learned to use Edge for that. I'm getting ready to create a Windows 11 image for a new model of PC, and come to find out that their site for downloading the image bits and pieces doesn't work with Chrome either.
This tit-for-tat sh*t isn't necessary  .
Software Zen: delete this;
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A bit strange as Edge is based on Chrome nowadays 
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The sites both render identically in Chrome and Edge. The file download is broken when used in Chrome. To add insult to injury, they don't display a message stating "You must use Edge to download", they just silently ignore you. This seems like a passive-aggressive way to indict Chrome.
Software Zen: delete this;
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The saying "The devil is in the detail" comes to my mind 
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For my purposes, all browsers have worked well enough.
When I use a browser for a while, I learn how to manage the user interface, bookmarks, settings and history.
Having to re-learn such things is annoying.
(Why, back in my day, we'd walk 5 miles through knee deep snow, uphill both ways, just to use a browser, and by golly we were happy....)
I'm getting cranky as I age...
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Craig Robbins wrote: I'm getting cranky as I age...
Me too Craig, me too  .
Software Zen: delete this;
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Quote: Why, back in my day, we'd walk 5 miles through knee deep snow, uphill both ways, just to use a browser, and by golly we were happy...
Well, I remember 15 cent MacDonald burgers. 
>64
Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.
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My memory goes back to 5 cent postage for envelopes, 4 cents for a post card. 
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It is weird getting the same age as those old people...  
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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 good old days?
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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"You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not!
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com
Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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I usually welcome my Microsoft overlords, to be honest. Using their tools and adhering to their best practices has usually been a safe bet.
The Edge team however has this "take no prisoners" and "![Elephant | [mastadon]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/elephant.gif) the user" attitude that is just pissy. Back when Edge started resetting file associations I remember reading an explanation how this was supposedly a "security measure" and "third-party vendors were not using the proper API". Bull ingshit.
Software Zen: delete this;
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I agree they are very aggressive and force you to use Edge which is bullshit and for that very reason I will not use it useless I absolutely have to.
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not!
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com
Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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Meh.
I've abandoned Chrome in favor of Edge, with the thinking being, the OS makers already have all my data. I'd rather have the browser I use send the same data to the same company, rather than having two companies spying on me (with one of them deriving its income almost entirely from ad revenue).
On a technical basis, I also no longer see how Chrome might still have the edge (pardon the pun).
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Gary Wheeler wrote: This tit-for-tat sh*t isn't necessary
Microsoft, Google, etc. knows what the majority is too afraid to admit. They want to control your data and view to and of the world. It's only going to get worse.
Jeremy Falcon
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