Problem is that I'm a total Mac bro right now so i think I would run into some comparability issues, but nothing that couldn't get worked out I suppose
Date: May 23rd, 2013 7:31 PM Author: Blathering gas station degenerate
Very very easy. If you just open a case and look inside it looks intimidating as hell. Crazy wires and electronic shit everywhere. Really though it's pretty simple. Mostly about popping components into the motherboard and connecting things to the power supply.
Date: May 23rd, 2013 7:32 PM Author: Pearl harsh psychic
pretty easy and there are tons of guides online. if you're scared, you're best off selecting components that someone else has picked and promises to be compatible.
Date: May 23rd, 2013 7:33 PM Author: dark scourge upon the earth tanning salon
Not that hard. Most of the effort goes into selecting parts.
However, there are a couple things that are tricky or nerve-wracking, or that can be if you're inexperienced. I've built maybe 4 or 5 PCs over the years, and installing the heat sink is still an irritating experience.
Date: May 23rd, 2013 7:36 PM Author: Dashing range coffee pot
i haven't done that for about a decade, but i don't recall it being very difficult. the trickiest thing was when jumper settings were wrong and i had to move them around until shit worked. also, if the case didn't fit, and you had to use a metal saw to modify it. other than that, stuff was plug-and-play.
Last night I built my own PC completely from scratch for the first time in my life - when I was a kid I tinkered with some 486-based and later Pentium MMX systems but those were barebones kits.
I migrated my hard drives and GPU, so that cut down on setup time - no OS install necessary.
System runs fine - games no longer FPS crash, etc. But my CPU temps are too high. Not sure what the problem is but I'm looking into it.
Total setup time was like 3+ hours though, several moments when I shit my pants: accidentally removing mobo backplate without realizing my CPU cooler screws into it, forgetting to install a mobo riser towards the bottom and having to pray it didnt crack when I plugged in stuff, forgetting to remove two of the metal plates in the rear panel to make room for my video card, etc.
Absolute worst part was trying to get the shitty IO plate to pop into place. My case was not taking it well and I got angry and forced it in at one point but cut my finger, creating a deep gash.
VERDICT:
Got everything correct and system booted up on first attempt. No major issues except CPU running hot and a cut middle finger. Took 3+ hrs but subsequent builds will prob be half that.