Computers

Computer Hardware: Barebones Computer System

Barebones computer systems are, in my opinion, the only way to go if you are serious about overclocking. Going barebones is like building a car engine from scratch, but without the hassle of picking out every single part. Once youve put together the basics, every custom piece you add is chosen with the specific purpose of improving the speed and power of the engine. In computers, every piece you choose does exactly the same thing.

There is a truly satisfying feeling of accomplishment when youve chosen the components for a new PC and assembled the system. Some techslike starting from scratch and picking out everything themselves. Motherboard, case, power supply–everything is fair game. Personally, I like the barebones computer systems because I know that the components that are the foundation of my system will be compatible with one another.

Mini Barebones Computer Systems
Mini barebones systems take convenience a step further. In a mini system,s the motherboard, case, and power supply are not only pre-selected, they are also assembled. Most mini barebones systems come with integrated graphics, sound, and networking. All thats left to do is add a processor, memory, hard drive, and a DVD-ROM.

Mini barebones are often referred to as Small Form Factor (SFF) personal computers. Small Form Factor PCs are great because they pack the same amount of power as full size desktop tower, but with much more flexibility for the designer. If youre serious about performance, youll be best off with a barebones or a mini barebones system.