Welcome to the NightOwl's Hardware Selection List. Whether you plan to buy a completely assembled computer system or whether you want to build a system yourself, a personalized selection of components suitable to your specific needs is most important. To get maximum performance, any computer system must be build up of high quality components with a perfect match, otherwise the overall system's performance will go down, 'cause of one or more weak links in the component chain.

The selection below is based on personal experience, testing and comparing technical charts, combined with other opinions and lots of reviewing information. All featured components are of high quality. They are not necessary the latest "state of the art" series, but they will meet almost all common needs when building a fine and powerful all-round home computer system.
As this list is meant to be an easy and just practical guide to novice users, no detailed technical specifications are included. The remarks and criteria at the bottom of this page can be considered as a little overview of some important features. Full details, actual info and component specifications can be found at the manufacturer's sites indicated below.
 
Concerning price/quality, these components will give you "lots of computer for your money". Also, the system will be a long lasting system, maybe several years with or without important upgrades, as far as this is possible to predict in a fast changing hardware market.
 
Still, every selection is -more or less- personal and much depends on the use of the system. So -although they're all of high quality- the performance of some of the listed components may be to low for some specific needs (such as hardcore gaming), while other components maybe a little to performant, or not absolutely needed for some specific, only basic use (although some extra power will make computing easier for everyone and the system will be better prepared for future needs). Also, it's obvious that besides the manufacturers listed here, many other companies also produce top-level components.
 
As the hardware market is changing day by day, this list does not pretend to be complete, nor it is constantly updated. When component series, actual types and/or images are provided, this is only meant as a reference point from which the user can decide to search for higher or lower performance components, meeting the same high quality standards and meeting his or hers personal needs.

Featured Components

Remarks and Criteria

GENERAL REMARKS

in case you build your own system from scratch, it's obvious that the decision which software you want to install is only up to you;

you choose the operating system of your choice and the applications you need

more or less the same will it be if you buy a "no-name" customized system, personally build for you, after choosing the components, eventually with the help of an authorized vendor; then, if you wish, the operating system of your choice can be pre-installed

if you want to buy a "brand" computer, carefully take the following in consideration:

- the hardware must meet your specific computing needs: a possibility of customization (selection of components) is important

- the system must be available with or without operating system

- the system must be available with the operating system selected by the user

IMPORTANT

- if the system is delivered with an operating system, it must include the original operating system setup-media (e.g. dvd)

- the system must be available without any unwanted pre-installed software (no "crapware")

SYSTEM CASE

- maximum extensibility and flexibility, making upgrading and/or changing of components possible without to much hassle

- support for different motherboard sizes/form factors, eventually also supporting dual power supply, ATX/BTX

- maximum cooling performance

- a strong chassis; anti-vibration build

- a full-tower design will help to achieve these goals

- a timeless design

POWER SUPPLY

- very often, too little time is spend on the selection of a good power supply, while a well-designed power-supply is simply a "must"

- the PSU must meet high-efficiency and safety standards and provide power in a very stable manner

- it must comply with the latest ATX12V version and support the latest CPU's, as well as the latest graphic card systems

- it must be equipped with an effective cooling

- a quiet, low noise operation

- all high quality power cables and connectors, designed for easy handling and connecting; preferably a modular system

MOTHERBOARD

- must support latest CPU's, chipsets and memory

- very good cooling capacities

- enough connection possibilities

- all high-quality capacitors

PROCESSOR

- energy-efficient performance, multimedia power

PROCESSOR COOLER

- silent operation

- eventually equipped with an adjustable fan speed controller

RAM MEMORY

- one of the most important parts of the system, making a great difference in system speed

- maximum memory performance and stability

- each module must be built using carefully selected top quality RAM's

GRAPHIC CARD

- the video cards of the different vendors are merely build around one of the common graphic chipsets

- depending on the use of the system, the video card must deliver a high level of graphics realism and performance

- an effective cooling, as silent as possible

SOUND CARD

- many motherboards already have "sound-on-board" (a build-in sound chip), which will do for standard (business) computer use

- as "sound-on-board" already provides a relatively good performance, a separate sound card must add top level quality

- whether or not to install a separate sound card, depends on the user, e.g. as an essential audio upgrade for PC gaming

- for a more realistic surround sound, top quality audio, MP3/WMA, DivX, DVD movies, streaming audio/video, TV and radio

FLOPPY-DRIVE

- it's still a good idea to install a floppy drive, at system level and troubleshooting, it can be very handy

- reliable, industry standard, quality construction

- eventually with a build-in memory card reader, bringing the "floppy" back to everyday use

HARD-DISK(S)

- top quality, running fast, cool and quiet

- must be very reliable with "state of the art" build-in features to protect the drive and the data stored on it

DVD/CD READER/WRITER(S)

- must be very reliable and must support (read and write) the different cd/dvd formats (CDR, CDRW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM)

- an extra cd/dvd drive (writer or just a simple reader), makes it possible to create a fast cd/dvd-copy "on the fly"

KEYBOARD

- excellent performance, a comfortable feel and unmatched durability

- compact, elegant design

- durable, spill-resistant design

MOUSE

- advanced laser mouse for extreme accuracy and flawless tracking on nearly any surface

- wireless design with rechargeable Li-Ion battery

- precision scroll wheel, preferably operating in two distinct modes as a free spinning wheel and as a clicking wheel

- eventually equipped with extra buttons, functions and software

- comfortable ergonomic grip for a natural hand position

EXTERNAL HARD-DRIVE

- plug and play storage : just plug it in and use it

- rugged durable case for extra data protection

- high-speed connection for maximum performance

- backwards compatible

- an almost necessary storage medium for external backup's

SOUND BOXES

- powerful, distortion-free bass, clear highs, and rich mid-range

- a remote control can be convenient

- eventually multiple source–ready for easy connection to players or consoles

PRINTER

- nowadays, a combined printing, scanning, copying and eventually faxing solution will do for most computer applications

- quality printing in black and in color, and in photo quality if needed

- very good price/quality ratio - long hardware life-time

- no excessive printing costs

PHOTO-SCANNER

- photo scanner to digitalize all photo negatives, positives and eventually prints

- useful to digitalize old photographs, or images taken with analog camera's

- top quality and easy handling for best results is a "must"

ROUTER (ADSL-MODEM/ROUTER/SWITCH)

- a combination of a wireless router / modem / switch

- specifications depends on the system, region and use

GRAPHIC PEN TABLET

- the tool for all graphic application input

- an A4 format tablet size is perfect to provide a 1:1 mapping ratio for most monitors

- ideal for artistic styles that need full arm motion

- possibility to accommodate left- and right-handed people

- cord- and battery-less pen and mouse

MONITOR

- wide-screen format

- plenty of space for all applications and multiple images

- high contrast ratio, easy-to-view images and gaming graphics

- without ghosting or blurring

- advanced dual interface for both analog digital video signals

WEBCAM

- 1.3 megapixels or higher

- video resolution of 1280 x 1024

- frame rate of 90 frames per second

DIGITAL PHOTO-CAMERA

- digital SLR camera : best results and endless possibilities

- possibility to shoot in easy automatic mode using the presets and shooting in advanced mode

- possibility to use and change (high quality) lenses

- this combination makes it possible for both novice and expert users to create fine digital images

- digital compact-camera : small camera body, handy and easy to use camera with

- many automatic preset modi, making it easy to shoot good looking photos in varying circumstances

DIGITAL PHOTO-FRAME

- pc independent digital photo-frame

- high quality LCD screen

- IR-remote control

- an easy to use screen menu

- internal memory

- support for nearly all different types of memory cards

- support for USB memory sticks

- support for digital photos in JPEG-Format and eventually support for other (multi-)media types

- slide show mode with transitional styles and variable speed

- brightness control

- use in landscape and portrait format

- USB interface for pc connection

LAPTOP

- all top-quality components

- possibility to upgrade (although laptop upgrades are relatively limited)

- graphic performance

- extensive connectivity

- good autonomy and battery life

- rock solid design

- eventually available in a fashion style

IMPORTANT

- if the system is delivered with an operating system, it must include the original operating system setup-media (e.g. dvd)

- the system must be available without any unwanted pre-installed software (no "crapware")

- (see also the general remarks above)

DISCLAIMER

All info provided here is for educational purposes only and on an "as is" basis without any warranty and/or further responsibility whatsoever. Images may differ from the actual products and/or models. All manufacturer's names, ® trade marks, component names and types, descriptions, images, website-links and other materials are provided here solely for informational purposes, to clarify and describe the subject, without any commercial purpose. NightOwl's site is not in any way affiliated with any manufacturer.

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