Questions about building

[MoBsTa]

Hello, I am thinking about building a new omputer in the next few months (when I get the money) and I have a lot of questions. Here they are:

1. For my internet connection, I have a cable modem, which has a router plugged into it, and it goes into my current machine via ethernet cable. My question is, can I just take this plug out of this one and i'll have connection on my other one? Or is there something more complicated involved?

2. I have a microphone installed into my monitor, do you need a sound card for the mic to work? Or can you just plug it into the onboard audio.

3. Another sound card question. I have 2 little speakers that I use for sound. I don't need HD sound I just want to hear my game ok. So should I stick with onboard or get a sound card?

4. My keyboard has a volume control thing on it, so will that still work if I switched the computers? (I am keeping everything, I'me just getting a new CPU)

5. On my current machine, I have Windows XP home edition I got about 3 years ago. I got my computer from HP and they never gave me a disk. Do I have to get a new OS to run for the new machine? Or can I just get a disk from a friend and use the same authentication key that is on this machine.

6. Is building a computer hard? (noob question dont need to answer)

I can't tell you what parts I'me getting because honestly I don't know yet. I am probably going to wait a few months until the prices come down.

Current specs:
1.5 GHz P4
512 MB SDRAM
9200se
ASUS P4B-LA mobo

 

[Anarchonixx]

1) Pretty much. As long as the NIC is installed and enabled, you'll be able to just plug in and go.

2) Onboard sound will do the same thing a sound card does. There is no difference. You can plug the microphone in the onboard sound.

3) Depends on what "hearing my game ok" means to you. Most onboard sound solutions are more than adequate for the average Joe. It really depends on what motherboard you choose (there is a difference between motherboards when it comes to onboard sound), but in a word, yes, you should stick with onboard sound. Chances are your speakers probably won't make a better soundcard shine, though I have no idea what your speakers are.

4) It will work. That's all software, not hardware based. You don't say what keyboard you have, but the answer will be the same no matter what.

5) I believe those OEM Windows XP installs are tied to the machine legally. I don't know much about the details on this, so won't answer the rest.

6) No. Building a computer is trivial at best. Troubleshooting, on the other hand, requires some patience and research. I knew everything about building a computer before I actually built one thanks to lurking in forums.



EDIT: Playing the waiting game when building a computer is generally pointless, at best. Your computer will be cheaper and it will NOT be top of the line in a matter of weeks. That's the reason many people generally go for the next best thing that's out. New hardware is constantly entering the market, and it will continue to be that way. If you want to wait a bit, then you'll want to wait a bit more, and then you'll want to wait some more after that. Unless there's some specific technology coming out that you are waiting for, it really makes no difference.