Cheap Computers and Parts

Notes we've taken concerning the Network Card:

• # of PCI Slots Remaining: 1 if you purchased a PCI card, 2 if you did not.
• # of PCI-Express x1 Slots Remaining: 0 if you purchased a PCI-Express x1 Card, 1 if you did not.

Finding a Network Card

Most motherboards come with an integrated network card, but if you need another network card or you have a wireless network, buying a network card is pretty straightforward.

You must ask yourself the obvious question, do you have a wired or wireless network? Whichever you have, you have three options:

1. Buy a PCI network card
2. Buy a PCI-E x1 network card
3. Buy a USB network adapter

Let's navigate to network cards:

Networking --> Wired or Wireless Networking --> Adapters or Interface Cards --> Interface Type

-Order by "lowest price"

By far the cheapest option is to buy a PCI network card. You can easily pick one up for under $15, sometimes under $10. It's all up to you, your budget and your preference.

Cheap Wired NIC:

Rosewill RC-402 PCI LAN Card - $6.99

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Cheap Wireless NIC:

GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS PCI Wireless Adapter - $16.99

If you need step-by-step instructions on setting up a wireless network, google "how to setup a wireless network"

Notes to take before the next lesson:

• # of PCI Slots Remaining: 0 if you purchased a PCI Sound Card and Network Card
• # of PCI-Express x1 Slots Remaining: 0 if you purchased a PCI-Express x1 Card, 1 if you did not.

Next Lesson:

We can continue to the next lesson: Lesson 15: How to Find a Cheap Floppy Disk Drive

or we can skip ahead to Lesson 16: How to Find a Cheap Power Supply