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Building a PC remains a daunting endeavor for many, but it doesn't have to be. Even if you've yet to pick up a screwdriver and toss together a few components, this comprehensive guide will make you a PC building master in no time at all. We'll also save you money in the process.
The most crucial part to get right is picking parts that do what you want and working with each other. Choosing wrong or incompatible PC parts may cause issues, damage to other components, or require time for returning said products to retailers. Looking inside a PC case can reveal a mess of electronics to someone who doesn't know what does what. We can lend a helping hand when it comes to picking the right parts, even if you don't know the difference between a CPU and a GPU.
Check out our best guides for each component and then check for incompatibilities using our brief checklist below. But wait! Even after double and triple-checking that everything will place nicely together, it's recommended you use an automated tool that checks entered components against a database to confirm that there are no conflicts.
It's worth visiting PC Part Picker , entering in all your components, and then checking everything over. Not only does the website allow for comparison between other options available — potentially allowing for even more savings to be made — it will also provide warnings for any issues detected. After a few PC builds, you'll be able to tell components apart by just looking at the specs and streamlining this process without using such websites.
All the products in this guide are compatible with one another so if you fancy building yourself a capable gaming PC, take up our recommendations as you move through the guide. Some tools you'll need to build a PC include the following:.
We've arranged this guide in an order that makes sense for most builds, though it may not be optimal for every PC. You'll need to check the layout and see which components will need to be installed first, but usually, starting with the power supply is the best way to go. Just be sure to check our helpful guide on how to avoid these rookie PC building mistakes so you can get up and running in no time at all. Best case. Do you want a compact chassis that's easy to build a PC inside and looks amazing?
When putting together a new PC, you'll need a case that looks good, is sturdy enough to hold everything inside, has ample features like dust filtering, smart RGB lighting, and doesn't break your budget.
You'd have noticed I said we'll be installing the PSU first, but that's only when we're sure everything works. Before we fit everything inside the PC case, we'll need to check all our components actually work out the box. Instead of throwing everything inside the case and discovering there's an issue, unpacking everything on your chosen flat surface and installing a few components to test is the best way to go. The first step here is to install the CPU, which requires you to remove the motherboard from its packaging too.
This is a super-easy process, regardless of whether you're rocking an AMD or Intel chip. Now, we'll need to install the CPU cooler. Depending on the cooler you've purchased, you may have a layer of thermal paste already applied. If not, we'll need to do this before installing the cooler. Tip: less is more. The manual will run you through the process of installation, which can vary between coolers and manufacturers. Especially with aftermarket coolers — both water and air — you'll need to pay close attention to the manual that comes with the product.
This is why it's better to do all these steps with the motherboard outside the PC case for easier handling. Best CPU. After many years of falling behind Intel, AMD has come leaps and bounds with Ryzen, and this latest generation is even better. There has never been a better time to hop over to team red, and the Ryzen 5 X is the perfect entry point for most PCs.
There's even an included cooler to get you up and running. RAM is a sensitive component and, as such, should be handled with care. It's recommended that contact be avoided with the pins on the underside of each module. Do check the motherboard manual as to which RAM slots are to be used, depending on how many sticks you have. How to install RAM. Yes, you can now have your RAM modules glow in the dark. There's also room for some tuning at a later date when you need a little more from your system memory.
Press down until you hear it click. The GPU should be fine sat atop of the motherboard, but you may need to allow the backplate to hang over the edge of the motherboard box so it can lie flush with the board itself.
All we require now is power. Reference your motherboard and PSU manuals to sort through the right cables and connectors. Usually, to turn on a PC, you'll want to hit the power button, but since our PC is not technically inside a case yet, we have no power button. Luckily, we don't require the power button to turn everything on.
Again, consult your motherboard manual to locate these pins. It's precisely what happens when you hit the power button on your PC case. Give it a few attempts if you can't quite make the connection between the two pins. Check that all your RAM is registered here. All good? Shut everything down and disconnect all the cables, removing the GPU and placing it back into its protective wrapping.
It's now time to install the PC inside the case. It provides the juice required for all the computing magic to take place. Depending on the case you've purchased, we'll need to install the unit with the fan facing up or down. To determine which is most optimal, check if you have a vent at the bottom of the case.
If so, face the PSU fan downwards. You'll want to have all your cables connected to the PSU prior to installing it to make your job easier. Depending on the PSU you've purchased, it may be one of the following:. Fully and semi-modular PSUs are the easiest to work with as you'll have an easier time making sure all cables look neat and tidy. Best PSU. It's rated for 80 Plus Platinum and has enough power for gaming PCs.
It's what provides power to all other components and, as such, should be able to supply a reliable current. You can trust this PSU to provide clean, stable power. With the CPU, the cooler, and RAM modules installed, the motherboard is ready to be screwed to the backplate inside the case. This is optional, but recommended accessory helps provide electromagnetic interference EMI protection. Best motherboard. It's reliable, houses premium parts, has a ton of features, and has a solid UEFI setup that allows you to overclock your system easily.
Storage drives are essential devices that hold not only the operating system but also all programs, personal media, and all other data.
It's recommended to use an SSD be it M. Data can be stored on traditional 3. Depending on the case and how drive bays are configured, M. Be sure to double-check the PC case manual. We'll go over how your PC case may have both configured below. Some cases will simply allow you to screw in a 2. For the latter:. Best SSD. Samsung has long been at the forefront of the SSD market, and its latest is undoubtedly the greatest with incredible performance.
With GB, you'll be able to install the OS and then a few programs and games too, though if your budget can stretch it, we'd always recommend installing games on a different drive to the OS. With all significant components now installed, it's time to hook everything up to the power supply and motherboard.
Generally speaking, it's best to start with the power to the motherboard itself. Next, we need to connect the storage drives to the motherboard, using SATA data cables.
These are mostly smaller versions of their power siblings that carry data instead. The motherboard usually has SATA ports located to the lower-right hand-side. It doesn't matter which ports are used. Much like the power cables, route these through cut-outs and grommets to the drive bays and mounts. We now have power to our storage drives and the motherboard, as well as data channels between drives and the mainboard.
These pins stand up from the motherboard, which requires a careful approach when plugging in the small connectors. The motherboard manual should provide information as to the layout of these pins and what they correspond to — though usually the below layout is used:. The front USB 3. Again, refer to the manual for exact placement as not all motherboards are created equal. For added cooling capacity and room for overclocking or more stable operation , throwing in an extra fan or two is worthwhile.
PC cases may come with fans pre-installed, but if not, it's simple to screw them into fan mounts. Just be sure to align them correctly and have the blades pointing the correct way. Fans can have small arrows on the side that show which way the blades spin and where airflow will be directed. Note: some cases may require you to install fans before inserting the motherboard, especially for the top exhaust.
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