Creating your own gaming PC is a process not for the faint of heart. It takes knowledge, planning, and patience to build a powerful gaming rig that can last for years. But if you’re up for the challenge, it will be an insanely satisfying experience. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
First and foremost, you need to decide what components you need. This can be an overwhelming process as retail desktop PCs have hundreds of parts, but worry not as we have broken this down into the essentials:
- Motherboard
- CPU (This will determine the type of motherboard needed)
- RAM
- Graphics Card
- Power Supply
- Storage (HDD, SSD, or both)
- Case & Fans
Research and find out the best components that fit your budget and needs. This can be done by looking at customer reviews, benchmark tests, etc. Make sure to look at different manufacturers, so you have more options to choose from. Once you finish researching, it’s time to move to the next step: Check compatibility.
Before you start buying components, you should check if they are compatible with each other. This means you should make sure the motherboard, RAM, and graphics card all work together in harmony. To do this, you can use compatibility lists for motherboards and graphics cards.
Once you have all your parts ready, it’s time to get down to the business of actually building your gaming PC. Start by placing the motherboard and CPU into the case with their respective mounts. Now you need to install the RAM, GPU, and other components onto the board.
Now, turn your attention to the power supply. This is an important part of your PC. Make sure to check the wattage that your new gaming rig needs, so you don’t buy a power supply that’s too small or too large. Connect the cables to their proper places, and then move on to storage.
The next step is to install the storage drives. If you have both a HDD and an SSD, make sure to install them both. Then connect the storage drives to the power supply, and to the motherboard as needed. After that, it’s time to install the fans, IO shield, and any other accessories your case needs.
The final step is to install the operating system. You can use an old one if you already have one or purchase one from Microsoft or use an open-source OS like Linux. After this, your computer should be up and ready to run.
Understanding And Finding The Right Components
Understanding and finding the right components for your gaming PC is essential. Not only do you want to keep the cost of your PC reasonable, but you want components that are compatible with one another, offer good performance, and are made by reliable brands. Start by researching each component, check benchmark tests and customer reviews. You should also compare different brands to see what they have to offer in terms of performance, price, warranty, and more. Once you finish the research, you can start choosing components and plan the budget for your gaming rig.
Check Compatibility
Once you have chosen the right components for your gaming rig, the next step is to check if they work together. Check the compatibility list of each component, especially the motherboard, RAM, and graphics card. Make sure they fit and that they are going to work together, otherwise you may have issues after building the PC.
Assembling Your PC
When you have the components, start assembling your gaming PC. Start by placing the motherboard in the case with its respective mounts, then install the CPU, RAM and all other components on the board. After that, install the power supply and connect it to the components, then install the storage drives. Finally, install the fans, IO shield and other accessories the case needs.
Installing The OS
The last step is to install the OS. You can either use an old OS you previously have or purchase one from Microsoft. You can also use open-source OS like Linux. Once you have the OS installed, your gaming PC will be ready to go.
Summing It Up
Creating your own gaming PC can be a complex and daunting task. It requires knowledge, planning, and patience. Make sure to do your research before buying the components and check the compatibility list so you don’t buy things that won’t fit together. Once all the component are ready, assemble the PC, add the accessories, and install the OS. Finally, your gaming PC will be ready to run.
