A Beginner's Guide To Building A Gaming PC

Posted on Thursday, November 25 2021 @ 12:38 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Building a gaming PC is a daunting park. It is a good technological investment and it implies building a machine from scratch. There are more things to consider in the process, but make sure you know what you need before digging into deeper details. Keep in mind that a well-built gaming PC can be great for new games for up to 10 years.

Getting the right parts

First of all, you will need a graphics card. This is one of the most significant parts in the process. The GPU grabs imagery from your computer and throws it on the monitor. Obviously, the more powerful the GPU is, the easier the process becomes. Graphics will be flawless, while more advanced GPUs will also provide more settings.

Then, you have the CPU – or the processor. The central processing unit runs the computer. It moves instruction from one system to another. The more powerful it is, the faster such information will move. In other words, both hardware and software functions will run faster when the CPU is powerful enough to take so much data.

The motherboard has a self-explanatory name. It houses all the hardware in the gaming PC you want to build. There is one thing you have to pay special attention to – compatibility. Practically, no matter what parts you choose, make sure they are compatible with the motherboard. It is also worth noting that some motherboards come with built in wireless systems, graphics cards and so on.

The RAM memory determines how much information the gaming PC can process at the same time. This is where the computer stores data it requires immediately. The more RAM you get, the faster and more efficient your computer will be – simple as that. The RAM is mandatory for games.

When it comes to storage, you normally have two options – SSD and HDD. No matter what you choose, this is where you store files. The bigger the capacity, the more room for games and media as well.

The power supply is essential for the computer to work, but also the most boring one. Pick the right one and avoid going cheap. A quality power supply will last for ages.

Finally, the case is a matter of aesthetics, but it will also protect your parts against dust and other issues. Some cases may come with extra fans for additional cooling, which is a plus.

These are the mandatory parts. You also have lots of extras to think about, such as hard drives, cooling systems and so on. They are nice to have, but not required for the PC to work.

Shopping for parts

There are more places to shop for computer parts – some of them better than others. It is important to shop around. There is one big mistake newbies make – buy all the main parts and expect everything to fit together. This is less likely to happen, unless you are really lucky. For example, there are many motherboards for Intel Core i3-8100 CPU and knowing which one to pick will help you get the best performance.

It pays off starting with the most important parts – such as the GPU. You will then have to work your way down based on the importance. Once you figure out the parts you need, look around in different stores. Compatibility is critical, so you will need some research for each part.

It pays off buying from well established brands with a good reputation. Indeed, you can buy random stuff made by companies no one has ever heard of. But then, chances are quality standards are just as low, so they will quit on you before you get to fully enjoy them – not to mention defective warranties.

Finally, it is just as important to be flexible with your budget – based on what you can afford, of course. You do not want to overspend, but on the same note, get ready to spend a bit more here and there.

Conclusion

Bottom line, what works for some people will not work for everyone else. Now you know what you need to build a quality gaming PC. From this point on, it is up to you to determine your needs and start researching parts that may work well together. Researching parts upfront will help you save money, rather than waste it on parts that will never fit.