Building a Gaming PC: What you Need to Know
If you are an avid gamer who is longing for a hi-spec PC to play the latest games, you can save a significant amount of money by building your gaming PC. Before you dismiss the idea, not having the essential knowledge to carry out such a task, it isn’t that difficult, and with that in mind, here is our guide to building a gaming PC.
Purchasing the Components
Whether you are looking for a SSD or Nvdia graphics card, fortunately, there are online suppliers of hi-spec PC components, and here is a list of essential items you will need.
- Computer Case
- Mainboard – Recommended make is Asus.
- Solid State Drive (SSD) – You can have multiple drives.
- CPU – Best brands are Intel and AMD.
- RAM DDR Chips – Check configuration with mainboard.
- Graphics Card – Nvidia is the best make.
- Sound Card
- Power Supply
- Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor
Of course, there are many makes and models, so you are advised to do some online research into the best components, making sure that each component is fully compatible for the design you are planning to build.
Online Gaming Forums
For the very latest information on component performance, join some of the online gaming forums that are associated with PC builds and you will receive up to date information on all aspects of the project. The resident experts will make sure that your configuration works, indeed, some will advise you on the best components and even offer advice on how to build. You will need to have some form of cyber-security to protect your data, and there are lots of software packages to secure your data, some are free to the user, such as AVG who offer a basic PC anti-virus application.
Building your PC
Once you have received your components via the mail, you can prepare to put the machine together, and the only tools you will need is a set of small screwdrivers, as every component has a corresponding plug & socket, so you can’t really make a mistake. Prior to attaching the mainboard into the casing, make sure that you have connected all components and there will be screw holes that line up with the case and the mainboard. The power supply connects to the mainboard and when everything is in place, you can fire up the computer and think about installing the operating system.
Choosing an Operating System
There are a few OS that you can use, namely Windows 10 (32 or 64 bit), or Linux and if you are unsure which to choose, talk to the software gurus you will find in the PC gaming forums. Most gamers opt for Windows 10 and you can download the platform from the Microsoft website (there is a considerable cost to purchase the rights to use Windows 10).
Of course, building a gaming PC will seem like a monumental task if this is your first time, but the more familiar you are with each component and what it actually does, the easier the build will be. The main thing to think about is that each component you buy is fully compatible with your configuration and should you be in doubt, talk to the online component supplier, who can advise on every aspect of a PC build.