How to Build a Computer

There's a rush that you get when you press the power button for the first time on a new computer. The quiet blow of the fans, the reassuring beeps, and the glow of a monitor all signal the completion of a successful build. That feeling of anticipation is one of the driving forces for computer enthusiasts, and building your own computer is the perfect entry point. You can also save money by building your own PC rather than buying it from a retail store.

Gathering Your Components

1. 
   
   Determine the function of the computer. If you’re building a computer to use in the home office, gaming or even workstation purposes. The role of your computer will heavily dictate the components that you will need. Regardless of the final function of your computer, every computer needs the same basic components.

   • Keep your budget in mind, too. If your computer will be mostly for office work, internet surfing, or checking e-mails, you could probably get away with a budget of $400. If your computer will be a basic gaming build capable of playing most games with an acceptable framerate at decent settings and 720p-1080p then a budget of around $600-700, (or more depending on if you want a bit more extra power) should be fine. If you want a gaming build that can max out new triple-A titles then you should have a budget of $1000 and above, and if you want to build a very-high-end 1080p/4K video-editing machine, you may have to spend more than $2,000. Remember to assign money in the budget for the OS, monitor, mouse, headphones, microphone, webcam, speakers, and any other needed peripherals if you do not have them.
2. 
   
   Find a processor (CPU). This is the "brain" of your computer. Almost all processors are multi-core, meaning they are essentially multiple processors in one. Compare specs and find a processor that is up to date, not one that may sound right but could be an old model. They change, becoming out of date and unsupported by the manufacturers and software makers. Always try to get a processor from the current generation, as they typically are faster and more efficient than their previous generation counterpart. Choose one with the speed that you will need to run the programs you want. Also take into account power usage and the type of and ease of cooling. Inadequate cooling is a killer for the processor.

   • Intel has two types of CPUs: K and non-K. You need a K-type CPU if you are going to overclock your computer. Most AMD CPUs are already overclockable or easily unlockable so you can overclock them. Avoid the Intel Celeron series as these CPUs are slow. If you are building a mid-end or higher level computer, use an Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen CPU with high core count. You can use a Pentium for maxing out Triple A titles when combined with a good graphics card, but you may be better off with a better CPU.
   • Don't consider getting a new i9 or Threadripper series processor unless you're doing serious video editing or other heavy workstation use. These CPUs aren't worth the price for their gaming performance and are meant for high-level workstation PCs.
3. 
   
   Get a motherboard that fits your processor. If the processor is the brain, then the motherboard is the nervous system. The motherboard is what connects all of the internal components of your computer. The processor you purchase will determine the type of motherboard you will need. Different processors have different “socket” sizes, and only work with motherboards that support that socket. Your choice here will depend on what processor you have, how much memory you want, the size of your case, and how many drives you want to connect to it.

   • Motherboards come in many form factors, but the most common are ATX and Micro ATX. ATX is the standard full-size motherboard. If you are building a typical tower computer, look for ATX motherboards. Micro ATX boards are smaller than the standard ATX board, and are better if you want a smaller case and have no need for more than four expansion slots. ITX motherboards are smaller still, and are used for small form factor mini PCs. ITX boards have the least expansion slots, generally only one for a dedicated GPU or other PCI card, but are the most space-efficient.
   • Make sure that your motherboard supports all of the other components that you wish to install. If you are planning on installing a high-end graphics card, the motherboard will need to support the PCI Express interface. If you want to install lots of RAM, your motherboard will need to be able to hold at least 4 sticks.
   • Sometimes you can get the processor and the motherboard as a combo package, which could end up saving you a bit of money. Just make sure you're not settling for a model of processor or motherboard that you don't want just to save a few bucks.
   • Always do at least a little bit of research on the exact specs of your motherboard on the manufacturer's website. If you are unsure if your CPU and motherboard socket sizes match just check what socket the specs say, if your CPU and motherboard both say LGA 1150 then it will match. There are many different socket sizes that exist but in reality you won't need to worry since only a few of those are not outdated.
4. 
   
   Find memory (RAM) that is compatible with your new motherboard and CPU. RAM (Random Access Memory) is where programs store information that they are using. If you don’t have enough RAM, your programs will run much slower than they should. The RAM you can purchase is dictated by the motherboard that you choose. The speed of the RAM that you install must be supported by the motherboard. You can check the manufacturer's websites for both components to check.

   • RAM should always be installed in matching pairs of sticks (if you're buying more than one stick). All the RAM in the system should be the same speed, and preferably the same make and model. For example, if you want 8 GB of RAM, you can install two matching 4 GB sticks or four matching 2 GB sticks.
   • If you intend to use more than 4 GB of RAM, you will need to install a 64-bit operating system. 32-bit operating systems do not recognize more than 4 GB of RAM, even if more is installed. 2 matching sticks will offer the best performance due to a feature called "Dual-Channel".
5. 
   
   Get a hard drive big enough to store all of your data. Your hard drive stores your operating system, installed programs, and all of your data. Make sure you choose a good manufacturer when choosing your hard drive because nothing is worse than a dead hard drive.

   • Hard drives come in many speeds, the most common being 5400, 7200, or 10000 RPM. The regular speed you should choose is 7200 RPM. There are also solid state drives, which don't have any moving parts, and allow for faster speeds. The cons are that they're quite expensive and have limited storage space compared to similarly-priced traditional drives. Solid state drives are best used for your operating system and essential programs. Put your games, music and movies on a separate HDD. That way you'll have a PC that can boot quickly, run quickly and have a lot of space. Solid state drives come in several different form factors, like the standard 2.5" size, M.2, and as an add-in card that directly attaches to a PCI Express slot on your motherboard.
6. 
   
   Purchase a video/graphics card for games and editing HD movies. A dedicated graphics card is essential for playing the latest games, but not a major issue for a computer for daily tasks. Nearly all Intel CPUs have integrated graphics, so you don’t need a dedicated card if you’re planning to use the computer for office work, web browsing email, and a little bit of online gaming. If you watch or edit a lot of HD video or play a lot of games, you'll want a dedicated video card. If you are building a PC for gaming or workstation purposes, then a graphic processor unit card (GPU), or an external graphic card (meaning one not built into the motherboard) is extremely important and its selection depends on your budget and your requirements.

   • While Intel CPUs have (very weak) integrated GPUs, AMD CPUs don't have onboard graphics so you have to buy a GPU for these, otherwise you won't be able to get out of the BIOS menu.
   • Make sure you choose a GPU from an up-to-date line, so that you can play games at full speed. GPUs are important, because it connects to your monitor. AMD has a Radeon line, which range from budget to midrange GPUs that can run things fast enough (but not the best). If you want to choose an AMD Radeon graphics card, choose a Radeon RX 400 or 500 series, preferably a 480 or 580. If Nvidia has a GeForce GTX line, with cards like the GTX 1080 Ti and GTX 1080 that are currently the fastest consumer-grade graphics cards in the world with high-end features like GDDR5X VRAM and more than 3,000 parallel computing cores, but they're very expensive, costing $500-$1,500. Nvidia also has a Quadro line for workstation, 4K movie editing, gas and mining exploration, bitcoin mining, and space exploration. Quadros usually cost more than $1,000 and are not recommended for gaming.
   • You can use 2-4 graphics cards at a time, provided that they are the same GPU and amount of VRAM. For Nvidia graphics cards, you will need to use a special connector called an "SLI bridge" to connect the cards together.
   • If you want to build a very high-end gaming or editing PC, an RX Vega 56 or 64 may be a valid option. While expensive, they are worth it for extremely high-end tasks.
   • The Nvidia Volta GPU series is set to release at the start of 2018 and the AMD Navi microarchitecture will be released soon after. These should supersede the previous GTX 10 and Vega series.
7. 
   
   Pick up a case that is both functional and easy on the eyes. The case is what holds your computer components. A few cases come with a power supply included, but if you are making a gaming build then getting a separate power supply is recommended, as the power supplies that come with cases are not very high quality. The size of the case will be based on how many drives bays and card slots it has, as well as the size/type of your motherboard which also can support more or fewer drives and cards. Cases range from cheap and functional to flashy, bought for their appearance and expensive. Select one that allows for optimal airflow, and install extra fans if necessary. If you intend to run a lot of high-end components, you will be dealing with a lot more heat output than slower components.
8. 
   
   Make sure your power supply can handle the load. The power supply powers all of your components in your computer. Some cases come with a power supply already installed, but others require you to provide your own. The power supply should be powerful enough to charge all of your components; don't worry about it being so powerful that you waste electricity by powering more than you need, as it will only output as much watts as you use and the number on its wattage is only its max capacity. Don't skimp on this part, as picking a faulty power supply can damage all of your parts.

   • Choose a power supply from a reputable manufacturer like EVGA or Corsair.
   • If your build will be for gaming you will need a power supply with 550W or more power, but preferably more depending on your hardware. Most power supplies usually supply 450W or more power. If your graphics card has 1 or more power sockets, you should make sure that your power supply has the same amount of power connectors for it. They are usually 6-pin or 8-pin.
9. 
   
   Research every component you intend to purchase. Read magazines and online consumer review sites for more information. Online forums like AnandTech are also very helpful when specific information is needed. Remember, this is one of the most important steps, because everything will depend on your hardware. There are many guides and reviews available from online magazines and consumer review websites.

   • Don't pick solely based on reviews but good reviews usually mean that there is nothing wrong with the part.
   • Remember, this is one of the most important steps, because everything will depend on your hardware so do not rush this part as it is not only important but also very fun. Also never be afraid to change things in your parts list, it is an important part of making a good parts list that will work for you.
10. Choose a retailer to buy from. Once you know what to buy, you need to decide where to buy it from. Here's what to consider:

    • Knowing the credibility of a retailer. Choose a trusted and popular retailer so you don't get scammed.
    • Knowing where they ship to. Make sure your selected retailer ships to your country.
    • Knowing the price of the component and shipping fees. Make sure you choose the retailer (who is credible) with the best prices on your components. Remember that international and national shipping rates are often very different in pricing and also vary from each retailer to the next.
    • Buying from more than one retailer. You can buy from multiple retailers to get the best prices for each components but keep in mind you may end up paying more in shipping if some of your components are shipped separately from the rest.