From the ground up.
Do you see where you stand?
Building a PC is a daunting task. One wrong move, and the entire thing won’t work. It can also be an expensive mistake. Persevere however and you will be rewarded with arguably the best of what gaming has to offer. With unparalleled graphical power, you are only limited to pace of the industry. Unlike console owners, you do not have to wait 7 years for the release of new consoles. Instead YOU in control of that. Want to update your graphic cards to the newest version every year? Go ahead. Which is why I bestow you a quick guide on how to build a PC so that you too may experience evolution in the comfort of your gaming throne.
Here is what you need (by the way, most of these items are available at a discounted price here!)
It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing… such a little thing…
Processor (CPU).
The “brain” of your computer. Its basic job is to receive input and provide the appropriate output. Ensure that you compare specs and find a processor that is up to date. Always try to get a processor from the current generation, as they typically are faster and more efficient than their previous generation counterpart which translate to being able to run the newer video game titles well. 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. More on that later.
Look at the bright side, if you screw up (fingers crossed) your motherboard whilst building a PC you can always make high heels out of it.
Motherboard
If the processor is the brain, the motherboard could be compared to 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. Sometimes you can get the processor and the motherboard as a combo package, which could end up saving you a bit of money.
The most common form of Motherboard is 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.
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.
Still trying to process how this metal rectangle fans equals to that (image below)
*Yes this image*
Graphic cards
There are two types of graphics—integrated and dedicated card. 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. However, for serious gamers playing high end, technically demanding games and on maximum settings the dedicated graphics card is a must. A graphics card includes a built-in graphics-processing unit (GPU), which converts video signals and performs complex calculations to transform binary data into the rendered graphics you see in games.
A good measurement when looking for a GPU is its framerate as well as the overall graphic quality. The threshold would be 60 frames per second (FPS) on the highest settings. Having a higher framerate ensures that the game plays smoothly. To see the importance of framerates in video games click here. You can easily view the graphic cards in action by watching videos on YouTube where they perform benchmarking test on the graphic cards by having it run a technically demanding game and display how the GPU performed by displaying the frame rate. This is a good way of deciding which GPU is and you can watch one here.
Keep in mind that graphics cards and GPUs must work with other hardware, including the motherboard, the power supply unit (PSU), memory, as well as the CPU.
GPUs are available in Knightric.com at a discounted price.
Did you know, rams often settle arguments with fights that include ramming their heads into others.
Memory/RAM
RAM, or random-access memory is where programs store information that they are using. It will help your gaming PC access files quickly and run multiple instructions at once without lagging. In simpler terms, more RAM, and the faster RAM, the better experience you’ll have. If you don’t have enough RAM, your programs will run much slower than they should.
If you’re buying more than one stick of RAM, it should always be installed in matching pairs of sticks. 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.
Having 2 matching sticks will render the best performance because of the feature called “Dual-Channel”. Do note that if you intend to use more than 4 GB of RAM, you will need to install a 64-bit operating system.
It is advisable that If you’ve taken the time and effort to build your own gaming PC, you’ll probably want to install more than the basic 4 GB of RAM found in many pre-assembled PCs. While 8 GB of RAM will serve nicely, serious gamers will use as much as 16 GB of RAM in their rigs.
Rare gif of the Operating System of your choice the minute you boot up your PC. Unknown, circa 2017 (colorized)
Operating System (OS)
When you build your own gaming PC, you get to choose the operating system. The most common Operating System would be Windows® 10 and for good reasons. You have access to Microsoft office and recently it pushed and update that includes important gaming refinements. Free option includes Linux but cannot run many programs designed for Windows. Some proprietary hardware does not work properly either.
OR you could get a SSD with a couple of hundred more memory and for 2.7% of that price on Knightric.com
Storage: Solid-State Drive (SSD)
There is a belief that a high-performing gaming PC demands an SSD for hyper-fast game loading times and almost instant responsiveness. You can get the best of both worlds by using a less-expensive SSD in conjunction with a hard drive. You’ll get fast loading times, cost efficiency, and storage capacity. You can keep all your games and if you have enough room, your OS on your SSD and everything else on your hard drive.
You have been warned.
Power Supply Unit (PSU)
Never underestimate the importance of the power supply. Trying to be cheap in this area is unadvisable as a cheap PSU may damage all of your parts. 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
The green liquid is just filtered water. Disappointing.
Cooling
Gaming rigs are going to generate a lot of heat. Usually, graphics cards and processors ship with fans already built in to disperse some of the heat. Also, PC cases now often come with intake and exhaust fans already installed. This is usually enough for a regular PC, but of course that is not the case of a gaming rig that is overclocking your CPU and taking your gaming experience to the next level, I am talking 4k and 100 fps, you will need a cooling system.
When it comes to cooling there are two primary options—air or liquid. An air-cooling system is probably more economical and easier for novices to incorporate into a build, while liquid-cooling systems are expensive, but provide better results. However, these systems may not be easy to install. It is also important to consider the space that is available in your case when deciding on which cooling system to use.
Good idea and cheap too but the rig will heat up in no time.
Case
The case is what holds your computer components and choosing a PC case is more than just for aesthetic purposes. One must consider whether the components would fit the case, cable management, compatible with your motherboard, access to your drives and if there are additional room for future upgrades like additional cooling fans or more drives. PC cases range from cheap and functional to flashy, bought for their appearance. Also, note, PC cases that allows for optimal airflow will help the cooling of it. Always place functionality before appearance.
Water resistant keyboard allows gamers to game while in the pool. I’m kidding don’t do that.
Gaming Peripherals
Personally, I make do with the default keyboard and mouse but if you got the extra dough, investing in gaming keyboard and mouse will help your gaming experience somewhat. Some of them come with backlight which makes gaming in the dark possible. Don’t forget about headphones with mics attached to them. They are quite crucial in Team based games like Rainbow Six.
Putting it all together
I’ve found the best guide on how to, well, put it all together. With that, I take my leave. All the best in building your PC!
Watch this 3 times before unpackaging any of your part. Then watch it again whilst building your PC.
