Building a PC
Today we are going to be talking about building your own custom PC. I know that may sound intimidating but trust me it can be easier than you think. You may be asking why would I even want to build a PC myself? Well, I will tell you why. Pre-built PCs are great, and some have awesome performance levels, but they don’t always have everything you may want. For example, you may want more storage than the pre-build is offering, or you may want a different color aesthetic for the PC. The lack of storage and aesthetic can be fixed by adding more storage and changing cases (for exterior aesthetic change), but why would you not just build exactly what you want?
I think it is worth your time and money to build the PC of dreams yourself. Think about how rewarding it is to build something from scratch. Building your own PC also allows you to compare prices of individual parts to get the price you are looking for. With pre-builds there is less wiggly room in the price of each part because the PC is priced as one unit.
I will not lie and say buying a pre-build isn’t easier than building a PC yourself, but the hard work you put in will pay off. I will share some resources for good pre-built PCs at the end of this article if you are feeling more inclined to go that route.
My Experience
Now to share my personal experience with building a gaming PC myself. This journey started when I was around 15 years old. I had always enjoyed gaming, but I mostly used consoles up until I was around 15 years old. I instantly fell in love with PC gaming after trying it. I loved that I could have better graphics and higher-performance levels. This may make me sound old, but I did not have money at the time to buy a gaming PC so I would play on a gaming PC at an internet cafe. After a while though I knew I wanted to have my own setup at home. So, I saved up for half of a PC gaming laptop, the other half to be paid by my parents. Of course, I had to agree to help around the house more to enter this deal with my parents, but I was happy to do it if that meant I got my own setup at home.
It took me several months, but I was able to put aside enough money to get my first ever gaming laptop, it was an ASUS, I could not tell you what version it was. That gaming laptop changed my life. I was able to play online PC games whenever I wanted to. Soon after getting that laptop, I knew I wanted to get a desktop gaming PC.
Boy was I in for a big surprise though. By the time I could even start thinking about getting a desktop PC it was COVID. If you don’t know that caused mass shortages of almost everything including PC parts. The hardest part to obtain being the graphics card. Which if you know anything about computers that is the part that produces the graphics and does other processing actions, kind of self-explanatory. This shortage was caused due to a crypto mining craze (graphics cards are integral to this process) and COVID making it hard for factories to get supplies to make more cards. I don’t have enough time to rant about crypto mining setups on here but let me tell you I hate crypto miners, I don’t actually I’m just salty.
Long story short it took me about 3-4 years to finish my dream gaming PC build. Do not let that scare you, we are in a better position now with PC parts. Once I got all my parts, I started the installation process. I have never built a PC before, but I had full confidence in myself. I watched probably around 100 videos to prepare myself for the installation. Everything went perfectly. I had no issues and routing the wires went great. I was so proud when I turned my computer on for the first time. I have never felt more powerful in my life.
I want you to feel the same way I felt in that moment. Let me share how to start the process of building your own PC.
Where to Start
The best place to start is by writing or typing all the PC build information. This would include things like a parts list and pricing. I prefer typing everything up on a Word doc. for linking purposes. The first thing you need to understand is what type of performance you want to get out of the PC. Do you need something that can run high performance games like Cyberpunk or Halo Infinite? Or maybe you need a computer that can run graphic design programs like Photoshop. Whatever the reason is, you need to research what graphics cards and CPU will work best. There are more parts than those two, but those run most of the PC. Then once you know what level of those parts you need, start looking for them online.
Online searches of your desired parts will give you some good options. I wanted to narrow down the options a bit more with a list of my favorite websites for parts:
- Newegg.com
- Microcenter.com
- NZXT.com
- Amazon.com (read reviews first)
- Best Buy.com (sometimes, but not always)
Looking at multiple websites will allow you to compare prices and it increases your chances of getting a part. You may know what graphics card and CPU you want, but do you know what other parts are compatible? If not, you can normally read the part description to see what is compatible, or the easiest way to know is by entering your parts list into a PC builder engine. There are a lot of sites that let you put your parts list in for free to see if the PC will work. Some even provide a rough estimate of performance. Here are a few sites you can check your parts on:
- Microcenter.com
- Newegg.com
- Buildmypc.net
If the parts work together then I would suggest linking the parts you need to the Word doc. so you can easily purchase the parts later. Take your time during this process to find what configuration is best for you and find the right price.
Don’t forget you will also need accessories for your PC. You will need a monitor, mouse, mouse pad, keyboard, HMDI chords, Microphone (possibly), headset, desk, Windows software key, Microsoft Office key (if needed), a USB drive, and a non-carpet surface for the PC. Once you have nailed down the parts list and have purchased them, it is time to build.
Building The PC
Building your PC will be hard at first if you have never done anything like this before. I recommend watching as many how to build a PC videos as you can sit through. Those videos give you a visual of what you need to do. My favorite videos were produced by the following YouTube channels:
- Austin Evans
- Paul’s Hardware
- PC Centric
- JayzTwoCents
- TechSource
- Robeytech
- GeekaWhat
Once you understand where to put all the parts, you can begin the process. I started with the motherboard setup. Then I think I did cooling systems (order dependent on case layout). After that I worked a lot on wire routing to clean up the interior aesthetic. Lastly, I placed my Graphics Card (GPU), mostly because it was the last part that came. The order you build in will depend on your preference and the size of your PC case. Some cases are tight to work in, so you must strategically plan the build. Once you have built the PC you will hookup the chords that connect the monitor to the PC. As well as connect the accessories. This is the part where you turn on the PC and see if it works.
If everything went well and you have a boot-up screen, congratulations on your new PC. If you cannot get a boot up screen we have a problem. Here is a list of things that could be wrong:
- Non compatible parts
- Incorrect placement
- Incorrect wiring
- HDMI is not plugged into graphics card
- Monitor is not turned on
- Part damage
- Power source not plugged in
- Wrong power source voltage
There could be other reasons that you are not getting a boot-up screen, but these are the main reasons why.
PC Setup
It is now time to set up your newly built PC. The PC should automatically turn on to a boot-up screen that allows you to adjust things like overclocking. Watch a YouTube video to figure out what settings you need. Then you will need to install your Windows processor using a Windows key. This is what interface will run your computer. You can purchase this key online through the websites I listed above. Once that is installed, it is time to download and adjust the operating systems for your GPU, RGB (if applicable), cooling components (if applicable), and drivers. Then download all your games and applications.
Go have fun with your new custom-built PC, you’ve earned it. Hopefully that at least gave you a rough idea of how to start building your own computer. Remember that your first build does not have to be perfect. You can always add parts and upgrade parts as you go. That is another benefit of building your own PC. You know exactly where the parts go and how to deconstruct the build if necessary. I believe in you! Go build your dream PC.
To round out this article I wanted to share some tips I wish I knew before building my PC and a list of places to buy pre-built PC websites as promised.
Tips
- Be Gentle: You need to be extremely gentle when building your computer. There are a lot of parts that can be easily damaged, you do not want to repurchase a part.
- Routing is Important: Routing your chords and wires is very important. It takes a good bit of time, but it is more than worth it in the end. Having wires all jumbled up inside of your case does not look good. It also makes it hard to change out chords and parts in the future.
- Take Your Time: I really wanted a PC so badly that I did whatever I could to get it done as fast as possible. I would not suggest doing what I did. Taking time to research, and getting the price you want is better.
- Watch and Read: Watch and read as much as you can before, during, and after building a PC. Trust me, this will help you through the process so much. There are always new tips and tricks posted every day. You never know what you may find on the wonderful wide web.
- You Can Get Help: Think about it this way, worst comes to worst you can get help with your PC. Most places have computer shops that can help remedy any issues you may face. There is no shame in getting help if you cannot finish the build or need assistance.
- Upgrades are Possible: Do not forget that you can upgrade your parts at any time. If you don’t have the money to get the top-of-the-line parts, you can always get them later.
Pre-Built PCs List
- NZXT.com
- Newegg.com
- Microcenter.com
- Best Buy (read reviews)
- Clxgaming.com (read reviews)
