Building your own gaming PC can be a very rewarding experience. Not only do you get to learn a lot, but you end up with a PC that is exactly how you want it. Some think that building their own gaming PC is a daunting task, but when you break it down into steps, it’s something that you can likely manage. Here are the steps you need to follow if you want to build your own PC that’s perfect for high-end games.
Assemble the Right Tools
To build a gaming PC you will need a few basic tools. It’s a good idea to buy these tools, rather than rent them or borrow them from someone else, as you never know when you might need them again. Some things you’ll want to get are a small Phillips head #2 screwdriver (preferably a magnetic one), a worktable, and something to remove static electricity. You may also find a small flat-head screwdriver and utility knife useful at times.
Grab a Case
Next, you’ll want to get a case that will house all your computer’s components. Think about where you’ll be storing your computer tower and how much space you have available. If you plan on installing any extra features within this PC, you’ll want a case that can handle them. You don’t need to purchase your case right away, but you should at least start figuring out what size you need. The size you need will also depend on the motherboard you buy, which we’ll get into next, so you may not want to hit purchase just yet.
Pick Out Your Parts
Now comes the fun part – picking out the parts that will make up your PC. Before you start shopping, it’s a good idea to set a budget for yourself. If you aren’t careful, it’s very easy to end up spending a lot of money trying to find the perfect hardware for gaming – more than you intended. You should have a rough budget in mind so that as you’re browsing through all the parts you need, you can decide which models to get based on their price.
To build a gaming PC you’ll need the following hardware:
- A CPU
- A motherboard
- RAM
- A GPU
- A storage device
- Power supply
- And system cooling
You’ll also need some exterior items, like a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. To purchase these items, you have a few options. For starters, you could purchase a PC gaming kit that will have most of what you need already packaged together. This is an easier option, but it can also be more expensive and provides less room for customization.
The other option is to pick out everything on your own. This requires researching each individual part to ensure it meets your specifications and that it works well with all your other parts. Searching through an electronic components database can help you find what you’re looking for. This method takes more time, but it can also be a more rewarding experience. It will ultimately come down to how much time you have to spend on this project and what sort of budget you have available.
Start Building
Once your parts arrive, you can start assembling your new gaming PC. The order in which you’ll want to do things is as follow:
- Install the CPU
- Install cooling for the CPU
- Install your memory (RAM)
- Mount the power supply
- Install the motherboard
- Install the CPU
- Connect the storage
- Connect peripheral devices
- Turn it on and install an operating system
Before you begin you should research each one of these steps and see how to do it for your specific part. It may seem like a lot to do, but if you just do a little at a time, it’s pretty manageable. Be sure to remove any static electricity from your body before you start working, as this can damage your parts.
Enjoy Your Gaming PC
Hopefully, this guide was able to break down the process of building a gaming PC for you. Building a gaming PC isn’t always cheap, but if you are a serious gamer, it might be worth the investment. You then get the satisfaction of playing all your favorite games right from a PC you built with your own hands. So, start exploring the different options out there for the types of parts you might want to get, then build a list of ones you could afford. Before long you’ll have planned out everything you need to get started, and from there it’s just a matter of doing the building. Good luck!