Components:
- CPU (Central Processing Unit) 🔓
- CPU Cooler 🔓
- Thermal Paste 🔒
- Motherboard 🔓
- Video/Graphics Card 🔓
- CD Burner 🔒
- RAM (Random-Accessing Memory) 🔒
- Hard Drive Storage 🔓
- Power Supply 🔓
- Computer Case 🔓
- Windows 7 / Operating System 🔓
🔓 - Yet to be purchased.
🔒 - Purchased.
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Installation tips:
- Static
Static can damage the components you've purchased by touching them or putting very static material on near them. So it's highly recommended you only touch the plastic parts of the components and frequently touch the metal casing of your PC to remove static from your hands.
- Clips
When you're installing the purchased components into there correct places, if they have clips, always be sure to unclip them before you install the component and when done, be sure to put the clips back into place to secure the components so they don't get damaged or become lose which might effect everything.
- Installation Order
When installing the components, do it in a specific order that works perfectly. You wouldn't want to install the Power Supply and then the Motherboard would you? It wouldn't work. So you need to make sure to do it in a order that would work efficiently.
- Test Drive
Before you put lots of effort in installing the components in the computer case, plug the components in the Motherboard and wire it up then fire it up and see wether you get a successful screen display showing that it's all worked. If it doesn't have a successful display then you've probably installed a component wrong or one of the components is broken.
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- CPU (Central Processing Unit)
- CPU Cooler
- Thermal Paste
Determine what processor (CPU) you want to use for your system. Currently, the two leading CPU companies are Intel and AMD. It might be more beneficial to find benchmarks and compare them with current prices.
Currently, the Intel i5 is the best option, in terms of performance in comparison to price. The i7 is more powerful but the benefit is minimal over the i5 and the price is much higher.
A good entry-level option is the AMD Athlon II X4 640, while a good mid-range is the Intel Core i3-3220.
If the purchased CPU or CPU Cooler hasn't came with Thermal Paste then purchase it and apply a pea sized amount on the centre of the top of the CPU when it has been installed correctly.
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- Motherboard
- RAM (Random-Accessing Memory)
Find a motherboard that supports your processor. Take note of the processor socket (ex: LGA 775), the memory module type (ex: 240-pin) and the RAM frequency (ex: 1066 MHz) in choosing a motherboard. Some motherboards come with features such as HDMI and Firewire, so look for a motherboard with these features if desired.
Beware of high frequency RAM. While it may at first seem that any computer part which works harder or faster must certainly be better, this is not always the case. The benefits of high frequency RAM are inconsistent and it is known to have a high failure rate. Consider this before you buy.
You should note the number of pins for your memory module only because of how it will connect to your motherboard. More pins does not equate with better performance. The same can be said of the processor socket: different types to not necessarily indicate performance.
You should also note down about the Sound Card. Some Motherboards may come with them installed, but not always. So it's easier to buy a Motherboard with a inbuilt Sound Card.
- RAM (Random-Accessing Memory)
Get enough RAM to meet your needs. Having more RAM, or desktop memory, will offer smoother performance and shorter loading times. Choose memory that is within your budget from a known manufacturer. There are many different memory manufacturers, but a select few make quality memory.
You will want to choose the highest clock speed (the rating in MHz) and the lowest timings as possible (displayed in #-#-#-#) -- the performance of your memory relies greatly on them.
You will want to buy enough memory to run your applications. Understand that while your games may say that 2GB is enough, what it really means is that its enough to run the game badly. If you want games to run smooth, generally you should overshoot the requirement.
32-bit CPUs can only support up to 3GB of RAM; 64-bit CPUs can support much more.
DDR2 Memory runs Dual Channel, so remember to buy memory in pairs: 2 x 512MB is better than 1 x 1GB. Take note of the pin type. 184-pin sticks are DDR(1), 240-pin are DDR2. Do a bit of research on your chosen motherboard to see what it supports.
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- Video/Graphics Card
GT - standard performance and use.
GTX - professional and gaming use.
GS - similar to GTX but little worse.
Choose a video card. This may be one of the most important, yet toughest decisions to make because there are so many different video cards on the market. Because there are so many, the best way to find your card is to look for reviews on cards within your budget. Currently the two leading video card companies are ATI and NVIDIA, but other companies such as Sapphire and eVGA are licensed to produce these cards. Use review websites such as Tom's Hardware to compare performance between videocards.
Currently, the Radeon HD 6670 DDR3 is a good entry level graphics card. The GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2 GB is a good mid-range card. The GeForce GTX 780 is a good high-end option.
There have been some confusion on the NVIDIA cards, which are recommended by gamers. A higher number in the card name does not mean it is better. A GeForce 7950 would be much better than a GeForce 8500. The first number is the card series, while the second and sometimes third indicate performance level.
If you really want to pump up the game, and you have a motherboard that can support it, get 2 identical cards from the same manufacturer and run them in SLI (Nvidia), or Crossfire (ATI) mode. This is generally a bad idea, however, unless you already have a top of the line card, because it's cheaper and more efficient to get a single better graphics card.
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- Hard Drive Storage
Choose your hard drive storage. Games, audio, and videos require plenty of space to store the large files associated with media such as these. Read reviews on hard drives and choose the best for the price. Check the specs to make sure it runs at at least 7200 RPM, because you can potentially get better performance with higher values.
Faster hard drives will only affect game loading times, and even then not by much. Focus mainly on ensuring that you have enough storage space and do not prioritize hard drive speed.
SATA cards are currently the best choice because their small cables allow for better airflow and transfer speeds than traditional PATA cables.
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- Computer Case
Purchase a case. Never overlook the importance of your case. After all, it houses all the expensive parts that run your computer. Here you will want to focus on cooling.
Some cases use 80mm, others use 120mm fans, and some are built for both. Generally, larger fans produce less noise and push more air through your case. More powerful components will require more cooling, so be thoughtful of which case you purchase.
If possible, you will want to have equal pressure in your case. Usually, you will want to have back fans blowing out, front fans sucking in, top fans blowing out, bottom fans sucking in, side fans sucking in.
A mid-tower case is standard, but a full-tower case may be necessary if you have a high number of peripherals, such as CD-ROM drives and hard drives.
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- Windows 7 / Operating System
Choose an operating system. With all the above components purchased, you will want an operating system which can make use of the system you have put together. When it has installed, check online for driver updates.
Windows tends to be the best operating system for gaming, though you may initially want to choose Windows 7 over 8, as some of your older games may have compatibility issues with the new system. This will not be an issue for any games released during and after 2013, however.
It's recommended you pick 64-bit as it runs faster than 32-bit systems as well as it can run 64-bit software and program's and 32-bit software and program's.
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Is there anything else I can add to this information document for when I build my first gaming PC?
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