Computersight -

First of all, I’d like to say thank you for viewing this article. Whether you’re brand new to the custom gaming PC world or you’re a hardened veteran looking for some new information or a simple refresher, you’ve come to the right place. Also, this is not meant to be a complete guide to building a PC, only the basic steps, and if you have any other questions whatsoever you should contact a professional or research it. I am not responsible for any damages done, whether financially, physically, or computer related. That being said, this is a great guide for the beginner PC builder written by someone with years of experience. First things first, you must decide what you want in your gaming PC (or that of your customer). Many gaming PC’s push performance to the next level, so one can be utilized for many other applications than gaming. I know of more than one person who uses theirs for 3D art and design, music and video editing, and gaming. The point is, having a gaming computer is like having one of the strongest PC’s in the market than can be a jack-of-all-trades.

We’ll focus here on a simple gaming computer that can play anything from Call of Duty 4 to World of Warcraft comfortably. You’re going to want to start first with you’re processor, as all information in the computer is handled by this device. Any computer you look for in the market will either utilize an Intel or AMD processor. and for many people it is personal preference. The two companies usually go back and forth between making the most powerful processors, so it is best to stick to the custom PC rule of thumb: Don’t buy the newest part as it will be the most expensive and will be obsolete in a few months. Instead, step a generation or two back (in the PC world a generation is only about 4-6 months) and buy the parts that have come down in price. For example, we’ll start with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor. It’s a fairly cheap (about $60.00) processor that will handle most games well. They’ll usually run in the range of 2.6 to 3.0 GHz. When shopping for a processor, also check the details to make sure it comes with a heatsink and a fan. These are both utilized together to keep the processor cool because if it overheats, it is history. If not, you’ll have to find an aftermarket fan and silver nitrate solution to use on your processor. For all intents and purposes, considering almost all processors come with everything needed, we’ll act as if that has already been taken care of.

Ok, so you’ve got you processor, now we move on to the motherboard. This is where it starts getting interesting. The motherboard is what all other parts attach to, so you have to make sure you find one that is compatible with everything you want. The processor will be the main determining factor for what kind of motherboard you get because each processor will only fit the type of socket that it is made for on the motherboard. For example, our AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor fits the Socket AM2 motherboards, therefore, when shopping for a motherboard, it has to say something along the lines of “CPU Socket Type: Socket AM2.” If not, you’re processor won’t fit on your motherboard. Always check this when searching for processor/motherboard combos. Also, while looking for your motherboard, you should check other aspects such as how much RAM it will fit, what kind of RAM it will fit, what sort of cables it comes with to attach to other components like the Hard Drive and USB ports, whether it has at least one PCI-Express x 16 slot (it needs to), and what form factor it is. We’ll discuss form factor and tower styles next.

Most motherboards nowadays are divided into three main form factors, or sizes. ATX, Micro ATX, or Mini ITX. The reason this matters is it’s what determines which computer chassis you should buy. Think of the chassis as the body of the computer, or the physical being that everything else sits in. You can search for whatever computer chassis you desire, but you have to make sure that the form factor of your motherboard matches the form factor of the chassis you are buying. Most chassis nowadays can utilize both ATX and Micro ATX, depending on which company it is, but all of this information will be provided in the specifications for said chassis. Other important details to check for on the chassis are what kind of fans it comes with. The cooling of your system, especially a gaming system, is no joke and should not be taken lightly. The first computer I built ran great for about a year, until it suddenly began restarting on me without any particular reason. I checked every piece of hardware and software I could think of until I finally realized how hot it was getting inside the chassis. I took the side off and placed a floor fan next to it to relieve the inside of the hot air, as I didn’t have any more money to buy any other fans or cooling alternative. This did the trick, and I never had the problem again, even after I bought another fan and placed the side back on the computer. I would go for a chassis that has at least three fans: one on the front for intake, one on the side for exhaust and one large one in the back for exhaust. I would recommend at least a 120 millimeter in the back if you can get it. Also, if you’re into the custom PC’s with the nifty neon lights and neat towers, this is where you’ll take some time looking because hundreds of companies make hundreds of various towers complete with all these extras that will make your PC truly stand out.

Ok, let’s recap. You’ve got you’re processor picked out, matched it up with the type of motherboard with the right socket type you need, and matched the form factor of the motherboard with the form factor of the chassis you have chosen. Great start to the custom PC world! Next, we’ll explore graphics cards, RAM, hard drives, power supplies, and a few more technical things.