Introduction
Is your computer taking what seems like forever to start up? Does it run about as fast as your great-grandmother? Are you endlessly trying to make space for new files? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, it may be time for you to get a new PC. Better yet, it may be time for you to build your own PC. If you want to build a new PC but are intimidated by the thought, this article will inform you of the important things to know.
Before the Build
-
Know where to find information: Building a PC is easy enough so that anyone can learn how to do it, but it can get confusing at times, which is why it is important to know where to find information. Google and YouTube are the most popular resources to find information, but one website that is not as commonly known is PCPartPicker.com. This is an amazing resource for both new and experienced PC builders. The website allows you to create your own PC build using the System Builder, and it has lists of all the PC parts, their features, and their prices. Once you pick your parts, the website will even tell you if they are compatible with each other, which is a VERY important and useful feature, as the PC will not work if the parts are not compatible.
-
Pick the right parts: Before you start your build, think to yourself: “what do I want this PC to do?”. The beauty of building your own PC is that you can customize it however you want to fit your preferences. Some examples of things you may want to consider are picking an SSD vs. an HDD, or how much RAM you will need. Once you know what you want your pc to do, you need to pick the correct parts. Some parts are much more cost efficient than others, so you should always keep your eye out for parts that work just as good for a lower price. It is imperative to pick the right parts in order to get the best bang for your buck.
During the Build
To start the build, you can follow a guide on Google or YouTube. Putting the parts together is fairly easy even for first timers, but here are some useful tips that will help you along the way:
-
Wear a static wristband: PC parts are expensive, which means you should take every precaution possible to not damage them. One of the easiest and most important precautions you must take is grounding yourself. You build up static electricity just by moving around and if you transfer the static to one of your PC parts, you could ruin it. The easiest way to do this is to wear a static wristband. Also, make sure that you’re not working on carpet as it can cause static to build up much quicker.
-
Chill with the thermal paste: It can be very difficult to tell how much thermal paste needs to go on your CPU, and the tubes usually contain much more than necessary. You only need to put a small pea sized dot in the middle of the CPU and that will be enough. Conversely, your cooling unit for your CPU may also come with pre-applied thermal paste in which case you do not need to apply any extra.
-
Make sure your PC has proper airflow: An aspect that is very easy to overlook when building a PC is the airflow; bad airflow can cause the parts to overheat which will cause damage to the parts. You can improve airflow of your PC in several ways, such as:
-
Buying enough case fans (some cases come with more fans than others, your case may already come with enough)
-
Fix the messy wiring in your case. If the wiring is taking up a lot of space, then it may obstruct the airflow
-
Make sure the air openings aren’t blocked (i.e. you can block the bottom openings by putting your PC on a carpet)
-
After the Build
You’re finally finished putting everything together, you plug everything in, and you hit the power button… but nothing appears on the screen.
-
Don’t Panic: In this situation, it’s important not to panic. Chances are, your parts are not actually broken, you just made a small error. Did you plug the monitor into the motherboard and not the graphics card? Did you remember to turn on the power switch for your power supply? Did you forget to connect the power button of your case to your motherboard? These are just a few simple things that could prevent your pc from turning on, but they are all easily fixable. As long as you stay level-headed, you will be able to diagnose the issues and fix it in no time.
References
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-building-tips-beginners,5816.html
