BUILDER’S MANUAL
(00) If you’re reading this magazine, you probably know a thing or two about computers, or at least want to learn something. When it comes to building your own PC, there are numerous pitfalls to avoid and tricks to bear in mind. You need the right tools, the right knowledge, and the right level of emotional resilience to keep on trying when something inevitably goes wrong.
Building your own computer won’t necessarily be cheaper and will definitely be harder than buying a complete system, but it affords you more control over the capabilities of your hardware. There are numerous issues to contend with when setting out to build a PC, even if you’re a seasoned hardware guru, so with that in mind, here’s some of our best advice.
(01) Plan Your Build
The first thing you should think about is what you actually want your build to do. Is it a beefy 4K gaming machine? A video-editing platform? A plain old work PC? Whatever the reason, it’s important to nail down the build’s purpose first. This will determine just about every aspect of the finished build, from your choice of processor to what OS you’re going to install. Consider where the PC will sit—on your desk at work, or underneath your TV in your living room? If there are any key components you want to include—such as a specific case, or a GPU that is ideal for your chosen purpose—work that out sooner rather than later. Be sure to do a little research on alternatives, though.
(02) Acquire Knowledge
Do your research! There is a wealth of information strewn across the Internet, from tutorials to reviews—and there’s plenty of that in the magazine you’re reading right now, too. Reviews are an extremely useful source of knowledge when it comes to choosing which parts you’re going to use—flip forward a few pages, and you’ll find some great ones. Manufacturers’ websites are also worth a look; most have PDFs, manuals, and specification lists that can prove invaluable when it comes to actually building and setting up your new rig.
(03) Make a Part List
Once you’ve got some ideas about what you want your finished build to look like, it’s time to get organized and list the components you want to use. A trip to http://pcpartpicker.com (pictured above) will do you good here; not only can you easily tally up your budget and keep a running list of components you want to use, but the website flags up any compatibility issues that you might not otherwise notice. Consider your budget carefully at this stage—it’s all too easy to drop too much on your GPU and not leave enough for a decent power supply. Unless you’re in a major rush, it’s usually worth waiting until components are on sale—you should be able to chop off a comfortable 10 or 20 percent from the final price with a little patience. And remember: RGB lighting might look nice, but put performance first.
