PC Build Guide

What You Need to know to Build a PC

• First

You have to ask yourself, "What are you going to do with the computer?", depends on what you are going to do, it will affect your choice of parts and allocation of budget. For example; if you are a heavy gamer, you may need to focus on getting a high end GPU, higher clock speed CPU and a decent monitor. If you are a content creator, you may need to focus more on getting lots of RAM and a higher core count CPU. If you're building a NAS (Network Attached Storage) or a server computer, you may need to get a motherboard with lots of SATA connectors and a case with lots of drive bays and a power efficient CPU.

• Case

It is easy to over spend on a case when you are going for certain look. However, if you do enough research, chances are that you will find the look you are looking for with a cheaper case. Then you can allocate the extra money towards the CPU or the GPU and get a better performance computer. Remember that the smaller the case is, the less foot print and elegant your setup will be. However, it will limit your inside space, motherboard size, and other parts compatibility options. 

• Motherboard

It is important to note what form factor your case supports (ATX, micro ATX, ITX, mini ITX) so you can focus on the ones that fits. This will also control the number of PCI-E available for you to add expansion cards in future. The smaller form factor your motherboard is the less number of PCI-E slots you will have. Also, remember that the motherboard must support the CPU generation that you decided to go with, so make sure that they are compatible.

• CPU

The CPU is the brain of the computer and there is a few things to consider when shopping for it. The generation and the technology, it is important to stick to newer generations so you can take advantage of better performance with lower power consumption and more applications and games compatibility. Number of cores, max clock speed and generation will control the performance as well as the price of your CPU, the higher those numbers are the more powerful and expensive it will be. It really depends on what you will use your PC for. Make sure that your CPU is compatible with you motherboard. Click Here to view a wide comparison between the most common CPUs.

• Cooler

CPU performance depends heavily on how cool it stays while in operation. If the cooler is insufficient your CPU will overheat and start throttling which means it slows itself down to use less power and reduce temperature and that will cause the performance to drop significantly. Every cooler will have a wattage rating that it can handle so make sure that the cooler is powerful enough for the CPU you chose. Liquid AIO coolers is an option that is becoming very popular lately due to performance and look, however if it fails it may go unnoticed or leaks and in both cases may damage your CPU and motherboard. Also, you can get the same performance with a high quality air cooler.

• RAM

Random memory access (RAM) helps the CPU to perform better by accessing the most used data and applications fast. For optimal performance in most nowadays applications and games start with at least 16GB of RAM. The best configuration is 2, 4, 6 or 8 channels of matching sticks same brand and speed. Typically the higher speed RAM the better, dual rank is preferred than single rank and ECC is better for servers and CPUs which supports it. Make sure that you RAM is compatible with the motherboard and the CPU before you purchase. DDR4 and DDR5 are the most common types used. Click Here to view a wide comparison of the most common RAM kits used.

• GPU

Graphics card works as an additional computer brain that is dedicated only to high graphics applications. Example; gaming or video editing in which applications high graphics processing is needed for high performance. The better graphics card you have the less time you will need to render a high resolution video and the more frames per second and smooth experience you will get in game. It is important to pay attention to the GPU generation as well as the performance tier. For example; GTX-1080 (Released 2016) will perform slightly better than RTX-3060 (Released 2021). Click Here to see the performance comparison. With an older card you may get a good deal on the price however, it will not be as power efficient as a newer card and it may have driver support issues later due to age. Click Here for more GPUs comparison

• PSU

It is important to note how much power your PC components needs specially the CPU and GPU. Your power supply must have a sufficient power with some extra room for expansion later down the road you may want to add more cards. It is recommended to get a reputable brand 80-Plus certified PSU for reliability. A low quality power supply can damage other parts and cost you more later. Most PC cases will accommodate ATX (Size) PSU while small cases may require a SFF or other smaller ones. 

• Storage

SSD (Solid State Drive) and NVMe (None-Volatile Memory Express) are the best choice for a boot drive to install the operating system on. They are fast, snappy and will provide a great user experience but they can be expensive. On the other hand HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is more reliable and affordable for storing large files like games or movies library. A small SSD (256GB or more) for the OS and a large HDD (1TB or more) for storage will make the perfect balance providing a fast speed, reliability and budget friendly at the same time. Click Here for a wide SSD comparison. Click Here for a wide HDD comparison.

• SATA Cables

You will need one SATA cable per drive to connect to the motherboard. If you are only using a M.2 SSD you will not need a SATA cable for it since it attaches directly to the motherboard.

• Case Fans

Most PC cases comes with one or two fans pre-installed but some don't. It is recommended to have at least two case fans, one for air intake and one for air exhaust to get a good airflow inside your case. Pay attention to the orientation of the fan and air direction so you can place them correctly. Usually the front and the bottom of the case are used for intake of a fresh cool air, while the top and back of the case are used to exhaust hot air out.

• WIFI and Bluetooth

Every motherboard will come with an ethernet port for wired internet connectivity however, only some motherboards will come with WIFI and Bluetooth built in. If you don't have those built in, your options are either a WIFI/BT card or a USB dongle. WIFI 6 or newer and Bluetooth 5.0 or newer recommended for optimal performance.

• Other Accessories

Fan hub; most motherboards comes with enough sockets for two case fans so may need it if you plan to install more fans than that. ARGB controller; depends if the motherboard has a controller or not, you may need to purchase one separately if you plan to install ARGB fans.

Thermal Paste; most CPU coolers comes with some to apply however it is always a good idea to have extra just in case you need more or if you had to reseat the cooler for any reason. Ties; zip ties and twist ties are very useful in cable management and its a good idea to have some on hand.

• Tools

1. Screw driver

2. Paper towel

3. Isopropyl alcohol

4. Rubber Matt

5. Anti-static Gloves

• Order of Assembly

1. Starting with the motherboard, connect the CPU, RAM, M.2 and Air Cooler to it (Do that while its laying on its own empty box or a rubber matt to protect the components in the back from getting damaged)

2. Mount the I/O Shield to the case then the motherboard with all the components on it.

3. Connect your Front I/O and front audio cables

4. PSU

5. Water/ Liquid AIO Cooler (Skip if yours is an air cooler " installed in step 1")

6. SSD, HDD, Case Fans

7. GPU, WIFI Card and any other PCIe card

8. Boot to BIOS and make sure all your components are detected

9. Install your operating system and run a full system update

• Very Important note

DO NOT FORCE ANYTHING, ALL CONNECTORS PLUGGS IN ONLY ONE WAY, IF IT DOESN'T GO IN EASILY, IT'S EITHER NOT THE CORRECT CONNECTOR OR IT'S NOT IN THE CORRECT ORIENTATION.

• Common problems

Any of the following can cause your PC not to post (not turn on) after a fresh build:

1. RAM not seated correctly

2. CPU not seated correctly or CPU power not connected

3. GPU not seated correctly or GPU power cable not connected

4.  Incompatible parts (Like RAM or CPU)

5. BIOS need update

6. Display cable plugged in motherboard instead of GPU (Only use MOBO for display if you don't have a GPU)

7. Power switch (in the back) not turned on or a loose power cable or 24 pin power connector

8. Damaged or defective parts

• N.B.

This is just a quick guide and there is much more to learn about building computers. It is a good start for most beginners however, make sure to do a lot of research, watch videos and compare resources before buying your parts and building your first computer. 

Thanks for checking my quick build guide