Building your PC may seem daunting, especially the first time. It could be too expensive, complicated or time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Noah Aldren, a young computer and gaming enthusiast, shared his tips and everything you’ll need to build your very own PC perfect to game with.
Cost factors
While you must purchase many parts to build your PC, buying your own is cheaper. But Noah says that is only sometimes the case.
“Compared to a lot of pre-built computers nowadays, building your own PC tends to be cheaper, as you can customise it to be what you want,” he said.
Pre-built gaming PCs can now cost you up to $10,000, which is beyond most people’s budget. But you can build your own PC for around $1000.
Noah first built his PC for $1500, and your first build can be a little less than this, as you want room to grow and upgrade your build.
Selecting parts
Before you start your build, you need to know what you will purchase. Noah recommends spending a lot of time researching before taking on your build to know you’re buying the right parts.
“The main things you will need is a motherboard, the power supply, a GPU, CPU, RAM and a case,” he said.
“There can be a lot of compatibility issues with certain parts, so you want to make sure you select the right parts.
“Incompatible parts can mean your computer might not even start.”
When you start to buy your parts, there are plenty of websites online you can go to to see how each piece you’re looking for will work with the others. These websites will check the compatibility of what you’re purchasing so you can ensure before you buy that each part will work together.
Building the PC
After building PCs over the past seven years, Noah claims the process is easy to follow.
“You’ve just got to put all the pieces together,” he said.
“It’s like LEGO; you just build it.”
But for beginners, you might end up staring at all these parts and wondering just how these will all come together.
For your first build, it’s best to start with the basics. Follow along with tutorials online and read the manuals for each component to understand how they all work together. Noah built his first PC at 12, so with some research and trial and error, you should be able to build yours.
Other things you will need
To complete your PC set-up, there’s more that you need to ensure a smooth gaming experience.
“You will need a decent gaming mouse and a monitor with a high refresh rate,” Noah said.
“You will need a basic keyboard unless you’re playing a game that requires a good keyboard and a good headset, especially if you’re planning to play any kind of competitive game.”
Think about the space you want your PC to be in. Your set-up may be in your home office, bedroom, or lounge room. Research online or shop locally to find the best chairs and desks for your space within your budget.
It might take a bit to get the hang of at first, but before you know it, you’ll have built your very own PC to use.