PC Building Tips/Advice Thread
The first thing you should be wanting to do when considering building a PC would be to learn what all the parts are for and what they do. So here is a little basic rundown of what the major components actually do.
- CPU:
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, its pretty much the life and soul your and PC. The CPU is responsible for executing a sequence of stored instructions called a program. This program will take inputs from an input device, process the input in some way and output the results to an output device.
- MotherBoard:
A motherboard is one of the most essential parts of a computer system. It holds together many of the crucial components of a computer, including the central processing unit (CPU), memory and connectors for input and output devices.
- RAM:
RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers.
- PSU:
PSU (Power Supply Unit) converts mains AC to low-voltage regulated DC power for the internal components of a computer. Modern personal computers universally use a switched-mode power supply. Some power supplies have a manual selector for input voltage, while others automatically adapt to the supply voltage.
- HDD:
HDD (Hard Drive Disk) is a data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information using one or more rigid ("hard") rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material.
- SSD:
SSD (Solid State Disk) is a nonvolatile storage device that stores persistent data on solid-state flash memory rather than mechanical platters found in HDD drives.
- GPU:
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is used primarily for 3D Applications. It is a single-chip processor that creates lighting effects and transforms objects every time a 3D scene is redrawn. These are mathematically-intensive tasks, which otherwise, would put quite a strain on the CPU. Lifting this burden from the CPU frees up cycles that can be used for other jobs.
- CASE
The case is pretty much the house for all of your new expensive components to sit. These can vary for small mITX cases to huge cases for people with too much money and a ton of radiators. But they come in all shapes, sizes and colours to suit each and every one of your needs.
Now that you have a basic idea of what all the major components in the PC so, its time to start looking for your new PC. The site commonly used Online and throughout the internet is PcPartPicker it is a great site to get you started with its compatibility filter it notifies you when something in your build wont work. It also gives you the best daily prices from some of your favorite E-Tailors, ensuring you always get the best price for the desired component.
So what is recommended?
Well, for the typical home PC a simple dual core CPU with 4GB of RAM an 500GB HDD space will suffice for many users, it will handle tasks such as internet browsing, word processing and browser based gaming with ease. But over time it may become sluggish without the proper care and attention needed to keep your PC running smoothly.
For PCs which you plan on gaming on is entirely down to your budget. Components for gaming on PC has such a vast price range with literally hundreds of options to choose from. So when looking for components for your new gaming PC its always best to either ask a member that you deem trustworthy on AgarioFourms or simply search Google for your best options. However if you are not sure what to search for its probably best to make a post in the PC Building section asking what would be best for you.
There are so many factors and things you should take into consideration when buying components for a PC so Im not going to bore you and list them all, however I will say though, it would be advised that you seek help/advice from one of the members here to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck so to speak.
Build Guides
When I started building PCs around 4-5 years ago, I knew nothing about computers, like at all. I knew how to turn them on and work around it until the job was done. But then I started watching videos of certain reviewers on Youtube and reading guides/reviews on certain forums.
Reviews
Reading reviews is by far the best way to learn about the products you are thinking of buying, but finding the best reviews can always be a struggle. But Ive compiled a list of review sites I have personally used over the years and who also have a great feedback from the community and manufactures.
Here are some channels you should check out if you ever want to learn about PC Hardware.
FAQ
Q: Is it easy to build a PC?
A: Its hard to say if its easy or not as different people learn at different paces, but once you have followed some guides and have a fairly good idea what to do. yes it is fairly easy.
Q: Is it better to get a pre-build?
A: In short? No. Stay as far away from them as you can. They use very cheap parts while using clever marketing to get people to buy them. Pre-builds will always be dearer than buying singular components so my advice to you is to always build a PC if possible.
Q: I dont know what I want
A: Make a post. There are many members here that give advice daily and will get you the best or the best for your budget. make sure to research the build you want before buying to make sure 100% its what you want.
Q: Do I need to Overclock
A: No, you do not need to at all, its a luxury some people pay extra for. Some CPUs/GPUs come with locked and unlocked variants. But the price difference can only be justified by you, the person buying it. Does it benefit you? Yes. But its up to you to decide if its worth it.
Extra's
Thermal Paste Thermal paste is a very high heat conductive paste that is used between two objects (usually a heatsink and a CPU/GPU) to get better heat conduction. It fills in all those microscopic imperfections on the heat sink and CPU/GPU that can trap air in them and cause a loss in the heatsinks performance.
Case Fans Case fans are used to direct airflow into the case to keep all of your components nice and cool. There is no recommended number you should have in your case at any given time, but it's important to make sure your components have enough of an air supply to keep cool. If noise levels don;t bother you, then go ahead and fill every fan bay with one, the more air the better. When buying fans it can be important to see what certain fans are designed for, like for example high static pressure fans are commonly used on radiators as they force air through. High air flow fans are commonly used on cases as they push air, but they do it practically silently. If you're unsure on how many fans will suffice then be sure to ask one of us floating around the forums.
This Thread Shall Be Updated Daily As Needed.
There Are A Few Videos Missing( As You May Know You Can Only Have 1 Video Per Thread )
This Took Me Awhile So If You See Any Mistakes,Typos,Improper Grammar Etc... LET ME KNOW!
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