Let’s say you want a new computer. You know you want a desktop with a certain processor, the new Skylake Intel Core i5-6600K. This is the newest processor available from Intel, and uses a new socket and chipset. Large computer manufacturers, like HP and Dell, won’t have this processor available in their computers for a while – maybe a couple of days, maybe months. All you know is that you have to have this processor in your computer and you need it now. What are you left to do? Build the computer yourself.
Now you’re thinking, “I can’t build a computer myself. That’s just for gamers.” Building computers isn’t just for gamers who want to build their own custom gaming PC and argue with their friends over who has the better components. Anyone who is familiar with a screwdriver and can plug in a monitor, a mouse and an Ethernet cable into the right ports can build their own PC. Have you ever replaced the radio in your car? Well maybe not recently, but in the 90s and early 2000s. If you can do that you’re more than ready to build a computer yourself.
An easy way to get started is to buy what is called a barebones PC kit. These kits often contain a case for your computer (i.e. the tower or what will contain the components of your computer), a motherboard and a power supply. When buying these kits you’ll need to supply your own processor, memory and hard drives (oh and optical drives like Blu-Ray drives if you still use optical media – this will make is easier to install an operating system later). You’ll have to pay particular attention to the motherboard specifications. Those will tell you what kind of processor you’ll need, what kind of memory, and how many graphics cards it can take.
Another option is to go the complete do it yourself way and build your own custom computer from scratch. I recommend first deciding on what kind of processor you want – AMD or Intel. Next, decide on the specific processor you’re going to buy. Are you going to buy one of those new Skylake Intel Core i5-6600K or I7-6700K processors or a processor from a previous generation. The specific model of the processor matters, not just that it’s an Intel i7 or an AMD FX. After you decide on a specific processor for your custom PC then find a motherboard that will take that processor. For example, the newest Skylake Core i5-6600K processors will only work with motherboards with the Z170 chipset. Don’t worry there are many motherboards from many manufacturers to choose from for each chipset. When picking a motherboard make sure to select one that will accommodate your other required components. What kind of RAM will it take, DDR3 or DDR4? How many slots does it have for memory and for graphics cards? Does it have built-in wireless or will you need an adaptor card?
Once you have all of the components it’s time to put the computer together. This may seem complicated, but in reality it’s easy and kind of fun. Your power supply, motherboard and hard drives will most likely come with all of the cables you need. There are probably simple instructions that came with your motherboard, but generally you’re going to be plugging in cables where they fit – you can’t plug in a cable in the wrong place because it simply won’t fit. You’ll want to connect all of your components outside of the case first to see if they work, that way you won’t have to deal with the awkward fit inside the case should you need to take something out or troubleshoot it. The first component you’ll want to install is the processor. You’ll want to open the brackets on the motherboard and align the pins carefully (on some system the pins are on the processor chip, on others they are on the motherboard). Once the processor is seated you’ll want to close the brackets. Next you’ll apply thermal paste to the processor and install the CPU cooler. Most processors come with CPU coolers, but some don’t and maybe you’ll want a more powerful one, a quieter one, or a liquid cooled one. Thermal paste let’s heat easily transfer from the processor to the cooler. Cooling the CPU is very important! Never run a computer without a CPU cooler in place.
Next install the other components like memory, hard drives and graphics cards. Generally there will be a connection with the motherboard, and a connection from the power supply. There’s also a direct connection from the power supply to the motherboard. Lastly, you’ll want to connect your computer to a monitor and turn it on. You should see a BIOS screen in text. Installing an operating system is easy – generally this is done via a CD you put in the drive, but can also be done via a USB stick. Once your computer is running you’ll want to take the major components out of the motherboard (except the processor and cooler, and maybe the RAM) and install the motherboard in the computer case. Don’t forget the motherboard spacers! These small but important bits keep your motherboard from touching the case and shorting out.
And there you have it, your own custom built PC!
Custom PC Gaming 