Best Gaming PC Assembly Advice
Building a PC takes into account your budget, the type of games you like, playing at normal or maximum settings (in-game resolution, image quality, etc.), and aesthetics, so that’s what works best for you.
Regardless of the choice, compatibility between the various hardware is critical to provide a smooth and crisp gaming experience, help avoid stuttering and lag, and keep your console running at a cooler temperature.
When choosing accessories, it is necessary to first divide the core hardware within the budget, and allocate the budget according to the general market situation of the hardware. Most of the budget should not be used to purchase certain core hardware, and the budget for other core hardware should be compressed, reducing the cost. Performance level, because this is a barrel principle, no short board can provide a better gaming experience.
Of course, if you want to run the game in 4K quality, then always choose the highest recommended configuration.
CPU/Processor
Most games require multi-threaded workloads, which means multi-core processors. But don’t get too excited, generally, you don’t need a processor with more than four cores. If you want to save money and don’t need to run games at the highest settings, two cores will do.
For full HD you need at least a 2.5 GHz processor. At present, the mainstream processors are still i5 and i7. It is recommended to use the i7 processor, which has better performance.
Another powerful feature of the CPU is that it can be overclocked, which can improve the performance of the CPU within a certain range. However, in addition to the technical difficulty of overclocking, the problem of heat dissipation must also be considered. Overclocking will increase the working temperature of the CPU. If you do not do a good job of cooling, it is easy to cause damage to the hardware. In addition, overclocking will increase the working voltage, so if you want to overclock the CPU, you need to choose a motherboard that supports overclocking and a corresponding power supply and cooling system. If you don’t want to overclock, the fan that comes with the CPU will do.
Motherboard
The selection of the motherboard mainly depends on the interface and slot and the supported operating frequency, including the CPU slot, memory slot, chassis fixing screw hole, expansion slot, USB interface, network card interface, hard disk interface, etc., also pay attention to the motherboard supports The operating frequency supported by the CPU and memory. Generally speaking, the motherboard has a LAN network interface. If you want to connect wirelessly, you also need a wireless adapter port. Of course, some motherboards have built-in wireless functions.
There are also special factors to consider when considering dual graphics cards. First, the motherboard must have proper SLI™ (for NVIDIA® cards) or Crossfire (for AMD Crossfire™ cards) support to run both graphics cards. Setting up two graphics cards to work together is also not easy and requires the right drivers and software support. Two graphics cards will consume significantly more power, and generate more heat and noise, so the impact on cooling and overall aesthetics needs to be considered, after external graphics cards are usually bulky, not to mention additional cooling systems.
Most sound cards preinstalled on the motherboard are sufficient; gaming rarely requires an additional sound card.
RAM/Memory
The choice of memory depends on the type supported by the motherboard, considering the slot, voltage and operating frequency. It is best to keep the operating frequency and voltage consistent. The type and number of slots are related to whether the memory is DDR3 or DDR4, and whether it can form dual or triple channels.
For gaming PCs, the memory usually needs to reach 16GB, which can be a single 16GB or a double 8GB. Generally, the dual-channel technology has better performance. Of course, if multitasking or running virtual machines and other technologies are required, it can be increased to 32GB according to the situation.
Storage Hard Disk (HDD/SDD)
In addition to the interface corresponding to the motherboard, the choice of the hard disk does not have much particularity. It mainly depends on the type of data. If there is a large amount of data to be stored, a large-capacity HDD mechanical hard drive is generally selected. 500GB~1TB is a more suitable choice. In terms of brand, it is still necessary to choose a major brand, because the mechanical hard drive is easily affected by power failure. Bad disk, so the quality should be excellent and the operation should be stable.
If you want shorter read and write latency and faster game loading, you can consider using an SSD solid state drive and select the interface type that matches the motherboard. The brand must choose the best original factory with all the production technology, such as British Ruida. Another factor for choosing SSD is budget. Because the price is more expensive than HDD, it is more reasonable to choose a combination of small-capacity SSD + large-capacity HDD in many cases.
Video card/graphics card
The graphics card is undoubtedly one of the most important components in the game, and many poor game performance is limited by the graphics card performance. The current graphics cards basically have 2GB~4GB of independent memory to process images, and can provide 30~60fps (frames per second) continuous picture, so that there will be no obvious frame drop or freeze. For VR games, you need a better graphics card that can provide more than 90fps.
A 1080p display requires at least 4GB of RAM, although the specs can be reduced slightly depending on the size and refresh rate of the display.
In addition, the graphics card needs to support the subsequent updates of Direct X. If you need to output high-definition pictures, you must have corresponding DVI, HDMI, VGA and other interfaces. Of course, the monitor or TV is also required to have corresponding interfaces. For example, it is suitable for 4K picture quality. HDMI 2.0 interface. If you wish to use dual monitors, you will need a graphics card with multiple HDMI, DVI, or VGA video. Of course, you also need to ensure that the power supply supports the power requirements of the graphics card. Another consideration is that your case needs to be able to accommodate the graphics card and corresponding cooling system.
For Full HD playback, a core frequency of 600 MHz is required. For 4K gaming, dual graphics cards (SLI/Crossfire) may be required, but that’s a hefty budget.
Chassis
The part of the case is usually the part that you find interesting, first and foremost to accommodate the dimensions and slots of the other components you’ve chosen earlier. Then there’s the matter of making sure that the air flow inside the case is adequate for cooling. In terms of size, there are usually two types: mid-tower and full-tower. Most gamers prefer full-tower, which has enough space to install cooling system and lighting system.
The cooling system, in addition to the various fans in the chassis, the orientation of the fans, and the air intake and exhaust holes of the chassis, there are additional cooling systems, such as water cooling systems. If overclocking (CPU and memory) is not done, the spare fan will suffice with standard accessories man-hours. If overclocking, additional fans and water cooling systems are usually required, and the case needs to have enough space for installation and wiring.
Then there’s the personal DIY part, considering factors like LED lighting, windows, interesting shapes, and unique colors. After all the options are selected, it is necessary to manage the cables in the chassis according to the cable lengths and positions of the options, which can improve the air circulation in the chassis and make it more beautiful.
Power Supply (PSU)
The power supply is equally important and cannot be ignored, a good power supply can provide at least three different DC voltages for various components. Most computers only need a 500W power supply to drive all the hardware, but in the case of overclocking, multiple graphics cards, and cooling systems, it is necessary to reconfirm whether the power of the power supply is competent.
monitor
If 4K playback is considered, the monitor must be chosen carefully. Buy a monitor with the highest refresh rate you can find within your budget (minimum is 75Hz), the refresh rate represents the number of frames per second that can be displayed (75Hz means a maximum frame rate of 75fps, 120Hz means a maximum frame rate of 120fps, etc.). Don’t let the monitor hold you back and avoid wasting the display performance of the host computer.
When considering buying a larger monitor, pay attention to pixel density. The higher the pixel density, the OS may start to have scaling issues.
For example, Microsoft® Windows® has a maximum pixel of about 200ppi.
Finding the right specs for building a gaming computer is sure to keep you entertained!
