Is building a gaming PC as hard as they say?

[chicken_wang]

The components that I'm about to buy are worth $900+ but I'm feeling a little hesitant because of my peers. A friend told me you'll need to take classes at some kind of computer institute before building up my gaming PC. I think taking classes just to put the parts together sounds too much. I think watching videos and asking questions on tech forums seems more easier. Here's a video that I've watched recently about building your gaming PC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUY0tP5jYIo&feature=BFp&list=WLF710BC0D30AC7225&index=1

Is this a good step by step tutorial?

 

[Kenmitch]

I didn't watch the video as I gotta leave for work....But building a computer isn't that hard as long as you choose your parts wisely.

What's on your shopping list of parts? Sometimes when choosing parts people tend to skimp in the wrong places or choose non-compatable devices by mistake.

If your intimidated by the build then maybe you could find somebody local to help you out for free or a small fee....Lotta geeks just do it for the fun of it

 

[Majic 7]

Have you ever changed memory or a video card? If you can do those two things you can put a computor together. That's all the experience I had before my first self build.

 

[chicken_wang]

I already have a list of parts that I'm going to buy. Here they are:

Case: CoolerMaster HAF 922
PSU: CoolerMaster 600W
Video Card: nvidia evga gtx 560 ti superclocked
Processor: i5-2500k
HDD: Western Digital Caviar black 1tb
Memory: Gskill ripjaws series 4gb
Motherboard: Asus Z68

 

[Kenmitch]

I already have a list of parts that I'm going to buy. Here they are:

Case: CoolerMaster HAF 922
PSU: CoolerMaster 600W
Video Card: nvidia evga gtx 560 ti superclocked
Processor: i5-2500k
HDD: Western Digital Caviar black 1tb
Memory: Gskill ripjaws series 4gb
Motherboard: Asus Z68

Looks pretty good

Only thing I'd possibly change would be the power supply. Which model are you looking at? The power supply is the heart of your build.

Off to work I go

 

[Arachnotronic]

You should get a better PSU. Try an Antec True Power or EarthWatts 750W.

 

[yottabit]

The components that I'm about to buy are worth $900+ but I'm feeling a little hesitant because of my peers. A friend told me you'll need to take classes at some kind of computer institute before building up my gaming PC. I think taking classes just to put the parts together sounds too much. I think watching videos and asking questions on tech forums seems more easier. Here's a video that I've watched recently about building your gaming PC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUY0tP5jYIo&feature=BFp&list=WLF710BC0D30AC7225&index=1

Is this a good step by step tutorial?

I've never heard of someone (at least around here) taking classes to build a PC. Building PC's today is very easy and foolproof compared to how it was 10 or more years ago.

The hardest part I think is properly applying the thermal paste to the CPU and ensuring the heatsink is mounted correctly. This might be a part where you want to recruit help from a friend that's more experienced than you to step you through the process, because it's something that you need to kind of have a feel for. That being said all you really need to do is clean both surfaces well, put on a small amount of thermal paste, mount the heatsink, take it off check for good transfer, and then remount it.

Another thing you might want to do is find a cheap old computer and practice taking it apart and putting it back together to get a feel for the insertion forces of different components.

One of my friends built a high end system (i7 920, 6gb ram, gtx 275 back when they first came out) having no experience at all.

The key is PATIENCE, and if you think you are doing something wrong consult the manual or guides online.

 

[Puppies04]

Try a "better quality" brand of PSU if you want to make a sound investment but seriously 600W is more than enough for what you need 750 is just overkill.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Honestly, this shit is plug and play now, just watch for compatibility....it used to take a bit more research, but now it's pretty tough to mess it up.

 

[BoomerD]

The components that I'm about to buy are worth $900+ but I'm feeling a little hesitant because of my peers. A friend told me you'll need to take classes at some kind of computer institute before building up my gaming PC. I think taking classes just to put the parts together sounds too much. I think watching videos and asking questions on tech forums seems more easier. Here's a video that I've watched recently about building your gaming PC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUY0tP5jYIo&feature=BFp&list=WLF710BC0D30AC7225&index=1

Is this a good step by step tutorial?

Your friend is a moron. Almost anyone can build a gaming computer nowadays. It's a matter of choosing quality components, paying very close attention to details, and taking care to assemble the components without damaging anything.
There are lots of good guides on the internet that will show you what to do, but there's still no substitute for experience. Installing your first CPU can be...unnerving when you hear that "crunch" of the pins setting in the socket...and you HOPE you didn't bend any pins in the process. IMO, that's the worst part of building a computer. Oh...and getting the Heat sink seated correctly...once those are done, the rest is pretty simple. Install RAM, install video card, install HDD, connect the appropriate cables to components...and cross your fingers.
After that, it's just installing software...IF everything went according to plan.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

As others have said, building a PC is not nearly as difficult today as it was a decade or two ago. The most time-consuming part is the research. You have an entire forum of enthusiastic geeks to help you get that part exactly right. Actual assembly is a piece of cake.

 

[mvbighead]

As others have said, building a PC is not nearly as difficult today as it was a decade or two ago. The most time-consuming part is the research. You have an entire forum of enthusiastic geeks to help you get that part exactly right. Actual assembly is a piece of cake.

This. And since you found this forum... you're on the right track. Get comments on your parts purchase, and then, as you build, post in here if you have questions along the way.

 

[piasabird]

Most computers are mostly plug and play. If the parts are right they can only be plugged in one way without breaking. Generally you can find enough video on youtube to get the idea how to assemble a computer. It is not rocket science!

The hardest part is getting parts that will work together. i.e. motherboard processor and RAM that is compatible. Sometimes people purchase RAM without insuring it will work with a motherboard. I like to go to the RAM manufacturers website and see what kind of RAM they say will be compatible with a motherboard. A computer may run but have instability if you use the wrong type of RAM. It may work, but when you try to play a game or watch a video it may be unstable.

 

[dma0991]

Your friend must be a Mac user.

Seriously who attends classes just to put together something that is idiot proof. All the connectors are shaped in a certain way to prevent the user from attaching it the wrong way. Assembling computers have not changed a lot for a very long time. I have been doing assembly since the days of Pentium III with cartridge style and PGA/LGA type sockets afterwards till now.

1. If you can use a philips screwdriver, you can assemble a PC.
2. If it doesn't fit, don't force it.
3. Always ground yourself properly. Get a wrist strap if necessary but it is optional.
4. If you're unsure then read the manual. They are made thick for a reason.
5. If you totally have zero confidence then get someone who knows how to do it and observe him/her for future reference.

 

[iamchel]

Assembling a computer is easy as pie. As others have said, its all just a matter of plugging everything in. There are some critical things to be aware of however, like not plugging a firewire connector into the usb ports on the mobo.

 

[chicken_wang]

Your friend is a moron.

hahahaha

 

[chicken_wang]

Thanks guys. I knew it wasn't as tough as it seems. I'm sure the components are compatible with each other.

 

[CLite]

My perspective is from building 4 of my own PC's until I just recently had a semi-bad experience with my 5th PC.

The phsyical assembly is extremely easy, just follow the steps people previously mentioned. What I thought I'd mention is that you should be prepared to run a number of software/firmware programs and be prepared in advance for debugging.
1) Will you search for latest BIOS?
2) Will you run memtest/prime95/linpack/OCCT-GPU/HDD-tests?
3) Do you have a multimeter to test your PSU?
4) Do you have a 2nd rig for part testing?

Much better to do all of the above before return date expirations and not once an error pops up. Also religiously hunt-down even tiny errors or odd glitches, they get worse with time ><.

My 2cents after dealing with my first difficult rig.

 

[Powermoloch]

As long you have the knowledge and did the research. Plus using commons sense in terms of handling electrical components + the dexterity to do so.

yes, building a computer shouldn't be hard.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you buy good parts and run everything at stock speed, the only things you need to worry about are:
- a defective part (but this can happen with a pre-built system too)
- installing the intel CPU properly, especially the push-pins for the heatsink. A common mistake is to not push them in properly so the heatsink doesn't make proper contact

Otherwise it's just plugging in cables and using a screwdriver.

 

[Kenmitch]

Thanks guys. I knew it wasn't as tough as it seems. I'm sure the components are compatible with each other.

Double check the ram voltage before you order it. You'll want 1.50v or less at rated speed.

 

[mfenn]

Try a "better quality" brand of PSU if you want to make a sound investment but seriously 600W is more than enough for what you need 750 is just overkill.

:thumbsup: Agree.

OP, it really isn't very difficult to build a PC. And if you get stuck, you have a forum full of people willing to help!

 

[BoomerD]

:thumbsup: Agree.

OP, it really isn't very difficult to build a PC. And if you get stuck, you have a forum full of people willing to help!

And willing to laugh at you when you screw up...

It's easy to laugh at someone when you've done the same stupid thing yourself...:biggrin:

 

[RobDickinson]

A modern PC is ridiculously easy to screw together. Little bit more tricky if it doesnt work when you press the power button...

 

[Morg.]

You should get a better PSU. Try an Antec True Power or EarthWatts 750W.

A better PSU would be Corsair

Anyway . In soviet Russia, the PC screws you together.

PC build = easy, just avoid the real problems like having bought a 250% designed in china pc case, having picked bad components or buying that specific heatsink that requires 3 years training in Yoga to assemble.