Building a gaming PC....how hard is it?

[StBishop]

-snip-

It's easier than IKEA. As you're in Perth I would be willing to give you a hand, as would a number of my friends and family.

But seriously, the hardest part is finding a good balance of value for money. If money isn't an object, it's easy as pie.

Finding things that work together isn't too hard and I'm sure that there's about 5 billion people on here who can give you advice on what works together if you post what you have found.

Although there's a bunch of awesome sites, PLE and Austin Computers are awesome local businesses who can advise you on what will fit together.
Keep in mind that they are salesmen and you need to be firm about stuff sometimes, the best tool you have as a consumer is walking away.
If they're overwhelming you with techno-babble or being pushy just say "Thanks, I'll think about that, do some more research, and come back."

Also, if you tell them what you're looking at getting at PLE in Wanagra (yeah, I know it's in the middle of no where) they'll tell you that your shit won't work together if it doesn't.

 

[Joccaren]

Building a PC is easy enough, and the more you do it the better you get at it. I just finished disassembling and re-assembling mine because I'd been knocking the case around a bit, and one of my GPUs had become a little loose [Probably not a good sign, but I'll deal with that later].

It is, however, not quite as simple as toying around with an IKEA kit.

In terms of assembling, yeah they're about the same IMO. You need to screw in a couple of things, plug a couple of things together, and the Motherboard will usually give you enough information on what goes where, and what it doesn't tell you is generally obvious via size and shape of the plugs.
In terms of handling... Its far worse.
IKEA kits you can hold anywhere, bang into each other as much as you want, scratch it, touch it how you want and assemble it on Carpet. Building a PC this is all a very BAD idea. Hold it on the flat sides rather than the edges, and you risk damaging the parts. Bump them into each other, you risk damaging them. Place them on carpet and you severely risk static shock rendering the parts dead.
I assemble my PC on my carpet, however I use a static proof mat to do so, placing them on top and connecting both my wrist and the case to the mat, which leaves me covered.

When assembling a computer, try to keep your fingers and hands off the the face of whatever component you're using, and handle them by the edges. Ensure that you are grounded at all times, that the PC is off and unplugged at all times and that you don't leave any components on the ground - instead place them on the static proof rap that they came in until they are inside the assembled machine. When screwing components together, don't over screw them, but don't leave them too loose either. Make sure its tightly screwed in, but once it is don't keep going. You could either damage the chip, or create metal shavings that could screw around with the PC.
At the same time, don't be too afraid of putting some force onto the components if they don't seem to be going in. I tend to fall into the trap taking ages to assemble a PC because I'll put very little force on the components and it'll take ages for them to go in. They can take more stress than you might think, but you still need to be careful.

A few tips for building a PC [Some of these are just general tips that probably go for building anything, but W/E]:
1. When screwing components with a screw in each corner, or along those lines, screw in opposite corners first. Bottom Left, Top Right - or Top Left, Bottom Right - or any other such combination.
2. Screw things in firmly first, them tighten them later once you have all the screws in. Makes it easier to unscrew and move the part if you've placed it in the wrong way around or something.
3. Once you're finished building, and you've got everything plugged in, find some cable ties or something and try to keep the cables as neat and tidy as possible. It helps with airflow, which is critical for keeping your system cool. Overheating will cause your machine to crash, so its something to avoid. Neat cables won't necessarily keep you safe from that - a lot of fans and some liquid cooling will - but it can help.
4. Since its your first time assembling a computer, try to figure out which cables will plug in where, and what parts slot in where before you begin assembly, and try to organize the cables as you're assembling to make it easier for you to plug them into their appropriate plugs when ready. It allows you to concentrate more on being careful with your assembling, and less on second guessing where things go.


For a price range, that depends on what you want, what you have, and where you live/are able to/are willing to buy.
Building 100% from scratch anywhere from $500 to $1200 or so is reasonable, dependent on how good you want your parts. Odds are, however, you won't be building 100% from scratch. You'll have a harddrive already, a monitor, a KB+M, a case, a CD/DVD drive and maybe a couple of spare fans. Everything else will probably need replacing, but they can stay and be re-used. This is assuming you have any sort of computer of course.
In such cases $300 to $700 can get you a very decent rig. For around $800 all up this year I've gotten myself dual graphics cards in the mid-high range [560Ti 2Gbs. Haven't checked benchmarks so I'm not entirely sure of their placing, but the two of them run anything at 2560*1440 resolution, max settings, with 60+ FPS], a new Motherboard, new CPU that is way more than what anyone would need for gaming [2600K which I've OCd to 4.8Ghz], new RAM and a CPU liquid cooling system. For another $500 I've also grabbed myself a new case with 6 extra fans, s monitor and a SSD, but that's stuff that's not needed and can come later if you have it from a previous computer.

 

[Potato21]

Be sure to use the supplied standoffs to mount the motherboard. A lot of first time builders screw the motherboard directly into the case and you're going to fry if doing that.

 

[Amaror]

Since nearly everything else has been said already. When you choose what components you wanna buy, you just have to check if their compatible with your motherboard, since everything is going to be hooked up to that. GPU is no issue there, since the gpu slots of motherboards are downward compatible, just make sure to not buy a motherboard from the dark ages and your golden. You will mostly have to check if cpu and ram are compatible, the rest should be no problem.

 

[Woodsey]

Physically putting them together is fairly easy. You can always watch tutorials online as you're doing it.

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

In total, it shouldn't cost more than... $3000... maximum. If it goes over that, well... I'd like to know what you put in there.

Are we building a gaming rig or a NASA super computer? $3000 is WAY overkill for anything coming in the next couple years. I've been looking at building a new high-end rig and last I looked my total would be around $1200-1300, depending on what size SSD I want. Anything more than $1500 is a giant waste of money since console tech is severely limiting what developers are willing to do on the PC (most PC games are console ports, remember).

 

[Silvianoshei]

Yeah, it's not hard. I built mine for about US $2500 (about AU $2400 or something), but unless you want to play stuff at 120 FPS that's really not necessary. I've built two before this one for about 600 and 800 each, both AMD builds. This is my first Intel build.

A few tips, do an external build i.e. outside your case before you put everything together in your case, and make sure you buy an anti-static wrist band if you live in a dry-ish area, so you don't zap all your precious components.

Get a few wire ties for cable management.

Two tips for your case purchase: (1) Get a case with good airflow, built in fans, and a nice mounting panel with holes you can route your cables through. (2) If you get a mother board with a USB 3.0 connector, then make sure you get a case which has front 3.0 ports that lead to a female connector rather than passthrough (i.e. it ends in a USB cable inside the case.)

Also, If you are willing to invest, then go intel. AMD's performance comes cheap, but it doesn't really stack up to intel's processors anymore. Id go with a 2600K if you want to Overclock to 4.8 GHZ, since Ivy Bridge has some heating problems past 4.5 GHZ. Which is fine, really, you don't need to hit 4.8 for gaming. It's just that you wont see any really significant performance increase.

 

[Inconspicuous Trenchcoat]

My random tip: when attaching a heatsink to a CPU or GPU chip or whatever, use ceramic-based thermal compound. Because it doesn't conduct electricity. Metal-based thermal compound will cool a bit better (a few degrees celsius), but it also conducts electricity. And since you'll probably mess up at least a little bit while applying this thermal paste for the first time, I'd use ceramic-based so you don't short out a component.

As long as you go slowly, follow guides, use your head and are careful, you're very likely to succeed.

 

[Daveman]

Compatability and avoiding static are all that's really needed other than knowing if you're getting good value for the parts. Instructions for constructing generally come with all the parts so it's all fairly easy.

Avoiding static is piss easy, just grab a radiator or something whenever you want to do something.

As for what's good value, I have no idea. tbh I've gone off building towers now after only doing one. It was great and it worked really well but since going to university I'd rather go for a laptop instead of sorting out all the individual parts themselves and having to lug everything around with me. Not to mention playing Minecraft in bed is a great pleasure. But hey, I'm also fairly rich so it's no big deal.

 

[NLS]

Never used any kind of anti-static. I must be made of rubber or something.

 

[II Scarecrow II]

seriosuly if I had a list of components and I went and bought them...could I just put the thing together like some IKEA set?

ok..ok I know theres probably more to it than that, like you probably want to know what does what and where it goes

if it is as easy as people say could a tech-dunce like me actually do it? (with some reasearch obviously)

after being frustrated with consoles and at the Idea of spendlng lots of money on somthing thats barefuly functional (my thought about buying laptops) this is actually begining to look like an actual (if not daunting) option

so essentially what I'm asking is

[b/]what else do I need to consider aside from price/getting the right components?

is there anything that could go wrong during the "build" process?


how much should I be willing to spend?[/b]

Well, it's entirely up to you. I am at this very moment consutructing my very first rig, which happens to be a Hackintosh/Windows gaming/video rig. For a complete build from scratch, all the parts have cost me aroud $1400 in Australia from Umart in Brisbane. But I've been forced to get a lot of high end parts for the sack of Mac compatibility.

In reality, the construction part is pretty easy. It will take you a while figuring out where things go, but you can find a guide for EVERYTHING (not even lying) inside your computer. It's just a matter of matching up plugs and sockets and screwing things in correctly (FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS!!) and just playing matchmaker with all the parts. Almost all components are designed to be virtually foolproof during installation in that they will only fit and lock in if you have the right plug in the right place and properly alligned. If you have even a basic idea as to what a tower is supposed to look like, you will be pretty successful.

There are a few risks, but most of them are pretty rare if you show some common sense and due diligence. My advice? Expect at least one part to be Dead on Arrival. My brand spanking new motherboard has two faulty RAM sockets which means I have to pull the entire thing apart again and pray that I can get it replaced. My friends who have built their own PC's have had DoA's varying from PSU, MoBo's, GPU's and even RAM, so don't be too disheartened and be prepared to do some trouble shooting. Google is your friend.

Just for a point of comparison, I'm going to list my parts and prices so you can gauge what you want to spend. As I said, I've paid a premium for some higher end parts, you could easily shave down $200-$300 if you choose less expensive parts. And for reference, all these parts are Hackintosh compatible.

CPU: Intel i7 3770 3.4GHz -- $305
GPU: ASUS GTX570 1280MB -- $295
RAM: 2x G.Skill DDR3 1333MHz 8GB -- $90
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z77 D3H -- $129 --> NOTE: I would not recommend a Gigabyte board to ANYONE. A quick search online will show that they are plagued by a huge host of problems, are unreliable and have a short lifespan.
Barracuda 1TB HDD -- $80
2x 64 GB Samsung SSD's (for my OS's) -- $68 each
Antec Earthwatts 650w PSU -- $88
Cooler Master CPU heatsink + fan -- $36
Generic Optical Drive -- $20

As you can see, I've got a lot of power here, which for gaming is probably not necessary (I know, right?) so you could get a cheaper Intel i5 3570k, or 4GB RAM, no SSD's and you could have a sufficiently powerful machine for around $1100. It's entirely up to you how much you want to spend, but make sure you do your research and make sure your parts are compatible. That is probably the most likely thing to go wrong.

Good luck, and let me know how it turns out. Now, if you don't mind, I need to hit the Mac OS with a fucking sledgehammer....

 

[R3dF41c0n]

*snip*[/b]

If you're going to build a computer I highly recommend getting an A+ book (I recommend anything written by Mike Meyers). That book will explain everything you need to know to build, maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot modern desktops.

After you read the related sections in the book you can start buying components. It should cost around $600 - $1000 USD for all the parts you need. Always start with a motherboard and buy components that fit it.

I actually got into the IT field because I learned how to build my own computer and discovered I loved IT stuff. It's a little overwhelming for at first but trust me the A+ book will help.

 

[Wolfram23]

snip

It's quite easy. I highly suggest checking this out:
http://pcpartpicker.com/
Don't forget to select your region in the top right.

As for how much to spend, well I just built a PC for my friend. $1200 CDN with a 660 Ti graphics card, 8gb RAM, i5 3570k CPU. This is a super fast PC, we loaded up Metro 2033 and it played at 1920x1080 with all settings at the max - easily one of the most demanding PC titles out there.

The only thing his build didn't include is a monitor and speakers, as he plugged it into his living room TV and surround system.

Once you get the parts, assembling is like Lego or Ikea as you said. All the plugs and slots are uniquely designed just make sure all the components are plugged into the motherboard AND power supply.

 

[thahat]

seriosuly if I had a list of components and I went and bought them...could I just put the thing together like some IKEA set?

ok..ok I know theres probably more to it than that, like you probably want to know what does what and where it goes

if it is as easy as people say could a tech-dunce like me actually do it? (with some reasearch obviously)

after being frustrated with consoles and at the Idea of spendlng lots of money on somthing thats barefuly functional (my thought about buying laptops) this is actually begining to look like an actual (if not daunting) option

so essentially what I'm asking is

[b/]what else do I need to consider aside from price/getting the right components?

is there anything that could go wrong during the "build" process?


how much should I be willing to spend?[/b]

you with good shopping about no more then 1000? needs to be spent. im guessing americans get stuff cheaper.

to talk about the risks dont ever FORCE components in ANYWHERE. and be verry, verry ware about putting the processer on the motherboard.

and about how 'hard' it is. well i had never done it before, got some help with the parts id need, got all i needed then built it in a day with a friend. you get a LOT of manuals i helps to go to youtube and search for movies buildign a pc. if you have seen it done once, it will save you some time later on when you will do it yourself.

 

[distortedreality]

[b/]what else do I need to consider aside from price/getting the right components?

is there anything that could go wrong during the "build" process?


how much should I be willing to spend?[/b]

1 - Nothing really. As long as you get the right components for the right price, you're set. Just don't let computer store people talk you into buying shit you don't need - walk in there with a list of components and don't budge on it.

2 - Realistically not a whole lot, the whole process is pretty much foolproof these days. The biggest fear I have when building computers is not securing a cooler properly - my big Noctua HSF would take out both my GPUs if I didn't secure it properly and it fell lol.

3 - As much as you think you need. Realistically, you can spend anywhere from say $800 up to about $2k if you really wanted to (Australian dollars). It all depends on the level of performance you're looking for, and how desperate you are to have the newest technology.

Honestly, don't go into this being afraid. Everyone starts off as a noob. I've built hundreds (ok, maybe half a dozen) computers, and i've never had anything go wrong. It's a simple process with a lot of help freely available online.

Jump in!

 

[II Scarecrow II]

Be sure to use the supplied standoffs to mount the motherboard. A lot of first time builders screw the motherboard directly into the case and you're going to fry if doing that.

Hehehe, I actually did that on my current build, before my mate came around and yelled at me for being an idiot, thankfully before anything was turned on. I wondered why the motherboard had to flex to fit the screw holes ;-)

CAPTCHA: Moe's Tavern... Mmmm Beer.

 

[Stavros Dimou]

seriosuly if I had a list of components and I went and bought them...could I just put the thing together like some IKEA set?

ok..ok I know theres probably more to it than that, like you probably want to know what does what and where it goes

if it is as easy as people say could a tech-dunce like me actually do it? (with some reasearch obviously)

after being frustrated with consoles and at the Idea of spendlng lots of money on somthing thats barefuly functional (my thought about buying laptops) this is actually begining to look like an actual (if not daunting) option

so essentially what I'm asking is

[b/]what else do I need to consider aside from price/getting the right components?

is there anything that could go wrong during the "build" process?

how much should I be willing to spend?[/b]

A mistake some people who are not enough experienced in computer building are often making when they try to build a computer is to not apply thermal paste on the processor.
Bad,BAD mistake!!!

 

[loc978]

As someone who's built everything from 386 server systems to quad-core gaming systems... I'd just say that most folks in this thread are right. Never force a part, ground yourself electrically to avoid static damage, and it's easy nowadays.

Also, if you're in the US, a cheap web-browsing system can cost as little as $300, a budget gaming system should be about $600-$800, and a really fast gaming system should cost around $1300-$1500 (this is all without peripherals, monitor or software... those are separate expenditures).
Shop around for your parts, you'll often get a better deal either online or at a wholesale shop. Don't just walk into a place that sells computer parts and other stuff and piece together a whole system. They'll overcharge you every time.

A mistake some people who are not enough experienced in computer building are often making when they try to build a computer is to not apply thermal paste on the processor.
Bad,BAD mistake!!!

I haven't seen a CPU heatsink without pre-applied thermal adhesive since the ol' Pentium II/K6-2 days...

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

seriosuly if I had a list of components and I went and bought them...could I just put the thing together like some IKEA set?

ok..ok I know theres probably more to it than that, like you probably want to know what does what and where it goes

if it is as easy as people say could a tech-dunce like me actually do it? (with some reasearch obviously)

after being frustrated with consoles and at the Idea of spendlng lots of money on somthing thats barefuly functional (my thought about buying laptops) this is actually begining to look like an actual (if not daunting) option

so essentially what I'm asking is

[b/]what else do I need to consider aside from price/getting the right components?

is there anything that could go wrong during the "build" process?


how much should I be willing to spend?[/b]

Considering how many PCs I've built, I figure I can give a bit of advice.

First, I would suggest if you buy an ATi(AMD) graphics card, aim for one that has 770 as the last 3 numbers, as those tend to be the best value for money of the series' as they tend to be cheapish, and powerful enough that they stay good for years, also they tend not to burn out or experience problems so much(at least in my experience) Sapphire is a cheap brand so you could get one from them.

Second piece of advice, if you choose instead to go with a preebuilt system do not buy dell product, as they tend to be built in such a way as to discourage upgrading, to the point of just not working with any changed parts, also they tend to be built with really shit parts.
Also avoid alienware as they charge WAAAAAAAAY to much for their branding and you usually end up paying $500 extra for the logo if not more.

third bit of advice, do not be afraid of breaking it during construction, because that fear can lead to breaking something, or putting something in wrong... also most motherboards come with a book, which explains shit for you, so anything other than the obvious tends to be in there, with pictures...

Also, I would more than just reccoment getting an ASUS motherboard, as that is the brand that has given me no problems in the past whatsoever, and they tend to perform better than anyone else, though ASRock isn't a bad brand, still doesn't touch ASUS.

as for ram Kingston is good, I would have suggested OCZ but, they got out of the ram business...

Also, when it comes to power supply, make sure it's good enough or you're gonna have a bad time, I would suggest a 750w because unless you're going overboard, it'll run your system without costing a lot on your power bill, if you don't care about the power consumption, or cost of the power supply itself that much, feel free to get one that is more powerful, however, I would suggest Coolermaster, as the brand they just seem to work better than other ones I've tried, quieter fans and such, also they don't cost too much.

Another important thing, if you get a case, and aren't using your old pc's case, I would suggest getting one with good airflow, and multiple fan mounts, as heat itself is a PC's worst enemy, the hotter it runs the worse it will perform, if you keep your parts cool, then you will have no problems for performance.


Other than that, most motherboards especially by ASUS, have labels all over em to say what goes where, it's unlikely that you will have difficulty, but if you run into any trouble figuring something out, and can't find it in the motherboard's manual, then I'm sure someone on here will be able to help you.