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In 2022, the PC video game market was worth around US$ 49.1 billion. There are so many title options that you might even get lost when choosing! However, to take advantage of them, building a good gaming PC is essential.
Choosing the right pieces and assembling them correctly ensures you have many years of screen-time fun. But where to start, exactly?
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Through this article, you will learn everything you need to build your gaming PC and play all the styles you like most.
Is building a gaming PC expensive?
It largely depends on what you intend to play. For simpler games, such as MOBAs and more popular shooters, simpler machines are usually able to run without problems; on the other hand, if you make a point of running the most modern and current titles perfectly... That's another story.
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Assembling the ideal gaming PC is a relatively easy choice, but the budget may not always fit your budget. In these cases, it is important to explore all possibilities and try to save on one side to invest more on the other!
Time to get your hands dirty!
Are you ready to get started? Time to follow the steps, one by one:
Set your budget
How much can you invest in total? The answer to this question will dictate the components you can purchase. Obviously, the more money available, the greater (and probably better) your options will be; otherwise, the research work may be a little heavier.
A good way to determine a realistic budget is to check the prices of components, such as processors, graphics cards, motherboards, SSDs, cases and power supplies, on platforms such as Newegg It is Amazon, for example.
They usually present the pieces most sought after by consumers and, with this, you will be able to design a budget that fits your budget. Even get great discounts!
Make a list of everything you have to buy
Don't know what components are needed to build your gaming PC? Don't worry! Just follow the list below and quote for each piece:
- Processor
- Video card (GPU)
- Motherboard
- RAM memory
- Storage
- Power Supply (PSU)
- Cabinet
- Coolers (to keep parts cool)
- SSD (it is no longer recommended to use HDs to build a gaming PC)
- Peripherals (mouse, keyboard and monitor)
- Operating system (there's nothing worse than using pirated Windows!)
Everything written down? Perfect: time to move on to the next step!
Check the compatibility of all components
For the gaming PC to work correctly, you need to be very careful with certain issues:
- Motherboard Socket: Buy a motherboard that is compatible with all the other components you want to buy. For example, AMD Rysen processors use socket AM4 by default, while Intel processors require specific sockets for each model. The same goes for the frequency of RAM memory;
- RAM memory slots: Does the motherboard you want to buy have all the necessary slots to place the desired amount of RAM? By default, they all come with two – and this is usually enough. It is essential to have two identical memories installed to do Dual Channel: this technology guarantees much better performance for games;
- Expansion slots: Check if the motherboard supports the video cards, sound cards and other components you want to install;
- Power supply: This is one of the most important components to avoid future problems. Buy a good quality power supply that offers the necessary energy for all parts. Check the power specifications of each component and always buy a power supply that provides more than necessary – just to be safe;
- Right-sized cabinet: There's no point in choosing compact cases if your goal is to place a video card larger than a ruler, right? Additionally, larger cabinets tend to be better cooled. Take this into consideration when making your purchase.
Buy the parts at the best price
Before clicking on the shopping cart and closing the deal, remember that there are many apps to compare prices and choose the best options for your gaming PC! Don't be in a hurry, as it is the enemy of perfection.
It may also be a good idea to wait a little longer and take advantage of certain seasonal promotions, such as Black Friday. There, device prices tend to be much lower and with better payment conditions.
Build your gaming PC!
This is one of the most critical and delicate steps in the entire process. Linus Tech Tips, one of the most popular technology channels in the world, created a very simple and intuitive tutorial – recorded in first person! This way, you won't miss any details during the assembly process.
Follow the presenter's steps and assemble everything without rushing: otherwise, you could make mistakes and even accidentally damage components!
Install the operating system
Is the gaming PC turning on normally? Awesome – now it’s time to install the operating system. Gaming computers have no other option: purchase a Windows license.
This one great PC Centric tutorial explains step by step: Check it out now!
Install the drivers
Drivers are programs that make all your parts communicate correctly with the operating system. Open the internet browser, open a video and see if the audio is working correctly: if no sound is coming out, check the motherboard manual and see how to activate it.
Download the most up-to-date drivers for your video card: without this, your games will simply run with terrible performance (IF they run, of course). Visit your GPU manufacturer's website to download. If other parts require drivers to function correctly, repeat the procedure.
Download your favorite games and have fun!
Ufa! You've just finished the definitive guide to building your gaming PC. Yes, there are many steps, but believe me: learning how to assemble and install everything yourself is very useful!
You know where each component is located and, if you need to replace them, whether due to a defect or just to update them, you won't have to spend a lot of money on it.
