Asked by: Sharolyn Teno
technology and computing desktops

What's needed to build a PC?

Last Updated: 5th January, 2020

41
What do you need to build a PC?
  • Processor (CPU)
  • Motherboard (MOBO)
  • Graphic Card (GPU)
  • Memory (RAM)
  • Storage (SSD or HDD)
  • Power Supply Unit (PSU)
  • PC Case.

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In this regard, is it cheaper to build your own computer?

Building your own PC can be cheaper,morerewarding, and offers additional customization. On the otherhand,buying a prebuilt gaming PC is quicker, easier,andgenerally more reliable. In the past, building a PC wasmuchmore difficult and buying a prebuilt came with amuchhigher premium.

One may also ask, how much does it cost to build your own computer? Depends on your needs and your budget! Itcancost anywhere from $300 to $2000, and many people liketooccupy a happy in-between at around$500-$700.

Just so, what cables do I need to build a PC?

In the simplest, basic requirements for acomputerare hard drives, disc drives, power supply, ram,processor,motherboard, case, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Themonitor willeither need a VGA or DVI cable (maybeHDMI orDisplayPort but DVI will work in most cases).

How do you set up a computer?

Method 1 Setting up a Windows Desktop

  1. Unpack your components.
  2. Place the tower.
  3. Connect the monitor to the tower.
  4. Plug in the mouse and keyboard.
  5. Connect any speakers.
  6. Plug the tower into an outlet.
  7. Turn on the computer.
  8. Connect to a network.

Related Question Answers

Nadeem Utkin

Professional

Is a gaming PC worth it?

A gaming PC is worth the money ifoneregularly plays newer games that require a good CPU and avideoadapter that has a good graphics processing unit (GPU). Pastacertain price point of around $3,000 to $4,000, themarginalbenefit that one gets from spending more on a gamingPCdiminishes.

Frederica Schmiedechen

Professional

What do you need to build a computer from scratch?

Here are the components you'll need to build yourfirstgaming PC.
  1. Processor. Your central processing unit, or CPU, isoftenreferred to as the computer's brain.
  2. The motherboard houses the various components of yourgamingPC.
  3. Memory.
  4. Graphics processing unit.
  5. Storage.
  6. Power supply.
  7. Case.

Cheikhna Gonzalez De Mendoza

Professional

How much should I spend on a gaming PC?

Well, that depends on if you plan to use yournewPC for anything other than basic stuff &gaming,and roughly how good you want those games toactually look.Some people will be fine with spending $500 ona budgetbuild, but others might have to spend upwardsof$1000-$1500+ to meet their expectationsorrequirements.

Chasidy Claassens

Explainer

How much do you save building your own house?

And according to the latest cost to buildsurveyfrom the National Association of Home Builders, the averagehomecosts just under $250k to build. So using thosenumbers,you could save about $125k by taking on allthe laborto build your new home.

Weijing Severins

Explainer

What is the best prebuilt gaming PC?

The best gaming PC 2019: 10 of the top gaming desktopsyoucan buy
  1. Corsair One i160. The best gaming PC of 2019.
  2. Alienware Aurora R7. Ease of use meets a pretty chassis.
  3. Corsair Vengeance Gaming PC.
  4. HP Omen Desktop PC.
  5. Intel Hades Canyon NUC.
  6. HP Omen Obelisk.
  7. Dell XPS Tower Special Edition.
  8. Origin Millennium.

Trevor Pfaffe

Explainer

How do I build a gaming computer for the first time?

How to build your first gaming PC
  1. Step 1 – Preparation. Make sure your important partsworkbefore assembly.
  2. Step 2 – Mount PSU and cooler. Get the bulky kitinstalledfirst.
  3. Step 3 – Mobo, CPU, and RAM.
  4. Step 4 – CPU cooler.
  5. Step 5 – SSD and/or hard drive.
  6. Step 6 – Plug everything in.
  7. Step 7 – Install your graphics card.
  8. Step 8 – You're done…

Luis Urruti

Pundit

Why you should build a PC?

Manufacturers are able to get discounts because theybuythings in bulk. In addition to this, the budget market isextremelycompetitive which means it is often cheaper to buy abasiccomputer for just browsing the web and doingproductivitysoftware than it is to build oneyourself.

Jeanice Steven

Pundit

What's the best gaming PC?

Recommended systems
Origin PC Millennium Best for take-all-my-money 4K, HDR performance See at Origin PC
Digital Storm Bolt X Best for 1440p gaming in style See at Digital Storm
Falcon Northwest Talon / Tiki Best for the artful gamer See at Falcon Northwest
CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Alternate $800 option See at Amazon

Bisila Azeem

Pundit

How much RAM do I need for gaming?

8 GB is the minimum for any gaming PC. With 8GBof RAM, your PC will be running most gameswithoutany problem, though some concessions in terms of graphicswillprobably be required when it comes to the newer, moredemandingtitles. 16 GB is the optimal amount of RAM forgamingtoday.

Ting Yosef

Pundit

What cable do I need to connect my PC to monitor?

Your monitor may have come withonlya VGA cable (below) but might have DVIandHDMI inputs as well. If this is the case, you should buyanHDMI or DVI cable and merely use the VGAcableas a temporary measure. Below is an HDMIcable, andcan send both video and audio to amonitor.

Aitz Eceizabarrena

Pundit

How much RAM do I need?

A lightweight system today can get by with 4GBofRAM. 8GB should be plenty for current andnear-termfuture applications, 16GB gives you comfortable space forthefuture, and anything over 16GB is likely overkill unlessyouspecifically know you need it (such as for video editingoraudio post-production).

Abe Espejel

Teacher

Do you need to buy SATA cables when building a PC?

When building a computer, do you needtobuy extra cables? By and large no, though therearecertain exceptions: Your motherboard will usually come with oneormore SATA cables. Depending on your system, this mightbeenough, or you might need additionalcables.

Setou Grunke

Teacher

What does PC stand for?

Personal computer

Ginna Zarco

Teacher

How much electricity does a gaming PC use?

A typical gamer will consume 1394 kilowatt hours. Toputthat in perspective, a typical gaming console usesaround134 kilowatt hours while an average household PCwillconsum3 246 kilowatt hours. An Energy Star rated fridge chewsupnearly 500 kilowatt hours.

Javaid Vlaicu

Reviewer

How do I choose a motherboard?

What To Consider When Buying A Motherboard
  1. Form Factor. Initially you'll need to select a formfactor.
  2. Processor Socket. After choosing a form factor you'll needtochoose a processor socket.
  3. RAM (Random Access Memory) Next up, RAM, short for RandomAccessMemory.
  4. PCI Slots. A PCI slot is a connection or port that is locatedonthe motherboard.
  5. Features.
  6. SATA.

Abderrahmen Zitnik

Reviewer

What do I need to build my own computer?

Here is the Computer Parts List with all the basicHardwareParts that you will need for a functioning PC:
  1. Case.
  2. Mainboard.
  3. CPU [Processor]
  4. GPU [Graphics Card] (if no integrated GPU)
  5. RAM [Memory]
  6. Storage Device (SSD, NVME SSD, HDD)
  7. Cooling (CPU, Chassis)
  8. PSU [Power Supply Unit]

Emelita Karbaumer

Reviewer

How much is a monitor?

Typical costs: A budget-priced LCD monitor canbepurchased for about $100 to $200. This type of LCDmonitoris a low cost way for students or general-purposeusers to upgradefrom an old CRT unit. Expect a 15- to 20-inchscreen, eitherstandard 4:3 or widescreen format, with a maximumresolution of upto 1600 x 900.

Arunas Sadek

Reviewer

Do you need to buy Windows when building a PC?

One thing to remember is that when you build aPC,you don't automatically have Windowsincluded.You'll have to buy a license from Microsoftor anothervendor and make a USB key to install it. If youdon't plan toplay games or don't need Windows software,consider a flavorof Linux!

Jerry Torbrugge

Supporter

How much is the cheapest laptop?

The Best Budget Laptops for 2019
  • Acer Chromebook Spin 11. MSRP: $399.99.
  • Acer Chromebook 514. MSRP: $349.00.
  • Asus Chromebook C523. MSRP: $379.99.
  • Asus Transformer Mini (T102HA-D4-GR) MSRP: $399.00.
  • HP Chromebook x2. MSRP: $599.99.
  • Asus VivoBook F510UA. MSRP: $599.99.
  • Dell Chromebook 3189 Education 2-in-1. MSRP: $349.00.
  • Asus VivoBook Flip 14 (TP401CA)

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EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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5th January, 2020

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