The Complete Build Your Own PC Manual - October 2020

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Save money by building your own PC! Learn that building your own PC is rewarding in a number of ways, from the huge sense of satisfaction it gives, to the potential savings you can make. Whether you have never seen the inside of a computer or you have some basic knowledge, this guide is the perfect way to increase your understanding and bolster your confidence in PC building. Helpfully broken up into three sections: Planning, Building, Software, this book is all you need to build a brilliant first PC.

10 Reasons To Build Your Own PC

There are many reasons for building your own PC and if you took five different builders, all five might have a completely different reason for wanting to undertake this task. Here are our top ten reasons for choosing and enjoying to build PC after PC, in all shapes and sizes, for gaming, media and work.

4 mins

Choosing the System Type

For most people who want to build their own PC, there are only two real choices when it comes to the system type, Intel or AMD. There are advantages to choosing either one of these options, which might not be immediately obvious to the very new builder. It might also not be obvious that compatibility problems can occur if you don’t understand the difference between these two PC platforms. Your choice here will definitely influence every major component purchase you make later.

2 mins

Choosing A PC Case

Although they may not have seen the sort of massive changes that most other PC components have, the choice of case for your build is now much wider than it was just a few years ago. From simple black boxes, to LED-lit windowed showcases, there is a case style out there for everyone. However, choosing a case should be about more than just looks. Quality and features vary greatly and getting this key component right can mean the difference between a good and a great first build.

5 mins

Choosing a Processor

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) of your computer is likely to be the most expensive single component, especially if you are trying to future-proof your build as much as possible. When it comes to choosing a processor, faster and newer is almost always better. However, does the average PC builder really need a 4GHz Core i7? Does having a faster CPU always mean having a faster computer overall? What is hyper-threading? Read on to find the answers to these questions and many more.

5 mins

Need More Power?

The role of a PC power supply unit is to convert the AC electric power that comes from the mains to the DC power that the computer requires. However, it can do much more than that. A good quality power supply can make your system more efficient, stable and reliable. The power supply is often the first component to fail in an older system, so making sure you understand the full role of the PSU in your build is very important.

5 mins

Before You Build Precautions

Nothing will spoil the joy of building your own PC faster than damaging a critical component before you have even fitted it inside the case. Although there is no need to be scared of a first-time build, there are simple things you can do to prepare for it. Some of the main concerns include electrostatic discharge, dropped parts and damage caused by forcibly fitting together parts or scratched circuits.

3 mins

Preparing the Case

Choosing a case used to be almost an afterthought when building a custom PC. One grey box was much the same as another grey box. Thankfully the days of grey boxes are well and truly over and our choice of PC case ranges from tiny media boxes designed to go next to a TV, to bespoke glass towers aimed at those who want to show off their perfectly co-ordinated components. However, whichever case you choose, some preparation is needed before beginning your build.

2 mins

Final Checks and First Boot

If you have followed all of the build steps thus far, you should now be at the point where the first boot up is looming. Before you do, it is worth going back and checking that everything is ready, all cables are connected and everything is looking good. First boot doesn’t mean that you can’t go back and change things later but you can avoid problems by doing a few simple checks.

4 mins

Optimising Your PC for Performance

There are many ways to improve the performance of your PC. Some will only produce marginal improvements and some only speed up operations such as web searches. However, when you’re trying to squeeze the most out of your system every little helps; here are some more handy tips to boost the performance of your system even further.

3 mins

Choosing Linux

There are lots of versions, known as “Distributions”, of Linux available. Each has a different ethos and approach and each will offer the user a different set of features and tools. If you are considering using Linux instead of Windows on your PC, here is a look at the five most popular, and probably the best supported, distributions available and where you can get them.

4 mins

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The Complete Build Your Own PC Manual Magazine Description:

Save money by building your own PC! Whether you have never seen the inside of a computer or you have some basic knowledge, this guide is the perfect way to increase your understanding and bolster your confidence in PC building. Helpfully broken up into three sections: Planning, Building and Software, this book is all you need to build a brilliant first PC.