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Are you wanting to build your own PC? Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned pro, building your own PC for gaming can be a cheaper, more rewarding alternative to buying a prebuilt PC (not to mention a better fit for your performance requirements).

They are not only economical, but they offer better performance with unique features – like an extension of your own personality.

There are a number of DIY videos available on the internet that can tell you how to make your own gaming PC. Whether you have decided to build your own PC for the sake of cost or for a feeling of accomplishment, it is definitely fun and highly rewarding. Building your own PC and controlling everything that goes into it, means that you won’t have to sacrifice on performance and can easily make any upgrades when required.

Although building your own PC might sound intimidating, it’s easier than you think. However, before you begin the build, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what is needed and what each component does. Things like RAM, storage, externals, motherboard and heavy-duty desktop programmes, are all important aspects to take into account. 

So to help you out, we have gathered some useful information to consider before making a personalised PC. Hence, in the spirit of DIY, let’s get to the ten essential things to take into consideration to make the best custom-build gaming PC.

Here is our list of all the components you will need to consider:

  • RAM
  • Graphics
  • Storage Memory
  • Cooling System
  • Overclocking
  • Display Settings
  • Aesthetics
  • Sound System
  • Data Peripherals
  • Power Supply

1. RAM (for size & speed)

If you are planning to run multiple applications at the same time, then you need a good capacity RAM to do things smoothly. A capacity of at least 8GB RAM is ideal for getting the best performance to give the best value to hardcore gaming users. Also, if you are doing surfing while working on updating and downloading something on your PC, the extra RAM may not show. So, often, high-speed PC RAM is recommended for overclock users. The standard speed of 1600MHz is supported by a CAS latency rate of 9.

Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO | Photo: Corsair

Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO | Photo: Corsair

Both of these values are enough for hardcore users who are willing to do heavy rendering. It enables you to know what you are building to get the best results out of your speed and capacity out of your RAM.

2. Graphics

Although today’s processors are well equipped to work with powerful onboard graphics, you may need a graphics card to enable smooth gameplay with good quality graphic settings. You can also get more frames with better quality visuals while gaming.

Selective focus photography of GEFORCE RTX graphics card | Photo: Christian Wiediger via Unsplash

Selective focus photography of GEFORCE RTX graphics card | Photo: Christian Wiediger via Unsplash

There are many latest versions of graphics cards available on the market that may fit into your budget. But we recommend that if your budget allows for a beefier card then go for the world of spectacular graphics, or else you can just stick to the built-in settings with mid-range to let you suffice.

3. Storage Memory

You will need to invest in a good storage option as the operating system and files are stored on your PC’s internal storage. When it comes to storage space, you could either opt for a hard disk drive or solid-state drive. While both HDD’s and SSD’s serve the same purpose, the mechanisms by which they read, write and store data are different. 

Black and grey internal HDD | Photo: Vincent Botta

Black and grey internal HDD | Photo: Vincent Botta

If you are looking for a lot of storage without spending a lot of money then an HDD (hard disk drive) is a great option. A hard disk drive is a storage device which contains moving parts that are more fragile than that of their solid-state counterparts. However, it’s important to note that as a hard drive starts to fill up, it can suffer from fragmentation and is much slower than an SSD during use. 

Instead of moving parts, the solid-state drive uses flash memory meaning that computers with an SSD boot up more quickly and read and writes data at a higher speed. Although, as solid-state drives are still relatively new, the main disadvantage is that they can be more expensive. If you have the budget to pay for faster performance or don’t mind limited storage capacity (hard drives are available in higher capacities), then an SSD might be the right choice. 

4. Cooling System

A proper cooling system is a major contributing factor to deliver better performance and enhances the lifespan of your computer. You can either install an air-based or water-based cooling system. Air coolants are noisy but are economical and perform well when compared to water-based coolants as they have speedy fans. Most processors are built with more cooling fans, and you can upgrade them with something bigger and better to perform well when cooled.

Black CPU cooling system | Photo: Alexandru-Bogdan Ghita via Unsplash

Black CPU cooling system | Photo: Alexandru-Bogdan Ghita via Unsplash

On the other hand, in water cooling systems, fans run slower than air systems and hence are quieter or less noisy. They are slightly expensive and complex to install. They run on a customized assembled loop systems where you can have a tubing route via different components, radiators and pumps to keep your PC fresh. Here, closed-loop solutions can be mounted so that you can opt those for your convenience. Both types of cooling systems are great. If you are not planning to overclock, an air cooler is sufficient. Remember, you can also add more fans if you want to cool the system more often.

5. Overclocking

To put it simply, overclocking means to increase the speeds of your CPU and memory to a higher rate than of the official speed grade.

There are many overclocking motherboard and processors available that are not expensive, but the graphic card scan is dedicatedly overclocked with them. Overclocking a processor, motherboard, graphics card or RAM helps your PC to perform faster and better than the specifications provided by manufacturers.

Black Gigabyte graphics card | Photo: Rafael Pol via Unsplash

Black Gigabyte graphics card | Photo: Rafael Pol via Unsplash

Moreover, overclocking will release heat and make your system hang or wear out the components more quickly. So you will just have to install a cooling system to tackle this issue as mentioned above. Hence, overclocking is not an essential component to pursue if you are building your PC on a budget. However, if you do plan to include it, it will positively impact your motherboard, processor, and RAM for faster performance. 

6. Display Settings

LEDs and LCDs with a minimum of 32 inches along with 1920 x 1080 resolutions are an ideal display setting for today’s generation. The good news is they are not much expensive. However, you can upgrade them with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 or 3840 x 2160 pixels to get a spectacular view and get the most fantastic experience to consider while gaming. Also, there may be a time when you are watching videos and photographs on your PC or editing graphics then these high-resolution colour reproduction and collaboration will help you out.

Colourful PC screen on desk | Photo: Niclas Illg via Unsplash

Colourful PC screen on desk | Photo: Niclas Illg via Unsplash

Many high-end display screens have pre-colour collaborated with high colour consistency and better and deeper black showcasing. Hence if you need true colours, you can invest in upgrading to a proper display setting. Remember 4K screens are expensive, so custom building PC is all about cutting costs without compromising on experience.

7. Aesthetics

When you are building a customized PC, then you can go beyond LED strips and fans to make it a centrepiece for the room you will be gaming in. There are multiple casing options and aesthetics that are available in different sizes and shapes. 

Gaming PC on desk lit up by LED lights | Photo: Javier Peñas via Unsplash

Gaming PC on desk lit up by LED lights | Photo: Javier Peñas via Unsplash

The world of trends are getting smaller, and with the compact size, you can still get a packed punch due to the technological advancements allowing no compromise in entertainment. You may be limited to an expansion on ITX solely for graphics, but they are worth investing in.

8. Sound System

The quality of built-in sound cards are sufficient enough, but for those of you who require better sound, consider investing in a set of speakers, buffers and headphones. Using these gadgets will ensure you get the best experience out of gaming and add immense user experience to your PC setup.

Speakers and gaming PC on desk | Photo: Abdul Barie via Unsplash

Speakers and gaming PC on desk | Photo: Abdul Barie via Unsplash

9. Data Peripherals

From a gamer’s perspective, it’s important to invest in high- quality data peripherals like a keyboard, mouse, gaming headset and other accessories to get you more significant user experience. They are designed to be durable and look good too. There is a long list of available peripherals that are uniquely stylish and useful to choose from.

Person holding computer mouse | Photo: Emmanuel via Unsplash

A person holding computer mouse | Photo: Emmanuel via Unsplash

10. Power Supply

A gold standard and certified power supply unit can make your system more power-efficient and reliable. It will also save you energy in the long run. A cheap PSU may be stable enough to handle voltage fluctuations, but a certified gold standard PSU may be costly but good enough to save your expensive equipment.

Power unit on desk | Photo: TechJunkie

Power unit on desk | Photo: TechJunkie

As mentioned above, it is not essential to get the most expensive gadgets to design your gaming PC, instead, it’s important to get the most reliable and useful one. Hence, it is a great way to get everything you need with an affordable cost without burning a hole in your pocket.

Now you know what to consider before building your own gaming PC, why not invest in the best PC RAM to kickstart your DIY project? 

Author Bio: John William is a qualified IT professional. He has a rich experience in software from more than 12 years. Currently, he is working as a Technical Writer at Australian Master.

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