5 Things You Need To Know Before You Build Your Own PC
While there are plenty of prebuilt PC options, nothing quite beats building one yourself. You get to pick all of the parts you want like a kid in a candy store, and then get the satisfaction of assembling it together just how you like it. While it can be time-consuming and a bit costly, most hardcore PC users prefer to build their own.
If you’re building a PC for the first time, there are some things that you need to know first. Here are five of those things to take into consideration before you spend a single penny.
1. The Costs
There are going to be some people who will buy parts one at a time when they can afford them and assemble the entire PC eventually, while others will set aside money a little bit at a time until they can get everything at once.
Whichever method you’re choosing, make sure you’re fully prepared for all of the costs that come with building a PC first and foremost. The most important thing, though, is to track the prices as they change. PC parts are volatile in terms of price, so try and snag them when the prices are lower.
2. Compatibility
While a lot of PC parts are compatible no matter which brand or company is making them, there are going to be some cases in which a PC part won’t work with the rest of what you have. For those that have never assembled a PC before, this is the most common mistake that gets made.
They will tend to buy parts because the price of a part fits into their budget, but it ends up being a waste of money. Though these parts can be sold to others that may need them, you’ll still end up in the red for buying them in the first place.
3. RAM Needs
RAM, or random access memory as you already know, is going to determine how much you can do on your PC at once. Most people that are building a PC are looking to play the latest games, so the more RAM you have, the better. Standard laptops will have about 4GB on the lower end and 8GB as the standard.
It’s when you get into 16GB of RAM that you start getting into gaming capabilities. 16GB will be fine, but 32GB is the optimal memory for gamers to aim for. If you have a really big budget, then you can shoot for 64GB or even more, though this is more reserved for professionals and can cost thousands of dollars.
4. Availability
We’ve mentioned that the market for PC parts can be very volatile, which affects both price and availability. If you’re missing that one key component to finalize your PC, you may be waiting for a long time. There have been several instances of parts in high demand but with very little supply.
PC parts are tied very closely to the overall economy. When the market is good, the supply is going to be much higher but can become scarce fast. PC builders will never forget the GPU shortage of 2021 that had people waiting for months on graphics cards until they could finish their dream PC.
5. Monitors and Space
Let’s say that you’ve picked out all of your PC parts and have the money, you’re just ready to hit submit to purchase them all. The only problem is that you don’t know exactly where you’re going to put the PC. Many don’t realize the first time when they’re building a PC just how large the tower is going to be.
Not only that, but you have to think about the monitor situation. Those that are willing to build a high-powered PC would want at least two monitors, requiring a lot of desk space. With that in mind, get your desk situation sorted out before you start buying and building your PC.