I don’t know nothing about them I need help lady’s and gents
Gimme some builds i like all kinds of games from battlefield to diablo to rdr especially GTA6 coming out I need somthing.
There’s a lot you need to know about PC building and it can be daunting, but once you really get the hang of it, it’ll become a hobby of yours (a very, very expensive and crippling hobby). First things you need to know:
1) Your budget. This is especially true when you consider the market right now with RAM and GPU prices going up (Depending on the parts you will be getting, the PC could range between $1,200-$3,000 USD),
2) Exactly what you will be using it for. You mentioned that you want to play games, so you can start there,
3) How often you will be using it and if you would like to future proof.
Here are summaries for each part. I highly recommend at least skimming through these sections to fully understand what you need to look for:
GPUs (Graphics Processing Units):
The most expensive parts that you will encounter are the GPUs. GPUs are designed to rapidly render high-quality images, videos, 3d graphics, and anything you see on your screen. If you want good graphics, go for a GPU that has been released recently.
Right now, NVIDIA and AMD Radeon dominate the GPU market. The difference is that NVIDIA primarily focuses on their ray-tracing technology (rendering based on how light behaves irl, giving you higher graphics. The catches are that they are far more expensive (their latest GPU, the 5090, goes for no less than $4,000 USD) and they are dominating the AI market right now.
Radeon focuses on raw power and VRAM value (I will explain what this means later.)
Suffixes exist in both worlds. NVIDIA is identified with “RTX” in the card names and AMD Radeon is identified with an “RX”. NVIDIA GPUs and Radeon GPUs also feature cards with generations. For example, NVIDIA’s “50” series cards are the most recent. These include the 5050, 5060, 5060 Ti (basically a better version of the origin card), 5070, 5070 Ti, 5080, and 5090. NVIDIA also has a 6000 series card that is often used for extreme workspace conditions (heavy 3d rendering). Radeon has the “90” series cards that are the most recent. These include the 9060, 9060xt (basically the same as the Ti cards), 9070, and 9070xt. I have a 9070xt and it does me wonders.
The brand that you get your GPU from only really depends on what they focus on. Some cards are more expensive than others due to their good cooling, aesthetics, and usage.
VRAM is a special type of memory built into the GPU that is different than the RAM that goes into the motherboard. It acts as a short-term storage to store the visual data it needs to render images. The more VRAM you have, the faster it will be (and the more expensive it will get). For a beginner, a 8-12gb card would be great for entry level PCs. I had a 8gb 3050 and it worked fine, but wasn’t the greatest for demanding games.
Cons with AMD cards are that they have weaker ray-tracing and consume more power at idle. Cons with NVIDIA are that they are very expensive and have less performance-to-cost compared to AMD.
Personally, I’m a big AMD Radeon fan. This all is determined by your preferences and I have no say in what kind of graphics you’d like. Do all the research you want.
The GPUs that I would recommend for you as a beginner are:
NVIDIA: 5060 and 4060. Both are entry-level to mid GPUs and are great for ray-tracing. Both are cards that usually cost around $300-$400 USD.
AMD: 6700xt and maybe the 9060xt. Both are mid range cards that go for $300-$500 USD.
CPUs (Central Processing Units):
CPUs are the brain of the computer and handle all calculations between coding. Everything that you open, use, and execute is done by the CPU.
The two brands that make CPUs are AMD and Intel.
If you are going to be gaming, absolutely go with AMD. If you will be using the computer for gaming as well as work, go with a nice Intel CPU.
A couple things to know about AMD and Intel CPUs are that they require different Motherboards when they are inserted.
There are many different suffixes for both AMD and Intel, but I’ll try to fit it all in a body of text:
K- “Unlocked” for overclocking (increasing its speed). (Intel)
F- No integrated graphics; require a GPU to show images. (AMD & Intel)
X/XT- Extreme performance, often flagship. (AMD)
X3D- 3D V-cache; Elite gaming performance. Often better than X/XT.
G- Features an integrated GPU. Cannot overclock. (AMD)
These are essentially the only ones you need to know, but you can do your research.
Another thing to note about CPUs are that they are based on generations much like GPUs. For AMD, they use the “Ryzen” series CPUs. These include the Ryzen 3 (entry level), Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, and Ryzen 9. I consider Ryzen 7 CPUs to be the sweet spot. Its very important that you look up which CPUs work for which motherboards, as you don’t want to accidentally buy an AM4 CPU with an AM5 Motherboard.
Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about Intel CPUs, but the same goes for their CPUs.
Cost ranges between $100-$600 USD.
Motherboards:
Motherboards are where EVERYTHING happens all at once. They’re often called the “spine” of the computer, as they connect every internal hardware together that you spent your precious money on. Motherboards can be a bit complicated for a beginner. There are many different names for each board, and it can be frustrating. What you need to know first are the parts that go into the motherboard --the CPU, RAM, SSD, and eventually GPU–. Again, these parts are often determined by the generation and release date. For example, DDR4 RAM only works on an AM4 motherboard (they are often labeled on the website page/box and there are a couple of visual clues to help you).
Suffixes include:
ATX- Standard size board, fit in most cases.
M or mATX- Micro sized boards. Offer fewer expansion slots.
I or ITX- Mini ITX; very compact. Ideal for small-form PCs.
E, EEB or E-ATX- Larger boards, used for full-tower cases or PCs with multiple GPUs (yes, you can do that).
When you are choosing a motherboard, it’s important to note what you will be using your computer for. Again, I know little to nothing about Intel, so don’t ask me about any intel motherboards.
RAM (Random-access Memory):
RAM is very expensive right now and ALL PC gamers and builders hate it. Anyway, RAM is used as the entire computer’s short term memory. It stores and holds active data and instructions that your CPU needs to execute. The less gigabytes of RAM you have, the slower and less data it will hold. The older the generation you have, the slower it gets.
DDR5 is the modern standard for memory. It offers significantly faster transferspeeds compared to it’s predecessor, the underrated and valuable DDR4 RAM. When you are choosing RAM kits, you should consider how many gigabytes you really need. If you are going to be doing high-performance gaming with multiple applications in the background, go with 32gb. In my opinion, 16 gigabytes is too little and 64gb is way overkill, so 32gb is just right for me. DDR5, again, offers faster speeds compared to DDR4, but DDR4 is still amazing.
DDR5 RAM goes for about ~$430 USD (for 32gb). For DDR4, 32gb goes for $250ish USD. Most pricing is determined by RGB options, how fast the kit is, and, of course, what generation it is.
Be careful when purchasing DDR5 memory. I made that mistake just a few weeks ago when I bought $430 worth of it and it went on sale shortly after.
PSU (Power Supply):
The PSU is what keeps everything up and running. Most PSUs aren’t determined by the generation of your parts, but they do also have complicated names and suffixes.
80+ White, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium are the standard names for PSUs. Each have a different meaning:
White- Uses 80% efficiency at typical loads.
Bronze- Enhanced efficiency; better than White.
It basically just keeps going on the same way. Gold is used for most modern PCs and is highly recommended.
PSUs are also determined by “Watts”. Basically, it’s how much power your outlet will regulate to power the PC. I’d highly recommend putting all of your parts (once you’ve decided on them) into either the Newegg PC builder or the PCPartPicker builder, looking at how many watts it will take to power, and deciding on a PSU to use. For example, if your computer is going to pull an estimated 500 watts, you should get a 650-750 Watt PSU.
With getting a PSU, cable management will come. Cable management is a beast not even I can contain and I am a huge perfectionist. Cable management can be frustrating, relaxing, and can test your patience like no other. Be wary.
Also, just as a tip: Do not EVER plug your computer directly into the wall. Use a surge protector, as it could fry your parts if you ever have a storm.
Storage:
Storage is what you’d think it is. Most storage is contained using an SSD (Solid State Drive), which is a chip put into the motherboard like RAM and CPUs. Another type of storage you may be familiar with are HDDs, which are becoming increasingly obsolete. SSDs are quieter, more durable, and more expensive. For you as a beginner, I would recommend a 1tb SSD.
Cooling:
Cooling is fun. There are multiple different types of cooling, including Air-Coolers, AIOs (All in One), Stock Coolers, Custom Liquid Loop Coolers, etc. Air-coolers draw air directly into a radiator and cool the CPU. AIOs use liquid and cooling radiators to monitor CPU temperatures. Custom Liquid Loop Coolers are NOT for beginners and require high maintenance in turn for an amazing looking computer.
Cooling is completely up to you, and I have little to no advice to give other than choosing coolers that fit your PC and look great to you. I prefer AIOs only because of aesthetics, but Air Cooling might be the best for you as a beginner. Also, stock coolers are only found in the boxes of CPUs, as they come free.
Cases and Case Fans:
Cases and Case fans are really what put the entire build together. Every brand releases a different looking case that is for different needs. The main three types of towers are Full-Towers (measures between 22-27 inches tall by 9-12 inches wide and 22-26 inches deep), Mid-Towers (measures 17-21 inches tall by 7-9 inches wide and 17-19 inches deep), and Small Form Factor Towers (measures between 8-14 inches tall by 4-9 inches wide and 10-15 inches deep).
Aesthetics are awesome but don’t affect performance unless looking at your pretty computer motivates you.
Case fans are arranged in a specific way for optimal airflow. The front case fans are intake fans that take outside air and push it all throughout the case and parts to cool them, while the upper and rear fans are exhaust fans that push hot air out. If you buy a case with bottom fans, those are also intake fans.
Operating systems can be bought online in the form of either a DVD or hard drive, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I would suggest going on your old computer (if you have one, if not then on another computer) to download Windows OS installation files onto a USB and then plugging that USB into your new computer. I don’t use linux so I wouldn’t know the installation guide for that. Thermal paste is also crucial for maintaining temperatures for the CPU (and GPU, when you have time to reapply thermal paste there). Do not EVER skip on applying thermal paste.
That’s about it for parts. If you have any questions, ask away : )
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Here are a few informational videos for you something we put together for the first time builders it’s a couple years old but is very relevant still. Like Sethiroth asked, #1 what is your budget.
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