Level 1 – Intel Core i5 Gaming PC DIY Kit

Are you looking for a fun educational gift experience for a gamer? Have you wanted to build your own PC but have found it too intimidating? We have the perfect solution in the Intel® Core™ i5k Unlocked Gaming DIY Kit to build a budget-friendly gaming desktop, and we will walk you through a super simple step-by-step process to assemble it. As part of the kit we also include Intel Performance Maximizer, an automated overclocking tool, Intel Easy Streaming Wizard, a tool that gets you online streaming in minutes, and a set of free games and software. Let’s get right to assembly!

Intel Budget Gaming PC Build

The Building Process

We are first going to check to make sure that we have the required components. Starting with the processor we have an overclockable Intel Core i5-9600KF, a 16GB DRAM kit, an Intel SSD, a GeForce GTX 1660, a 520-watt power supply, an Intel-based B360 motherboard, and a Phanteks ATX chassis. For tools, we need a #2 phillips screwdriver, a #1 phillips screwdriver, and wire cutters (or scissors would work as well).

Tools Needed

Tools Needed: Screwdriver, Zip ties, Wire cutters

When preparing the case for the power supply, you want to make sure the wires of the PSU are facing toward the inside of the case. This makes organizing your cables much easier later on. Before inserting the PSU, you’ll need to unscrew both of the case’s side panels. The front panel is tempered glass and has four front-face screws, and the rear panel is a sheet of metal held to the case by two screws—one near the PSU and one up by the I/O panel. When the panels are off, plug your three cables into the PSU, flip the PSU upside down so the fan is pointed downward for proper airflow, and insert it into the case. The three cables you’ll need are the 24-pin motherboard power cable, a PCIe power cable for the graphics card, and a CPU power cable.

To make things easier, you’ll want to install the CPU into the motherboard while outside of the case. The first step to preparing the motherboard is unboxing it, placing it on a flat surface, and lifting up the CPU socket cover using the small lever shown in the video. Then, install the CPU by lining up the chip’s divots with the socket and the gold triangle on the top of the CPU with the appropriate corner. Set the CPU into the socket; you shouldn’t need to press it down or apply any force to it at all. Wiggle the CPU with your finger to make sure it’s snug, and then lock the CPU socket cover back down with the same lever. The lever will give you resistance, but that’s normal. For the CPU cooler, just align the pegs on the cooler with the holes in the motherboard around the socket and press down. Finally, plug in the 3-pin cable into the CPU_Fan slot to power the cooler.

Installing memory, or RAM, is pretty straightforward. Make sure the latches on the sides of the second and fourth RAM slots (from the CPU) are in the open position, then simply secure the RAM sticks in place using those slots. There is a notch in each slot, so make sure you line that notch up with the corresponding notch on each memory stick. Once the lock latches are secured, you’re done.

The M.2 slot is located on the front of the motherboard near the PCIe slots. There’s a screw latch for the small-line PCIe slot that the M.2 uses. Just unscrew that, plug in the M.2 SSD, and then use the small screw to secure it in place. You’ll need to do the same thing for the small WiFi module. Once the module is secure, you can let the PCIe slot plate containing the antenna ports hang loose until it’s time to secure that to the case.

Before putting the motherboard into the case, be sure to install the I/O panel, aligning the ports on the motherboard with the corresponding slots in the I/O panel on the case. Then, install the motherboard. The motherboard should fit easily into the case. Line up the screw holes on the motherboard with the standoffs in the case, and then screw them down. There should be 6 screws to secure, but some motherboards come with fewer, or even extra.

Route the case and motherboard cables through the back of the case and out to the front. These cables will include the three PSU cables mentioned earlier (CPU, PCIe, and motherboard), as well as several smaller cables from the case itself, including audio, USB, and front panel power cables. It’s important to follow the video for a visual reference on which cables go where. It’s also important to read the included motherboard manual. As an important note, the PCIe power cable from the PSU will hang loose until the graphics card is installed in the next step.

Before you’re able to install the graphics card (GPU) to the motherboard, you’ll need to prep the case by unscrewing and removing PCIe slot covers, which are small, straight metal strips on the rear of the case lining up with the PCI slots on the motherboard. For this GPU, you’ll need to remove slot covers two, three, and four. You’ll need to remove the fifth as well, but this slot is for the WiFi module installed in Step 4. Once the slot covers are removed, attach the GPU to the motherboard by securing it into the PCIe slot’s latch. Once latched, then you can screw the GPU onto the case where you removed the slot covers, and then repeat to secure the antenna plate from the WiFi module.

Find the last remaining loose cable, the PCIe power cable attached to your PSU and brought through to the front of your motherboard in Step 6. Connect this to the GPU, and then use either zip ties or twist ties to bundle and hide cables throughout. This will improve airflow through the case, as well as make it look better.

Once you have the core components installed, everything is ready to go. Insert the USB containing Windows 10, then power up the system.  Be sure to connect the monitor, as well as a mouse and keyboard. When the system boots up, and the Windows installation process begins, simply follow on-screen instructions until it’s finished. When the PC is all set up, be sure to download Intel’s Easy Streaming Wizard to quickly and easily prepare your gaming livestream. You can also download Intel’s Performance Maximizer to make sure you’re getting the most out of your new rig. Now that the hard part is all done, you can start enjoying your new build.

Build Comparison