Success in gaming relies heavily on selecting components that match your performance goals. A 500W to 700W power supply will keep everything running smoothly, and a case like the Thermaltake Versa H18 gives you room to grow. Next, you’ll need to determine your system requirements by checking the recommended specs for the games you’re dying to play. Your GPU is going to be pretty big, so installing it last makes sense. Once you put your GPU in there, space is going to start getting tight. Now that your processor is seated, take a look at the shiny square of silicon in the center of it.
For the installation, remove the radiator, fans and pump from the box. Fortunately, ASUS has done some of the work for us and pre-installed the fans on the radiator, saving us a step, so all we need to do is mount it to the case and CPU. Make sure to check if the cooler is compatible with your motherboard before buying. Once you have the right cooler, follow the instructions provided to securely mount it onto the CPU.
Budget-Based Component Choices
Keep your PC updated, and it will continue to provide you with an excellent gaming experience. Having these tools and items ready before you begin the assembly process will streamline your PC building experience and minimize the chances of encountering problems. A magnetic parts tray can be handy for keeping track of screws and small components. It prevents them from getting lost or rolling away during the build. By carefully planning your gaming PC build, you’ll be well-prepared to make informed decisions when selecting components in the next phase.
Make sure to check your motherboard specifications for details on supported memory and configurations. The latest generation of Radeon graphics cards is the 9000-Series, but we're still working on getting our hands on one. Stock has been really slim on these, and I've mostly seen them in combos with motherboards and CPUs where the price of the card itself is game quiz less obvious.
Ultrawide Versus Dual Monitors: The Ultimate Showdown
It's not much extra though, so treat yourself should you feel the need. For the purpose of this build, it's all about delivering 1080p performance. Generally speaking, more memory is better than less, so I went with 32 GB — twice what the PS5 and Xbox Series X will offer.
And, if there has been any new driver release since your motherboard/GPU were boxed up, the disc won’t have them. Now that your build has powered up, you need to install your operating system. If you’re building a gaming PC, you’ll likely want to choose Windows 10 or 11 for your operating system. The case wires are a bit more difficult because they are a group of tiny 1- and 2-pin cables and they must be installed in a specific way.
Memory is more like that one table you toss things on to deal with later. It’s very important, though, because software uses memory to cache (temporarily store) data in a place where it can be retrieved quickly. Every system needs storage, and how much will depend once again on what you plan to use the system for. We recommend at least 256 GB of storage for any system, even for light home use.
All the hardware components in this guide are parts I'd pick if I were building my own PC, and using our expert reviews to guide me. The key components have been tested on our test bench to ensure they meet expectations. Now that you've installed the CPU and the CPU cooler, you may want to perform a quick test run of your components just to make sure they all work. This test is much more difficult to perform (and troubleshoot) once everything is installed in the chassis. To do this, install GPU and connect everything to the power supply (if you don't know how to install the GPU, see section below).
If any slot can be used, determine which slot you'll be using based on where other components are placed—you want your GPU to have some breathing room. If you're using a non-modular or semi-modular power supply, now is the time to run the attached cables through the case to where they'll need to end up (make use of cable management features if your case has them). Though building a PC may seem complex—especially if it’s your first time working inside the chassis—you might find that it’s easier than you think.
The reason we single out the graphics card and CPU is because, as mentioned in step 1, these are the two most important parts in a gaming PC. You should probably think about choosing these parts first when planning your build, assuming you want to maximize gaming performance. For anyone wondering, yes bottlenecking is possible (which happens when your CPU is too weak in correlation with your graphics), but for most builds these ratios will work well and you won't experience bottlenecking. Now we get into serious power, and building your own desktop in this price range is for gamers seeking the very best gaming experience that money can buy, with little to no compromises. Just don't forget to put the VR headset down every once in a while to breath the fresh air of reality. You'll want to refer to your specific case's manual for this, but it's pretty straightforward.
Step 6: Power Supply Mounting & Cable Management
It’s harder than it sounds, but truthfully, this is a skill you’ll have to develop if you want to build a PC. If you have any concerns, try Newegg’s PC Builder tool, which helps ensure compatibility. Alternatively, consult Reddit or Tom’s Hardware, both of which have “critique my build” options in their forums. Once your drives are all in place, connect them to the motherboard (using a SATA cable, which should have come with either your drive or your motherboard) and to the power supply. It will be the longest PCIe slot and may be a different color than the others. If your motherboard has more than one PCIe x16 slot, check the user manual to see if one slot needs to be prioritized.
Take your motherboard out of its packaging and carefully place it on the static sheet that comes in the packaging. The modern-day motherboards use the LGA system featuring a small lever to release the latch that holds the CPU once installed correctly. Pull the small lever gently to unlatch it to expose the socket with golden contact underneath. The biggest factor at play for most gamers when choosing how much you should spend on a gaming PC build is the screen resolution you will be gaming in.
A new gaming PC can be expensive so you want to ensure what you're buying is completely compatible. If you're strapped for cash though, the good news is you can still build a good gaming computer on a budget (and for much cheaper than you may realize) and end up with an enjoyable experience. Not everyone needs to run the latest, most graphically-demanding AAA games in super-high resolution and at super-high frame rates to have a blast. You may wonder how much it costs to build a computer for a good gaming experience, but the answer completely depends on your specific wants and needs.