How to build your own computer. Self-assembly of a computer

Why start building a computer with your own hands? Of course, to assemble a PC system unit yourself, you will need to pick up everything necessary components for computer and tools.

Computer assembly kit

What do we need when assembling a computer ourselves?

Computer assembly kit includes:

• Motherboard (MB)
• Processor (CPU)
• Random access memory (RAM)
• Hard drive (HDD/SSD)
• Power supply (PSU)
• Video card (GPU)
• PC system case (CASE)
• Optical drive (DVD drive, optional)
• CPU cooling system (cooler)

Tools that will be useful when assembling a computer:

• Screwdriver (phillips and flathead)
• Plastic clamps (cable ties)

It is best to place the prepared parts and tools in an easily accessible place, so that everything is at hand. In the photo below you can see our set.

Assembling a computer at home from customer components

In this case it was carried out assembling a computer at home from customer components, the work was done at home. The advantage of this is that the user can see the entire assembly process, ask questions and receive detailed answers to them. And in the future already carry out the modernization yourself own PC or build a new, more powerful computer.

Let's look at what you can give preference to when choosing a PC for gaming. When starting to select components for a computer, you must first study the price list of a computer store. The first priority is to choose a good gaming combination - video card + processor. This is what will make it possible to build the best computer and provide excellent performance for modern games.

Let's start the search. We allocate up to 50% of the calculated cost of the computer for the selection of a video card and processor! To make the right choice, do not stop your attention on processors like Intel Core i7 2600 3.40 or AMD Fx - 8120, because we need to build a PC for next-generation games, and not just buy the coolest processor.

Dual-core INTEL Core i3 processors - 2nd generation, with HYPER THREADING technology and 4 threads, are ideal. The following models are perfect for a gaming computer: CORE i3 - 2100 3.1GHz, CORE i3 - 2120 3.30 GHz /5GTs/850MHz(GPU)/ 3072Kb/, CORE i3 - 2130 3.4GHz. If you choose among AMD processors, there is more choice, but preference can be given to PHENOM II X4 965 AM3 and AMD FX-4100 AM3+. So, the choice is yours - to build a gaming computer using a new generation processor, or with a good CPU of the previous generation. Both of these options are suitable, but it’s up to you to decide which one to choose.

How to assemble a gaming computer according to parameters

For a gaming personal computer, you can also choose from a GeForce GTX 660 or RADEON HD 7870. I would also like to highlight the GIGABYTE GeForce GTX660 GV-N660OC-2GD, MSI GeForce GTX 660 N 660 TF 2GD5/OC and ASUS GTX 660-DC2O-2GD5 . And, of course, let's not forget about the representative of AMD RADEON HD 7870 - GIGABYTE GV-R787OC-2GD. With it, your gaming computer will be even more powerful.

Motherboard
Here, first of all, you need to understand what kind of computer you need to build - it is clear that in order to play, but still, in addition to games, there are many more useful and exciting activities.

If you have decided to build a computer based on an INTEL processor, then you need to start choosing a motherboard with the P 68 chipset and at least the iZ 68 GIGABYTE GA-Z68M-D2H board. Also, when choosing a PC, we pay attention to the Z 68 chipset - MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) and As Rock Z 68 Pro3 Gen3. Don’t forget about the possibility of purchasing a motherboard and Cross Fire X support or SLI, with two PCI-E x 8+ x 8 connectors. All this will give a chance to make the computer relevant for games for a long time, and, without changing the entire system, change only the processor and video card . Thanks to this, you will again have a good, powerful personal computer that will perfectly run the latest games.

For those who prefer Phys X effects and those who have an outdated GeForce video card, starting with the VIII series, it is advisable to buy a motherboard that includes two PCI - EXPRESS x16 video card slots, at least x16+x4. Installing an additional video card will help relieve the main one, and owners of RADEON video cards will be provided with support for Phys X. All this provides an opportunity to build a more powerful PC with an enhanced gaming component.

RAM
When choosing a gaming computer, you need to remember that you need RAM with a total capacity of 4 GB. It is best to set a pair of identical 2 x 2 Gb strips to activate dual-channel mode. To use the full amount of memory, you must use a 64-Bit operating system. Frequency specifications depend on motherboard support.

Selecting a hard drive
The slowest component of a gaming computer is the HDD. Therefore, when choosing a hard drive for a computer, in addition to the minimum capacity of 500GB, you need to pay attention to the rotation speed. The most common: 7200 rpm or from 5400 to 5900 rpm. Low-speed models are designed to store various files, so they are not the best option for a gaming PC. For system disks, it is better to use faster HDDs with a speed of 7200 rpm. The difference in performance will be quite noticeable.

At the final stage, in order to assemble a good gaming PC, all that remains is to choose the case and power supply. Taking into account the selected video card and processor, for full operation of the computer you will need a good power supply with a power of 500 - 550 W. For example, CHIEFTEC A-135 APS-500S.

System unit case
The final point when assembling a computer for gaming is the case. You can simply choose it by appearance. When choosing a case for a gaming PC, you should pay attention to:

• A). The building must be spacious;


• b). The length from the back wall to the HDD cage should be greater than the size of the video card - HIS HD 6870 Ice Q X = 260 mm;


• V). The metal thickness is preferably from 0.7 to 1 mm;


• G). Minimum one installed fan, at least 120 mm.

Happy shopping!

Greetings, dear readers. Surely there are people among you who are planning to buy a computer in the near future. So, in fact, I decided to write a short series of articles about how to build a computer yourself and how to choose the optimal components based on your needs. We will not talk about the process of physical assembly itself, but about how assemble the optimal configuration.

To prevent the article from becoming huge and difficult to read, I divided it into separate articles:

1. How to assemble a computer yourself(you are here)

Desktop or alternative

Why do we need desktop computers these days? After all, progress does not stand still and there are an abundance of more modern devices on the market, such as tablets, smartphones, all-in-one PCs, ultrabooks, and so on. And the point is this. Modern gadgets may satisfy most of the modern needs of mankind, but there are always tasks that require more productivity than mobile gadgets can provide. That's when desktops come to the rescue.

Before you wonder " how to build a computer yourself“First of all, you need to decide what you need a PC for. Even when you go to a store to buy a computer, the first thing they ask you is how you are going to use it. Maybe you need it for office work, or maybe, on the contrary, you need it. But these are two completely different computers.

I'm sure you already have a rough idea in your head of what kind of computer you want to build. And I’ll just describe the possible options for what might be in your head right now.

Do you want to build a gaming computer?

If you love gaming, then you most likely want to build the most powerful gaming computer (or something close to it). By the way, it will be said that a gaming computer is suitable not only for games. It is also great for video and graphics processing, 3D modeling, and audio processing (if you add a professional sound card to it). In general, this PC is suitable for everything. But his appetites are not childish either (in terms of electricity consumption).

Every gamer's dream

To build a gaming computer, Intel Core i5 / Intel Core i7 / and preferably at least 6th generation. Its analogue could be AMD FX / AMD RYZEN 5 / AMD RYZEN 7, if you are a fan of AMD processors. must be at least NVidia GeForce 780Ti or higher. I don’t see any point in taking it, since its price is inflated out of proportion to its power. you'll need 16GB, but it's not difficult if the motherboard has enough free slots for it. And it’s definitely needed for the system, or better yet, for all software, including games. Fortunately, the volume of solid-state drives is now growing in leaps and bounds. Soon we will completely forget what it is.

Want to build an office PC?

In fact, these are the weakest computers; sometimes it is really better to prefer such a PC. So, if you decide to build an office computer, then you will need an inexpensive Pentium or Celeron processor (but Pentium is better), or a dual- or quad-core AMD processor of similar power. The video card will have a fairly built-in head. However, you should not install less than 4 GB of RAM.

Do you want to build a PC for video processing, graphics, design work, layout

This is, in fact, a medium-power computer. About 8-16 GB of RAM. The main load will fall on the central processor and video card. Therefore, at a minimum, you need an Intel Core i5 processor (preferably the latest or penultimate generation). And consider video cards from .

If we are talking about layout or programming, then you can assemble a system that is a little weaker. For example, an Intel Core i3 processor (also the latest or penultimate generation) will suffice. And since you don’t have to work with graphics, an integrated video card may well be enough.

How to assemble a computer yourself: summary

Now you know in general terms how to assemble a computer yourself. We will look at each point in more detail very soon. In the meantime, a checklist on the topic “Build a computer yourself”:

1. Any case will fit. Take a beautiful one.
2. The more powerful the computer, the more powerful the power supply.
3. The motherboard must support the connection interface for each component you choose. For example, processor chipset or .
4. There is no need to skimp on the processor.
5. If you plan to overclock the processor (), then take care of good cooling.
6. System performance depends not only on the amount of RAM, but also on the frequency of the RAM bus.
7. Often, a video card of the penultimate generation will be enough for any modern game. Don't waste your money on the latest generation video cards.
8. The hard drive can also affect the speed of the system. If this is important, then it is better to look towards SSD drives. They are much faster and quieter.
9. An optical drive is a completely optional attribute. You can save money on it.

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Many people ask: how to build your own computer? Most don't want assemble the system unit yourself. It is believed that this is a rather complicated procedure and it is not so easy to cope with the assembly yourself. Without assembly experience this is of course not easy, but still possible.

What is the advantage DIY computer assembly? Firstly, such a computer will cost less than one bought in a store. Secondly, the system unit will be assembled taking into account your requirements, and during assembly you will find out what the computer consists of, etc.

The first step is to determine the configuration of the future system unit - home or office, gaming or just a multimedia center, or even some kind of highly specialized computer. The choice of components for assembling the computer will depend on the class of the computer.

Worker computer for office does not require a gaming video card and huge amounts of RAM, but for gaming computer without a powerful video card and large quantity There is no way to get by with RAM. Multimedia center needs a good large-capacity hard drive, or even better, if there are several of them, as well as a high-quality sound card and an average video card with the ability to connect a TV with an HDMI cable.

In any case, it begins with defining the tasks and purposes that this computer will perform. Once you have decided on the type of system unit, it’s time to make a list of components for the system unit:

• Processor and cooler with radiator
• Motherboard
• RAM
• Video card
• HDD hard drive
• Frame
• power unit
• DVD drive

You probably already noticed that there is no sound card in the list; the fact is that modern motherboards are equipped with a built-in sound card, network card, and other modules. Which 10-15 years ago were separate devices. If you need high quality sound, then you cannot do without a high-quality sound card. Especially if you need support for multi-channel audio.

We recommend choosing components with processor, since only certain motherboards are suitable for different types of processors. The socket in the motherboard where the processor is installed is called a socket, so the choice of processor affects the choice of motherboard. In addition, be sure to check whether the selected motherboard supports this processor core.

Cooler with radiator is also selected according to the type of processor socket, taking into account power consumption and the need for subsequent overclocking. If you do not plan to overclock, then the box version will suffice. Otherwise, we recommend not skimping on a cooler and choosing one with a copper core in the radiator and a fan with speed control.

Planks RAM You need to buy those that are supported by the motherboard and its maximum frequency. Those. If the motherboard supports DDR3 memory with a maximum frequency of 2000 MHz, then there is no point in buying DDR3 memory sticks with a frequency of 2400 MHz, since they will still operate at a maximum frequency of 2000 MHz.

Choosing video card, Pay attention to the video memory bus width, the amount of built-in memory, and then the frequencies of the video core and video memory. In modern computers. The video card is installed in the PCI-Express (PCIe) slot. Currently the bus width is as follows:

• 32 and 64 bit - video card for an office computer, similar to the built-in video card.
• 128 bit is a video card for a home system unit, but is rather weak for modern games.
• 192 and 256 bit - video card for a gaming computer.
• 384 and 512 bit - gaming video cards of the GeForce GTX760 and ATI Radeon R9 290X level will allow you to play modern games without lags.

Choose frame The computer needs to take into account the form factor of the motherboard and the size of its other components, such as the video card. A situation may well arise that the video card simply won’t fit inside, since modern gaming video cards are quite large. In addition, it is worth considering the number of hard drives and DVD drives installed in the future.

Hard drive or a hard drive should be chosen first for reliability, durable operation and speed. If finances allow, buy a small SSD disk for installing the operating system and a regular magnetic HDD drive for storing personal data: photos, videos, music, etc. Thanks to the use of SSD disks, you will not only increase the speed of your computer several times and reduce noise, published during the work process.

Choose DVD drive It’s better to rely on reliability and purchase trusted manufacturers: LG, NEC, Samsung, etc.

Before purchasing power supply it is necessary to determine what maximum power the system unit will consume. The main consumers are the computer's processor and video card. After approximately calculating the power, we recommend increasing the obtained value by 20-30% so that the power supply does not operate at peak loads. This way you will significantly increase its service life.

That's probably all you need to buy to assemble a computer yourself.

For the right computer assembly You can use our ITcom service center in Kharkov. Our specialists will not only help you choose compatible and reliable components, but will also tell you where it’s best to buy them.

Every year, or even quarter, new, more advanced models are released. This applies not only to the computer market, but also to the mobile market, household appliances, cars, etc. The economic situation dictates to manufacturers their own principles of flexible marketing, so you need to understand that if you spend a lot of money on assembling a gaming computer, then a year later you can see announcements of more productive and powerful components at the price of the components you purchased. Therefore, in view of the constant updating of model ranges from manufacturers, we will talk about the basic principles of assembly and without mentioning any specific models.

CPU

In 90% of cases, it is advisable to start the assembly with the choice of a processor, or rather the platform on which it is based, because the processor is the most important element of a gaming computer (and indeed any one). It is he who will “pull” all the components, perform calculations that come to him from the video card, hard drive and RAM. When choosing, everything is regulated, as always, by the main indicator - the budget, and if possible, then you need to choose the latest platform, because similar to the memory format, it will make the PC more upgradable.

About the manufacturers

Over the decades, this tradition has developed - AMD processors are cheaper. They are hotter and require good cooling, they have higher power consumption, their calculation methodology is based on the principle of “higher frequency, more cores,” while Intel takes a more competent approach to solving the issue of computing: they work with improved instructions and unique technologies, which lower technical specifications allow you to achieve excellent performance. But Intel is more expensive, because such research costs serious money. In addition, they are cooler and more energy efficient. One way or another, millions of users have assembled AMD computers and were very satisfied with their choice.

About cooling

If you plan to purchase a version of the processor, you must purchase a cooling system separately. As of 2017, air cooling is preferred in most home gaming systems. When choosing, be sure to find out the heat dissipation of the processor and purchase cooling, ideally capable of removing 10-20% more heat. Also, the efficiency of CPU cooling depends on the proper application of thermal paste and its quality.

Video card

A video card is the most important element of a gaming system, the main purpose of which is graphics processing. All animation, all textures and colors on the screen are drawn by the video card. The amount of video memory and the frequency of the video chip grows with each generation of video cards, lines and names change, and these devices, like processors, are divided into two camps. On the forums they are called “green” and “red”. These are the signature colors of two competing brands of computing chips: AMD and Nvidia. Video cards are produced by companies such as Palit, Sapphire, Asus, MSI, Zotac, etc., but the key point when choosing is always the chip on which the video card is built.

About "greens" and "reds"

There is a lot of debate about the advantages of each company, but in reality, as always, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Both chips have their pros and cons; company research departments apply and successfully implement unique technologies, and thus do not lag behind each other. But the general principles, as in processors, are similar: AMD takes the price, Nvidia takes a competent approach. The computing principle of AMD video chips is in many ways similar to AMD processors, so the products of this company have become a favorite topic for mining, which comes down to solving one complex problem. And AMD is at its best in such matters, although for 2017 the company slightly changed the architecture and drivers for more flexibility. Nvidia has advantages comparable to Intel: technology and lack of heat compared to AMD. As with Intel, these benefits come at a cost. General recommendations are as follows: if you plan to work in graphics and 3D editors, do video editing and perform other complex tasks that require calculations and calculations, look towards Nvidia. Their technologies allow them to connect their “smart” cores to the calculations of the central processor, thereby significantly increasing performance. If you plan to simply play modern games and perform ordinary tasks, choosing AMD will significantly save money when assembling a gaming computer. Are you planning to mine? Definitely AMD.

About video card manufacturers

In this matter, the dispersion is much more serious. Most companies offer their developments in the field of cooling and overclocking. Historically, users have been very fond of Asus products for their good branded cooling; MSI and Sapphire have proven themselves well; Palit also produces video cards well and inexpensively.

About the CPU - GPU connection

It is no coincidence that the video card and processor are considered the first components for selection. When assembling, you need to remember that gaming performance will depend 80-90% on these components. But the choice of each of them needs to be approached more carefully. During a dynamic gaming battle, the processor intensively communicates with the video card through the driver installed in the operating system. When solving their computational block of data, devices transmit the results to each other for processing. If one of them works slower than the other, then the faster device will be idle waiting for the result. This often occurs when installing a very powerful video card and an average processor that simply cannot keep up with it. When purchasing, consult with sellers and professionals to see if the processor you choose can handle the video card. If the processor is more powerful than the video card, then the situation will not affect the balance of the system so much: firstly, the processor performs a much wider range of tasks than the video card, and this issue There is no such thing as too much power. Secondly, it is always easier to change a video card than a processor.

Motherboard

After the issue with the processor is resolved, you can choose the motherboard. It is worth paying attention to the form factor - ATX format boards are larger, they have a higher potential for connecting equipment and components, but the PC case with such a board must be selected accordingly, it will be larger in size. If you plan to build a machine for simple tasks and games, quiet and with low power consumption, it is worth considering the Mini ATX format. Such boards are much more compact. If your budget allows, then you need to choose a motherboard that supports the latest memory format, then the computer can be easily upgraded later without replacing the processor or the board itself. Also pay attention to the number of connectors for connecting hard drives and storage devices. Currently, 2 connectors are usually required - for SSD and HDD. But if you plan to build a RAID array, then you need much more of these connectors.

Specific tasks

If, after all, your gaming computer is planned to be used for non-standard solutions for home use, you should pay attention to the board’s support for special functions, for example, the presence of a RAID controller or support for hardware overclocking of components.

power unit

The power supply is the source of operation for the entire assembled gaming system, because it supplies electricity to all components. It is recommended to always choose a power supply “with a reserve”, i.e. 30-35% more powerful than the total energy consumption of all components. Thus, the device will not work “under tension”, and therefore heat up and wear out more. Try to choose branded devices. Ideally, they will have good efficiency and appropriate energy consumption standard certificates. The rule works well here: less is more. When choosing, be guided by quality and do not chase watts - often power supplies (especially for cheap models) do not produce the power indicated on the box and do not withstand load surges well. Also, do not forget about the length of the power lines - it is not uncommon for the wires of the purchased power supply to not reach the processor or hard drive.

RAM (random access memory)

If the video card/processor is 80-90% of performance in games, then the processor/RAM is the main indicator of performance in work. The speed of program execution and loading levels in games, the speed of surfing the Internet, complex file operations and table calculations depend not only on the amount of RAM. It is necessary to take into account such parameters as standard, timings and frequency. If there is a lot of memory, but it works slowly, it will be of little use. When choosing, do not forget about dual-channel mode. This is a kind of RAID array of RAM sticks: in dual-channel mode, memory usually works 10-15% faster, but this can only be achieved with two memory sticks of the same size. It’s even better if they are 100% identical, then desynchronization in work will be reduced to a minimum. Don’t forget that if your gaming computer turns out to be “hot” (for example, the processor and video card are powerful solutions from AMD), then it is highly advisable to purchase memory sticks with passive cooling installed. Heat removal from memory blocks in such models is more efficient.

Hard drive

Due to the widespread proliferation of cloud storage systems, less and less information needs to be stored on a computer. The volume required for personal tasks is always set individually by the user, but when choosing a system, it is important to understand the upcoming tasks and make a choice based on their distribution: for example, allocate high-speed memory for the OS and programs, and store games and personal data on more capacious devices for which speed is not such a critical indicator. This will allow for better performance of the entire system.

Frame

It often turns out that the case allows you to save a lot of money, since it does not directly affect performance. Of course, if you build a gaming computer with a boring, cheap case, it will be difficult to get complete satisfaction from the purchase. The issue of appearance is always a personal matter, but the build quality is definitely worth a look. The thicker the iron, the more reliable the case and the quieter the computer. It is important that air circulation is properly implemented in the case and there is the possibility of installing additional cooling. And the most important point is for the video card to be installed successfully: a common mistake is that the dimensions of the case do not match the dimensions of the video card.

Rest

As a nice addition to the assembled gaming system, you can purchase additional peripheral equipment. For example, a discrete sound card, for people who are experienced in sound, or a USB hub card if you plan to connect a large number of USB devices. The market is full of interesting offers, so the choice is yours.

Results

The market is moving forward very confidently. There is a high probability that manufacturers will develop not only new standards for connectors and devices - they may change the principles of computer operation. Today, very fast SSD drives are appearing, and it is possible that they will one day replace RAM. So the main principle when assembling a gaming system is always the same - balance and the ability to prioritize. Don't forget that more expensive is not always better. But often it's better.

To date computers deeply embedded in human life. This happened largely due to their affordable price, which has become lower and lower over the years. Assembling a computer for relatively little money is a very real task.

Instructions

Before assembling a computer, you need to decide what tasks it is intended to solve. Based on this, you can decide which components are best to save on. For example, if you do not plan to play modern video games with high hardware requirements and watch in FullHD resolution, then choose a motherboard with a built-in video card. This will reduce the price of the computer by several thousand. The same can be said about sound - if there are no special requirements for it, then the built-in sound card will also save money.

If you do not plan to work with powerful applications for editing graphics, video and sound, then you can also save RAM. A computer that will only be required to surf the Internet, listen to and watch DVD movies will be sufficiently equipped with an average processor power costing from one and a half thousand rubles and RAM of 2 Gigabytes, the price of which does not exceed a thousand rubles. In addition, you can save on a hard drive by purchasing a drive with a capacity of up to 250 GB for less than 2 thousand rubles.

You can also save on software when buying a computer. If you plan to purchase a computer without a pre-installed operating system, then your costs will be reduced by an amount of one thousand rubles. You can also save on a monitor; their prices start at three thousand rubles. A set of the cheapest peripheral devices (, mouse, speakers) will cost you less than one thousand rubles. In general, an acceptable computer can be assembled by spending a little over 10 thousand rubles, which is comparable to the cost of some mobile phones.

If you decide to build a computer yourself, first evaluate the feasibility of this decision. The benefit will be quite small, around two thousand rubles. At the same time, there is a high risk of doing something wrong and damaging expensive components. But if you believe in your abilities, then you need to purchase high-quality components at the lowest possible prices. The best option for Moscow is the Savelovsky radio market, Mitinsky and Gorbushka.

When purchasing components, you must clearly understand their average cost so as not to purchase them at an inflated price. It is unlikely that you will be able to find components cheaper than on radio markets, but you must take into account that the risk of buying defective elements here is much higher. However, sellers, as a rule, replace substandard parts without any questions.

It is worth noting that you can order a ready-made computer in the configuration you need from sellers on radio markets; the cost will be approximately the same amount that you would spend on purchasing components separately. Therefore, self-assembly in this case does not make much sense - let the master do it. In this case, you are at least guaranteed the initial performance of the computer.

You can also order from companies that sell computer equipment. The price of the finished system in this case will be higher than when ordering on the radio market, but the quality will also be higher. However, practice shows that computers assembled from parts purchased on the radio market can work quite well for many years. The main thing here is to choose the right configuration. You must know exactly what kind of motherboard you need, what kind of processor it will have, what memory modules you need to put in it. Select the desired video card model, etc. in advance. etc. Write everything down very precisely - in this case you will avoid many problems. In particular, the computer assembler will no longer give you outdated components. The more accurately you describe the task, the better the result will be.

Is there any point in assembling a computer yourself? Yes, but only if you want to understand this issue and if you like computer technology. When a computer built by yours starts working, it's very nice. What was previously a bunch of parts suddenly comes to life - you install an operating system on the assembled computer, configure it as necessary. Even the attitude towards this computer will be different - after all, it was you who gave it life. Such a computer will give you a much more pleasant experience than one bought in a store.

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