Which computer is better to buy for work? Inexpensive gaming system unit: description, selection tips. Home multimedia center

This material will give recommendations on how to choose or how to assemble. A variety of computing platforms, an impressive list of models of central processors, graphics adapters and other components make this problem difficult to solve today. But armed with the recommendations outlined in this material, you can easily and simply choose exactly the PC configuration that suits you.

Platform selection

The first step is how to choose a gaming system unit, consists in choosing a processor socket. Precisely by pushing awaysyafrom this choice,and you will need to select steel computer components. Currently 4 sockets are relevant:

• FM2+.
• AM3+.
• LGA2011-3 .
• LGA1151.

The first FM2+ processor socket is aimed at the niche of budget, office and multimedia systems. It is not at all advisable to consider it as the basis for a gaming computer. much better suited for these purposes. But the processors of this platform were last updated in 2012. During this time, they managed to become seriously outdated. As a result, such chips are not entirely suitable for implementing a gaming PC. The LGA 2011-3 processor socket offers only high-performance processors that are suitable for expensive and high-performance computers. As a result, an affordable and productive computer platform can be assembled with modern hardware only based on LGA1151. It is this socket that is currently recommended for the potential owner of a new gaming system unit to choose.

Selecting the CPU model

Such a system unit must meet two important requirements at once: its price must be as low as possible, but its performance must also be at an acceptable level and allow it to run all modern toys. Moreover, in the latter case, it is necessary to add that the parameters of the output image should be as good as possible. Core i3 family processors have minimal technical specifications and a similar level of performance in the context of a gaming platform. It is on their basis that entry-level gaming PCs should be organized. In this case, the processors 6100, 6300 and 6320 have similar specifications. But at the same time, the cost of the first of them is much lower and it is on its basis that it would be most appropriate to assemble such a computing system. If the budget allows, then you can take a more expensive modification of the chip, which will increase the speed of the computer.

System board

Inexpensive should be based on an inexpensive, but at the same time quite functional motherboard. Of course, within the socketLGA1151Intel has offered many different system logic sets, both in price and functionality.The most affordable among them is H110. Its capabilities are quite sufficient to create an entry-level gaming system. It has two slots for installing RAM (that is, even 16 GB of RAM can be placed on it) and also has one slot for installing a discrete graphics accelerator. It is also necessary to add to this thatCore i3-6100or any other chip in this family comes with a locked multiplier and it is somehow impossible to overclock a processor of this class in the usual way. Therefore, there is little point in overpaying for such an option that will not be used in the future. An example is the modelASUS H110M- TO with a cost of 3000 rubles. But you can pay attention to motherboards from any other manufacturer exceptBiostar.It is better to exclude the products of the latter company for the reason that its products are not particularly reliable.

Graphics adapter

Again, an entry-level gaming system unit should be both productive and inexpensive. Price and the speed of the graphics accelerator in this case play one of the leading roles.It is on this that it is not recommended to save money. Although the solutions have minimal performanceGeForce 1050 And Radeon RX460,but it’s better to still pay the same 50 dollars and buy video cardsGeForce 1050Ti or Radeon RX470.You will have to pay 10,000 rubles for the first video card, and 12,000 rubles for the second. But this overpayment will ultimately result in the fact that the numberFPSin toys will increase significantly.An example is a production video cardASUS models STRIX-RX470,which belongs to the seriesROG and has 4 GB.

RAM

Cheap gaming system units today must include at least 8 GB of RAM. The type of RAM used must be DDR4. It is for the use of such strips that RAM controllers within the LGA1151 framework are tailored. If you notice the currently outdated DDR3 standard in the gaming system, then compatibility problems may arise, which will ultimately result in the processor failing. Again, the presence of a 2-channel RAM controller as part of the CPU indicates that it is better to use 2 4 GB modules instead of 1 8 GB stick. This will ultimately allow you to gain an additional 5% in performance. The frequency of the modules should be 2133 MHz. The cost of a set of 2 strips with this frequency today is 2500-2600 rubles.

Disk subsystem

Although it is planned to assemble or buy an inexpensive gaming system unit, its disk subsystem must necessarily include an SSD drive and a hard drive. The first of them is strongly recommended to be used only for installing software that requires maximum performance. This includes an operating system, toys, and other most important application software. The second element of the disk subsystem is most appropriately used for storing personal information or “saves” of toys. An SSD with a size of 120 GB will cost 2,500 rubles, and a hard drive with a capacity of 2 TB will cost 2,500-3,000 rubles.

Power supply, case and cooling system

In this case, increased demands are placed on the case, as well as on the power supply. The first must have additional cooling, which would eliminate possible overheating of computer components. ASUS gaming system units meet these requirements. It is these that we recommend choosing. For example, you can buy an ASUS model TA8-C2 for 2,500 rubles. The power supply power in such a system should be at 550W. The LW-6550HG from HuntKey fully meets these requirements and costs about 1,800 rubles. It should also be noted that this product belongs to the energy-efficient series and is labeled Green Star.

Monitor, keyboard, paddle and acoustics

With this, in principle, an entry-level gaming system unit has already been assembled. We select components such as a keyboard, mouse and speaker system at our own discretion. At the same time, we start from their cost, quality and ease of use. In this case, special requirements are put forward for the monitor. Its diagonal must be at least 24 inches, and the resolution of the displayed image must be 1920 X 1080 px. It should also be based on an IPS matrix. An example is the VP247H from ASUS. It now costs about 9,000 rubles.

Results

This material described how to assemble or which one to choose. A complete list of recommended components for such a system is given in the table below.

This is the minimum gaming configuration at the moment. Based on it, you can assemble a more productive system unit with additional investments. It should also be noted that the table does not include peripheral devices and the acoustic subsystem. You can choose them at your discretion.

When choosing a computer, special attention should be paid to the 5 most important components of the device. First of all, it is necessary to select a central processor that will become the heart of the future gaming system and will meet the minimum performance requirements.

A processor for modern games must have at least 4 cores to cope with multitasking and the heavy computing load that falls on it when running heavy graphics applications. The processor clock speed is also important, which should be as high as possible. Among the optimal options for a productive system, for example, may be i5 and i7 processors from Intel with a clock frequency of at least 2.4 GHz.

Before buying a gaming computer, study the data provided by the manufacturers and collect an approximate equipment configuration by reading all kinds of reviews and reading reviews and tests of certain components.

Motherboard

The motherboard is responsible for the reliability and performance, as well as the potential expandability of the entire system. This part of the gaming computer must have several slots for RAM in case of planning to purchase new strips to increase system performance.

For budget versions of the gaming system, motherboards with one slot for a video card are suitable, but to increase graphics performance, you can purchase a motherboard with two PCI-Express x16 so that you can connect two video adapters at once and combine them using SLi technology to improve the performance of the graphics subsystem. Don't forget that you need to choose a board that matches the Socket number of the processor. Thus, when choosing a core for your future gaming computer, do not forget to choose the right motherboard.

Speed ​​indicators of RAM and hard drive

Correctly selected RAM strips should operate at high frequencies (1600 MHz and higher). This will allow for greater application response and faster data recording, which is actively performed during the game.

No less important components are hard drives, the reading speed of which should be higher and correspond to the volume of the media itself. The faster information is read from a computer HDD, the faster the game itself will load.

When purchasing a powerful processor, you will need to purchase other components of appropriate power so that the computing capabilities of each computer device are used to their full potential.

Selecting a video card

The video card will become one of the most expensive elements of any gaming system. If you are planning to purchase two or more video adapters, turn your attention towards the latest models from Nvidia. For systems with a single graphics card, you can explore models from both ATI and Nvidia. It is desirable that the memory capacity of the graphics video system be at least 1 GB, but today it is recommended to have 2 GB of graphics memory to run serious graphics applications.

To choose a computer these days, you don’t need any special knowledge in this area. There are several ways to get your own electronic friend. The most common way is to come to a computer salon and buy a ready-made assembled computer. In modern electronics stores, salespeople will help you, who can also choose the optimal configuration for you. And the best way for experienced users is to select a configuration on our website without leaving home, using detailed descriptions.

Now we will help experienced users and offer configurations already selected by our specialists that will help you with your choice. You can view all ready-made configurations in the computers section.

Monoblocks from well-known electronics manufacturers are now gaining great popularity. You don’t need to think about the compatibility of components and assembly. Moreover, as a rule, the warranty period is 2-3 years and is carried out by branded service centers.

The following types of ready-made computers are presented on our website:

• • Universal PCs
  • PC for engineers
  • PC for gamers
  • PC for schoolchildren
  • Office PCs

1. Case fans
2. Memory modules
3. Cart with hard drive
4. Video card
5. DVD drive
6. CPU cooler
7. Card reader
8. Buttons and indicators
9. Sound insulation layer

2. Power supply and housing.

1. Provides voltage stabilization and protection against small interference present in the external AC network.
2. Since the device has a fan, during its operation it takes part in cooling the components that make up the system unit of your personal computer.

The power output from existing power supplies is highly dependent on the structure of the computer and ranges from fifty watts (platforms with small form factors) to 1800 watts (a large number of operating stations, gaming devices or entry-level servers).

High quality power supplies are usually made
well-known companies, but there are also pleasant exceptions. Like most high-quality products, they have a fairly high cost, sometimes comparable to the cost of the case due to the fact that they contain only high-quality elements, and as for their circuits, they are very competently configured and thought out by the manufacturers.

Prerequisites for selecting the required power supply

PSU power is a parameter that is usually determined individually for each individual computer, and the unit of measurement for this parameter is Watt. The total power depends on the amount of electricity consumed by each element of the operating system. To calculate the total power consumed by a computer, you will need to sum up the values ​​consumed by all operating devices and add to the result a certain estimated amount of reserve, approximately 10 to 20 percent of the total power consumed. This operation will be required to ensure that the power supply you have chosen does not operate constantly at peak load. In order to correctly calculate the electricity consumption, special calculators are used.

Power supply connectors

The device must have the required number of connectors to connect all existing consumers in the system unit of your computer.
Of course, their number will be limited by the ability of the power supply to deliver sufficient power. In addition, the length of the cables to be laid from the installed power supply must be commensurate with the size of the case you choose.

Power supply weight

Before purchasing the power supply you are interested in, it is advisable to determine its weight and, in extreme cases, hold the device in your hands. This action will allow you to at least somehow evaluate its internal elements without opening the block. The large mass of the power supply indicates a lack of savings on internal components, including oversized radiators and transformers. The weight of the power supply depends on the dimensions, the thickness of the case walls, also on the number of chokes, the material used for the installed fans and radiators of the unit. As a rule, if a given device is missing some radiators or coils, that is, when the electrical circuit is simplified in design, then the weight of such a unit will vary from 700 to 900 grams. Products of average quality weigh from 900 to 1200 grams; there are also heavier models.

Active Power Factor Correction PFC

In PD there are active and passive PFC. A simple elementary coil, that is, a choke, acts as a passive PFC, which spoils the parameters of the operating circuit. For the consumer, passive PFC does not provide any benefit. The active type PFC is a boost converter built between the capacitor and the diode bridge (rectifier) ​​that produces a stabilized voltage across the internal capacitor, approximately 400 V. The active type PFC is powered by the unsmoothed rectified voltage, filters noise, and maintains current limits. in circuits, thereby forming a current diagram close to linear.

Efficiency

The efficiency of the device should not, according to the objective reasoning of experts in the field, be less than 80 percent. In addition, there is specialized certification for the efficiency plan: 85 PLUS.

Installed fans in the power supply

Fans are installed at the bottom of the unit, but can also be located on the side wall of the product. Typically, 120/120 mm and 80/80 mm fans are used. Larger fans are less noisy and more efficient, which naturally determines the quality of the cooling received.

Popular brands

Having analyzed all the technical characteristics, you should move on to choosing a worthy brand. In theory, a guarantee against the purchase of counterfeits and low-quality products will be the purchase and operation of a Brand Name power supply (otherwise known as a branded one). Of course, Brand Name PSUs are priced higher than products from No Name manufacturers, but the existing difference in cost is the price to pay for effective security. You can select a power supply for your computer in the power supplies section.

System unit case

Form factors

When choosing a case, you need to take into account the size you require, because there is no need for a large case if you have any restrictions related to the size of the room or workplace, and vice versa, minimalism can be reflected in the limitation of the mounted equipment.

Note: most purchased cases are equipped with a power supply, but there are models for hobbyists that are sold without power supplies. Thanks to this, the consumer is able to independently select a power supply with the required parameters.

Bigtower
This form factor is intended for computers with high power and also powerful servers with high performance. These system units contain a large number of components that provide a variety of uses. They tend to emit a large amount of heat, and the large dimensions of the case allow for an increased cooling effect.
This type of case can easily accommodate a full-size ATX system board. Such cases are large in size and have the ability to accommodate different hardware, but this will depend on what kind of motherboard is installed. The number of connected hard drives and expansion cards also depends on this board.

Moddletower
This case can easily be defined as the most popular and widespread on the globe. Naturally, the product deserves to be called the best. The Moddletower case can easily accommodate an additional hard drive, a couple of video cards, and a high-quality air ventilation system. This leaves room for standard parts. This case is really a good choice for an office or home. It remains to choose between compactness and performance. But it should be taken into account that among the advantages of this type of case is the ability to make your PC a gaming monster.

Minitower
It is most widespread among computers intended for the office. Having small dimensions, they make it possible to install devices within the limits of average productivity. This is due to the heating level and the minimum dimensions of the installed devices. The space in such cases is limited, and therefore the temperature requirements are quite high - the devices should not overheat, and there should be no unpleasant noise from operating fans. But in such case models it is possible to place only those components that will ensure work in the office with spreadsheets, presentations, texts, etc.

Microtower
Characterizing this form factor, we can say that its dimensions are even smaller compared to the Minitower, which implies a greater number of restrictions.

At the end of the review, after getting acquainted with the different form factors of the offered cases, we can say that in the product range there will always be a case that meets your requirements.

Housing material

• Soundproofing materials. The noise level is, of course, influenced by the material used to make the case walls, which ensures that the noise from the hard drives and fans is contained within the case. The Sileo500 (Cooler Master) case, for example, has proven itself very well. You can order this case either with a power supply or separately, and this will allow you, in case of power shortages, to purchase a higher power power supply.
• Premium class noise and vibration insulation. Such cases are equipped with noise and vibration damping coating on the side panels, as well as vibration damping pads for mounting the HDD. The fans are also of high quality, equipped with the ability to switch speeds and operate silently in any mode.
• Rigidity. Everything here is quite simple - the thicker and stiffer the material used, the better. Steel is recognized as the most durable material, and its thickness should be over 0.8 mm. We recommend using InWin brand cases, although the stated material thickness is 0.55-0.8 mm. the thoughtful design of the power elements compensates for this discrepancy with the above condition.

The choice of case also depends on the required size, because limited space will not allow you to use massive cases. Pay attention to the picture below, which clearly demonstrates the difference in size with the name of the form factor of the assembled cases.

Remember! The smaller the case, the harder the fans have to work, which robs the computer of either performance or low noise levels.

Remember! When choosing a processor cooling system, we must not forget that not only the processor, but also other elements of the system unit are subject to heating. All the heat generated in the system unit, in the absence of a fan, remains in the case, which leads to excessive heating of the computer components. It is in order to avoid this that it is also necessary to install fans on the case. You can find out the number and size of fans from the case descriptions.

CPU cooling

The larger the fan, the fewer revolutions it needs to make to cool the same volume of air, and accordingly the noise level will be lower. In addition, the noise level depends on the type of bearings. Our specialists are repeatedly convinced of the quality of hydrodynamic bearings. In the production of fans, durable but noisy rolling bearings can be used, as well as fairly quiet but not reliable enough plain bearings.

To cool the processor, it is advisable to use a cooler that supports PMW (pulse width modulation). PMW technology allows you to change the fan speed depending on the processor load, and in an ideal case the fan stops.

Fan blades can be designed to operate with minimal noise, to provide maximum static pressure, or to achieve maximum airflow. As a rule, at the moment there are models that try to combine all three parameters with varying degrees of success. But, unfortunately, models with non-profiled blades continue to be produced, which emit a high level of noise and do not pump air well.

Increases noise and vibration levels of an unbalanced rotor. To avoid this, you can use rotor balancing, however, this is not a cheap pleasure. Much more often the so-called rubber-mounted fan suspension is used.

A convenient product filter will help you easily select a cooling system in the appropriate section of the cooling device.

RAM models are divided into two groups:

• • Memory created according to all JEDEC requirements
  • Memory for enthusiasts

The first group is the best option for those computers whose stable operation is a primary need. Similar models are used in our standard system units.

The second group is suitable for users who want to get the most out of their computers. But if you choose such memory, be prepared for higher defect rates and compatibility problems. These memory modules will provide no more than a 3-4% increase in performance, and the risk of receiving defective products increases significantly.

We recommend using RAM manufactured by such manufacturers as Kingston, OCZ, Corsair, Hynix, as the most reliable and compatible memory modules. The volume is determined according to your needs, but there are recommendations below:

Remember! Most modern processors/chipsets have a dual-channel memory controller, i.e. For maximum performance, memory modules must be installed in pairs. An exception is Intel Core i7 9xx processors, which are equipped with a three-channel controller, therefore the number of modules must be a multiple of three (3 or 6). Attention! 32-bit Windows operating systems do not work with RAM greater than 4 GB. and Intel LGA 2011 Core i7 3xxx processors, now they have 4 channels and require 4 or 8 DIMM slots, respectively.

Attention! 32-bit Windows operating systems cannot address more than 4 GB of RAM.

Many modern manufacturers produce memory in kits (2, 3, 4 or 6 modules per package). However, there is a significant disadvantage to this - if even one module fails, you will have to bring all the modules to the warranty department at once, as a result of which you will receive a temporarily non-working system unit.

6. Video card.

A device that takes care of displaying images on the monitor, calculating 3D scenes in graphic applications and games, as well as, more recently, calculating non-graphical tasks using DirectCompute 12, Open CL, nVidia CUDA, ATI Stream technologies. The last two mentioned technologies are closed and can only be found on video cards from the corresponding manufacturers.

The memory types used in graphics card manufacturing are listed in order of increasing performance:

GDDR 3, GDDR 4, GDDR 5, HBM2

Now let's talk about video chips, the choice of which baffles even experienced users. There are more than 30 types of chips to choose from, the manufacturers of which add something different to each design, from the chip cooling system to the design of the printed circuit board.

The choice depends on the type of computer that meets your requirements:

1. Office PC (Internet, office applications). The graphics system is not important, which means you can use built-in graphics, and if you don’t have it, you can use the simplest discrete video cards.

2. Multimedia computer - these are the most common home computers. Graphics requirements are quite important here, so you need to choose from mid-price video cards.

3. Gaming computers are a choice for those who cannot imagine their computer without games. It is for you, dear gamers, that nVidia and AMD are trying to make video cards that are faster than their analogues on the market. Gaming computers require a video card with high-performance chips, and if this is not enough, then 2 or 3 video cards.

In addition to the fact that professional-class solutions are available from both AMD (ATI FirePro or ATI FireGL) and NVIDIA (Quadro FX, Tesla). As a rule, we often give preference to NVIDIA graphics cards. As the results of our tests, including data from some suppliers of complex solutions, showed, AMD solutions are inferior in terms of performance to many well-known CAD applications.

It should also be taken into account that the older lines of NVIDIA models do not have direct analogues from the AMD line, and have high advantages over them, incredible performance for double-precision operations, a volume that determines the on-board memory to be the largest, and superior to other distinguishing characteristics.

If the budget still has limits, then to build a gaming computer it is recommended to save on some components, but purchase a fast video card. You can choose a suitable video card from the whole variety in the video cards section.

7. Optical drive.

There are two types of optical drives:

1. DVD±RW (writes and reads DVD and CD discs)

2. BD-ROM (reads all types of modern optical media - CD, DVD and Blu-Ray. As a rule, it does not write anything, but there are still models with the ability to record CD and DVD)

The most common today is DVD±RW. Its capabilities are sufficient for all modern needs, and the price difference with an outdated DVD-ROM is quite small. The Blu-Ray drive is worth paying attention to if you are going to work with high-definition video materials (Blu-Ray video). Choose a suitable DVD ±RW/BD-ROM is available in the drives section.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a motherboard?

1. The form factor of the board must match the form factor of the selected case. In most cases, you can install a smaller board in a larger case, but this is not economically feasible, because larger cases, as a rule, are more expensive.

2. Compatibility with other components. The processor must be on the compatibility list on the manufacturer's website. The type of memory must match the selected memory and central processor; otherwise, the board may either not work or the module will not physically fit into the slot.

Remember! DDR 3, DDR 4 are incompatible with each other.

Modern video cards have different versions of the PCI-Express interface and they are all compatible with each other, so don’t focus on this. It is worth considering in advance whether you will add additional equipment to the system unit (sound card, network card, analog modem, TV tuner, PCI-E M.2, etc.). If yes, then select a board with the required number of slots, PCI-E and M.2. To increase reliability, using capacitors with solid polymer is excellent. As a result of their use, the fault tolerance of boards and other equipment connected to them increases significantly.

We recommend Gigabyte boards and often use them in our standard computers. They are reliable, thanks to the use of the latest developments (hard polymer capacitors, ferrite core coils). All these technologies come together under the Ultra Durable 3 brand. The above motherboards support energy-saving technologies (for example, Easy Energy Saver), thanks to which the computer will make less noise and consume less energy. Modern boards have a built-in Q-Flash utility to facilitate assembly. It is designed for flashing the latest BIOS versions, and in case of an error, it supports modern DualBIOS technology, which saves you in case of failure of an incorrectly flashed motherboard.

Don't forget about the functionality of the board. One of the criteria is the need, for example, to rewrite data from your digital video camera. If yes, then choose a board with a built-in IEEE 1394 controller. Also decide whether you plan to increase the speed of the graphics system by building Crossfire or SLI and whether you want to build a RAID. It's better to think about a board that supports these technologies from the start rather than spending money on replacing the motherboard in the future.

In the motherboards catalog, you will find a wide selection of motherboards that can satisfy a wide variety of needs and requirements.

Among well-known manufacturers, it is also worth highlighting motherboards from MSI, ASUS and ASRock, which have a wide functional and price range, and even in a low price range they represent an acceptable level of comfort during assembly, configuration and operation of a computer.

9. Helpful table when choosing a PC

This information can be used as a guide when choosing a computer or individual components on the Internet or in a regular store.

1. Processor

The performance of the entire computer greatly depends on the processor, so it is selected first. Processors are produced by two large companies: Intel and AMD.

Intel Core processors generally have higher performance per core, making them superior to AMD Ryzen processors in most modern games and better suited for building powerful gaming computers.

AMD Ryzen processors, in turn, win in multi-threaded tasks such as video editing, are, in principle, not much inferior to Intel Core in games and are perfect for a universal computer used for both professional tasks and games.

If your budget is limited, but in the future you want to have a powerful PC, then you can first purchase an inexpensive model, and after 2-3 years change the processor to a more powerful one.

All processors, regardless of manufacturer, differ in the number of cores, threads and frequency. In addition, the processor may have a built-in video core, which allows you to save on the purchase of a separate video card, but is not suitable for gaming computers.

To work with documents, surf the Internet and watch videos, a 2-core processor with a frequency closer to 3 GHz or higher will be sufficient. A particularly advantageous solution would be a modern Pentium processor with multi-threading technology (Hyper-threading), which will allow a 2-core processor to process data in 4 threads, significantly increasing performance.

With the advent of such models, more expensive Core i3 processors lost their relevance, and Pentium can be considered as a temporary solution even for games, with the prospect of being replaced with a more powerful processor (Core i5, i7) in the future.

A gaming computer requires at least a 4-core processor with a frequency closer to 3.5 GHz or higher (such as Core i3).
Intel Core i3 8100 processor

For a mid-range gaming PC, a 6-core Core i5 is suitable. Also, modern games have learned to use multithreading, so for a powerful gaming PC it is advisable to take a Core i7 (6 cores / 12 threads).

For video editing and other multi-threaded tasks, the best choice today would be Ryzen 5/7 (6-8 cores / 12-16 threads) with a frequency closer to 4 GHz, which will also allow you to comfortably play modern games.
AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Processor

2. CPU cooler

To cool the processor, a cooler is used, which consists of a radiator and a fan.

Most processors with the word “BOX” at the end of the label are sold complete with a cooler. But some more expensive boxed processors may not have a cooler included. If “Tray” or “OEM” is written at the end of the marking, then there is no cooler included.

The weakest Pentium-type processors are easier and cheaper to purchase complete with a cooler. But it is often more profitable to buy a mid- or high-end processor without a cooler and select a suitable cooler for it separately. The cost will be about the same, but the cooling and noise level will be much better.

The optimal price/performance ratio today are tower coolers with a 120 mm fan and 4-5 heat pipes produced by Zalman and DeepCool.
CPU cooler Deepcool GAMMAXX 400

More detailed information is available in the article and review of the cooler on our website, and you can download recommendations for choosing a cooler for different processors at.

3. RAM

Modern computers use DDR4 memory with frequencies predominantly of 2400, 2666 and 3000 MHz.

In games, the memory frequency has a small impact and there is no point in overpaying; it will be enough to take one at 2666 MHz, this is the best option for today, since it is supported by modern processors and costs almost the same as the slower one at 2400 MHz.

For professional applications, especially when paired with a Ryzen processor, you can take memory with a frequency of 3000 MHz. The performance difference here will be larger, but this should not be to the detriment of the processor and video card. Please note that your motherboard must support memory at the required frequency.

If one memory stick is installed, it will work in single-channel mode, if two sticks are installed, it will work in dual-channel mode. This significantly increases the speed of memory, so it is advisable to take two memory sticks. But for an office computer with a head, one 4 GB memory stick is enough.

For a multimedia PC, 4 GB can be considered a budget-friendly option with the option to add another 4 GB in the future. But it’s better to immediately install 2 4 GB sticks (for faster operation in dual-channel mode), this will be the minimum option for a gaming computer.
RAM Crucial CT4G4DFS8266

For a powerful gaming PC you need 2 8 GB sticks, which are better and cheaper to buy in one set.
RAM Corsair CMK16GX4M2A2666C16

For professional video editing and other heavy tasks, it is advisable to have 16 GB of RAM or more, again with two sticks. But in principle, in any case, you can buy one bar now and one a little later.

As for radiators, modern DDR4 RAM with a frequency of up to 2666 MHz practically does not heat up and the radiators on it will be purely decorative. So, if you want, you can save on this, for example, by taking excellent Crucial memory without heatsinks. Memory with a frequency of 3000 MHz or more has an increased supply voltage and heats up somewhat more; there will be radiators on it in any case.

Memory modules are made by many manufacturers and they have different quality. The best memory is produced under the following brands: Corsair, Crucial, HyperX. Good and inexpensive manufacturers include: AMD, GeIL, Goodram, G.Skill, Team, Transcend. Samsung and Hynix RAM is very popular, but there are many fakes among them.

4. Video card

The video card is intended primarily for games, but is also used in video processing, speeding up the playback of effects during editing and rendering by 5-10 times.

If the computer is needed only for work, the Internet and watching videos, then it does not need a separate video card and a processor with a video core will be enough. If the computer is intended to be used for modern computer games, then there is no way to do without a separate video card.

Video cards are developed by two large companies nVidia and AMD. Nvidia video cards are sold under the GeForce brand, and AMD video cards are sold under the Radeon brand. nVidia GeForce video cards are slightly more expensive than AMD Radeon, but the difference in price is not so significant (10-20%). I recommend nVidia GeForce video cards as most games are optimized for them, resulting in better performance and fewer glitches. In addition, nVidia GeForce video cards are better suited for screen recording, streaming and video editing.

Both GeForce and Radeon video cards are produced by many companies. I recommend choosing video cards from the 3 most popular brands that have proven themselves well: ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte.

Modern games require 3-4 GB or more of video memory. The bus width (128-384 bits) has faded into the background today, since modern video cards are equipped with a memory bus with sufficient bandwidth for each specific video chip. Well, of course, all modern video cards are equipped with GDDR5 memory or even faster GDDR5X, HBM (top models).

In this article, I will not consider all the nuances and technical features of video cards, but will recommend specific models.

The most affordable option at least today is GeForce GTX 1050. But it has a weak video chip, usually only 2 GB of memory and will only run modern games at low graphics settings. As a budget option for playing at medium settings, you can consider GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB of memory.
Video card Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GV-N105TOC-4GD

You can get it a little more expensive GTX 1060, which is almost 2 times more powerful and is the most interesting option for today. It will provide a frame rate sufficient for comfortable gaming at high settings in modern games. There is a 3 GB version, which is basically enough for most games. But some games require 4 GB of video memory, so if possible, it is better to take the 6 GB version, which is also 10% more powerful in terms of processor.
Video card Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 GV-N1060WF2OC-6GD

Video card GTX 1070 50% more powerful than the GTX 1060 and will provide dynamic gaming at high settings in Full HD in all modern games. But, if you want to have some reserve for the future, it is better to take the GTX 1070 Ti, which is not much more expensive. This is the optimal price/performance option for a powerful gaming computer.
MSI GTX 1070 Ti ARMOR 8G graphics card

Video card GTX 1080 It's only 8% more powerful than the GTX 1070 Ti, so it's not as worth considering as the nearly 30% more powerful GTX 1080 Ti, which will deliver unmatched performance at ultra settings in Full HD and minimally acceptable performance at high settings in 4K. But for comfortable gaming in 4K you need to buy a new top-end video card RTX 2080 Ti.

As for video editing, it’s no secret for those who are in the know that using a video card speeds up video rendering by 5-10 times. But for this you need the right video card, since not all models can be used for this purpose. The minimum option is a GTX 1060 with 3 GB, if you are also interested in games, then it is better to take a GTX 1070 Ti, look at your capabilities.

More detailed information is available in, there is also a unique table comparing different models of video cards by performance and price, which you can download from.

5. Hard drive

The hard drive (HDD) has a large capacity (1-6 TB), but low speed (120-140 MB/s). It can be used both to install the system and store user files, which is the most economical option. For most users, a 1 TB HDD will be sufficient.

A professional or avid gamer may require a disk with a capacity of 2 TB or more, depending on your needs. Western Digital are considered the most reliable HDDs, and they do not differ significantly in price from all the others, which is why I recommend them to you.
Hard drive Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EZEX 1 TB

WD Blue– the most common drives suitable for inexpensive office and multimedia PCs.

WD Black– combine high speed and reliability, I recommend using them in powerful systems.

6. SSD drive

Solid state drives (SSD) have a relatively small volume (120-960 GB), but very high speed (450-550 MB/s). They cost significantly more and are used to install the operating system and some programs to increase the speed of the computer.

An office computer doesn’t really need an SSD, and it’s a bit expensive. For a multimedia PC, an SSD with a capacity of 120-128 GB will be sufficient. For a gaming PC, it is advisable to take an SSD with a capacity of at least 240 GB, since games take up quite a lot of space.

On a powerful gaming or professional computer, the best option is to install two disks - a fast SSD and a regular HDD for storing user files.

Among the manufacturers of SSD drives, the following have proven themselves well: Samsung, Intel, Crucial, SanDisk, Plextor. More budget options can be considered: A-DATA, Corsair, GoodRAM, WD, HyperX, since they have the least problems.
SSD drive A-Data Ultimate SU650 240GB

As for speed, good fast SSDs have about 550/550 MB/s (read/write). For budget models it should be at least 450/350 MB/s.

In addition, SSDs can be built on different types of memory. The most budget-friendly is TLC. More durable and reliable MLC and 3D Nand is better.

7. Optical drive

An optical (DVD) drive is a device for reading and writing CD/DVD discs. There are several types of modern optical drives.

DVD-RW (DVD Super Multi)– a regular burner drive, suitable for most computers.

Blu-Ray– a more expensive drive for reading and writing discs in Blu-Ray format, only needed if you plan to use such discs to watch licensed videos or record huge amounts of data.

Many people consider this device to be outdated and unnecessary for installation in a modern PC. But I still recommend installing a DVD drive. Since it is inexpensive, but it can really help out in some situations. For example, if you have problems installing Windows from a flash drive, for diagnostics and system recovery, installing a network card driver from a disk from the motherboard after reinstalling Windows (otherwise you may not have access to the Internet and you will not be able to install any driver). And it’s just trivial that you may need to write something to someone on a disk and give it to someone, you won’t give your flash drive to everyone.

Choose the most inexpensive model made by LG or ASUS, they will be practically no different.

8. Motherboard

All other components are connected to the motherboard and the service life and stability of the computer depend on it. You should not install the most powerful processor on the cheapest motherboard, since the motherboard will not withstand heavy load for a long time. And vice versa, the weakest processor does not need an expensive motherboard, since it is money thrown away.

The most important thing is that the motherboard has a suitable connector for installing the processor (socket). Buy a motherboard with a socket similar to the selected processor.

The most modern Intel socket is 1151 v2. It can accommodate both entry-level processors (Pentium) and more powerful and modern ones (Core i3, i5, i7).

AMD's most modern socket is AM4, which supports Ryzen processors.

Each motherboard has its own processor that controls all the devices connected to it and is called a chipset. The functionality of the motherboard depends on the chipset and is selected depending on the purpose of the computer.

For most computers with an Intel processor, motherboards based on the B360 and H370 chipsets are suitable. The Intel Z370 chipset allows you to overclock processors with the “K” index and supports memory with frequencies above 2666 MHz, which is not available on other chipsets. It is better to take motherboards positioned as gaming (GAMING), which have better sound, a network card and various additional functionality.
MSI H370 GAMING PRO CARBON motherboard

Motherboards for AMD Ryzen processors are built based on their own chipsets. The cheapest A320 chipset does not have the ability to overclock the processor, while the B450 has such functionality. Well, the X470 is also equipped with a large number of PCI-E lanes for installing multiple video cards.
Asus ROG Strix B450-F GAMING motherboard

After choosing a chipset to suit your needs, you can start choosing a motherboard based on the connectors you need.

9. Power supply

The power supply must be powerful enough and have a small reserve for the computer to work stably. In addition, the power supply must be of high quality, since the service life of all computer components greatly depends on it.

If you are building a powerful gaming or professional computer, it is recommended to purchase a power supply separately. If we are talking about an office or multimedia computer, then you can save money and buy a good case complete with a power supply, which will be discussed in the next section.

A modern high-quality power supply must have at least a simple 80 PLUS certificate. Even better quality - Bronze, Silver, Gold.

For an office computer with a reserve, 400 W of power is sufficient. I don’t recommend anything less, since these will be outdated models of questionable quality (unless, of course, we consider power supplies from expensive brands).

For a multimedia computer, it is advisable to take a 500 W power supply. It is not expensive, but if you want to install a video card in the future, you will not have to change the power supply. This power is definitely enough for a GTX 1060 level video card.

For a mid-class gaming computer, it is better to take a power supply from 600 W with an 80 Plus Bronze certificate. The same power supply is suitable for a professional PC with a powerful processor and video card (GTX 1070/1080).
Chieftec Force CPS-650S power supply

Well, for a powerful gaming system with a top-end video card, it is advisable to purchase a power supply from 700 W with an 80 Plus Gold certificate, since powerful video cards are very sensitive to voltage drops and ripples.

Well-established power supply manufacturers include: SeaSonic, be quiet! More optimal in terms of price/quality ratio are: Thermaltake, Zalman, Cooler Master, Corsair, Enermax, FSP. If you need a good and inexpensive power supply, then Chieftec is one of the best options.

More detailed information is available in, and you can download the program for calculating the required power from.

10. Body

The case is designed to accommodate all computer components; it has a power button, indicators, additional connectors, a ventilation system and sometimes cable management.

If you are building a powerful gaming or professional computer and purchasing a separate power supply, then you need a case without a power supply. If you are building a mid-range office, multimedia or gaming computer, you can save money and purchase a good case complete with a power supply.

For a powerful gaming or professional system, it is better to take a more spacious case, otherwise problems may arise with the location of large components (video card, cooler) and with the organization of normal ventilation inside the case. Please also note that the case must support the required length of the video card and the motherboard of the selected format. The compact MicroATX case will not fit a full-size ATX board.

Good cases are made by: be quiet!, Cooler Master, Corsair, Chieftec, Fractal Design, NZXT, Thermaltake, Xigmatek, Zalman. AeroCool, Deepcool, InWin cases have a good price/quality ratio. Choose according to your taste

11. Monitor

For an office computer, the most inexpensive monitor with a screen diagonal of 20-21″ with a matte TN matrix will be enough.

For an inexpensive home computer, it is advisable to purchase a 22-23″ monitor with a matte matrix.

For a computer intended for watching movies and games, it is advisable to purchase a monitor with a diagonal of 23-27″ (the larger the better) with a high-quality IPS or PLS matrix with a response time of no more than 8 ms and a screen resolution of 1920×1080 (Full HD).
Monitor Dell P2217H

The best manufacturers: Dell, HP and NEC, more budget ones LG, Samsung and others need to be chosen carefully. In any case, read reviews and feedback on specific models.

12. Speakers

The better the quality of the speakers, the better the sound they will produce. For an office computer, the most inexpensive plastic speakers from the Sven or Genius brands will suffice.

For an inexpensive home computer, speakers made from MDF systems 2.0 or 2.1 manufactured by Sven are optimal.
Computer speakers SVEN SPS-619

If you want to get higher quality, then you can consider speaker systems from the following brands: Creative, Logitech, Edifier, F&D, Microlab, Sven.

If you want to enjoy surround sound in games and movies, then pay attention to 5.1 systems from the same brands.

The power of each speaker in the system must be at least 7 watts. If you want a more powerful sound, then about 15 watts. Speakers with a power of 30 watts each will sound very loud.

Pay attention to the physical dimensions of the speakers, which are indicated on the website of the seller and manufacturer. Determine in advance where they will stand.

As for color, the most universal are black and black-silver. Wood-colored speakers will not always fit well into your interior. But it's up to you.

13. Keyboard

The ease of working with a computer depends on the keyboard. Any inexpensive but high-quality A4Tech or Genius keyboard is suitable for an office computer.

For a home computer, it is advisable to purchase a more comfortable multimedia keyboard with additional buttons and a palm rest. Gaming keyboards may also have programmable and rubberized keys.

Keyboards with an optimal price/quality ratio (in order of preference): Logitech, A4Tech, Genius.
Keyboard A4Tech Bloody B254

There are also many other high-quality, but more expensive brands: Razer, SteelSeries, etc.

14. Mouse

The ease of working with a computer also depends on the mouse. Any high-quality A4Tech mouse is suitable for an office computer.

For a gaming computer, it is advisable to purchase a more comfortable, ergonomic mouse with rubberized surfaces and additional buttons.
Mouse A4Tech Bloody V3

15. Mouse pad

If you have chosen a good mouse, then the mat should also be appropriate, as it greatly affects the operation of the mouse.

For a gaming computer, I recommend the A4Tech X7-200 mat or similar, which has a high-quality fabric surface and is perfect for a laser gaming mouse.

More recently, it was difficult to imagine that modern computer technology would be in almost every home, and not just in large offices or among IT workers.

Looking to buy a new computer? Then it’s better to immediately prepare yourself for the fact that this is a rather complex and responsible matter, especially considering the variety of assortments that today’s computer market offers us.

In addition, almost every buyer strives to purchase a high-quality device, but at the same time save on its cost and pay as little as possible.

If you have decided to purchase a computer for your home, then you have come to the right place. On our website you will find a wide variety of computer equipment and all at a very affordable price.

In our online store you can easily choose the best computer for your home, but before you start choosing, we want to give you some tips that will help you buy computer equipment based on your budget and your personal needs.

Before you buy a computer for your home, you first need to clearly define for yourself why you need a new PC and what you will do on it. Then you should decide the amount you are willing to pay.

Remember, when choosing a computer for your home, you need to ensure that all its components are balanced with each other. For example, why do you need a powerful video card if you don’t want to spend money on a good monitor?

Before buying a personal computer, it is worth noting that all its components become outdated quite quickly, so immediately plan how much money you can spend on a PC, taking into account the fact that in a few months the computer may become cheaper by at least a third.

If you need a gaming computer for your home, and you are going to play 3D games on it, or will work with 3D graphics and graphics packages, then choose a powerful video card, otherwise you can get by with a medium one, or simply increase the RAM .

For a home computer, an IDE hard drive will be sufficient, which is significantly cheaper than SCSI drives.

The motherboard must be selected based on the characteristics of the processor, and if you will work professionally with video or sound, then there is no need to buy a motherboard with a built-in video card, network card, etc.

When buying a PC for your home, you should not save on such necessary things as a keyboard and mouse, because with their help you will “communicate” with the computer constantly.

On our website you can not only choose home computer equipment, but also get acquainted with a lot of useful information regarding computers and laptops.