Introduction
More and more folks are trying to build their own gaming computers these days. I’ve received many questions from visitors to my website regarding building computers. In this eBook, I hope to show you how to build a gaming computer on the cheap, all for under $1000. I’ll give you step-by-step instructions, from choosing the best value components like the CPU, motherboard and video card, to the installation procedures.
There are many benefits to building your own gaming computer. First and foremost, you will save money. If you look at the cost of gaming computers sold by brand name manufacturers such as Alienware, Gateway and Dell, you’ll find that they can cost often over $2000. If you have the budget and cash, by all means, go for these systems. But if you want to save money, they’re certainly not the way to go.
The other benefit to building your own gaming computer is that you learn a new skill. When you select components in a computer, and go through the pain of trial and error in getting it to work, you will naturally pick up valuable computer skills. These skills will last you a lifetime and help you in all aspects of your life. Personally, I grew up picking up computer skills as a result of trying to get my computer to work with the latest games!
1. Overview
Before we begin with the process of building your own computer, it’s important to see what the overall steps are. I break the steps into the following categories:
1.1 Buying Your Components
A very important part of the process is to select and buy proper components for your gaming computer. With some many models of CPUs, video card, motherboards and other components out there, this step can be difficult. I’ll show you how to select the best components to make it easier.
1.2 Installation Equipment Required
Once you’ve got the computer components you need, you need to prepare some tools for installing those parts. Typically, these include stuff like screwdrivers, clippers, a flashlight and cable ties. Once you have these ready, it’s easier for you to do the installation you need to do.
Some folks I know go out to buy dedicated computer building kits with a wide assortment of screwdrivers and such - in my opinion, you may or may not need those, depending on your need. I think when you're building your first one or two PCs,
there's no need for such equipment. When you get more experienced, then you might want to invest in such kits.
1.3 Installing Hardware and Software
The most critical part of building your own gaming computer is to install the hardware and software.
For hardware, this involves everything from laying out the parts you’ve bought, installing the CPU and heatsink, installing the motherboard to connecting up the hard drives and speakers.
For software, the installation process includes stuff like installing Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, as well as other software you might need in the gaming computer.
1.4 Testing Your System
The final step is to test your system out. Here you install the best and most intensive 3D game you’ve got, as well any graphics applications which you might want to try out. You give your system a test drive and see how your components perform.
2. Buying Your Components
Before you begin building your gaming computer, you need to buy the best components that will fit within your budget. Remember that our objective here is to ensure that everything costs below $1000. That is actually quite a challenge, so read on and see what components I’ve selected for you.
Here is a list of the components you need in that PC:
• Motherboard
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Video Card
• Computer Case
• Display Monitor
• Hard Drive
• Optical Drive
• Sound Card
• Power Supply
• Keyboard and Mouse
Let’s step through them one by one. If you’re new to personal computers and would like a refresher on what each of these components do, please refer to Appendix 1 where I’ve written up a little guide to PC hardware.
Where do you buy this hardware? Well, the place where I’d go to buy all these components would be NewEgg.com. They are a very trusted name for buying computer hardware online and they stock quality products at the best prices.
2.1 Motherboard
The motherboard is one of the most critical components in your new gaming computer. It is the platform to which the other components of the computer (e.g. the CPU, video card and hard drive) are connected. A good motherboard will give your PC tremendous speed improvements – a lousy one will slow everything down.
Figure 1: A picture of a typical motherboard
Critical Motherboard Features
Here is a list of things I feel that your motherboard must have in order to be a gaming powerhouse. At a minimum, your gaming motherboard should be one that:
• Supports the latest Intel CPUs
• Supports DD2 RAM, with ample room for expansion
• Supports RAID and Serial ATA (SATA)
• Support for PCI Express x16 video cards
• Support for PCI cards (e.g. sound cards)
• Integrated 3D audio
• Integrated LAN and wireless
• Has ample USB ports and 1 Firewire port
• Has an ATX form factor
continue reading
More and more folks are trying to build their own gaming computers these days. I’ve received many questions from visitors to my website regarding building computers. In this eBook, I hope to show you how to build a gaming computer on the cheap, all for under $1000. I’ll give you step-by-step instructions, from choosing the best value components like the CPU, motherboard and video card, to the installation procedures.
There are many benefits to building your own gaming computer. First and foremost, you will save money. If you look at the cost of gaming computers sold by brand name manufacturers such as Alienware, Gateway and Dell, you’ll find that they can cost often over $2000. If you have the budget and cash, by all means, go for these systems. But if you want to save money, they’re certainly not the way to go.
The other benefit to building your own gaming computer is that you learn a new skill. When you select components in a computer, and go through the pain of trial and error in getting it to work, you will naturally pick up valuable computer skills. These skills will last you a lifetime and help you in all aspects of your life. Personally, I grew up picking up computer skills as a result of trying to get my computer to work with the latest games!
1. Overview
Before we begin with the process of building your own computer, it’s important to see what the overall steps are. I break the steps into the following categories:
1.1 Buying Your Components
A very important part of the process is to select and buy proper components for your gaming computer. With some many models of CPUs, video card, motherboards and other components out there, this step can be difficult. I’ll show you how to select the best components to make it easier.
1.2 Installation Equipment Required
Once you’ve got the computer components you need, you need to prepare some tools for installing those parts. Typically, these include stuff like screwdrivers, clippers, a flashlight and cable ties. Once you have these ready, it’s easier for you to do the installation you need to do.
Some folks I know go out to buy dedicated computer building kits with a wide assortment of screwdrivers and such - in my opinion, you may or may not need those, depending on your need. I think when you're building your first one or two PCs,
there's no need for such equipment. When you get more experienced, then you might want to invest in such kits.
1.3 Installing Hardware and Software
The most critical part of building your own gaming computer is to install the hardware and software.
For hardware, this involves everything from laying out the parts you’ve bought, installing the CPU and heatsink, installing the motherboard to connecting up the hard drives and speakers.
For software, the installation process includes stuff like installing Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, as well as other software you might need in the gaming computer.
1.4 Testing Your System
The final step is to test your system out. Here you install the best and most intensive 3D game you’ve got, as well any graphics applications which you might want to try out. You give your system a test drive and see how your components perform.
2. Buying Your Components
Before you begin building your gaming computer, you need to buy the best components that will fit within your budget. Remember that our objective here is to ensure that everything costs below $1000. That is actually quite a challenge, so read on and see what components I’ve selected for you.
Here is a list of the components you need in that PC:
• Motherboard
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Video Card
• Computer Case
• Display Monitor
• Hard Drive
• Optical Drive
• Sound Card
• Power Supply
• Keyboard and Mouse
Let’s step through them one by one. If you’re new to personal computers and would like a refresher on what each of these components do, please refer to Appendix 1 where I’ve written up a little guide to PC hardware.
Where do you buy this hardware? Well, the place where I’d go to buy all these components would be NewEgg.com. They are a very trusted name for buying computer hardware online and they stock quality products at the best prices.
2.1 Motherboard
The motherboard is one of the most critical components in your new gaming computer. It is the platform to which the other components of the computer (e.g. the CPU, video card and hard drive) are connected. A good motherboard will give your PC tremendous speed improvements – a lousy one will slow everything down.
Figure 1: A picture of a typical motherboard
Critical Motherboard Features
Here is a list of things I feel that your motherboard must have in order to be a gaming powerhouse. At a minimum, your gaming motherboard should be one that:
• Supports the latest Intel CPUs
• Supports DD2 RAM, with ample room for expansion
• Supports RAID and Serial ATA (SATA)
• Support for PCI Express x16 video cards
• Support for PCI cards (e.g. sound cards)
• Integrated 3D audio
• Integrated LAN and wireless
• Has ample USB ports and 1 Firewire port
• Has an ATX form factor
continue reading
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