Self-assembly of a computer. How to build a gaming computer

Imagine that you cannot live a day without playing computer games, but you do not understand computer hardware. Either you don’t have time to delve into this, or you’re just lazy, although most likely it’s the latter, or you’ll be lying by saying the former. For users here, we will help you choose modern spare parts at an affordable price, as of March 2014. Thanks to this article you will be able build a gaming computer and don't overpay.

Armed with the Internet and the necessary knowledge, we set out in search of not expensive, but most importantly high-quality components.

Shopping plan

First of all, we need to assemble the system unit, why assemble it? The fact is that in any finished computer there will always be 2-3 spare parts that can negate performance or break down prematurely due to quality. Don't be afraid, no one is forcing you assemble the computer yourself. Usually, when you purchase computer parts, you can use the services of our ITcom service center in Kharkov at.

Let's start with the selection of components for the system unit. First, I will list it:

  • CPU
  • Motherboard
  • RAM
  • Video card
  • System unit case
  • power unit
  • DVD drive
  • HDD
  • CPU cooling system (cooler)

Let's start choosing components for a gaming PC

System unit

The appearance does not affect the performance of a gaming computer, so we take a case without bells and whistles, an entry-level one. The case must be of medium size so that everything fits in and does not take up extra space, that is, labeled ATX. For example, body AeroCool V3X Black Edition Black. As a rule, the case is sold with a power supply, but this is not our method because the power in standard units is not suitable for us, so we choose without power.

power unit

Let's not chase after brand names, but choose a good one based on reviews 600 Watt power supply, Enough for a gaming computer. After looking and reading reviews, we choose FSP Group ATX-600PNR 600W the average cost of which is about 700 UAH. Quite a decent power supply, especially since the 12 cm fan in its case will dissipate heat well.

Processor CPU

For stable operation and less heat generation, we choose Intel processors. Many AMD fans will argue that AMD is cheaper and more powerful, but I’d rather pay a little extra and be sure that the gaming computer will not overheat and will work stably for many years. Choosing a processor Intel Core i5-4670 Haswell(3400MHz, LGA1150, L3 6144Kb) average price about 2600 UAH. Expensive, but for games this is the very extreme price line, because further it only gets more expensive. Intel i5-4670— the processor is quite cold, so there will be no overheating, however, just in case, you will equip it with a good fan to prevent overheating. Core i7 processors are an unjustified luxury, without which games will run just fine. Now, starting from the processor model, you can choose a suitable motherboard.

Motherboard

Considering that we have a processor with an LGA 1150 socket, we can choose a motherboard, I won’t lie, I admit to you that almost since childhood I have been a fan of high-quality equipment and hardware, so the choice fell on Asus products (I hope with me many will agree).And now let’s be more specific. Nothing superfluous, 4 slots for RAM (for expansion), 6 USB slots on the rear panel (4 of them USB 3.0), the ability to connect two video cards (if you suddenly want something more). For overclockers (lovers of overclocking hardware) there is also where to go for a walk. The name of the “leopard” is ASUS Z87M-PLUS and this joy costs an average of 1330 UAH.

RAM.

Everything is simple here, we choose a normal brand, choose a frequency of 1600 and a memory capacity of 8GB (it’s better to have two 4 GB dies so that the RAM works in parallel mode). There’s no point in more, there’s no point in less, so to speak, the golden mean. The classic Kingston never It didn’t let me down, so to the fanfare of a lifetime warranty and additional heat sinks, I chose the Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2/8G model (the kit comes with two 4 GB boards).

Tip: when installing Windows, be sure to select a 64-bit operating system, since the system simply will not see 8 GB in 32-bit.

Video card

One of the most subtle and scrupulous choices, since we are not building an office calculator, but a decent gaming computer. I’ll say right away that I trust my hardware only to GeForce products, so AMD Radeon is again on the side. Yes, I understand that AMD is cheaper and all that, but if you build a computer on this architecture, then you will not need a heater in winter, but in turn you will need air conditioning in summer. So, what do we have on the sweet market? We always choose cards with the suffix Ti, which means increased power. I won’t bore you, but I’ll introduce you to a cheap but angry little bear called Palit GeForce GTX 750 Ti 1202Mhz PCI-E 3.0 2048Mb 6008Mhz 128 bit DVI Mini-HDMI HDCP is still a new product on the market of budget gaming video cards, but judging by the game tests it will be able to hooray. The cost is on average 1800 rubles.

DVD drive

Everything is very complicated here, we close our eyes and poke at any black CD (since we chose a black body). The lottery was won for an optical drive ASUS DRW-24F1ST Black costing 180 UAH.

HDD.

We choose Western Digital with a SATA 6 Gb/s connection interface with a capacity of 1000GB and a buffer memory size of 64 MB. All other parameters are standard. Model Western Digital WD10EZEX cost 700 UAH. Why didn't I choose Seagate? Because in all my work in the engineering environment, only the hard drives of this company gave me the most trouble and gray hairs on... well, you get the idea.

CPU cooling system (cooler)

Everything is simple here, for good and quiet cooling we take a cooler with a 12 cm fan, it will quietly and efficiently cool your processor, which is what we need. This little Zalman CNPS10X Optima will suit us, it looks impressive and in fact will work the same. The cost is only 360 UAH.

Let's sum it up

  • System unit AeroCool V3X Black Edition Black - 500 UAH.
  • Power supply FSP Group ATX-600PNR 600W - 630 UAH.
  • Processor Intel Core i5-4670 Haswell (3400MHz, LGA1150, L3 6144Kb) - 2600 UAH
  • Motherboard ASUS Z87M-PLUS - 1330 UAH
  • RAM Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2/8G - 1200 UAH
  • Video card Palit GeForce GTX 750 Ti 1202Mhz PCI-E 3.0 2048Mb 6008Mhz 128 bit DVI Mini-HDMI HDCP - 1800 UAH
  • DVD drive ASUS DRW-24F1ST Black - 180 UAH
  • Hard drive Western Digital WD10EZEX - 700 UAH
  • CPU cooling system (cooler) Zalman CNPS10X Optima - 360 UAH

Total: 9300 UAH.

At a minimum, this is how much a system unit for a gaming computer will cost, the hardware of which will be enough for you to play games for at least 2-3 years. Let's continue with the selection. What else do we have left?

  • Monitor
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Mouse pad
  • Validol tablets (this is for those who are bothered by the price of the system unit)

Monitor

For comfortable gaming and good pictures, we choose Philips monitors model 226V4LAB price 1400 UAH. Good color rendition, response time, resolution and of course the brand. Only before the game will it be necessary to adjust the color, Philips has a jamb with the factory settings, you always need to adjust it yourself. And the price for 22 inches is quite reasonable.

Keyboard

We choose a gaming keyboard with a backlight for night gaming and a small fan to cool your fingers. Model Tt eSPORTS by Thermaltake Challenger price 450 UAH.

Mouse

It’s more complicated here, for a gamer the mouse is everything!!! Therefore, her choice must be taken responsibly. An inexpensive and fairly competent solution is called Mad Catz R.A.T.3 Matte Black. Cost 700 UAH. Good indicators of accuracy and stability. This mouse was created by people who specialize in computer games and know what it takes to play a good game. The most budget option of good gaming rodents. There is also a braided cord that prevents kinks and chafing.

Rug

We take the mouse pad STEELSERIES QcK+, the connection with the mouse will be excellent and the dimensions are quite acceptable for gaming (400x450x2 mm.) price 150 UAH.

Let's summarize our selection.

  • System unit – 9300 UAH
  • Monitor – 1400 UAH
  • Keyboard – 450 UAH
  • Mouse – 700 UAH
  • Mouse pad – 150 UAH
  • Total: 12,000 UAH for the entire set

In conclusion, I can say that this rocket will be enough for you to play all modern games, and I think there will be no problems with quality and performance.

Probably every more or less advanced user has wondered how to assemble a computer themselves. It's cheaper and more reliable. And every second person drove this thought away from himself, because he thought that the process of assembling a computer on his own was very difficult. But don’t be afraid of difficulties, especially since the step-by-step instructions described in the article will help you overcome your fear. Moreover, modern computer components are equipped with a protection system. Each component can be installed in the only correct way; it will not work any other way. As the saying goes: “Fear has big eyes.” So let your eyes be afraid and your hands do the work.

First, let's talk about the benefits of building a computer yourself. The most important thing is that you will know for sure that your computer has completely new, high-quality components, you will know everything about the characteristics of the computer and at any time you will be able to increase the memory or performance of the computer. Not all sellers are honest; there are also those who are ready to pass off a single-core computer as a dual-core one and hide some of the computer’s shortcomings. Moreover, by purchasing a finished computer, you agree that you will not open it yourself (during the warranty period). This means you won’t be able to make any transformations. Otherwise, you will lose your warranty. Also, if your self-assembled computer breaks down, you will be able to identify and replace the weak link yourself. While a store purchase will need to be taken to a service center and first wait for the diagnostic results, then they will repair it.

We hope that all of the above has overcome your fears, and now you can get down to business. To assemble a computer yourself, you need to have:

  • CPU;
  • Motherboard;
  • Case with power supply;
  • CPU cooler;
  • Video card;
  • HDD;
  • RAM;
  • Drive.
  • Phillips screwdriver.

And not just have all of the above in stock, but also try to ensure that all the components fit together.

So, the first question that needs to be resolved right now is: “What do you need a computer for?”

For all users, the computer performs different tasks: some play all day long, some work on the Internet, some work with 3D programs based on the specifics of their specialty, etc. Naturally, they all need computers with different capabilities. Let's try to figure it out.

The following computer components are suitable for solving simple tasks: a 512 MB video card, two 2 GB DDR-1333 RAM modules, a 512 GB hard drive (7200 rpm, 16 MB cache buffer), an Intel Pentium G620 or AMD processor Athlon II x3 440, H61 Express motherboard for Intel or AMD 770 processor for Athlon, 400 W power supply. Price about $400.

Components for a mid-priced computer: two 2GB RAM modules of DDR 1600 type, 512 MB video card (for example, GeForce GTS 450 512Mb), 1TB hard drive (7200 rpm, 16 MB cache buffer), Intel Core processor i3 2100 or AMD Phenom II x4 955, Z68 motherboard for Intel processor or AMD 870 for Phenom, 450 W power supply. Price about $600. The result will be a computer capable of performing many tasks, including supporting a bunch of modern games.

To solve problems that require enormous resources, the following components are required: two 4GB RAM modules of DDR-1866 type, a 1GB video card (for example, GeForce GTX 560Ti), a 60GB SSD hard drive + 2TB 7200 rpm, a 16MB cache buffer , Intel Core i5 2500K processor or AMD Phenom II x4 965, Z68 motherboard for Intel processor or AMD 990FX for Phenom, 550 W power supply. Price about $1200.

Have you decided on the purpose of your computer? It's time to choose a case with a power supply.

The case can be selected according to several parameters: size, material, ease of installation.

It is recommended to purchase aluminum cases, which are distinguished by their lightness and thermal conductivity. In addition, steel cases have appeared, which have advantages over aluminum cases in resistance to deformation.

The range of housings on the market is very wide. There are surprisingly compact Barebone cases, medium-sized MiniTowers, MidiTowers and huge BigTowers.

Surprisingly compact Barebone cases are suitable for lovers of minimalism. Barebone also has the advantage that it comes with the motherboard, graphics card, and processor included. All you have to do is install RAM and a hard drive. It is important that the assembled computer in the Barebone case operates almost silently.

It is not recommended to buy medium-sized MiniTower cases, since the ventilation system in them leaves much to be desired. And some components are generally difficult to find, since they simply do not fit into the case. But, for example, MiniTower is perfect for office use.

MidiTower cases are the most common. They have a good ventilation system and ease of installation.

The largest BigTower cases for the most powerful computers.

It happens that cases are not equipped with a power supply and you need to select and install it yourself.

Selecting and installing the power supply

There is no need to skimp on the power supply. Since the stability of your finished computer depends on it. It is recommended to buy a power supply at an average price of 1,500 rubles. When purchasing, pay attention to the weight of the device. The power supply must be heavy. If it is light, it most likely has a poor cooling system. Next you need to decide on the power of the power supply.

Computers designed for gaming and working with 3D graphics require a power supply power of 500,550,600 W. A case with a similar power supply will cost you $50 or more.

Computers designed to run office applications and surf the Internet do not require such a lot of power. You can get by with a power supply with a power of 400.450 W. A case with this power supply will cost you $30 or more.

The required power of the power supply can also be calculated. Link to power supply power calculator

To do this, simply follow the link, select your computer components and their quantity from the drop-down lists. Then click the "Calculate" button. The calculator will display the power value with a small margin (30%). All that remains is to choose a power supply with a power close to the calculated one.

The power supply is usually located in the upper rear corner of the case. To install it, you simply need to screw the unit to the rear wall of the case.

Now the case with the power supply has been selected and now it’s time to select and install

The processor, RAM, and input/output controllers are installed on the motherboard. The motherboard coordinates the operation of these components.

The picture shows the motherboard. 1-power supply for the processor, 2-socket for the processor, 3-north bridge, 4-PCI-EXPRESS connector for video card, 5-PCI connector for expansion cards, 6-slots for RAM, 7-connector for power connection, 8- IDE connectors for hard drives and optical drives, 9 - south bridge, 10 - SATA connectors for hard drives and optical drives, 11 - USB connectors.

  • The south bridge is responsible for supporting the optical drive, hard drive, audio adapter, etc.
  • The north bridge is needed to control the video card and RAM.

When choosing a motherboard, you should consider the number of memory slots for the possibility of subsequent upgrades.

Let's start installing the motherboard:

  • We unscrew the front cover of the system unit and take a closer look at where to place the motherboard;
  • We get rid of the plug on the case. We replace it with the plug that comes with the motherboard;
  • We screw the bolts into the system unit, into the places where the motherboard is supposed to be attached (the bolts usually come with the case);

  • We insert the motherboard, tighten the screws;

  • Connect power to the motherboard. We connect the four-pin power connector from the system unit to the ATX_12V connector of the motherboard. We connect the twenty-four-pin power connector from the system unit to the ATX motherboard connector.

  • We connect the case wires PWR-LED, PWR-SW, RESET-SW, SPEAKER, HDD-LED to the F_PANEL connector to turn on, reboot, and diagnose computer malfunctions, respectively.
  1. HDD-LED– a red diode on the front side of the case (the color scheme for marking wires is mainly used, red-white)
  2. PWR-LED– green diode, network indicator (green-white)
  3. PWR-SW– on/off button (orange-white)
  4. RESET-SW– the PC reset button (black-white) has reverse polarity.
  5. SPEAKER– system speaker (red-white, often yellow-white)

We connect the white wire to the minus, the colored wire to the plus. Read the instructions for the motherboard. The boards are different - the connection of these wires is also different.

If you still do not understand what we are talking about and think that you simply cannot cope with these tasks, then I would recommend that you call a computer repair specialist at home.
With the motherboard installed, it's time to move on to installing the processor.

Processor Installation

The processor performs all the basic calculations in the computer and processes information.

Decide which processor you will install: Intel, AMD and others.

You should also decide on the number of cores. For a home computer, a dual-core processor of average power is suitable. An engineer or designer's processor requires a quad-core processor.

Whatever processor you choose, make sure it is compatible with your motherboard socket. A socket is a place to install a processor on the motherboard. This information can be found on the motherboard box.

For example, Intel processors are compatible with the following sockets: Socket LGA775, Socket LGA1156, Socket LGA1155, Socket LGA1366.

AMD processors are compatible with the following sockets: Socket939, SocketAM3, SocketFM1, SocketAM3 plus, SocketG34.

Almost all modern processors from this company are based on socket 755 (Socket LGA775). The advantage is already noticeable in the absence of legs on the processor. Consequently, the risk of breakdown and careless installation of the processor on the motherboard is minimal.

Let's get on with the installation. To do this, you need to open and lift the socket lever - a metal rod parallel to the slot. Remove the processor from its packaging without touching the bottom. Remove the black protective plate. Install it into the socket. For convenience, there are arrows on the motherboard and on the processor itself; they indicate which side of the processor should be placed in the socket. Make sure the directions of the arrows match.

Close the fastening plate and lower the socket locking lever.

Installing AMD processors

The installation principle is the same. The only difference is that the processor has legs. The yellow arrow on the processor and on the motherboard again simplifies the installation process.

The processor is installed.

Installing a CPU cooler

A cooler is necessary to cool the processor during operation. It is important that the cooler produces as little noise as possible when operating. The operating noise of a good cooler fan should be in the range (20-40) dB. Moreover, in the specification it is necessary to look at the processor power it can cool.

Before proceeding directly to the installation, make sure that the cooler is compatible with the motherboard socket. Some processors are sold complete with a cooler (cooling system).

At the corners of the socket on the motherboard there are four holes for the cooler legs.

But before installing it, make sure there is thermal paste on the cooler (in the picture there is a white spot in the center). The cooler consists of a radiator and a fan. The heatsink touches the processor directly and absorbs heat, while the fan removes heat from the heatsink itself. This cooling scheme requires rapid transfer of heat from the processor to the radiator. For this purpose, thermal paste is applied to the radiator. It provides a tight connection between the heatsink and the processor and has good thermal conductivity. If there is no thermal paste, you need to apply it in a very thin layer of 1mm.

Install the four cooler legs into the holes on the motherboard. Press the legs one by one until you hear a characteristic click. Make sure the cooler is securely fastened. This will be indicated by the switch. If the switch is in the closed position, the leg is securely fastened; in the open position, it is not fastened. Connect the wire to the CPU_FAN connector.

That's it, the cooler installation is complete.

Let's move on to installing RAM

RAM is rewritable memory. Program and application data is temporarily stored there.

The connector slot on the motherboard must match the type of RAM module (DDR, DDR2, DDR3). To increase the performance and speed of the computer, it is recommended to install two RAM modules. It is worth remembering that in this case the module manufacturer must be the same. And in terms of characteristics they should be the same. The bandwidth of the motherboard, processor and memory module must match.

The clock frequency of the RAM module must be commensurate with the frequency of the system bus of the motherboard. Even if the module frequency is higher than the bus frequency, the actual memory frequency will still be equal to the bus frequency.

Let's proceed directly to the installation. Push the latches to the sides on the motherboard slot:

Place the memory in the slot. Apply gentle pressure along the edges until the latches click into place.

The slot on the motherboard has a partition that corresponds to a notch on the memory module. It is impossible to make a mistake with the installation.

Installing a video card

A video card is needed to convert the data array into an image displayed on the screen. Moreover, modern video cards are also needed for processing and storing graphic data. The speed and quality of the output image depends on the parameters of the video card. This is very important when gaming or video processing.

The power of the video card should match or be slightly less than the power of the power supply.

The video card is inserted into the PCI Express 16x slot (under the processor). Install and press until it clicks.

The “skeleton” of the computer has been assembled.

Installing a hard drive

The hard drive stores the operating system, user information, and programs.

The hard drive and motherboard connectors must match. For example, Serial SATA 6Gb/s. The throughput of a hard drive with a Serial SATA 6Gb/s connector is 6Gb/s.

  1. Connect the SerialATA cable to the motherboard's SATA connector.
  2. We connect the SATA adapter to the hard drive, then connect the Molex power cable from the power supply to the adapter.

The hard drive installation is complete. Let's move on to installing the optical drive.

An optical drive is a device for reading information from disks or writing information to disks. The following types of drives are currently sold on the market: CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW and Blu-Ray.

  • The CD-ROM drive is designed for reading CDs only.
  • A CD-RW drive allows you to both read and write to a CD.
  • The DVD-ROM drive is designed for reading CDs and DVDs.
  • The DVD-RW drive allows you to read information from CDs and DVDs and write information to CDs and DVDs.
  • Blu-Ray drives are designed for large-capacity discs. Such disks, and the drives themselves, cost a lot of money.

It is preferable to choose a DVD-RW drive so as not to limit yourself in what you can do.

A drive is necessary in a computer, even if you have long switched to flash media. After all, WINDOWS is installed from a disk. In addition, you can free up your computer's memory by dumping the necessary files onto disk for the time being. Download distribution kits for games. And you can just watch a movie.

When choosing an optical drive, pay attention to its speed of reading and writing discs. In order for the drive to read and write to all disks, a speed of 48x is required.

We place the drive in the space provided for it in the power supply case. We fix it with screws to reduce the influence of vibration and noise. Connect power to the optical drive. Next, we connect the drive directly to the motherboard with a cable.

Closing the housing cover

All that remains is to connect the monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers to the system unit, connect the power cords to the monitor and the system unit.

When you connect your computer to the network for the first time, you should hear a squeak, symbolizing that all components are properly connected. Information about the processor clock speed, amount of RAM, operating modes and storage capacity will appear on the screen. Nothing else can appear, because the WINDOWS operating system has not yet been installed.

If after reading the article you still have questions about how to assemble a computer yourself, the video will explain everything to you in detail:

Now we are assembling a computer ourselves, having overcome all fears and doubts and having figured out why it is more profitable to assemble a computer ourselves. Having previously figured out why each of us needs a computer. We learned how to select components and calculate the required power of the power supply. We figured out the purpose of the computer components. We selected the optimal components in each price category. And let the computer you assembled with your own hands be a useful assistant at work or at home.

Even a beginner can build a gaming PC in the HYPERPC online configurator. Specify the gaming platform, and the service will offer components for stable collaboration, drives, cooling systems and peripherals. And our engineers can professionally assemble a custom computer in Moscow. When assembling a computer, the HYPERPC system unit configurator takes into account the requirements of heavy games - this is an excellent assistant for creating a powerful platform with the best components of 2018. When analyzing compatibility, manufacturers' recommendations, load test results and the experience of e-sports players are taken into account.

Select configuration

The designer of a system unit with a compatibility check evaluates not only the type of slots, buses, ports and connectors. All components are tested to work properly with each other, so even on a limited budget you can build a good computer with high performance. Start by defining your platform, and the configurator will offer available components to build your custom gaming PC.

Online assembly of the system unit

You build a computer online - HYPERPC brings your project to life! Specify the video card, processor, motherboard and other system parameters. The calculator will show the cost of the configuration taking into account assembly and configuration. There are tips for each component that will help you make a decision. You can immediately order peripherals, installation of the operating system and other software, modding and safe overclocking of your computer. You can create several configurations and compare them with each other.

PC Configurator

For each gaming platform, components with different characteristics are offered - from entry-level in its segment to top-end hardware. The compatibility-checked system unit designer contains components from different manufacturers, so the choice of gaming computer is not limited. The order will go into production immediately after confirmation from your side. If in doubt, the expert assistance of HYPERPC employees is at your service, who will help you assemble a gaming computer in 2018 to confidently conquer the gaming peaks.

Updated 06/02/2015. The article is relevant for the entire 2015.
How to choose a computer so as not to regret it. Choose a good and inexpensive computer!

If you have never been interested in the parameters of certain computer components, then choosing one will be quite difficult for you. But fortunately, you can read my article and your decision will be easy and correct. The most important thing to remember is that the most expensive is not always the best. And also do not trust consultants in stores, since their main task is to sell stale goods that no one buys. Therefore, they will try to convince you in every possible way, but you must insist on your own. To make sure your choice of computer is informed, read the article to the end!

So, the first thing we must do is decide what we need a computer for. There are three different options:

  • office solutions;
  • home options;
  • and gaming systems.

Office computers These are not necessarily machines that are in offices, but simply a generalized name for budget solutions. They are only capable of working with documents and surfing the Internet. Even watching movies can be difficult due to the lack of a full-fledged video card, games will be terribly slow or will not start at all. After all, office solutions usually use weak components, for example, a built-in video card instead of a normal one.

Home computer this is the average level. Here you can already watch movies, even play some games, but not at maximum graphic settings. Such a computer is quite suitable for most users and will not eat up most of the family budget. It is advisable to assemble the configuration yourself, rather than take ready-made solutions, because usually their price includes assembly, various licensed software, which may not be useful, and so on. It’s always better to assemble everything yourself, especially since by 2015 the home computer has become a simple construction kit, where it is simply impossible to assemble something incorrectly.

And finally, gaming computers. Again, this is a general name, it does not mean that the computer will be used only for games. It just tells us that the hardware of such a machine is very serious and powerful. Allows us to process huge graphic images, for example, in PhotoShop or 3D Max. Cut and convert video at a decent speed, perform complex calculations. Such computers are assembled by the users themselves, often not immediately, since they are quite expensive.

For example, first you buy a good motherboard with a reserve for the future, and then an expensive video card, processor, and RAM are “hung” on it. First one video card, then a second one for SLI mode or CrossFire. First 8GB of RAM, then 8 more for working in Double-Channel or even Triple-channel mode, depending on the configuration.

So, if you need more than just a computer for checking email and typing, but you don't play the latest games in the gaming industry or process gigabytes of video, then a home computer is suitable for you.

Now we will go through all the components and talk a little about them. For each point, I will select examples of components that are successful, in my opinion, specifically for a home computer. As a result, at the end of the article, ideally, I will have a system unit that will delight its owner with its performance and potential.

Choosing a computer monitor

We will start not with the system unit, but with the monitor, because this is actually the first thing the user sees, and if the image on it is bad and of poor quality, then what is the point of powerful hardware? If you agree with this, then we continue, and if not, then go straight to the point about system units.

So, how to choose a monitor so that it pleases you with a rich and clear picture? It's easier than it seems. Monitors have only a few important characteristics. Well, I hope everyone has long understood that there can be no talk of any CRT monitors. This is a relic of the past, I don’t know if they are even sold anywhere now or not, but, in any case, forget about them like a bad dream!

Naturally, this will be an LCD monitor, which should have an acceptable response time of 2-8 milliseconds, and it will most likely be widescreen, this is also almost a standard. The resolution is 1920x1080 for watching movies and games in Full HD format, you can, of course, take more, for example, 3840x2160.

Viewing angles are actually not as critical as many people write and talk about them. An angle of 170 horizontally and 160 vertically is a common option, because you are not going to look at the monitor by placing it in front of you on the sofa or bed, right? Everyone sits and looks at the monitor at the right angle, and even with minor deviations the picture will not lose its brightness.

The matrix will most likely be either TFT PLS or TFT IPS. And this is no longer a toy for true aesthetes or photographers, as it was before; now these technologies are used in almost all modern models. It is used everywhere (to replace fluorescent), which consumes little electricity and improves color rendition. I also highly recommend purchasing monitors with a matte screen!

We will give examples in each section so that you roughly understand what we are talking about. The DELL U2414H and ASUS VX239H monitors may well serve as examples, each in their own field. They have different formats, different matrices, different response times, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Read descriptions, reviews and understand.

That's all about monitors, now let's move on to the periphery, without which normal work at the computer is not possible.

Peripherals (select mouse and keyboard)

As already mentioned, peripherals are a very important thing that you shouldn’t skimp on too much. Of course, I don’t encourage you to buy a wireless gyroscopic mouse for 10 thousand, but you shouldn’t buy a mouse for 100 rubles either. Either she scratches the table, then the cursor begins to twitch. And many cheap mice also have low DPI, which will cause you a lot of inconvenience if you have a large widescreen monitor.


General advice for both mouse and keyboard: don't buy cheap wireless devices. If you don’t have the money for expensive models, then buy one with a wire, otherwise later, in the vast majority of cases, problems with the signal will appear. These are not just my thoughts - this is really true. No money - we choose wires and no problems with the signal. If you have money and desire, we take quality products.

Let's start with mouse selection. It should be comfortable and fit the size of your palm well. Don't buy laptop mice for use on a desktop computer, really. Your hands get tired quickly when working with such a mouse, as it is uncomfortable to hold. The palm should rest completely on the body of the mouse, and not lie on the table. I also don’t recommend chasing the number of additional buttons on a mouse; most people don’t use them at all. But 2, maximum 4 additional keys on the side of the mouse can be allowed, the main thing is that they do not interfere with work. DPI is image resolution, and in relation to a mouse, in simple terms, this is the speed at which the cursor moves on the screen. More precisely, the ratio of the distance by which you physically moved the mouse to the distance on the screen by which the cursor moved.

The larger the monitor and its resolution, the more DPI you need for comfortable work. If you purchased a Full HD monitor with a resolution of 1920×1080 (I recommend choosing this), then you will need at least 800 dpi, and preferably 1200. Then you will not have to make unnecessary movements to move the cursor to the right place. An example of a good mouse is the A4Tech XL-750BK and in general the x7 series from A4tech is very successful.

Keyboard should be standard so that there are as few additional and, moreover, useless keys as possible, then it will last longer and typing on it will be more comfortable. Choose a device with short key travel, that is, small, thin keys. If you know how to touch-type, then getting used to such a keyboard will not be difficult for you; it will take a maximum of 1 - 2 days. It may also have outputs for headphones, microphone and USB. It all depends on your preferences; if necessary, choose a model with outputs. An example of a successful model that will fit into the budget of your home computer is Logitech K200.

We've sorted out the periphery. Now you have everything except the most important thing - the system unit! And we’ll start with the body for it, since very often people neglect the “box”, but in vain, and here’s why, read on.

How important is the system case?

The point here is this. Many people think that there is no point in buying a good case. I screwed all the hardware, even to a cardboard box, the main thing was that it didn’t fall off. But the fact is that powerful hardware, especially the video card and processor, get very hot. The temperature of a video card without a cooling system can soar over 150 degrees in a few seconds. Accordingly, when a cooling system is installed on it, it removes heat from the video card itself and releases it into the surrounding air layers. This is where you need a well-designed case so that air can flow in and out of the box freely, otherwise the cooling system will become ineffective. Then the computer will crash.

If you don’t want to keep the case open all the time, then make sure that coolers (fans) are installed inside it for intake and exhaust. Again, a rather delicate point: if there is no balance between the amount of incoming and outgoing air, then dust will begin to accumulate inside the case and it will need to be constantly cleaned.

Sizes matter too. For example, most modern video cards have impressive capacities. CPU coolers can also be large. All this will lead to the fact that the components will simply interfere with each other and it will be impossible to install them. Make sure the case is spacious enough to accommodate all the parts you purchase. Example - Thermaltake Chaser A31 VP300A1W2N Black.

A few words about power supplies, an easy choice

Recently, power supplies have stopped being installed in cases, and they have to be purchased separately. In fact, this is correct, because the standard blocks that came with the case were almost always weak, and they still had to be replaced, but the cost of it was included in the price of the box. Accordingly, now we buy only the case, and select the power supply to suit our needs ourselves. It is worth noting that it does not grow in proportion to the increase in productivity.


Yes, it is growing, but mainly due to video cards, since processors and hard drives somehow restrain their appetites in this regard. Reducing the CPU process technology often leads to reduced power consumption. Hard drives now have so-called “green” models, which also operate at lower power consumption and generate less heat. But video cards constantly require more and more watts. Actually, because of this, we will need a power supply of 600-800 Watts. In this case, it is desirable that the wires can be disconnected from the unit itself. This will save a lot of space in the case, everything will be neat, beautiful and practical. Thus, you can focus on models such as Thermaltake TR2 RX 650W (detachable wires) and Thermaltake TR2 600W (not detachable).

Now, finally, let's move on to the components. This will be the most interesting part, especially for those who simply have not read the text until this point. The first thing we need is a motherboard, since it will determine which processor, video card, RAM and hard drive we install.

The motherboard is the basis of your computer

Now I will explain everything briefly so as not to fill your head with unnecessary information. Of all the parameters of the motherboard, we can highlight the most basic ones. For example, we will not consider the form factor, since for a home computer you will buy a motherboard of either standard ATX size (305x244 mm) or microATX (244x244 mm), which is more preferable, since this particular format is not overloaded with extra slots. So let's look at the options that will really be useful to you when choosing:

  • socket (the processor type depends on it);
  • RAM connectors (quantity, type);
  • slots for video cards (number, type).

As for, for example, IDE or PCI connectors, forget about them, they are a relic of the past. You can also somehow justify the presence of PCI-E 1x, 2x, and so on, but they are also not a parameter that you should pay attention to when buying a motherboard.

The socket can be either for Intel or AMD processors. Moreover, each of them can also be different. For example, LGA1150 is currently relevant for Intel. AMD has FM2+ and AM3+ sockets. But soon the situation will change again, I am sure of it. RAM must be DDR3, 2 or 4 slots. Of course, there are two slots for PCI-E 16x video cards, if you plan or you can limit yourself to one slot, support for PCI-E version 3.0 is mandatory. An example is ASUS B85M-G, which has everything you need for a home system.

RAM, nothing complicated

Once we have chosen the motherboard, nothing can stop us - we have reached the finish line of assembling our system unit and the computer as a whole. There is nothing complicated in choosing RAM. It is only worth noting that it will be DDR3, the total volume is at least 8GB, the frequency is 1600 - 2800 MHz.


This volume can be achieved in various ways. For example, buy one 8GB stick, but it would be better to install 2 4GB sticks. It will be much better both in price and performance. Here, as an example, let’s take a regular one, or better yet 2 pieces, in total we get 16 GB and excellent performance for a low price. Perhaps you have heard about RAM timings, but I do not advise you to change them (overclock the system) without knowledge in this area. The standard factory settings are quite sufficient.

Video card: one, two or zero?

Since we are talking about a budget home computer, and not a powerful gaming solution, there will be only one video card. But you can spend a little more money on it, instead of buying two cheap ones just for SLI or CrossFire. As a result, one good video card can satisfy the requirements of even modern games at ultra settings.

The connector, naturally, will be PCI-E 16x, there can be no other option. Regarding the choice of a specific model, you should refer to the same overclockers and their reviews. You should aim for 2 - 3 GB of memory, you don't need more. After all, we, I repeat, are assembling a budget home computer. So, after reading dozens of reviews, I settled on two models, you can buy the one that will be in your store. Also, personal preferences may come into play here, so choose for yourself: MSI GeForce GTX 970 and MSI Radeon R9 290. They both show good overclocking potential, if anyone is interested. But even at standard frequencies, their power is enough for all everyday tasks and for a pleasant relaxation while watching movies in Full HD, playing tanks, battlefield 4 and GTA 5 on ultra settings.


We should also talk about built-in video cards. No, no, these are not those useless video cards built into the motherboard, which even when working in Word slowed down and could not draw the picture properly. This is a completely new technology for building a system, when there is both a processor and a graphics core on one chip. Such models include A-Series from AMD, and most of Intel's modern models have such a graphics core. As for their performance, judging by the tests, it is enough even for some games, but this is purely individual for each processor, you need to read the tests. It is only worth noting that if you want to save on a video card, now you can do it easily and simply. An example of a typical solution from AMD: AMD A10-7850K Kaveri, when for very reasonable money you get an excellent processor and good graphics. From Intel, look at the Core i3 - Core i7 line, but the built-in AMD graphics cores are much better, I warn you right away!

Choosing a good processor - the heart of our system unit


Almost all computer performance depends on the processor. The fact is that it is the processor that is responsible for all calculations, so its power should be enough and even a little in excess, with a reserve for the future. It is also worth noting that many processors can be easily overclocked, that is, you can increase their performance without overpaying. But this is a separate topic, but for now let’s focus on the characteristics of the processors.

  • Socket.
  • Frequency.
  • Number of Cores.
  • Cache volumes at different levels.

We won’t go into detail on the first parameter – the socket, because we have already chosen the motherboard, so we look at what socket it is. In our case, this is LGA 1150. Therefore, the entire Intel Core line from i3 to i7 is suitable for us, but the price range here is too large. For our budget solution, you can take the modern version of Core i5. You can look, for example, at. Its power is enough for you to solve everyday tasks and all modern games.
The number of cores in our case is 4, the processor frequency is 3500 MHz, the 3rd level cache is 6 MB. You can use these numbers as a guide when making your choice.

Hard drive or cloud?

Recently, there has been a trend towards storing information on the Internet. Such technologies are called cloud technologies. The most striking and well-known examples are cloud data storage services: Yandex.Disk, Google Drive, DropBox. You can listen to music on Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Yandex.Music and the like. Watch films in online cinemas, in general, you understand me. Thus, many can generally get by with a 200GB hard drive and will not feel discomfort or lack of memory.

However, if you still want to keep a collection of music, movies in good quality, high-resolution photographs and much more on your computer, then you simply need a large hard drive. I think 1TB is enough for a huge collection of anything.

As for the other parameters, there is only one form factor for a home computer - 3.5 inches. The disc rotation speed is 7200 rpm. The connection interface is SATA 6Gb/s, the buffer volume is proportional to the volume of the disk itself. So, for a volume of 500GB the buffer will be 16-32MB, and for 1TB it will be about 64MB. Here I would recommend, for example, Western Digital WD10EFRX. This is the WD Red server series, which is distinguished by its survivability and reliability.

In general, the advantages of SSDs include greater speed. But besides this, they are silent, since they have no moving parts, are more reliable and consume less energy.

Now you can assemble a computer yourself, without outside help. Choose all the components for both the budget version and a completely powerful machine. I still advise you to assemble a home computer if you do not need a gaming option. Since the prices for components are falling very quickly, accordingly, chasing after new products, you can very much overpay! Also, it is most profitable to buy in online stores.

In addition to the fact that there are countless computer stores themselves, in addition, in the stores themselves, the choice of both ready-made computers and individual components for them is simply incredible. For an uninitiated user, it will be unclear what is responsible for what and what to choose. Often, people focus on prices, the number of gigabytes, gigahertz, cores, or simply listen to what sales managers tell them.
I, in turn, in this field, as they say, “ate the dog” and know not only what goes together with what, but also about more serious and important details, without knowledge of which one can make gross mistakes. In this post, I will briefly try to talk about some of the details of choosing system components and will give 3 examples of the configuration of gaming computers that you can order and assemble, both independently and in a store.
The first thing to consider when choosing a gaming computer is that you should never buy them ready-made! Those people who are involved in the selection of components in no way want to select the appropriate components for a gaming computer; moreover, ready-made PCs themselves, as a rule, cost much more than the computer you chose yourself, or rather its components, for subsequent assembly, and even taking into account that some stores charge money for assembly, all the same, the kit you choose will be more powerful and cheaper than ready-made analogues. Therefore, we forget about ready-made solutions and move on to the selection of components.
When choosing components for a gaming PC, you need to consider the following factors:
1) And most importantly! The performance of a computer and its individual components cannot be measured by comparison with other models based on the amount of memory in gigabytes, or based on frequencies, number of cores, etc. Real performance is measured in terms of specific programs, in real tests that are carried out on popular, authoritative publications dedicated to computers and components. You can easily find information on individual components by typing a query into Google, such as “Intel i5-4590k review”, or for example "GTX980Ti review". In order to verify the veracity of the information, go to 3-4 different reviews at once and check the information; if it roughly matches everywhere, then everything is correct.
2) Intel processors almost always turn out to be more powerful than AMD processors in games, and it doesn’t matter at all that the same Intel i3 has only 2 physical cores, and the same AMD FX-8300 has as many as 8, and even more so frequency But the point is that Intel processors have dramatically higher performance per core and this performance gives them an advantage over AMD processors in games, because games are rather reluctant to optimize for multi-threading (multi-core). Therefore, when choosing a processor, you need to focus on real tests in real games, and not on synthetic tests such as SuperPi. The most optimal processor for games is almost any intel i5 with a frequency above 3.2 GHz, and if you need more performance, then pay attention to processors with the letter “K” at the end, such processors can be overclocked, which adds performance and sometimes very much ! Also, it is worth maintaining a balance between the processor and the video card, it is completely useless to install an intel i5 in combination with, say, a GTX750Ti, but also, it would be too illogical to install an i3 and a GTX980Ti, it will not be enough. It should be remembered that the processor should not cost more than the video card!
3) A video card is the main component of a gaming computer; a gaming computer needs to be built on the basis of this component, and the power of a video card is not measured in gigabytes, or simply in megahertz; in fact, there is no power measurement at all. There are individual indicators, such as the amount of memory, which is not so important if you have over 3 gigabytes on a video card from 15,000 rubles, or from 2 gigabytes on cheaper cards, or the frequency of the graphics processor, which may vary between different models, the same product (the same chip model, say GTX970, can be produced by a dozen companies and each video card will be different), etc. Also, it is worth considering that there are reference and non-reference designs, what does this mean? Reference design is the standard design provided by the manufacturer for this video card model; reference design video cards heat up and make more noise, so purchasing them is not recommended. Video cards of non-reference design heat up less and make less noise, since they have a better cooling system, with several large and quiet fans, and sometimes have a different component base, which allows them to be overclocked more efficiently, so I recommend purchasing video cards just not reference design.
4) Volume and frequency of RAM - in fact, the amount of RAM for games is only 8 gigabytes, in fact you don’t need more, and frequencies don’t play a special role, so the best choice is 2 memory sticks of 4 gigabytes each with a frequency of 1600 MHz, preferably Samsung Original, or HYNIX Original. Planks without the word "Original" are fakes on these chips and are of worse quality.

5) Hard drive and SSD - for most games you only need an acceptable hard drive, for example Western Digital Black, and there will be no positive reaction from installing an SSD in games, but installing the same SSD allows the system itself to work much faster and speeds up the loading of games .
6) Motherboards - the biggest misconception is that expensive, cool motherboards give an increase in performance. This, alas, is not so! The motherboard is the link between the processor, memory, video card and other system components; in fact, the motherboard is the wires between the system components. But it’s also worth considering that motherboards may have functions that are important to you and you should choose a motherboard based on your needs. When choosing a motherboard, in addition to the obvious things, such as choosing a socket (processor connector) and checking compatibility with the selected processor, you need to look at the number of connectors you need - SATA for hard drives and drives, USB 2.0 and 3.0, etc. However, look at the availability of functions such as SLI, Crossfire, which allow you to install several video cards at the same time, but if you do not need such a function now, then it is better to refuse to buy such motherboards; you are overpaying huge sums for these functions. The best option is a motherboard costing 4-5 thousand rubles, ATX form factor with an 8-pin processor power connector and 4 connectors for memory modules, as well as 5-6 connectors for connecting audio devices.
7) Power Supplies - The biggest misconception about power supplies is that the more watts the better. Nothing like this! There will be no difference between a 65 and 1500 watt power supply for your system, if it is built on one processor and one video card. The power supply must be selected based on the system consumption. The most powerful video card cannot consume more than 350 watts, the processor, no more than 250 (rare copies, overclocked, without overclocking, powerful CPUs consume about 80-100 watts), everything else consumes about 70 watts. Therefore, for systems around 30,000 rubles, 500-550 watts is enough, for powerful PCs, with one video card, “for overclocking”, 650 watts, and for the rest, it depends on the number of video cards, but the rule is simple - +1 video card = +300 watts.
8) Do not forget about cooling systems; if the processor is overclocked, then you need to select a processor “cooler” based on tests, the most optimal option, for example Coolermaster S200. If the same processor does not race, then you can choose a simpler cooler, up to 500 rubles, based on reviews on the same Yandex market.

This is how the components are selected, and now I will give 3 examples of decent assemblies with a certain price category, these assemblies are intended only for games and do not meet certain requirements, but this does not mean that you cannot, say, do work on them, or rendering / audio processing. Also keep in mind that theoretically it is possible to select even more optimal components, but for this you need to look at the stores and the availability of certain components in them; these components were selected in one store, which delivers goods throughout Russia and has its representative offices in many cities. (prices are taken from one popular store, its name cannot be indicated according to the chip rules).

And so here are 3 configurations from me:
The configurations themselves with links to the store:
30.000R:
Processor (CPU) - AMD Athlon X4 860K Black Edition, OEM 4170r
CPU cooler - Cooler Master S200
Motherboard - ASUS A88XM-A 3340r
RAM - DIMM DDR3 1600Mhz 8GB Hynix Original 3750r

Video card - MSI R9 270 GAMING 2G, R9 270, 2048MB, GDDR5, Retail 9430r
Case - InWin IW-EAR007 500W4290r
Result - 30300 rub.
This configuration has a price of around 30,000 rubles and is intended to replace game consoles; on it you can play all modern and planned games at settings close to high. If you have the money, then it’s worth replacing the motherboard with an AM3+ with an AMD970 chipset, for example from MSI, and replacing the processor with an AMD FX-8300, it will cost about 3-3.5 thousand rubles, but it will be worth it.

55.000RUR, timecode on video 15:55:
Processor (CPU) - Intel Core i5-4590, OEM 13860r
CPU cooler - Cooler Master CP6-9HDSA-0L-GP 530r
Motherboard - ASUS B85M-G 3640r

Hard drive - 1TB, Seagate SV 35.5, ST1000VX000 3750rub
Video card - Palit PA-GTX970 JetStream 4G, GTX 970, 4096MB, GDDR5, Retail 22170rub
Case - InWin IW-EAR007 4290rub
Result - 52310 rub.
This system unit is designed for high and ultra settings in all modern games, like the previous system unit, it has exactly the same case, with a built-in 500-watt power supply, mATX motherboard, and the same 1TB hard drive. But this configuration is not intended for overclocking, at least the processor, and the power of the video card and processor allows you to play all games comfortably.

80.000R:
Processor (CPU) - Intel Core i5-4690K, OEM 16620r
CPU cooler - Cooler Master S200 940r
Motherboard - MSI Z97S SLI KRAIT EDITION 7520r
RAM - DIMM DDR3, 8GB (2x4GB), Kingston HyperX FURY blue, HX316C10FK2/8 3970rub
SSD - SSD 128GB, Plextor M6S, PX-128M6S 4500r
Hard drive - 1TB, Seagate SV 35.5, ST1000VX000 3750rub
Video card - MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G, GTX 980, 4096MB, GDDR5, Retail 33450rub
Case - Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-01, CC-9011050-WW 3790r
Power supply - ATX Corsair CX 750, CP-9020015-EU, 750W 5930r
Result - 80470rub

This system unit is at the cutting edge of technology. A motherboard with SLI support, an overclockable processor, a power supply and a case are designed to accommodate two video cards, and the existing video card is pre-top and provides consistently high FPS in all games. This configuration is intended for a narrow circle of people who crave high FPS and juicy pictures.

Of course, not everything is selected ideally, but ideal selection can only be made for a specific person and his tasks.

That's all, I hope you found it interesting to read this ton of text and it will be useful to you. And remember - under no circumstances buy ready-made computers, they cost you more and work much worse. In the modern world, there are stores that will assemble and help you select components for the system!

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