There are many possibilities in regards to setting up a desktop computer. Typically, they are configured according to the needs of each user, but it also depends on the budget they have.
The advantages of a building your own desktop system over purchasing one already built are:
1. Components are cheaper when taking into consideration price over performance.
2. The latest technology is first applied on components made for the personal computer, and then they are developed for other devices such as laptops and tablets.
3. The gaming experience is superior on a PC when compared to a touchscreen device or laptop.
4. Desktop computers are designed for performance, while notebooks are designed with low power consumption in mind.
5. On your PC you have more screen space than on any other device. There is a possibility to connect a laptop to a monitor, but the performance is not the same.
However, before purchasing each individual component, you need to make sure they are compatible with each other.
1. The PC case
There is not much to say about it; the user’s preference is what counts the most. This component is usually not expensive, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In regards to its design, tastes can be different from person to person; we have to choose a large PC case, where the video card will fit in. It also has to be very well ventilated and have proper airflow, meaning the warm air from the case has to be taken out on a well-established route. Having dust filters also helps.
2. The motherboard
It is the main component of the computer. It must be compatible with all the components in the computer. The first step to choose a motherboard is to decide on which platform we build our computer: Intel or AMD. Depending on the motherboard we want, we will then buy the other components.
3. Processor
The CPU is the brain of the computer. This is the simplest definition. There are two main builders of CPUs: AMD and Intel. We can choose from a 2 Core CPU or one with more cores. Some are intended for those that do a lot of multitasking, others are built for gamers. Intel has launched a few classes of different CPUs depending on the intended purpose: when talking about processing, virtual machines or video editing we should choose an i9 or i7, but if we decide to build a gaming system, an I5 is enough because we will not use those I7 options., and a GPU is more important for gaming.
4. RAM Memory
Many people confuse the GPUs RAM with the computer’s RAM. Depending on what you use it for, 8GB can be more than enough. On older systems, the RAM is built with the DDR2 and DDR3 architecture, while the new ones are DDR4. RAM is chosen by frequency, latency, manufacturer, whether or not it has radiators, etc. A RAM card can reach up to 2400 MHz (recently, with the launch of DDR4, the values have significantly increased), but 1600 MHz should be enough for an average user.
5. GPU
Choosing the GPU needs to be in accordance with your needs. If you want a desktop system for movies, you don’t need a dedicated GPU and can use only the processor’s GPU. If you need more, you have to go to for a dedicated one. The bus on which the GPU is mounted is called PCI Express. It doesn’t really matter what version of PCI Express it uses. It needs to be X16, 2.0 or 3.0. They are all backward compatible, and there aren’t decreasing performance issues. In case of an upgrade, you have to ensure that the processor and the PSU are good quality as the GPU is the largest power consumer in a desktop system.
6. Storage
Right now we can choose from two types of storage devices, HDD and SSD. The SSD is superior in every way, but they are usually more expensive. There are several companies that produce storage devices. The most important ones are Seagate and Western Digital. The connection is made via SATA. In the past, it was done on IDE, but that type of connection is no longer used.
7. PSU
The last but not least, the power source is one of the most essential components of a computer. Without a proper power supply, the system will not function correctly. That is why we recommend you to choose a power source carefully. They are split into 2 types: modular and non-modular. The differences between a modular and a non-modular power source are small; it is more about air management and aesthetics. The difference is that the modular one has detachable cables.