Part Selection
Overview
So, you want to buy a new PC, right? You have two options: buy a pre built one from a store or build your own from scratch. Now, you might think that buying a pre built one is easier and faster, but trust me, building your own is better. Why? Because you can save a lot of money and get a better performance. How? Let me explain.
You see, when you buy a pre built PC, you are paying extra for the brand name and the assembly. Plus, they often don’t give you the best parts for your needs. They just throw in some big numbers and fancy words to make you think you are getting a good deal. But in reality, they are just scamming you. For example, they might give you a lot of RAM and a CPU with many cores, but skimp on the GPU, which is the most important part for gaming. Or they might give you an old GPU with a lot of DDR3 RAM (old ram) or RAM made from their own company, which is slower than the newer DDR5 RAM. And the GPU can’t even use all that RAM anyway. It’s like putting a huge engine in a car with flat tires.
But if you build your own PC, you can choose the parts that suit your needs and budget. You can do some research and compare the different options. You don’t have to be overwhelmed by the pcpartpicker list, because most of the parts are not relevant for you. You can just follow some basic guidelines and pick the best parts for your gaming PC. I can help you with that, and I can show you why you should pick this processor over that one, or this GPU over that one. I can also give you some tips on how to assemble your PC and make it run smoothly.
So, what do you say? Are you ready to build your own PC and enjoy the best gaming experience?
CPUs Explained
Intel CPU's
Ryzen CPU's
Intel's i5-12600k
The CPU stands for central processing unit. It is like the brain of a computer. It does all the thinking and calculating for the computer. It follows the instructions of the programs that you run on your computer, such as games, browsers, or word processors. It can also communicate with other parts of the computer, such as the memory, the screen, the keyboard, and the mouse.
Now when you look at the CPU the array of numbers may confuse you as you don't know what they mean. Well if you look to the left, you'll see 2 images detailing what those numbers mean.
When it comes to processors, or CPUs, there are two main things that determine how much power it has - cores and threads.
CPU cores are the individual processing units on the chip. They can handle different tasks and processes simultaneously. More cores means the CPU can multitask better by distributing the workload across multiple cores.
Threads are like mini-cores that can handle instructions independently, but have to share hardware resources with a physical core. So a 6-core CPU with 12 threads means there are 6 cores, but each core can work on two threads at once for improved parallel processing.
Having more cores and threads allows a CPU to handle things like gaming, streaming, voice chatting, background applications, and more without breaking a sweat. 6+ cores is becoming the sweet spot for good multitasking and gaming performance.
So in summary - cores are the raw processing units, threads help maximize their usage for better multitasking power on multi-threaded workloads and applications. More of both means smoother processing overall.
For the budget builds, the Ryzen 5 5600 and 5600X are really solid options. They give you 6 cores and 12 threads, which is plenty for gaming and everyday use. And the prices on those chips have come way down since they first came out. You're getting a lot of CPU power without breaking the bank.
Stepping it up to the mid-range builds, going with something like a Ryzen 7 5700X or Intel i5 12th/13th gen is a nice upgrade. You get a few more cores which helps if people want to start doing more production tasks on their PC like video editing or multitasking with 2 or more monitors. The Ryzen 7s and Intel i5s give you that extra bit of future-proofing without a huge price jump.
Finally, the high-end builds - that's where I'd use the beefier CPUs like Intel i7 12th gen or Ryzen 7 5800X3D and up. People wanting a no-holds-barred machine are gonna appreciate the advanced features of those chips. Things like higher core counts, advanced caches and memory controllers mean smoother gameplay and faster content creation times. You definitely pay a premium but for those who want outright top-tier performance, it's worth it.
CPU Coolers Explained
Air Cooler Example
NZXT's Liquid Cooler
CPU coolers are essential because they remove heat from the processor and keep it from overheating. The CPU has a very small surface area, so coolers work to effectively distribute that heat to the surrounding air.
They use a heatsink fin array and fan combination. The heatsink absorbs heat from the CPU. Then the fan blows air over the heatsink's fins to dissipate the warmth into the case. Without this heat removal process, the CPU would rapidly climb to dangerously high temperatures and automatically shut off as a safety precaution. So coolers play the important role of preventing overheating so the CPU can run smoothly.
No CPU can function without staying cool. The processor generates a lot of heat when working hard, so you need an effective CPU cooler to prevent overheating.
Most modern CPUs come with a basic stock cooler included. These work, but tend to be louder under load. Aftermarket CPU coolers provide better cooling and less noise.
The two main types are air coolers and liquid coolers. Air coolers use heatpipes and aluminum fins for passive cooling. Liquid coolers use an self-contained loop with water or liquid to absorb heat from the CPU and dissipate it through a radiator.
In general, high-end air coolers like those from be quiet!, Noctua and Scythe match or outperform most liquid coolers in terms of cooling for a lower price. Liquid coolers look nicer but aren't always needed.
A good CPU cooler keeps your processor running at safer temperatures, boosting higher for better performance without throttling. It allows for quieter operation too. So don't skimp on cooling for your gaming PC build!
For the majority of these builds, the choice for the CPU cooler was made due to how quiet and cost-effective it is. Due to this the parts chosen contained Coolermaster's Hyper 212, Deepcool's AK400 and Thermalright's Assassin X. These three will keep your CPU plenty cool without breaking the bank. And they go on easy, so even anyone can handle the installation. You really can't go wrong with them.
Motherboard
Explained
Motherboard Component Diagram
One thing that's important but often overlooked is the motherboard. Let me explain what it is real quick.
In simple terms, the motherboard is basically what all the other main components plug into. It's the central hub that ties everything together - the CPU, RAM, graphics card, storage, connectors - it all connects to the motherboard.
Some people get super hung up on needing the absolute best motherboard, but honestly, as long as you get one from a reliable brand that works with your other parts, you're good to go. The performance difference between most boards is pretty negligible for gaming.
What really matters is that the sockets, chipsets and feature set matches what you're using. For example, no point getting an Intel LGA1700 motherboard if you have a 12th gen CPU - it won't physically connect! Same goes for making sure the RAM type and PCIe slot versions are compatible.
As long as you do your research and get a board from a known company like MSI, Asus or Gigabyte that supports your CPU and has enough RAM slots and connections, you'll be set. Don't stress too much about getting the "perfect" model. You'll be gaming away just fine.
Memory
Explained
Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB
So RAM, or memory as it's also called, is basically the workspace the CPU uses to load and process different programs and data quickly while you're using your PC. More RAM means you can have more apps and browser tabs open at once without things getting sluggish.
When you see something like "DDR5-4800 16GB RAM", here's what it means: DDR stands for Double Data Rate, which is the technical way RAM modules transfer data. Higher DDR speeds like DDR5-4800 are faster than DDR5-4000 and so on. The next number is the capacity in Gigabytes (GB). 16GB is generally considered the minimum now for gaming. More is better if you can afford it.
The last number is the latency, or how long it takes to access the RAM, measured in Clock Cycles (CL). Lower is better, so CL16 is preferable to CL18 for example. Faster speeds and lower latency help improve performance in games and other tasks.
So in summary - higher capacity DDR RAM like DDR5-4800 16GB with low latency is what you want for snappy performance when multitasking or gaming on your PC build.
Storage
Explained
Samsung's 990 Pro 1TB SSD
Alright, next up when building your PC is storage. That's where all your games, files and apps actually get installed and saved. There's a few main types but these days an SSD is king.
Storage basically refers to different drives you can put in your PC. In the old days we had regular spinning hard disk drives, or HDDs. Those store data on platters that spin, so they're slower than newer solid state options.
An SSD on the other hand has no moving parts. It uses flash memory like what's in your phone or thumb drive. Because there's no physical disks spinning, SSDs can access and read/write data way faster than mechanical HDDs.
Boot and loading times are massively improved, as are general snappiness when opening programs thanks to SSD speeds. They don't care if your PC is jostled around either. And you can get a decent sized one like 500GB-1TB for the same price people used to pay for lower HDD capacities.
So in summary - definitely go with an SSD as your main drive these days for lightning quick system responsiveness. You'll be glad you did!
Video Cards/GPU
Explained
NVIDIA GPUs
AMD GPUs
The GPU or graphics card is what helps produce the visuals you see on your screen. It does all the heavy lifting when it comes to graphics - things like gaming, video editing, 3D modeling, etc. The GPU is often one of the priciest components because good graphics capabilities are important for many tasks.
As for the letters and numbers you see in graphics cards, those usually refer to the specific model. So something like a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is made by Nvidia (the GeForce part) and is part of their RTX 3000 series. The RTX means it has ray tracing, which is a fancy new lighting technique. The numbers give you an idea of its performance - higher is better. And the Ti at the end means it's a slight upgrade over the regular 3060.
AMD cards like Radeons follow a similar format. The 6000 series is their latest, so something like a Radeon RX 6700 XT would be a high-end card from that generation.
If you're gonna go all out on a crazy high-end GPU, you gotta make sure the rest of your rig can keep up with it, right? Like, it'd be totally sick to have something insane like an RTX 4090, but then if the CPU in your machine is some old dusty thing, it's not gonna perform how you want.
See, the CPU is kinda like the leader of the PC. It tells all the other parts what to do and when. So if your GPU is trying to crush games at super high settings, but the CPU is lagging behind telling it what to draw next, then the GPU just ends up twiddling its thumbs waiting a lot. Same thing if you don't have enough RAM - if the game uses up all your memory, then again the GPU is just sitting idle while stuff gets loaded in and out of the hard drive. While it's awesome dreaming of crazy high-end graphics, you gotta make sure the whole system works as a team to bring out the best in that GPU and hence the other parts.
In terms of how it affects your PC's performance, the GPU is really what determines how nice your games and other graphics look. A stronger GPU with more memory and faster processing speeds means you can play games at higher resolutions and smoother frame rates with enhanced visuals. Video editors, 3D modelers etc also rely heavily on GPU power. So in general, a better GPU opens up possibilities for what your computer can handle graphics-wise.
Cases
Explained
NZXT's H9 Flow Case
(My personal favourite)
super cool case btw
A PC case is basically the box that holds all the important guts of your computer. It's the outer shell that everything fits inside of.
Some key things about cases - first off, there are different sizes. You've got your full-size desktop cases, mid-towers, mini towers, and tiny mini-ITX cases for smaller builds. The size depends on what components you want to put in there and how much space you've got.
Materials also vary - some cases are just plain old steel, while higher-end ones might use tempered glass, aluminum, or other fancy materials. This affects things like durability, weight, and appearance.
Cases also have different front panel layouts. Where the USB ports, audio jacks and buttons are located depends on the front design. Some are more minimal while others have tons of slots and lights and whatnot.
Then inside you've got space for the motherboard, CPU cooling, graphics cards, hard drives, and all that other stuff we talked about earlier. Good airflow is important so all those parts don't overheat under load.
A lot of newer cases even have RGB lighting pre-installed now if you're into fancying things up. Makes the insides look pretty sweet when it's all lit up.
So in short - the PC case is the thing that ties it all together and houses your precious components. When building a PC, the case doesn't really matter. The only things you want to keep in mind are - Can this case fit my parts, can i upgrade parts of my PC in the future with this case, and does it look nice.
On the PC generator, the majority of the cases are just rough selections made by the AI, so don't take the selections to heart, choose whatever case your heart desires.
Power Supply
Explained
Corsair's RM850 850W PSU
The power supply is basically what keeps everything in your PC up and running with juice. It's like the heart of the system because without it, nothing would turn on.
It plugs right into the wall outlet for external power and has connectors inside to feed electricity to all the different parts that need it - the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, drives, fans, everything.
In terms of quality, you definitely want to get a power supply that can reliably supply enough wattage for all your components over the long haul. No one likes a PSU that kicks the bucket and takes other stuff with it.
The best ones are efficient too so they don't waste power as heat. This is usually denoted in the efficiency rating, like 80+ Gold or higher being better than standard 80+ White ones.
Modular PSUs are nice as well since you only plug in the exact cables you need, keeping clutter down inside the case. Non-modular ones have them all attached so it can look messy back there.
As long as you get a well-reviewed unit with enough juice from a good brand, your power supply should last through many upgrades without issue. It's one thing you probably won't have to replace for a while.