Updated 06/02/2015. The article is relevant for the entire year 2015.
How to choose a computer so as not to regret. Choosing a good and inexpensive computer!
If you have never been interested in the parameters of certain computer components, then it will be quite difficult for you to choose it. 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 convince you in every possible way, but you must insist on your own. And to make your choice of a computer conscious, read the article to the end!
So, the first thing we need to 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 such a generalized name for budget solutions. They are only capable of working with documents and working on the Internet. Even watching movies can be hampered by the lack of a full-fledged video card, games will slow down terribly or not start at all. After all, usually weak components are used in office solutions, for example, an integrated 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 graphics 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, and not take ready-made solutions, because usually their price includes assembly, various licensed software, which may not be useful, and so on. It is always better to assemble everything yourself, especially since by 2015 the home computer had become a simple designer, where it is simply unrealistic to assemble something incorrectly.
And finally gaming computers. Again, this is a common name, it does not mean at all 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. Will allow us to process huge graphic images, for example, in PhotoShop or 3D Max. Cut and convert video with decent speed, perform complex calculations. Such computers are assembled by the users themselves, often not immediately, as they are quite expensive.
For example, first a good motherboard is bought with a reserve for the future, and then an expensive video card, processor, and RAM are “hung” on it. First, one video card, then the second for SLI mode or CrossFire. First 8 GB of RAM, then 8 more to work in Double-Channel or even Triple-channel mode, depending on the configuration.
So, if you need more than just a computer to check your email and type in, but you don't play the latest games and don't process gigabytes of video, then the home computer option will suit you.
Now we will go through all the components and talk about them a little. For each item, I will select examples of successful, in my opinion, components specifically for a home computer. As a result, at the end of the article, ideally, I will get a system unit that will delight its owner with speed 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 in powerful hardware? If you agree with this, then we continue, and if not, then go straight to the point about system blocks.
So, how to choose a monitor so that it pleases you with a juicy and clear picture? It's easier than it looks. 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 sold anywhere now or not, but, in any case, forget about them like a nightmare!
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. Resolution 1920×1080 for watching movies and games in Full HD, you can, of course, take more, for example, 3840×2160.
Viewing angles are actually not as critical as many people write and say about them. An angle of 170 horizontally and 160 vertically is a common choice, because you are not going to look at the monitor by placing it in front of you on the couch or bed, right? Everyone sits and looks at the monitor at a right angle, and even with minor deviations, the picture will not lose 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 already used in almost all modern models. It is used everywhere (to replace fluorescent), which consumes little electricity and improves color reproduction. I also strongly recommend purchasing monitors with a matte screen!
We will give examples in each section so that you roughly understand what we are talking about. Here monitors DELL U2414H and ASUS VX239H may well serve as examples of each in their 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 for the monitors, now let's move on to the peripherals, without which normal work at the computer is not possible.
Peripherals (select mouse and keyboard)
As already mentioned, the periphery is a very important thing, on which you do not need to save too much. Of course, I don’t urge you to buy a wireless gyroscopic mouse for 10 thousand, but you shouldn’t take a mouse for 100 rubles either. Either she scratches the table, or the cursor starts to twitch. And many cheap mice also have low dpi, which, if you have a large widescreen monitor, will cause you a lot of inconvenience. 
General advice for both mouse and keyboard: don't buy cheap wireless devices. If there is no money for expensive models, then take it with a wire, otherwise later, in the vast majority of cases, there will be problems with the signal. These are not only my thoughts - this is true. No money - choose the wires and no problems with the signal. There is money and desire - we take quality products.
Let's start with mouse selection. It should be comfortable, fit well in the size of the palm. Don't buy laptop mice for desktop use, really. Hands when working with such a mouse quickly get tired, as it is inconvenient to hold it. The palm should completely lie on the body of the mouse, and not lie on the table. I also do not advise chasing after the number of additional buttons on the mouse, most do not 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 - image resolution, and in relation to the mouse, in simple terms, this is the speed at which the cursor moves on the screen. Or rather, the ratio of the distance that you physically moved the mouse to the distance on the screen that 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 one), 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 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 a short key travel, that is, these are small in height, thin keys. If you know how to type blindly, then getting used to such a keyboard will not be difficult for you, it will take a maximum of 1 - 2 days. It also has headphone, microphone and USB outputs. 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.
Dealt with the periphery. Now you have everything except the most important thing - the system unit! And we will start with a case for him, since very often people neglect the “box”, but in vain, but why, read on.
How important is the case of the system unit
The point here is this. Many people think that it makes no sense to buy a good case. I screwed all the iron and even to a cardboard box, the main thing is not to fall off. But the fact is that powerful hardware, especially a video card and a 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 there is a cooling system on it, it removes heat from the video card itself and gives it to the surrounding air layers. This is where a well-designed case is needed so that air can freely enter and exit the box, otherwise the cooling system will become inefficient. Then the computer will crash. 
If you do not 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 subtle point: if there is no balance between the amount of incoming and outgoing air, then dust will begin to accumulate inside the case, it will need to be constantly cleaned.
Dimensions also matter. For example, most modern video cards have impressive volumes. 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 large enough to fit all the parts you've purchased. An example is Thermaltake Chaser A31 VP300A1W2N Black.
A few words about power supplies, an easy choice
Recently, power supplies have ceased to be 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 changed, and after all, the cost of it was included in the price of the box. Accordingly, now we buy only the case, and we select the power supply according to our needs on our own. 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 results in lower power consumption. Hard drives are becoming so-called "green" models (Green), which also work on lower power consumption and generate less heat. But video cards constantly require more and more watts. Actually because of this, we need a 600-800 watt power supply. In this case, it is desirable that the wires can be disconnected from the unit itself. This will really 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 (non-detachable).
Now, finally, let's move on to the components. This will be the most interesting part, especially for those who just haven't read the text up to this point. The first thing we need is the motherboard, since it will depend on it which processor, video card, RAM and hard drive we will install.
The motherboard is the heart 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, the most basic can be distinguished. For example, we will not consider the form factor, since for a home computer you will buy a motherboard of either a standard size ATX (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 come in handy when choosing:
- socket (the type of processor depends on it);
- connectors for RAM (number, type);
- video card slots (number, type).
As for, for example, IDE or PCI connectors, forget about them, this is a relic of the past. You can still justify the presence of PCI-E 1x, 2x, and so on, but they are also not the 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, at the moment, LGA1150 is relevant for Intel. AMD, on the other hand, has FM2+ and AM3+ sockets. But soon the situation will change again, I'm sure of it. RAM must be DDR3, 2 or 4 slots. Of course, there are two connectors for a PCI-E 16x video card, if you plan to or you can limit yourself to one slot, support for PCI-E version 3.0 is a must. An example is ASUS B85M-G, which has everything you need for a home system.
RAM, no big deal
After we have chosen the motherboard, nothing will stop us - we have reached the finish line in assembling our system unit and the computer as a whole. There is nothing difficult 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 bar for 8GB, but it would be better to put 2 pieces of 4GB each. And the price and performance will be much better. Here, as an example, let's take the usual, and preferably 2 things, in total we get 16 GB and excellent performance for a small 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 default factory settings will suffice.
Video card: one, two or zero?
Since we are talking about a budget home computer, and not a powerful gaming solution, there will be one video card. But you can spend a little more money on it, instead of buying two cheap ones just for the sake of SLI or CrossFire. As a result, one good video card is able to meet the requirements of even modern games at ultra settings.
The connector, of course, 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. It is worth focusing on 2 - 3 GB of memory, more is not needed. 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 can 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 stay while watching movies in Full HD, playing tanks, battlefield 4 and GTA 5 at ultra settings. 
Separately, it is worth talking about the 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 normally. This is a completely new technology for building a system, when there is both a processor and a graphics core on the same chip. These models include AMD's A-Series, 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 worth noting only that if you want to save on a video card, then now you can do it easily and simply. An example of a typical solution from AMD: AMD A10-7850K Kaveri, when for quite reasonable money you get an excellent processor and good graphics. At Intel, see the Core i3 - Core i7 line, but AMD's integrated 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 the calculations, so its power should be enough and even be a little bit in excess, with a reserve for the future. It is also worth noting that many processors are easily overclockable, that is, you can increase their performance without overpaying. But this is a separate topic, but for now let's dwell on the characteristics of processors.
- socket.
- Frequency.
- Number of Cores.
- Cache volumes at different levels.
The first parameter is the socket, we will not dwell in detail, because we have already chosen the motherboard, respectively, we look at what kind of socket it is. In our case, this is LGA 1150. Therefore, the entire Intel Core line from i3 to i7 suits us, but the price range here is too large. For our budget solution, you can take a modern version of the Core i5. You can look at, for example, . Its power will be 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 cache of the 3rd level is 6 MB. Here are the numbers you can focus on when choosing.
Hard drive or clouds?
Recently, there has been a trend of storing information on the Internet. Such technologies are called cloud technologies. The most striking and well-known examples are cloud storage services: Yandex.Disk, Google Drive, DropBox. Music can be listened to in Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Yandex.Music and the like. Movies to watch in online cinemas, in general, you understand me. Thus, many can generally get by with a 200GB hard drive and will not feel discomfort and lack of memory.
However, if you still want to keep on your computer a collection of music, movies in good quality, photos of good resolution and much more, then you just need a large hard drive. I think 1TB is enough for a huge collection of anything. 
As for the rest of the parameters, the form factor for a home computer is the same - 3.5 inches. Disc rotation speed 7200 rpm. The connection interface is SATA 6Gb/s, the size of the buffer is proportional to the size of the disk itself. So, for a volume of 500 GB, the buffer will be 16-32 MB, and for 1 TB it will be about 64 MB. Here I would recommend, for example Western Digital WD10EFRX. This is the WD Red server series, which is distinguished by survivability and reliability.
In general, the advantages of SSD include high speed. But besides this, they are silent, because they have no moving parts, they are more reliable and consume less energy.
Now you can assemble the 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 new products, you can overpay very much! Also, it is best to buy online.
The computer configurator with compatibility check allows you to quickly assemble a system unit with the technical characteristics required by the user. With the help of our online builder, you can easily assemble a reliable office machine, a home multimedia system unit or a powerful gaming setup.
Computer assembly online
In our time, like many years before, it is popular to assemble a computer from self-selected components. This is a good opportunity to choose exactly what you want. Nothing limits you, hundreds of options are available for assembly, among which there is sure to be one that you like.
Our online store offers the possibility of assembling a computer online, through a configurator. In it, this process is presented in the form of categories of components, from the processor to the power supply. Each category contains an extended range of models with a description of the characteristics for ease of selection.
To simplify the selection of components, the configurator has a compatibility filter for the main components of the assembly. For example, by selecting a specific processor, the following components are automatically filtered by compatibility. Also, you will be presented with the choice to install the operating system. After the assembly process is completed, you get the final result in three parameters: price, technical data, rendered image. After placing an order and confirming it by phone, our specialists assemble this equipment and check its performance.
The advantage of this method of buying a system unit is that you not only choose the components you want, but also have the opportunity to choose the brand or manufacturer of the part.
Having assembled a certain configuration, having completed by pressing the assemble / buy buttons, the assembly is assigned a certain serial number, by typing which in the product search bar, you can find this PC and send a link to it to friends or acquaintances for advice or recommendations for them to buy.
An important feature of our configurator is the "get expert opinion" function. By sending your request through this form, you will receive a detailed response with a recommendation to the email address you specified.
Try it and see for yourself - assembling a computer online is easy and simple! In case of difficulty, you can always get advice from our experts on all your questions.
- Video card;
- processor, cooler and thermal paste;
- RAM;
- motherboard;
- case with power supply;
- Screwdriver Set.
Instructions for assembling a personal computer from components
1 Prepare complete set
We will prepare all the components, once again take a look at them, that we have not forgotten anything. I will assemble a computer from this.
2 Preparation motherboard
Open the box with the motherboard and pull it out. The box usually contains instructions, a disk with drivers, a rear panel, cables for the drive and hard drive.
It is important not to damage the motherboard with static electricity. Therefore, first discharge the static charge from yourself, "ground" before taking it in your hands. It is advisable not to be dressed in synthetic clothing, and hands should not be unnecessarily dry.
We take out the motherboard from the factory box 3 Installation CPU
The first step is to install the central processing unit (CPU, CPU) into the connector on the board. One corner of the processor is usually marked with a triangle. The same triangle is on the board. We put the processor so that the labels match. And then we press it with a special lever located on one of the edges of the processor seat (socket).
4 Installation radiator and cooler
Now you need to install a heatsink with a cooler and connect it to the power connector on the board. If the heatsink is already covered with thermal paste, then it is ready for installation. If there is no thermal paste, it must be applied in an even, thin, neat layer on the surface that will be adjacent directly to the processor. Then put the heatsink on the processor, grind it thoroughly so that the paste is evenly distributed in the space between the heatsink and the processor. Then close the fixing latches. Well, the final touch is to connect the fan wire to the power connector on the motherboard, usually it is marked as "CPU FAN".
Depending on the processor family, heatsink installation options may differ slightly from those described. Usually the technique is described in detail in the passport for the motherboard, read it before starting work.
5 Installing modules random access memory
The next step is to install the RAM modules. If you have one module, then put it in the first slot. It is usually marked as "DIMM_A1" or simply "DIMM_1". If there are more than two memory slots, and there are several memory modules, then put them first in slots of the same color: so the RAM will work faster.
6 Installation back panel
Now we install a shiny metal back panel with holes for all connectors into the case. It is placed from the inside with a simple indentation outward.
7 Installation motherboard
The board has holes for fastening, and the case has holes and a number of metal racks, usually at least 6 pieces. Depending on the size of your board, you need to place the standoffs in the case so that they are under the mounting holes of the board. Now we place the motherboard in the case. There should be racks under all the holes. The motherboard connectors should clearly fit into the holes in the back panel. We fix the motherboard with screws to the racks.
8 Installation video cards
It's time for the video card. Modern video cards usually have a PCI-Express connector. We put it in the slot until it clicks and fix it on the back wall with a screw.
9 Installation and connection power supply
Now we connect the power supply to the motherboard. First, connect the large 20-pin double-row connector ("8" in the picture) to the motherboard. Then connect the 4-pin connector "7". It can be placed either next to or elsewhere on the board. A modern hard drive and a DVD drive are connected by type "3" connectors, the old ones - by type "2" connectors. If you have a powerful video card, then it requires additional power - connectors "5" and "6". Connector type "1" is used to power an obsolete floppy drive.
10 Port Connection and indicators
We connect USB ports, additional audio connectors, an internal speaker and front panel buttons: power and reset buttons, hard drive and computer power indicators. Usually these connectors are all located nearby and are signed on the motherboard like this: USB, PWR_SW, RST_SW, SPEAKER, HDD_LED, POWER_LED.
To avoid mistakes, carefully study the instructions for your motherboard model and follow it when connecting the front panel, buttons and LED indicators.
11 Connecting HDDs, CD and DVD drives
12 Turning on the computer and installing device drivers
Once again, check everything and then turn on the computer. If you have previously installed the operating system, then it should boot immediately. Naturally, the first time you turn it on, you will need to install all the drivers: first on the motherboard and all its devices, and then on the video card.
When you first turn it on, it is advisable to connect the monitor to the integrated video adapter of the motherboard, and not to a discrete video card in the PCI-Express slot. Then, when all the drivers are installed, switch the monitor to a discrete graphics card.
Read the manual (instruction) for the motherboard before starting work.
If possible, after assembly, twist all the wires into one bundle with a wire so that nothing superfluous hangs out, does not stick out, and does not interfere with the free circulation of air inside the case.
After installing the drivers on the motherboard, restart the computer and only then install the drivers on the video card.
note
Make sure you are not electrically charged before handling any computer components. If you are hitting with static discharges, then moisten your hands, touch the computer case or the central heating pipe.
Every year, or even a quarter, new, more advanced models come out. This applies not only to the computer market, but also to the market of mobile, household appliances, cars, and so on. The economic situation dictates its flexible marketing principles to manufacturers, so you need to understand that if you spend a lot of money on assembling a gaming computer, then in a year you can see announcements of more productive and powerful components at the price of the components you bought. Therefore, in view of the constant updating of the model ranges from manufacturers, we will talk about the basic principles of assembly and without mentioning any specific models.
CPU
In 90% of cases, it is advisable to start the assembly with the choice of the processor, or rather the platform on which it is based, because the processor is the most important element of a gaming computer (and indeed any computer). It is he who will "pull" all the components, perform the calculations that come to him from the video card, hard drive and RAM. When choosing, everything is regulated, as always, by the main indicator - the budget, and if possible, then you need to choose the latest platform, because. similar to the memory format, it will make the PC more upgradeable.
About manufacturers
For decades, such a tradition has developed - AMD processors are cheaper. They are hotter and require good cooling, they have higher power consumption, their calculation methodology is based on the principle of "higher frequency, more cores", while Intel is more intelligent in solving the issue of computing: they work with improved instructions and unique technologies that smaller specifications allows you to achieve excellent performance. But Intel is more expensive, because such research costs serious money. In addition, they are cooler and more energy efficient. One way or another, millions of users have assembled computers on AMD and were very pleased with their choice.
About cooling
If you plan to purchase a processor version, then you must purchase a separate cooling system. As of 2017, air cooling is preferred in most home gaming systems. When choosing, be sure to find out the heat dissipation of the processor and purchase cooling, ideally capable of removing 10-20% more heat. Also, the efficiency of CPU cooling depends on the proper application of thermal paste and its quality.
video card
The video card is the most important element of the gaming system, the main purpose of which is graphics processing. All animation, all textures and colors on the screen are drawn by the video card. The amount of video memory and the frequency of the video chip grows with each generation of video cards, the lines and names change, and these devices, like processors, are divided into two camps. On the forums they are called "green" and "red". These are the corporate colors of two competing brands of computing chips: AMD and Nvidia. Video cards are produced by companies such as Palit, Sapphire, Asus, MSI, Zotac, etc., but the key point when choosing is always the chip on which the video card is built.
About "green" and "red"
There is a lot of debate about the advantages of each company, but in reality, as always, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Both those chips have their pros and cons, the research departments of companies apply and successfully implement unique technologies, and thus do not lag behind each other. But the general principles, as in processors, are similar: AMD takes the price, Nvidia - with a competent approach. The principle of computing AMD video chips is in many ways similar to AMD processors, so the products of this company have become a favorite topic for mining, which boils down to solving one complex problem. And AMD is at its best in such matters, although for 2017 the company slightly changed the architecture and drivers for more flexibility. Nvidia has advantages comparable to Intel: technology and lack of high heat compared to AMD. As with Intel, these benefits come at a cost. General recommendations are as follows: if you plan to work in graphic and 3D editors, do video editing and perform other complex tasks that require calculations and calculations, look towards Nvidia. Their technologies allow their "smart" cores to be connected to the calculations of the central processor, due to which performance is significantly increased. If you plan to just play modern games and perform common tasks, choosing AMD will significantly save money when assembling a gaming computer. Mining planned? Definitely AMD.
About video card manufacturers
In this issue, the spread is much more serious. Most companies offer their own developments in the field of cooling and overclocking. Historically, users have been very fond of Asus products for good proprietary cooling, MSI and Sapphire have proven themselves well, Palit also produces video cards well and inexpensively.
About the CPU - GPU connection
It is no coincidence that the video card and processor are considered the first components for selection. When assembling, you need to remember that performance in games will depend on these components by 80-90%. But the choice of each of them must be approached more carefully. During a dynamic game battle, the processor intensively communicates with the video card through the driver installed in the operating system. When solving their own computational data block, the devices transmit the results to each other for processing. If one of them is slower than the other, then the faster device will be idle waiting for the result. Often this occurs when installing a very powerful video card and an average processor, which simply "does not keep up" with it. When buying, consult with sellers and professionals whether the video card you have chosen will "pull" the processor. If the processor is more powerful than the video card, then the situation will not affect the balance of the system so much: firstly, the processor performs a much wider range of tasks than the video card, and in this matter there is no excess power. Secondly, the video card is always easier to change than the processor.
Motherboard
After the issue with the processor is resolved, you can choose the motherboard. It is worth paying attention to the form factor - ATX format boards are larger, they have a higher potential for connecting equipment and components, but you also need to choose the appropriate PC case with such a board, it will be larger in size. If you plan to assemble a machine for simple tasks and games, quiet and low power consumption, you should consider the Mini ATX format. Such boards are much more compact. If the budget allows, then you need to choose a motherboard that supports the latest memory format, then the computer can be easily upgraded later without replacing the processor or the board itself. Also pay attention to the number of connectors for connecting hard drives and drives. Currently, 2 connectors are usually required - for SSD and HDD. But if you plan to build a RAID array, then you need much more such connectors.
Specific tasks
If, after all, your gaming computer is planned to be used for non-standard solutions for home use, you should pay attention to the support of special functions by the board, for example, the presence of a RAID controller or support for hardware overclocking of components.
power unit
The power supply is the source of operation of the entire assembled gaming system, because it is it that supplies electricity to all components. It is recommended to always choose a power supply "with a margin", i.e. 30-35% more powerful than the combined power consumption of all components. Thus, the device will not work "in tension", and therefore heat up and wear out intensively. Try to choose branded devices. Ideally, if they have good efficiency and appropriate certificates for energy consumption standards. Here the rule works well: better less, but better. When choosing, be guided by quality and do not chase watts - often power supplies (especially for cheap models) do not give out the power indicated on the box and do not survive load surges. Also, do not forget about the length of the power lines - it is not uncommon for the wires of the purchased power supply to not reach the processor or hard drive.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
If the video card / processor is 80-90% of performance in games, then the processor / RAM is the main indicator of performance in work. The speed of executing programs and loading levels in games, the speed of surfing the Internet, complex file operations and table calculations depends not only on the amount of RAM. Be sure to take into account such parameters as the standard, timings and frequency. If there is a lot of memory, but it will work slowly, there will be little sense from it. When choosing, do not forget about the dual-channel mode. This is a kind of RAID array of RAM strips: in dual-channel mode, the memory usually works 10-15% faster, but this can only be achieved with two memory strips of the same size. Even better, if they are 100% identical, then desynchronization in operation will be minimized. Do not forget, if the gaming computer turns out to be "hot" (for example, the processor and video card are powerful solutions from AMD), then it is highly desirable to purchase memory sticks with installed passive cooling. Heat dissipation from memory blocks in such models is more efficient.
HDD
In view of the large-scale distribution of cloud storage systems, the computer has to store less and less information. The volume required for personal tasks is always set by the user individually, but when choosing a system, it is important to understand the upcoming tasks and make a choice based on their distribution: for example, allocate high-speed memory for OS and programs, and store games and personal data on more capacious devices for which speed is not so critical. This will allow you to achieve better performance of the entire system.
Frame
It often turns out that the case allows you to save a lot of money, since it does not directly affect performance. Of course, if you assemble a gaming computer with a boring cheap case, then it will be difficult to get complete satisfaction from the purchase. The question of appearance is always a personal matter, but the build quality is definitely worth a look. The thicker the iron, the more reliable the case and the quieter the computer. It is important that air circulation is correctly implemented in the case and it is possible to install additional cooling. And the most important point is that the video card is successfully installed: a common mistake lies precisely in the discrepancy between the dimensions of the case and the dimensions of the video card.
Rest
As a nice addition to the assembled gaming system, you can purchase additional peripheral equipment. For example, a discrete sound card, for people experienced in sound, or a USB hub board, if you plan to connect a large number of USB devices. The market is full of interesting offers, so the choice is yours.
Results
The market is moving forward very confidently. It is highly likely that manufacturers will develop not only new standards for connectors and devices - they can change the principles of computer operation. Today, very fast instances of SSD disks are appearing, and it is possible that they will someday replace RAM. So the main principle when assembling a gaming system is always the same - it's balance and the ability to prioritize. Do not forget that more expensive is not always better. But often better.
To date computers deeply embedded in human life. This happened largely due to their affordable price, which over the years is getting lower and lower. Assembling a computer for relatively little money is a very real task.
Instruction
Before assembling a computer, you need to decide what tasks it is intended to solve. Based on this, you can decide which components are best to save on. For example, if you do not plan to play modern video games with high hardware requirements and watch in FullHD resolution, then choose a motherboard with an integrated graphics card. This will reduce the price of the computer by several thousand. The same can be said about the sound - if there are no special requirements for it, then the built-in sound card will also save money.
If you do not plan to work with powerful applications for editing graphics, video and sound, then you can also save RAM. A computer that will only need to surf the Internet, listen to and watch DVD movies will be enough to equip with an average processor power costing from one and a half thousand rubles and 2 GB of RAM, the price of which does not exceed a thousand rubles. In addition, you can save on a hard drive by buying a drive up to 250 GB worth less than 2 thousand rubles.
You can also save money when buying a computer on software. If you plan to purchase a computer without a pre-installed operating system, then your costs will be less by an amount of one thousand rubles. You can also save on the monitor, their prices start at three thousand rubles. A set of the cheapest peripherals (, mouse, speakers) will cost you less than one thousand rubles. In general, an acceptable computer can be assembled by spending a little over 10 thousand rubles, which is comparable to the cost of some mobile phones.
If you decide to build a computer yourself, first evaluate the feasibility of this decision. The benefit will be quite small, in the region of two thousand rubles. At the same time, there is a high risk of doing something wrong and damaging expensive components. But if you believe in yourself, then you need to purchase high-quality components at the lowest possible prices. The best option for Moscow is the Savelovsky radio market, Mitinsky and Gorbushka.
When buying components, you must clearly understand their average cost so as not to purchase at an inflated price. It is unlikely that you will be able to find components cheaper than on the radio markets, but keep in mind that the risk of buying defective items is much higher here. However, sellers, as a rule, replace substandard parts without any questions.
It is worth noting that you can order a ready-made computer in the configuration you need from sellers on the radio markets, at a cost it will cost about the same amount that you spend on purchasing components separately. Therefore, self-assembly in this case does not make much sense - let the master do it. In this case, you are at least guaranteed the initial performance of the computer.
You can also order from companies selling computer equipment. The price of the finished system in this case will be higher than when ordering on the radio market, but the quality will also be higher. However, practice shows that computers assembled from parts purchased on the radio market can work quite well for many years. The main thing here is to choose the right configuration. You must know exactly what kind of motherboard you need, what kind of processor it will have, what memory modules you need to put in it. Select the desired video card model in advance, etc. and so on. Write everything very precisely - in this case, you will avoid many problems. In particular, the master who assembles the computer will no longer slip you outdated components. The more accurately you describe the task, the better the result will be.
Is there any point in self-assembly of a computer? Yes, but only if you want to understand this issue, if you like computer technology. When a computer assembled by yours starts working, it's very nice. What used to be a bunch of details suddenly comes to life - you put an operating system on the assembled computer, configure it as needed. Even the attitude towards this computer will be different - after all, it was you who gave it life. Such a computer will give you a much more pleasant experience than bought in a store.
Related videos
A gaming computer can be considered a computer that is capable of playing all modern games, providing an acceptable level of comfort from this entertainment. But the requirements of users are different, so very different devices fall into the category of gaming PCs. For many users, it is enough that the games are played smoothly, the game world is displayed correctly and there are no control problems. Professional gamers (who earn money playing games) and those who spend a significant part of their leisure time in games put forward more stringent requirements for PC performance.
This material will tell you how to assemble a gaming PC with your own hands for both users who need smooth rendering of the picture on the screen, and gamers for whom the quality of graphics is above all else. Of course, for these two categories of buyers, both the performance of components and their cost will differ significantly (up to ten times). But general recommendations on how to assemble a gaming PC with your own hands will be similar for everyone.
Building a PC on your own is, first of all, a solution that allows you to choose the optimal configuration for the needs of a particular user. Also, self-completing a computer is a way to save money. The question of how to build a cheap gaming PC is of interest to many users. Unfortunately, the performance of a computer is largely dependent on its cost. Therefore, a very cheap (for example, for 10-15 thousand rubles) gaming PC is now impossible to assemble.
Where to begin
Budget is a key factor when choosing accessories. Therefore, first of all, you should decide how much will be allocated for the purchase. It also matters whether you need the system unit itself, or peripheral devices (monitor, acoustics, keyboard, mouse).
In the model range of each manufacturer there are several sockets (processor sockets). Each of them requires a motherboard with its own connector. If the CPU is equipped with Socket 1155, then the motherboard must have the same. In addition, you should consider the compatibility of the board with specific processor models. As a rule, board manufacturers publish lists of supported CPUs on official websites.
The requirements for the board itself are determined based on the number and capacity of RAM sticks to be installed, the number of connected drives (HDD, SSD), their interfaces (SATA, PCI-Express or M.2) and overclocking capabilities. The future upgrade also matters: if one is planned in a couple of months or years, you need to choose a motherboard with a large number of interfaces and a fresh chipset (for example, MSI H61M-P31/W8 for Intel, ASUS M5A78L-M LX for AMD). If the computer is taken for a long time, and the “pumping” of its components is not provided, you can save a little on the system board.
An advanced motherboard is needed if you plan to upgrade
video card
The GPU in a gaming PC is just as (if not more) important than the CPU. It is the video card that is responsible for processing the three-dimensional image and its output to the display. However, you can't just pick up and install a powerful video card and save on other hardware. Information for further processing by the GPU is prepared by the "CPU + RAM" bundle, which, in turn, receives data from the drive (HDD and SSD).
A weak processor will not allow you to unleash the potential of a gaming video card
The “weak link” (regardless of whether it is a processor, video card or hard drive) will pull the system down, becoming a bottleneck. You can draw an analogy with a logistics terminal: no matter how high its throughput is, no matter how many cars become loaded, if there is a lack of loading equipment and labor, expanding the capabilities of the terminal itself will not help speed up its work.
Tandems of the form “inexpensive Intel Core i3 (or similar in terms of AMD FX series 4xxx) + Geforce GTX Titan X”, thus, are extremely inefficient and are a waste of money. The "ceiling" of such processors is video cards of the Geforce GTX 750 Ti class. Such a chip will not reveal the potential of a more productive GPU.
To assess whether a combination of the selected processor and video card will have the optimal ratio of features, you can compare prices for them. The cost of the GPU must exceed the price of the CPU. In the budget category (Intel Core i3, AMD FX series 4xxx and 6xxx) the difference is 10-30%, and in the niche of more expensive devices it can reach 100%. That is, if you plan to buy a processor for 8,000 rubles, then it makes no sense to install a video card for 15,000 and more. But GeForce GTX 980, costing up to 50 thousand, will be optimally combined with an Intel Core i7 CPU for 25-30 thousand.
Video cards can also be installed 2 if the motherboard supports SLI (for Nvidia GeForce) or CrossFire (AMD Radeon) technologies. In the budget segment, such a solution looks pointless (1 GPU for 15 thousand will be more productive than 2 for 8 thousand). In the top class, the connection of two video cards allows you to achieve an increase in performance, which cannot be realized in other ways.
Two video cards in SLI will increase the performance of a gaming PC
If you plan to upgrade your PC, you can purchase a motherboard with support for two video cards and get a GeForce GTX 960-level GPU. So far, the capabilities of this video card are enough to play all the games, and in a year it can be paired with another one of the same to increase performance.
It should be remembered that in order to work in SLI/CrossFire, video cards must be built on the same version of the graphics processor, if not identical.
RAM
When choosing RAM, the main thing is to consider the compatibility of generations and operating frequencies. For example, sixth-generation Intel Core i7 processors (and motherboards compatible with them) work with DDR4 RAM sticks, and AMD FX 8xxx - DDR3.
DDR4 memory is faster, but not supported by all processors
The amount of RAM is limited by the wallet and the number of slots on the motherboard. RAM is a never-ending resource (thank you to software developers who don't go to great lengths to optimize memory consumption after switching to 64-bit Windows). Therefore, install 8 GB of RAM, or 32 - it's up to users to decide.
When selecting RAM strips, it is recommended to install them in pairs or triples. In this case, the chips operate in two or three-channel (depending on the CPU model and motherboard) mode. In this case, the speed of data exchange theoretically increases, respectively, by two or three times. Two 4 GB modules will work faster than 1 x 8 GB.
Drives
Hard drives are slowly losing ground under the pressure of rapidly reducing the price, gaining capacity and becoming more reliable SSD. Since it is impossible to assemble a powerful gaming PC without a high-speed drive, a gaming computer cannot do without a solid-state drive. A capacity of 256 or 512 GB is enough to install Windows and games, and for multimedia content (music, movies), you can install a capacious HDD of 2, 3 or more terabytes in parallel.
The capacity of modern HDDs has already reached 10 TB
