Pc buying guide 2022: TechSpot PC Buying Guide: H2 2022

TechSpot PC Buying Guide: h3 2022

For the past year, we’ve asked ourselves whether it was a good time to buy or build a new PC, considering the market was plagued with component shortages and skyrocketing prices. Today, we are asking the same question for a different reason, with next-gen products such as AMD’s 7000-series Ryzen CPUs and Nvidia’s 4000-series GeForce GPUs around the corner. But first, let’s take a look at how the market has changed in the past few months…

AMD has mostly retaken the gaming throne with the revolutionary Ryzen 5800X3D, at least when using affordable DDR4 memory. In games that take advantage of DDR5 memory, Intel’s Core i9-12900 processors still have the edge, at the cost of higher power consumption.

The upcoming Ryzen 7000 series may achieve similar performance for much less power, but will still require DDR5 memory and new AM5 motherboards that may be expensive at launch.

Other than that, between two current-gen CPUs with the same number of threads, you should probably pick the cheaper one for gaming, considering cooling and motherboard prices. One exception may be the Ryzen R5 5500, which only has half of the cache offered by the R5 5600 and no PCIe 4.0 support, so it’s only worth getting if sold for much less than Intel’s Core i5-12400F.

For productivity, AMD dominates. With 64MB of cache and up to 32 threads, the top Ryzen 9 CPUs are faster, or at least more efficient than Intel’s offerings, when fully utilized. With the new Threadripper 5000 series offering expensive Pro-models only, Ryzen 9 may be the most sensible choice for core-heavy workloads unless you’re building something powerful for your business needs. Yet, if you want DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support, you should probably wait and see what Ryzen 7000 will have to offer.

Most importantly, all of AMD’s graphics cards and all high-end cards from both Nvidia and AMD now sell around their MSRP or below that mark, making this a better time to build all but the cheapest gaming PCs. The only caveat is the upcoming GeForce 4000 series, which may arrive with the high-end parts before the end of the year, creating buyer’s remorse.

In this PC Buying Guide update we’ve included four recommended component lists, meant for different budgets and purposes…

The Remote-Office Box $450

• Good performance • Fast for everyday computing • Gaming with add-on GPU

The Value Gaming Rig $1,000

• Excellent performance • Great multitasking • Perfect for gaming

The High-End Gaming Machine $2,000

• High-end performance • Heavy multitasking • Hardcore gaming

The Humble Workstation $2,500+

• Workstation-like performance • Extreme multitasking • Hardcore gaming

Our recommendations were influenced by availability and pricing at the time of writing.

If a component from the list that you were considering is unavailable or significantly more expensive while you are reading this guide, fear not. We included an explanation for every one of our choices, so that you can make alternative and informed purchases.

The Remote-Office Box

• Good performance • Fast for everyday computing • Gaming with add-on GPU

Despite its low price, this system is good for web browsing with tens of open tabs, and even 1080p live streaming. Add a graphics card, and this build becomes a capable gaming machine.

Component	Product	Price
Processor	Intel Core i3-12100	$132
Motherboard	Gigabyte B660M DS3H	$110
Memory	16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2933+ CL16	$50
Storage	Western Digital SN770 500GB	$55
Graphics	Integrated	$0
PSU	Thermaltake Smart BM2 550W	$45
Case	Fractal Design Focus G Mini	$56
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$448

Image credit: The doctor is in by yopoyo

The Intel Core i3-12100 rivals slightly older 6-core CPUs even when those cores are fully utilized. In other situations, it can be up to 50% faster. With a 60W TDP, the Core i3 should be kept cool by the stock cooler in a properly ventilated case.

When relying on the CPU’s integrated graphics, it may also be important for the motherboard to have both DisplayPort and HDMI ports for monitor compatibility. The Gigabyte B660M DS3H is one of the cheapest modern motherboards worth buying, with four memory slots, two M.2 slots for storage and USB Type-C. The larger MSI Pro B660-A offers all of that and much better thermal performance for $20 more. If you don’t need USB-C, the B660M-A version offers a good combination of size and performance at $125.

A 16GB dual-channel memory kit is the minimum we’d recommend today. Many such kits are available for about $50, so just pick the one you like the best.

With PCIe 4.0 support, WD’s 500GB SN770 becomes the best value SSD, offering sequential read/write speeds around 5GB/s. If your budget isn’t too stiff, you may want to go with the 1TB version, which is even better value at $100.

The Thermaltake BM2 550W is our budget PSU recommendation, with ratings of 550W and 80 Plus Bronze efficiency, 5-year warranty, and semi-modular design that lets you disconnect the cables you don’t need. The EVGA 500 BQ is also good, but offers 3 years of warranty.

For our choice of an mATX motherboard, we can go with an equally compact mATX case, and so we did as an ATX case would look empty without a graphics card. Fractal Design’s Focus G Mini combines old and new, with two external 5.25″ bays and top 240mm radiator support. If you don’t need those things, the Thermaltake Versa h28 is a good alternative for $5 less. If you do want to install a graphics card (and especially if you go with a full-ATX motherboard), you may prefer the full-sized Focus G for a similar price.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

If you are considering this system, then we’re assuming that you’d prefer work comfort over gaming performance. Yet, with current prices, we see no reason not to go with a «gaming» monitor that offers refresh rates up to 144Hz (we wrote a guide on how to enable them) in addition to an IPS panel and a height-adjustable stand.

For more professional look and a high-quality stand, check out the ViewSonic Omni XG2405. The AOC 24G2 is another great option for the price. More options for different budgets can be found in our best monitors feature.

Logitech’s highly ergonomic MK570 is our recommended keyboard and mouse combo at this price point. For more options, see our lists of best keyboards and mice.

The Value Gaming Rig

• Excellent performance • Great multitasking • Perfect for gaming

This PC is meant for those who want to get the best experience for their money in the latest games.

Component	Product	Price
Processor	Intel Core i5-12400F	$180
CPU Cooler	Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black	$45
Motherboard	MSI Pro B660-A	$130
Memory	32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 CL18	$100
Storage	Western Digital SN770 1TB	$100
Graphics	AMD Radeon RX 6600	$260
PSU	EVGA 650 G5	$60
Case	Corsair 4000D Airflow	$95
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$970

Image credit: Corsair 4000D Teal by WillT07

When running the latest games with high settings, you’d need a very expensive graphics card to show performance differences between modern 6-core CPUs. Intel’s Core i5-12400F and MSI’s Pro B660-A are a winning combination.

The MSI motherboard is the only one at its price range that can handle not only the i5 CPU but also sensible upgrades like the Core i7-12700. If you want a board that can also withstand an extreme upgrade, such as the Core i9-12900K, the B660 Tomahawk WiFi and the more compact B660M Mortar WiFi will easily justify their price.

AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600 is a strong alternative at $176, but motherboards comparable to the B660-A Pro are more expensive. Asrock’s B550 Extreme4 seems to offer the best balance between thermal performance and price. MSI’s B550 Tomahawk and Asus’ ROG Strix B550-F Gaming are excellent, but cost more.

The mentioned CPUs ship with the middling RM1 and Wraith Stealth coolers, which you should probably replace with something better. These processors are power efficient, and don’t need the heaviest and most expensive coolers on the market. We chose the Pure Rock 2 Black from Be Quiet! for its combination of looks, compact size, acoustic efficiency and price. The Arctic Freezer 34 eSports Duo and the Noctua U12S Redux would also work fine.

With current memory prices, we see no reason to get less than 32GB. All modern CPUs work great with RAM speeds up to 3600MHz, and with a CL18 latency such modules are also affordable. Many kits of 2 x 16GB cost about $100 these days. If you see a good 4 x 8GB kit for a similar price, go for it. A 1TB Western Digital SN770 will take care of our storage needs.

AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 is the cheapest GPU we’d recommend buying new. The Radeon RX 6500 XT is basically a laptop GPU in disguise, and since its release things in the sub-$200 segment have gotten worse and worse. The RX 6600 will consistently outperform Nvidia’s more expensive GeForce RTX 3050 by a large margin, unless you enable ray tracing.

The EVGA 650 G5 PSU provides 650W at 80 Plus Gold-level efficiency, a 10-year warranty and a fully modular design for a great price. Our case of choice for this build is the Corsair 400D Airflow, and the main reason for that is in its name.

If you plan to put your PC on a desk, you may prefer the shorter Lian Li 011 Air Mini. If you want a case with external 5.25″ drive bays and more internal drive bays, check out our best old-school cases guide. Anyway, our general best cases guide includes more great options for under $100.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

The Radeon 6600 is capable of 1440p gaming at 60 fps with high settings, or at 144 fps with lower settings or in less-demanding games. The HP X27q will let you do all of that on a 27″ IPS display for a fair price. Clearly, there are dozens of good monitor options you can choose from and that’s why we have entire guides dedicated to monitor shopping and gaming monitors especifically.

The Logitech G502 Hero is a safe bet for a mouse, and so is Corsair’s K55 RGB Pro for a keyboard. If you prefer mechanical keys and a compact size over a numpad and a detachable wrist rest, you can go with Redragon’s K552 RGB Kumara. Once again, our best gaming monitors, mice and keyboards guides include more options for more specific needs and budgets.

The High-End Gaming Machine

• High-end performance • Heavy multitasking • Hardcore gaming

This build is for those of you who care less about performance per dollar, and more about absolute performance and the latest features. With the latest high-end GPUs, gaming at resolutions higher than 1440p is a sensible option, and this build will let you do just that.

Component	Product	Price
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D	$439
CPU Cooler	Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black	$45
Motherboard	Asrock X570 Taichi	$224
Memory	32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-3600 CL16	$155
Storage	Seagate FireCuda 530 2TB	$250
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	$781
PSU	EVGA Supernova 1300 GT	$177
Case	Cooler Master MasterCase H500	$136
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$2,030

Image credit: Gaming Desktop V2 by hubertle8563

AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the first consumer CPU to use 96MB of 3D V-Cache for lower latency than any gaming processor on the market. It’s also efficient enough to use the same Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black from the previous build.

If you want more than one SSD to be able to work at PCIe 4.0 speeds in the future, you’ll need the X570 chipset. For the price, Asrock’s Taichi is probably the best choice, but if you must have a top-quality mainstream board, you can spend a bit more for the Asus ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Hero.

If you play games at higher resolutions, you can save some money going with Intel’s Core i7-12700F. When fully utilized, that CPU consumes a lot of power, so you’ll need a good cooler, such as Noctua’s NH-D15.

The MSI Pro Z690-A technically offers the best value alongside the Core i7, with the Asus Prime Z690-P as a good alternative, but if you want something flashier, the MSI Edge WiFi isn’t much more expensive these days.

As we have shown, four memory sticks are likely to be faster than two even on a dual-channel system. CL16 latency is the sweet spot for a 3600MHz speed in terms of price.

The Seagate FireCuda 530 is the best M.2 SSD on the market, with a sustained write speed up to twice as fast as its competitors, and not only a 5-year warranty, but 3-year rescue data recovery services. It’s also not more expensive than its competitors.

The GeForce RTX 3080 is the best high-end GPU you can buy without feeling that you were completely ripped off, largely due superior ray tracing performance over Radeon cards. The 12GB version can be bought for about the same price than the 10GB one, too, if you look closely.

Considering the rumors regarding the power consumption of next-gen GPUs, we chose to go big (in wattage) with the compact EVGA Supernova 1300 GT.

With two front 200mm fans, the Cooler Master Mastercase H500 will make sure that the system remains cool. More expensive versions of it include features like front USB-C and more flexible radiator support. Again, our best cases, best short cases and best old-school cases guides include more good options.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

The best 4K proper gaming monitors for the money right now are Gigabyte’s M28U and M32U. If you want HDR, you can add a bit for the Sony Inzone M9. If you’d rather play on a TV, check out LG’s C2 OLED.

If you prefer a different shape or resolution, we have a dedicated article revisiting the different top choices including Samsung’s Odyssey G9 49″ Curved and Alienware AW3423DW 34″, or for a more value-oriented choice, the Gigabyte G34WQC Ultrawide Curved. With a 34″ 3440x1440p VA panel, it offers a very immersive experience and great contrast.

If you want to feel like you have a better mouse than the average person’s, Logitech’s wireless G604 Lightspeed is the one for you. Similarly, the Corsair K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical keyboard comes with an aluminum body and premium switches. Our best mice and keyboard guides include more options.

• Workstation-like performance • Extreme multitasking • Hardcore gaming

Considering its price, this machine is great for any workload you can think about, from 4K video rendering to any kind of 3D modeling. It can also play games as well as the best gaming PCs if you equip it with a fast GPU. It’s not cheap, but for what it can do, it’s a really good value.

Component	Product	Price
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X	$547
CPU Cooler	Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 Pro	$90
Motherboard	Asrock X570 Taichi	$224
Memory	64GB (4 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 CL16	$340
Storage	Seagate FireCuda 530 2TB	$250
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	$781
PSU	EVGA Supernova 1300 GT	$177
Case	Thermaltake Core V71	$165
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$2,574

Image credit: Daedalus by canadianwalrus

With 32 threads and 64MB of cache for $550, the Ryzen 9 5950X is the obvious choice for this system. If you want anything better, you’ll need to either wait for the Ryzen 7000 series, which may be more expensive for a while, or spend thousands of dollars on a Threadripper.

The 5950X is surprisingly efficient, too, so instead of going with the outright best CPU cooler, we could go with the one with the best performance to noise ratio among active coolers: the Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 Pro. Our motherboard recommendations are the same as in the build above: Asrock X570 Taichi for most people, and Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero for those who want the best. We chose RAM with the same speed and latency as the kit we chose for the best gaming system, but twice the capacity.

A 2TB Seagate Firecuda 530 should be sufficient for regular work unless you have very specific storage demands. An archive of all your work will probably be safer on external drives or on a NAS.

Choosing the best graphics card for this system greatly depends on the programs you’ll be working with. We recommend that you search the web for relevant benchmarks before making your choice. In rare cases (Siemens NX is a prime example), professional Quadro and Radeon Pro graphics cards may justify their price with certain ease. As a default, we’ll keep the same recommendation from our previous build: the 12GB GeForce RTX 3080.

Our PSU recommendation remains the same as the previous system as well: the EVGA Supernova 1300 GT. For a case, we chose Thermaltake’s Core V71 Tempered Glass Edition for its value, airflow and versatility, including its two 5.25″ external drive bays. As always, our best cases, best short cases and best old-school cases guides include more options.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

Some of the most comfortable and accurate mice and keyboards we use include the Logitech MX Master 3 and Das Keyboard 4Q.

Choosing a monitor may be more complex. As with storage, you may have special needs and requirements for work. If you want to view your 3D models in great detail and comfort, Dell’s Ultrasharp U3219Q is a great choice with its 4K IPS panel.

If you edit 4K movies, though, the higher-end Ultrasharp UP3221Q uses Mini-LED for greatly improved contrast and qualifies for HDR 1000. It also has a true 10-bit panel, and can display colors that very few monitors can.

Masthead credit: Tuxedo by JMTsujioka

TechSpot PC Buying Guide: h2 2022

Updated! See the most up-to-date version of the TechSpot PC Buying Guide here.

Is this finally a good time to buy or build a new PC? For the past year, the market has been plagued with component shortages and skyrocketing prices, but things are starting to look better. Let’s take a look at how the market has changed in the past few months…

With Alder Lake, Intel has mostly retaken the gaming throne, at least until the release of AMD’s Ryzen 5800X3D, but the differences are nothing like they were in previous generations, and arguably limited to unrealistic situations. Support for DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 graphics cards is also more of a bragging right than a useful feature for now. Between two current-gen CPUs with the same number of threads, you should probably pick the cheaper one for gaming, considering cooling and motherboard prices.

In response to Alder Lake, AMD has slashed the pricing of Ryzen 5000 CPUs, and announced new parts that are almost as fast for tens of dollars less. After years of healthy CPU competition, the market is full of great options for PC owners that haven’t upgraded in some time. It’s too bad that new budget parts like the Core i3-12100 suffer from poor availability right now.

In the high end, AMD still dominates. With 64MB of cache and up to 32 threads, the top Ryzen 9 CPUs are still faster, or at least more efficient, when fully utilized. Intel never had an answer to Threadripper 3000, which is now terribly overpriced, and AMD has made the new Threadripper 5000 series OEM-only, so Ryzen 9 may be the most sensible choice for core-heavy workloads unless you’re building something powerful for your business needs.

Graphics card prices have seen a huge improvement in the past couple of months. While most Nvidia cards are still far from selling at MSRP levels, mainstream AMD cards are quickly getting closer to that mark.

Pricing for all but the cheapest SSDs remains reasonable, and if you still use a spinning disk for anything except long-term storage of large files, then you should definitely take advantage of that. Most notably, DDR4 memory prices are still about half of what they were a few years ago.

If you don’t need the very best GPU or a server-grade CPU, then you can now get great value for your money with a new PC. In this PC Buying Guide update we’ve included four recommended component lists, meant for different budgets and purposes…

The Remote-Office Box $500

• Good performance • Fast for everyday computing • Gaming with add-on GPU

The Value Gaming Rig $750 + $250 GPU*

• Excellent performance • Great multitasking • Perfect for gaming

The High-End Gaming Machine $1300 + $700 GPU*

• High-end performance • Heavy multitasking • Hardcore gaming

The Humble Workstation $2000 + $700 GPU*

• Workstation-like performance • Extreme multitasking • Hardcore gaming

Our recommendations were influenced by availability and pricing at the time of writing.

The Remote-Office Box

• Good performance • Fast for everyday computing • Gaming with add-on GPU

If you haven’t been following the PC market in recent years, you may be shocked by what you can get for ~$500. This system is good for web browsing with tens of open tabs, and even 1080p live streaming. Add a graphics card, and this will become a capable gaming machine.

Component	Product	Price
Processor	Intel Core i5-10400	$153
Motherboard	MSI B560M Pro-VDH Wi-Fi	$130
Memory	16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2933+ CL16	$55
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500GB	$60
Graphics	Integrated	$0
PSU	EVGA 650 BQ	$55
Case	Fractal Design Focus G Mini	$56
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$509

With 6 cores and 12 threads, Intel’s Core i5-10400 is the best-value CPU you can regularly buy these days. The i3-10100 is available for less, but giving up a third of the processing power to save $45 would be simply wrong. With a 65W TDP, the Core i5 should be kept cool by the stock cooler in a properly ventilated case.

Intel B560 motherboards are still widely available, with support for high-speed RAM, USB 3.1 (or «3.2 Gen 2») and PCIe 4.0 (with 11th-gen CPUs). When relying on the CPU’s integrated graphics, it may also be important for the motherboard to have both DisplayPort and HDMI ports for monitor compatibility.

Our recommended motherboard for most people in this price range is MSI’s B560 Pro-VDH Wi-Fi, with decent thermal performance, four memory slots, two M.2 slots for storage and USB 3.1. If you don’t need a Wi-Fi adapter, the $110 Asus Prime B560M-A is one of the cheapest B560 motherboards with DisplayPort and USB-C.

A dual-channel kit of 16GB of memory is the minimum we’d recommend today. Many such kits are available for about $55, so just pick the one you like the best.

With its on-board DRAM, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus is one of the best PCIe 3.0 SSDs, providing great responsiveness regardless of how much of its space is used. If your budget isn’t too stiff, you may want to go with the 1TB version, which is an even better value at $110.

Low-wattage, high-quality power supplies have been strangely expensive lately, so the EVGA 650 BQ has become our budget recommendation, with its ratings of 650W and 80 Plus Bronze efficiency, 5-year warranty, and semi-modular design that lets you disconnect the cables you don’t need. The Corsair CX 650M is just as good for $5 more.

For our choice of an mATX motherboard, we can go with an equally compact mATX case, and so we did as an ATX case would look empty without a graphics card. Fractal Design’s Focus G Mini combines old and new, with two external 5.25″ bays and top 240mm radiator support. If you don’t need those things, the Cooler Master Q300L is a good alternative with two USB 3.0 connectors and magnetic dust filters. If you do want to install a graphics card, you may prefer the full-sized Focus G for a similar price.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

The AOC 24G2 is a great option for the price. If you are willing to pay more for a more professional look (and a higher-quality stand), check out the ViewSonic Omni XG2405. More options for different budgets can be found in our best monitors feature.

Logitech’s highly ergonomic MK570 is our recommended keyboard and mouse combo at this price point. For more options, see our lists of best keyboards and mice.

The Value Gaming Rig

• Excellent performance • Great multitasking • Perfect for gaming

This PC is meant for those who want to get the best experience for their money in the latest games. If you’ve upgraded the graphics card in your old computer in the past two years, now is a great time to buy the rest of this system.

Component	Product	Price
Processor	Intel Core i5-12400F	$180
CPU Cooler	Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black	$45
Motherboard	MSI Pro B660-A	$140
Memory	32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 CL18	$120
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1TB	$110
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050	$250 (MSRP)
PSU	MSI MPG A650GF	$80
Case	Corsair 4000D Airflow	$95
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$1,020

When running the latest games with high settings, you’d need a very expensive graphics card to show performance differences between modern 6-core CPUs. When Intel’s Core i5-12400F and MSI’s Pro B660-A are both in stock, they are a winning combination.

AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600X is a strong alternative at $229. If you find the non-X version for $200, it may offer the best value. If you don’t have or want to buy a graphics card yet, then you should go with the $210 Ryzen 5 5600G, which performs close to the last-gen Ryzen 7 3700X with a dedicated card and has an integrated GPU that’s good to play esports titles, or modern games at low settings. The 5600G’s main drawback is the lack of PCIe 4.0 support.

The market is full of proven motherboards for Ryzen processors, but MSI’s B550 Tomahawk seems to offer the best balance between thermal performance and price. Asrock’s B550 Extreme4 and Asus’ ROG Strix B550-F Gaming are excellent, but cost more.

The mentioned CPUs ship with the middling RM1 and Wraith Stealth coolers, which you should probably replace with something better. These processors are power efficient, and don’t need the heaviest and most expensive coolers on the market. We chose the $45 Pure Rock 2 Black from Be Quiet! for its combination of looks, compact size, acoustic efficiency and price. Just don’t forget to order the free LGA-1700 mounting kit if you go with Intel. The Arctic Freezer 34 eSports Duo and the Noctua U12S Redux now come with a similar kit in the box.

With current memory prices, we see no reason to get less than 32GB. All modern CPUs work great with RAM speeds up to 3600MHz, and with a CL18 latency such modules are also affordable. Many kits of 2 x 16GB cost about $120 these days. If you see a good 4 x 8GB kit for a similar price, go for it.

When compared against competitors’ current prices, we think the Samsung 970 Evo Plus offers the best experience for the money for a 1TB SSD. If you go with the Ryzen 5 5600G, you won’t see the benefits of a faster PCIe 4.0 drive anyway.

At its MSRP, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3050 would be the cheapest GPU we’d recommend buying new, mostly because AMD’s Radeon RX 6500 XT is basically a laptop GPU in disguise. In our research, we found no RTX 3050 card available for a decent price, thus we recommend that you hold on buying one. If you don’t want to wait, AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 is currently available for about $400, just like the RTX 3050. Assuming your CPU and motherboard support PCIe 4.0, it will consistently outperform the 3050 by a large margin, unless you enable ray tracing or DLSS.

The MSI MPG A650GF PSU provides 650W at 80 Plus Gold-level efficiency, a 10-year warranty and a fully modular design for a great price. The Corsair RM650x is just as good for $5 more, and at the time of writing both PSUs are $65 on Newegg after rebate.

Our case of choice for this build is the Corsair 400D Airflow, and the main reason for that is in its name. If you want a case with external 5.25″ drive bays and more internal drive bays, check out our best old-school cases guide. Anyway, our general best cases guide includes more great options for under $100.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

The RTX 3050 is capable of 1440p gaming at 60 fps with high settings, or at 144 fps with lower settings or in less-demanding games. The Gigabyte M27Q will let you do all of that on a 27″ IPS display for a fair price. Clearly, there are dozens of good monitor options you can choose from and that’s why we have entire guides dedicated to monitor shopping and gaming monitors especifically.

The High-End Gaming Machine

• High-end performance • Heavy multitasking • Hardcore gaming

This build is for those of you who care less about performance per dollar, and more about performance, period. With the latest high-end GPUs, gaming at resolutions higher than 1440p is a sensible option, and this build will let you do it.

Component	Product	Price
Processor	Intel Core i7-12700F	$313
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-D15	$100
Motherboard	MSI Pro Z690-A	$195
Memory	32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-3600 CL16	$170
Storage	Western Digital SN850 2TB	$260
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080	$700 (MSRP)
PSU	NZXT C850	$120
Case	Cooler Master MasterCase H500	$104
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$1,962

Intel’s Core i7-12700F is one of the best gaming CPUs you can buy, even more so considering the price. We opted not to pay $65 more for an all-core overclocking ability that will draw much more power and may perform worse in games than the default single-core turbo boost. Even without overclocking, the 12700F consumes a lot of power, so we went with the best air cooler: Noctua’s NH-D15.

If you are willing to wait (and pay) a bit more, AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D will be the first consumer CPU to use 3D V-Cache of 96MB for lower latency and possibly better gaming performance than any processor on the market (you can scroll down a bit for relevant cooling and motherboard recommendations in the next build).

For the current system, a high-quality B660 motherboard would be enough, but if you want several SSDs to be able to enjoy PCIe 4.0 speeds in the future, you’ll want the Z690 chipset. For the price, The MSI Pro Z690-A seems to be the most sensible choice, with the Asus Prime Z690-P as a good alternative, but if you want something flashier, you can spend a bit more for the MSI Edge WiFi.

As we have shown, four memory sticks are likely to be faster than two even on a dual-channel system. CL16 latency is the sweet spot for a 3600MHz speed in terms of price.

Western Digital’s SN850 is arguably the best M.2 SSD for gamers, who need to locate many small files more often than transfer a few large ones. The 2TB version was also slightly more affordable than the Samsung 980 Pro at the time of writing, and that’s enough excuse to give it the plug.

The GeForce RTX 3080 is the best high-end GPU you could buy without feeling that you were completely ripped off, largely due to DLSS support and superior ray-tracing performance over Radeon cards. If you don’t want to buy it for $1,100, several options offer «an equally good value,» (in an otherwise inflated market) including the 3070 Ti for $850, 3060 Ti for $630, and AMD’s Radeon RX 6700 XT for $600.

You’ll need a lot of power to support one of the best graphics cards. NZXT’s C850, Corsair’s RM850x and MSI’s MPG A850GF are three equally good options for the same price.

With two front 200mm fans, the Cooler Master Mastercase H500 will make sure that the system remains cool. More expensive versions of it include features as front USB-C and more flexible radiator support. Again, our best cases and best old-school cases guides include more good options.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

The best 4K proper gaming monitors for the money right now are Gigabyte’s M28U and M32U. If you’d rather play on a TV, check out LG’s C1 48″ OLED.

If you prefer a different shape or resolution, we have a dedicated article revisiting the different top choices including Samsung’s Odyssey G9 49″ Curved, or for a more value-oriented choice, the Gigabyte G34WQC Ultrawide Curved. With a 34″ 3440x1440p VA panel, it offers a very immersive experience and great contrast.

If you want to feel like you have a better mouse than the average person’s, Logitech’s wireless G604 Lightspeed is the one for you. Similarly, Corsair’s K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical keyboard comes with an aluminum body and premium switches. Our best mice and keyboard guides include more options.

• Workstation-like performance • Extreme multitasking • Hardcore gaming

Component	Product	Price
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X	$599
CPU Cooler	Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 Pro	$90
Motherboard	Asrock X570 Taichi	$250
Memory	64GB (4 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 CL16	$375
Storage	Seagate FireCuda 530 2TB	$360
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080	$700 (MSRP)
PSU	NZXT C850	$120
Case	Thermaltake Core V71	$200
	Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse (see notes)
	Core System Total	$2,694

With 32 threads and 64MB of cache for $600, the Ryzen 9 5950X is the obvious choice for this system. It’s also surprisingly efficient, so instead of going with the outright best CPU cooler, we could go with the one with the best performance to noise ratio among active coolers: the Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 Pro.

Last year, we recommended a Threadripper 3000-based system for content creators, but the current Threadrippers now look too expensive, especially considering the price drops on Ryzen 9 processors, and the Threadripper 5000 series is likely to create buyer’s remorse if it arrives at the consumer market any time soon.

If you want more than one SSD to be able to work at PCIe 4.0 speeds, you’ll need the X570 chipset. For the price, Asrock’s Taichi is probably the best choice, but if you must have a top-quality mainstream board, you can spend a bit more for Gigabyte’s Aorus Master. We chose RAM with the same speed and latency as the kit we chose for the best gaming system, but twice the capacity.

The Seagate FireCuda 530 is the best M.2 SSD for creators, with a sustained write speed up to twice as fast as its competitors, and not only a 5-year warranty, but 3-year rescue data recovery services. A 2TB drive should be sufficient for regular work unless you have very specific storage demands. An archive of all your work will probably be safer on external drives or on a NAS.

Our PSU recommendations remain the same as the previous system as well: NZXT’s C850, Corsair’s RM850x and MSI’s MPG A850GF.

For a case, we chose Thermaltake’s Core V71 Tempered Glass Edition for its value, airflow and versatility, including its two 5.25″ external drive bays. As always, our best cases and best old-school cases guides include more options.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

Some of the most comfortable and accurate mice and keyboards we use include the Logitech MX Master 3 and Das Keyboard 4Q. Choosing a monitor may be more complex. As with storage, you may have special needs and requirements for work. If you want to view your 3D models in great detail and comfort, Dell’s Ultrasharp U3219Q is a great choice with its 4K IPS panel.

Masthead credit: The Final Rig by Douken

The Best All-in-One Computers for 2022

Your 15-inch laptop display is feeling cramped, and you work in one place mostly. For about the same money that you would spend on a midrange-to-high-end laptop with a 17-inch screen (or more likely, less), you can get an all-in-one (AIO) computer with a 23-inch or larger display.

Of course, buying a highly integrated system like this is more exacting than your average desktop. Why? You’re buying a computer and a monitor in one, and the inherent limits on what you’ll be able to upgrade down the line makes smart buying up front crucial. Indeed, landing the right AIO is more like shopping for a laptop than a desktop.

We’ve outlined below our top picks among AIO desktops we’ve tested. Read on for our lab-tested favorites, followed by the buying basics you should know when buying one. Also note: At the very end of this article is a detailed spec breakout, in handy chart format, of our top choices.

More About Our Picks

HP Pavilion 24 All-in-One (24-k0220z)

4.5 Outstanding

Best Overall Windows All-in-One Desktop for Most Users

Bottom Line:

This direct-to-consumer configuration of HP’s 23.8-inch touch-screen Pavilion 24 all-in-one desktop delivers potent performance for a low $799.99.

Pros

Speedy six-core Ryzen 5 CPU
Doesn’t skimp on memory and storage
HDMI-out and -in ports
High-resolution webcam with pop-up privacy design, quad-array mic
Hearty front soundbar

Cons

Integrated graphics won’t satisfy gamers
Wi-Fi 5, not 6
A wireless keyboard and mouse would be good

Read Our HP Pavilion 24 All-in-One (24-k0220z) Review

Asus M241

4. 0 Excellent

A Solid Budget Alternative to the HP Pavilion 24

Bottom Line:

The Asus M241 is a low-cost all-in-one desktop that resembles a gold iMac and offers both a peppy Windows 10 experience and powerful sound.

Pros

Attractive, space-saving design
Peppy for general Windows use
Built-in speakers deliver impactful audio
HDMI-in and -out ports

Cons

Peak display brightness could be a bit higher
No USB-C ports
Webcam awkwardly positioned below display

Read Our Asus M241 Review

Apple iMac 24-Inch

4.0 Excellent

Best Overall Mac All-in-One Desktop for Most Users

Bottom Line:

The first major iMac redesign in years turns Apple’s classic computer into a gorgeous all-in-one with the M1 processor, multiple color options, and a stunningly thin exterior. It’s neither the most powerful nor the most versatile Mac desktop, but it’s the best one for everyday home computing.

Pros

A perky reimagining of the classic iMac design
Color-matched accessories
Extraordinarily thin
Available fingerprint reader
Snappy Apple M1 processor
Excellent camera quality

Cons

Expensive as configured, and for screen size
Requires external power brick
Uncomfortable keyboard
No touch input on screen
Limited port selection

Read Our Apple iMac 24-Inch Review

HP Envy 34 All-in-One (2022)

4.5 Outstanding

Best All-in-One Desktop With a Giant Screen

Bottom Line:

For creative pros yearning for a big screen with plenty of power and functionality to support it, the HP Envy 34 All-in-One desktop PC expertly obliges, with snappy performance and a productivity-focused feature set.

Pros

Sharp, snazzy 34-inch 5K display
Strong all-around performance
High-quality 16-megapixel magnetic camera
Thunderbolt 4
SD card reader
Easy access to RAM and M. 2 SSD slots

Cons

Less-powerful, mobile-class GeForce RTX 3060 GPU

Read Our HP Envy 34 All-in-One (2022) Review

HP Chromebase All-in-One 22

4.0 Excellent

Best Chrome OS All-in-One Desktop

Bottom Line:

The HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 is a well-designed, good-looking Chrome OS computer with a host of attractions for home use, including a rotating display.

Pros

Attractive, space-saving design
Rotating display useful for some websites
High-res webcam
Booming audio
Includes wireless keyboard and mouse
Affordable as configured

Cons

Display isn’t the sharpest
Occasional screen-rotation hitches
No side-mounted ports

Read Our HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 Review

MSI Modern AM241P 11M

3.5 Good

Best Budget All-in-One Desktop for Small and Home Offices

Bottom Line:

Better acoustics, plus the addition of USB-C ports and a high-res webcam, are steps in the right direction, making MSI’s Modern AM241P 11M a solid, if unremarkable, budget AIO for small businesses and home offices.

Pros

Compact design, with very thin top bezel
1080p webcam included
Both HDMI-in and HDMI-out ports
Wireless keyboard and mouse
Bay for a 2.5-inch drive upgrade

Cons

Underwhelming audio output
Webcam is not built-in
256GB SSD in our test model will fill up quickly
No Thunderbolt 4 support

Read Our MSI Modern AM241P 11M Review

Dell Inspiron 24 5000 AIO

3.0 Average

Best All-in-One Desktop for Extremely Tight Budgets

Bottom Line:

Dell’s Inspiron 24 5000 AIO is a solidly built budget all-in-one, but we are lukewarm on this specific model in the line, with its bipod stand and slow hard drive.

Pros

Outstanding audio output
HDMI-out and -in ports
USB Type-A and -C ports
Wi-Fi 6 support

Cons

Sluggish real-world performance, due to platter drive as boot drive
Clunky bipod stand

Read Our Dell Inspiron 24 5000 AIO Review

Dell OptiPlex 5490 All-in-One

3. 5 Good

Best All-in-One Desktop for Business

Bottom Line:

Dell’s OptiPlex 5490 All-in-One is an entry-level desktop that saves space and is easy to deploy, but it may not offer the best ROI for your business.

Pros

Flexible stand
Desktop-class CPU delivers decent performance
Full HD webcam with Windows Hello
Three-year warranty comes standard

Cons

Dim display
Limited customization options
Traditional tower PCs offer better value

Read Our Dell OptiPlex 5490 All-in-One Review

Microsoft Surface Studio 2

4.0 Excellent

Best All-in-One Desktop for Artists and Drafters

Bottom Line:

Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2 is a beautiful, pricey all-in-one desktop for artists, content creators, and professionals wedded to pen input. It packs components peppier than the original’s, and a downright stunning screen.

Pros

Elegant all-in-one digital creation solution.
Snappy performance.
Super-thin, spectacular display that reclines.
Accurate touch input for art/design work.
USB-C support.
Bundled Surface Pen.

Cons

Expensive.
CPU could be beefier, considering separated base.
Video out via USB-C, not a dedicated port.

Read Our Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Review

Lenovo IdeaCentre Yoga A940

3.5 Good

A Cheaper Pen/Touch Alternative to Surface Studio

Bottom Line:

Lenovo’s IdeaCentre Yoga A940 is a rare convertible all-in-one desktop, with a reclining 4K display and well-done creative accessories. The build quality and screen leave us wanting, but it’s a serviceable, cheaper alternative to Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2.

Pros

Tilting 4K touch screen and input devices designed for digital content creation.
Solid performance with full-desktop, not mobile, CPU.
Intuitive active stylus and unique side dial.
Wireless charging mat built in.
Plenty of internal storage.

Cons

Bulky plastic build.
Ho-hum screen quality.
Precisely sized storage spot for mediocre bundled keyboard.
Fairly weak 3D performance for some professional use cases.

Read Our Lenovo IdeaCentre Yoga A940 Review

How to Buy an All-in-One Computer

The first thing to look at (no pun intended) is the display—the centerpiece of any AIO. While some less-expensive AIO PCs will come with panels smaller than 23 inches, those are better suited to exceedingly cramped spaces such as classroom labs or dorm rooms. (Go much smaller than that, and you might as well just buy a big-screen laptop.) What you really want is a display at least 23 inches on the diagonal—and larger is better if you can do it. The biggest all-in-ones we’ve seen to date have curved 34-inch screens.

With a screen 23 inches or larger, you’re almost guaranteed a native resolution of at least 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (aka, full HD), and larger screens will go even higher. In many cases, that’s up to 4K—3,840 by 2,160 pixels—for a conventionally shaped screen, or 3,440 by 1,440 pixels on an ultra-wide display. High resolutions of that kind give you the ability to view multiple windows side by side, or view a spreadsheet three to four pages wide. Indeed, if you’re a multitasker, the more screen room, the better.

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

Though it’s not a concern to those with 20/10 vision, a larger screen and a higher native resolution will let you increase the font size on your Word documents or Excel spreadsheets while still keeping a lot of information on the screen at one time. Desktop screens tend to be brighter than laptop displays in general, as well. Look for in-plane switching (IPS) technology for the best screen quality. IPS screens are inherently better at off-axis viewing, which means you won’t have to be sitting perfectly centered to see accurate colors and all the detail in your images.

To touch-screen or not to touch-screen—that is a question of personal preference. The tiled Start interface in Windows 10 was designed with touch panels in mind, and it makes interacting with your various applications as easy as ever. Although these can be fun and functional for families, a touch screen isn’t 100% necessary for everyone, especially if you plan to use the all-in-one like a traditional computer. If you’re looking at a Apple iMac all-in-one, on the other hand, the decision is made for you: macOS doesn’t take advantage of touch screens, and no Macs offer them.

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

Don’t fret either way. Scrolling with a mouse or a touchpad will still be as quick as or quicker than on a touch screen, because with an AIO, you have to reach up to the screen, taking a hand off the keyboard or mouse. Selecting text for copying and pasting is easier with a mouse, too. If you fill out forms online and switch among text-entry boxes, pull-down menus, and check boxes, you’ll be able to enter data more quickly with a keyboard and mouse.

If you’re planning on using the touch screen at least 50 percent of the time, look for systems with screens that can recline down to horizontal, or almost horizontal. This lets you use the system like a large tablet, so you don’t have to hold your arm out constantly to use the touch screen. Think about using an ATM: The vertical screen is fine for a 90-second transaction, but it would become tiring after 10 minutes or more. It comes down to simple ergonomics.

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

Speaking of vertical orientation, the occasional AIO will come with a stand that lets you pivot the screen into a portrait orientation. Portrait mode lets you view content such as webpages and appropriately shaped pictures without wasted space to the sides of the screen. It’s a boon for web developers, as well as layout artists still working on print publications. If portrait mode is something you’d be interested in, make sure the system features auto-rotate; without it, you’ll need to switch display settings every time you pivot the display. Portrait pivoting is far more common in stand-alone desktop monitors than in AIOs, though.

AIO Basics, Part One: The Core Components

PC manufacturers are generally slower to update AIOs than their other offerings, so many of the units here are running slightly older processor generations like Intel’s 10th Generation («Coffee Lake») and 11th Generation («Tiger Lake» mobile or «Rocket Lake» desktop-grade) chips. As 2022 continues, we may see more systems adopt Intel’s 12th Generation («Alder Lake») processors, but most have so far stuck with older Intel chips or AMD alternatives for price and power draw considerations. Any modern processor will help with editing photos or videos, or running intensive media processes in the background while you work on several tasks in the foreground.

AMD’s Ryzen chips have appeared in a few all-in-ones, in the form of Ryzen 5 and lower-powered Ryzen 3 processors. Some of our top picks are Ryzen models, and the company’s chips are turning up in highly regarded powerful laptops. But in general, Intel CPUs dominate the AIO PC market. Meanwhile, among Macs, Apple’s newest AIO, the 24-inch iMac based on the Apple M1 processor, is the harbinger of where things are likely going for the iconic iMac.

When looking at and comparing CPUs in AIO PCs, a key distinction to work out is whether the AIO uses a full-desktop CPU or a mobile one. All else being equal, a full-desktop chip is preferable. How to tell: Mobile chips from the likes of Intel (as mentioned, most desktop AIOs will use Intel chips, as opposed to ones from rival AMD) will have a «U,» «Gx,» (where «x» is a number) «H,» or «HQ» appended to the end of the chip model number. A desktop CPU will have no letter at the end, or perhaps a «K» or «T.»

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

An 8GB helping of DDR4 RAM should be the minimum amount of system memory you settle for. (We haven’t seen a 12th Generation Intel CPU-based AIO yet, but when we do, some will surely support the newer DDR5 memory standard.) Although 4GB will work fine for very basic tasks, you’ll feel the pinch of such a low-spec computer sooner. That said, 8GB or 16GB will let you keep dozens of tabs open on your browser and still have room left over for a demanding program such as Photoshop. And 16GB is the recommended minimum for professional content-creation use.

AIO Basics, Part Two: Storage and Ports

As far as storage, look for a boot drive of at least 1TB capacity if you’re going to store any video on your PC. Videos clog up hard drives faster than just about any other type of file. If you’re a heavy download fiend, opt for a 2TB drive. The only issue is that a traditional spinning hard drive is relatively slow at booting and loading apps. If you’d rather have a snappier system that’s more speed demon than file-storage repository, look for an AIO that uses a solid-state drive (SSD) as the boot drive. (Most now do.) If you keep all your files on a central network-attached storage (NAS) device or stored in the cloud, just about any SSD or hard drive 500GB or larger should be sufficient. That’s enough for the operating system and a handful of frequently used programs.

You can have the best of both worlds with an all-in-one PC that boots from a SSD but has an additional spinning hard drive for storage. In that case, look for at least a 256GB SSD boot drive and 1TB of supplemental hard drive storage if you’re a power user. You’ll need more storage (2TB to 4TB) if you plan on keeping your entire video, music, and photo collection on your AIO.

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

Adding an extra terabyte or so is also easy with an external drive. SSDs cost more per gigabyte than regular spinning hard drives, but SSDs boot up and wake from sleep so much faster than regular drives that we highly recommend them as boot drives. In some older AIO models, opting for an AIO with an Intel Optane Memory solid-state caching module supplementing a platter hard drive can speed up tasks like loading apps, but for true speed, insist on a «real» SSD as your primary (C:) drive. Unfortunately, some AIO PCs are hard or impossible to upgrade yourself, so make sure you get what you need at the start.

Because an all-in-one is, at its heart, a computer, it should have all the ports you expect to need during your day-to-day activities, particularly USB ports (in easy-to-access places, if at all possible). You may also want a dedicated Ethernet port, though all-in-ones today come with Wi-Fi support built in, so you can easily hook up the system to the wireless network you already have in your home or office.

Also handy is an HDMI input port, which gives you the flexibility to use the AIO as a discrete display for a separate PC, a game console, or other video source. It also gives an AIO with a nice display some potential utility years down the road as a stand-alone monitor, when the PC portion inside becomes obsolete.

The Pros of AIOs…

Even if you find a 17-inch-screened laptop you like, you’ll need a strong back to carry it anywhere; 6 pounds and up, plus an AC adapter, is the norm for machines like these. (See our top picks among 17-inch laptops.) So we suspect you won’t travel with a 17-inch machine very much, making even a small-screen AIO a viable stay-at-home alternative. And because AIO desktops are plugged in, you won’t ever run out of battery power, even when you leave your system in sleep mode for weeks.

Because AIOs tend to use more powerful processors than laptops do, all-in-one PCs will execute CPU-intensive tasks more rapidly, on the whole. Some 3D games will run better, too, thanks to the discrete graphics chips in some A-grade AIO PCs. (To find AIOs with discrete chips, look for graphics solutions dubbed GeForce GTX or RTX, GeForce MX, or Radeon RX, as opposed to Intel Iris Xe, UHD, or HD Graphics, or AMD Radeon Vega integrated graphics.)

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

Other advantages? You can share the PC among the members of a family, and use it to store centrally accessible photos, music, and videos. And a large, widescreen AIO PC makes for a fine videoconferencing system. Rather than having the family crowd around your iPad or a little laptop screen, seat them in front of a 27- or 34-inch AIO desktop so you’re not subconsciously squeezing together to «fit on the screen.» Plus, a large AIO screen is good for watching a movie from 5 or 6 feet away, so a couple in, say, a studio apartment could use a big-screen AIO as a TV in front of a small sofa or loveseat. Or, if you place the system in a central location, such as your kitchen counter, you can monitor your children when they’re online.

But these PCs aren’t just good for play. A few years back, Apple brought the AIO further into workstation territory with the iMac Pro. The starting price for this monster machine at launch was high at $5,000, but it packed a jaw-dropping amount of muscle: It has a 27-inch 5K screen and is configurable with up to an 18-core processor, 128GB of memory, and 4TB of solid-state storage. (Note that it is still for sale at this writing from non-Apple sources, often used or as a refurbished model, but as of March 2021, Apple noted that it would be discontinuing the iMac Pro. ) In most cases, this kind of muscle is found only in elite-grade tower PCs, but the very best AIOs can rival a high-end desktop.

…and the Cons

Because they have bigger screens, AIO PCs are physically larger than laptops. Of course, you give up the ability to easily move them from room to room, but AIOs are still more portable than tower PCs. All-in-one PCs don’t have the expandability that you’re going to find in most towers, but they do tend to be more stylish.

That said, towers are still better than all-in-one PCs when you need to do intensive work like CAD/CAM or scientific data processing, and most of them are expandable in ways far beyond even the most upgrade-generous AIO on the market. PC gamers, especially, will get much more value out of a stand-alone tower in which they can swap out a graphics card than in a fixed-config AIO PC.

What Is the Best All-in-One Computer to Buy?

The next time you’re online and thinking that you really need a bigger screen than the one on your current laptop or tablet, take a look at an all-in-one desktop. You may be surprised how much screen, and how much power, they deliver for the money versus a like-priced laptop.

Also, be sure to check out our top desktop picks overall, as well as our favorite desktops for work and for PC gaming. Below, though, are the top AIOs that have passed through our labs of late.

PC Building Guide 2022 Edition

Contents

1 Things to Consider
- - 1.0.1 Entry Level
  - 1.0.2 Intermediate
  - 1.0.3 High-End

.91

1.1.1 DIY build

2 Pros and cons of building your own gaming PC

2.1 Ready build
2.2 Pros and disadvantages of the finished PC

3 tools necessary for assembly PC

3.1 tools and accessories
3.2 Workplace
3.3 Supply
3.4 Gloves
3.5 Antistatic bracelet

9000 3.6 TERMOMOMEN air

3. 8 Organizational buckets
3.9 PC case

Whether you’re a fan of multiplayer missions that you can play with people from all over the world, or you prefer single-player missions, there’s a PC game for everyone.

However, as you gain experience as a gamer, you will also find that you want more from every game you play. It could be higher definition graphics, the ability to download and store more games, or the ability to live stream on Twitch to like-minded people while you play. However, these are not the kind of things you can get from a regular PC, and a good MacBook Air gaming PC has a pretty relative price tag in terms of specs and stats.

This is the reason why more and more gamers choose to build their own gaming PCs. Not only is it cheaper than buying the hardware separately and building it yourself, it also gives you the ability to customize your PC to your gaming needs.

But where to start? Don’t panic — we’re here to help! We’ve put together this complete guide to building a gaming PC. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about what parts are needed, how they work, and most importantly, how to put everything together. We also have guides on building the best gaming PC and buying the best prebuilt gaming PC.

This manual is intended to be used as a guide for people of all skill levels, from the absolute beginner to the technical expert. After all, building a gaming PC is hard work, and even the most tech-savvy person can struggle at some point. Are you ready to go on this adventure? Excellent! Gather your tools and equipment and let’s get started!

In this manual we will help you:

Find the best PC build parts for your budget and your personal requirements (the games you play).
Understand how each PC component works and why they are important
Get the right tools for the job and get ready to build your PC.
Before we dive into the process, it’s worth noting that this gaming PC build guide will also help you build a regular PC!

Things to consider

Before assembling a PC, there are a few things to consider. First, you need to make sure you understand your needs for the components you can afford to buy. After reading this section, you’ll know if building a gaming PC is right for you (it almost certainly is), or if it’s better to go for a pre-built PC.

Choosing a budget and understanding your needs

Start by defining the budget. Component prices can vary greatly depending on what you want out of your PC, so you need to think about whether you’re looking to build an entry-level, mid-range, or high-end gaming PC.

What is the difference between these levels? And what impact does each level have on your budget? We’ll cover this in more detail below, but to give you a quick idea of the estimated budget for each tier, check out the table below:0003

*Note: These prices include chassis and hardware, not gaming peripherals such as monitors, mice, or keyboards.

Entry level

A $300-$400 budget will allow you to build a gaming PC that can run some games (like esports) at low settings, but it won’t be enough to build a PC suitable for AAA games or high definition games.

This is fine if you want to build a PC specifically for playing older games, but you must remember that building an entry-level gaming PC will severely limit the selection of games you can play, as well as the quality of the games themselves.

For $500 to $600 to build a gaming PC, you can invest in a graphics card or a more powerful processor. This means that you will be able to play some modern AAA games, but they will have to use lower graphic settings.

So while this laptop might be the best choice for those working on a smaller budget, it’s often better to wait until you have a little more cash to play with. Then you can build a gaming PC that will provide you with much better performance.

Intermediate level

If you want to play modern games and even enjoy the world of VR games, $600-$800 budget will be your minimum. Higher 1080p graphics settings are achievable in this price range, as well as higher FPS numbers of around 144+.

You can even add multithreading to your PC’s feature list if you choose an AMD processor. This further enhances the gaming experience in some games and gives you more options to choose which games your PC can play.

High End

With a budget of $800-1000, you can build a super powerful PC capable of much more than simple games. You will be able to purchase components that will give you powerful performance when playing at maximum settings up to 1440p. With over $1,000 to build a PC, you’ll get all of the above features plus the ability to play games in 4K high-definition graphics. Heavier work tasks such as streaming and video rendering will also be handled with ease.

So, as you can see, the minimum budget you need to build your own gaming PC is $300. However, this will allow you to get an entry-level PC, so if you want to play modern games or anything with 4K performance, you will have to put a lot more money aside. This amount does not include peripherals such as monitors, mice, and keyboards, so you’ll have to account for that as well.

Should You Build a PC or Get Ready?

So, you have determined your budget and have an idea of what you can afford. You also know what your PC needs to be capable of. Now it’s worth considering whether building your own PC is the best bet, or whether buying a pre-built gaming PC will fit your budget better. Each of these options have their pros and cons, so let’s look at them in more detail below.

Self assembly

Building your own gaming PC is a satisfying experience. However, for this you will need complete dedication. You also need to know exactly what you need, where everything is going, and be quite technically savvy. Of course, this article has all the necessary information.

But assembling a gaming PC is hard work, and you’ll need a little patience and skill to complete the job. However, when building your own PC, one thing you can do is customize it the way you want. Ready-made PCs are a kind of “this is what you get”. By building your own PC, you can create something that suits your gaming style and needs.

Pros and cons of building your own gaming PC

Complete assembly

To start with, a pre-built gaming PC is by far the best option for those who are relatively technophobic or not sure they can build their own PC. The slightest mistake can cost you time and money, so if you are not 100% sure of your actions, choose a ready-made PC. Ready-made gaming PCs are also ready to go right out of the box. So while you won’t feel complacent, you’ll be able to start playing much sooner!

However, off-the-shelf gaming PCs have far less customization options, and you’ll have to take what you can get. They’re also a lot more expensive than building your own PC, and while they come with tech support and have been rigorously tested, your budget will suffer a little more.

Pros and cons of a finished PC

Tools required for PC assembly

As you can imagine, a gaming PC requires a number of components to build. While some of them are fairly obvious, there are some that you may not even have heard of before. This is especially true if you are a complete newbie to PC internals! So what do you need to build a PC? Here, we’ll cover all the components you’ll need, as well as the tools and hardware you need to properly build a gaming PC.

Tools and accessories

Setting up your workspace and having the right tools is an essential part of building a gaming PC. Organization plays a key role here. Imagine yourself as a computer surgeon who always has everything he needs at hand.

So, you will need the following tools:

Workstation
Screwdriver
Latex gloves
Anti-static wrist strap
Thermal Paste
Compressed air
Organizing buckets

Workplace

Start with a clean, crisp workspace. It doesn’t have to be a radical temperature-controlled environment or walls covered in plastic sheeting. Just a place where you can work without restrictions and interruptions.

Make sure there is enough light in the workspace so that you can clearly see complex work. Before starting assembly, it is also worth laying an antistatic mat on the workplace, as this will prevent damage to sensitive components of the computer by electrostatic discharges.

Screwdriver

Screwdriver will be your most needed tool in the assembly process. However, it’s a good idea to have several screwdrivers in your toolbox, varying in length, size, and head shape. Screwdrivers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but some of the more common ones you might need when building a gaming PC include:

Phillips screwdrivers (Phillips head)
slotted screwdrivers
Pozidriv 9 screwdrivers0010
Torx screwdrivers
Three-pronged screwdrivers

Attempting to install any components using a screwdriver that does not match the screw may result in your computer hardware not being securely fastened. It can also damage the screw head, making it much more difficult to remove the hardware than it needs to be. If you don’t have a Phillips screwdriver handy, we recommend the awesome iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit. It has more than enough to get you started on your first PC build, including the necessary cross bits and a handy anti-static strap.

Gloves

When assembling a PC, it is also necessary to protect all components from fingerprints and microscopic contamination. The best way to do this is to wear a pair of gloves. They will also give you better grip on small screws, which will reduce the risk of them falling off.

However, make sure that the gloves are antistatic. Some materials, such as latex, can generate static electricity that can damage computer components. It is best to use white cotton gloves as they do not create an electrostatic charge.

Anti-static wrist strap

In addition to the need for gloves to be antistatic, it is also helpful to wear an antistatic wrist strap during assembly. This will prevent sensitive hardware components from being damaged by electrostatic charges generated by the body.

Thermal Grease

This is a very important item when installing the processor, which, along with the selected fan, will help prevent overheating and damage to the processor. If your CPU is equipped with a cooler, it’s most likely already treated with thermal paste, in which case you don’t need to worry about adding it.

Compressed air

A can of compressed air is a great way to clean out any possible dust particles that have settled on your PC components during assembly. However, be careful not to get too close to the components as the powerful jet can damage more sensitive parts.

Organizing buckets

If you organize everything when assembling a PC, it will greatly facilitate the work. Finding the right size screws and other small parts in a huge, jumbled container will lead to untold frustration and slow down the build process considerably. Sort the various components and parts into separate buckets. Containers with lids are perfect for this as you can keep them protected when not needed. You will also reduce the risk of damage to anything that might be accidentally knocked over. The nightmare scenario of cleaning up a bucket of screws that has fallen on the floor will also be greatly reduced!

PC case

All components that you will assemble and install need somewhere to live so that they are well protected. This is where your PC case comes into play. However, this is not an easy task and it takes a bit of thought to make the best choice for your individual needs.

Let’s look at the size first. The size you choose determines the size of the components you can fit inside the case, which in turn plays a role in the performance of your gaming PC. It will also determine how many fans you can install to ensure smooth operation and prevent overheating.

You also need to think about expanding the computer case. The full tower hull will give you the ability to upgrade and add new components whenever you want. Smaller cases may need to be completely replaced as your gaming PC components evolve and change. Aesthetics is also important. Your PC case will be prominent in the room you place it in, so it’s a good idea to make sure it fits in with the rest of the interior design.

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How to properly assemble a computer from components: instructions and tips from iChip.

02/07/2020

Author: CHIP

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How to assemble a computer yourself from components: step-by-step instructions

Even a child can assemble a computer. Don’t believe? In the article we tell the basic principles of home assembly. We also share information that will help avoid problems with component compatibility.

If you are still wondering what is better, to assemble a computer yourself or buy a ready-made one, then, in our opinion, the answer is obvious. A DIY PC will not only save you a lot of money, but also bring a lot more aesthetic pleasure. Yes, it will take more time than just going to the store and buying a ready-made solution, but you will be able to choose components exclusively for your needs. In a separate article, we have already compared ready-made solutions and computers assembled by ourselves. Today we will tell you how to build a gaming computer yourself.

What do you need to assemble a computer yourself?

Each system unit may have a different number of components. But, whatever one may say, there are basic components that are present in every assembly. These are the motherboard, power supply, processor with cooler, video card, RAM, case and drive. In some cases, you can remove from this list, perhaps, a video card, which can be built into the processor. Such a decision is quite logical for an office computer, but for a gaming computer, the presence of a graphics accelerator is mandatory.

In order for all the hardware to work, it is necessary to select it in such a way that it is fully compatible with each other. Subject to this rule, your PC is guaranteed to start after assembly, because many parameters of computer hardware are strictly regulated. Therefore, you will not be able to, for example, plug DDR4 RAM into DDR3 type connectors on the motherboard. Below we will tell you more about each component, but for now let’s deal with the order of selection of components.

In general, assembly from scratch implies the following order of selection of components.

Processor
Cooling system, if a boxed version of the CPU is not planned, which comes with a cooler in the kit.
Motherboard
RAM for the motherboard.
Video card (if you are not satisfied with the built-in solution).
Power supply unit, which will pull the main components in terms of power.
A case that fits everything.
Drives.

This is not the only correct plan to follow. In most cases, some components are transferred from the old assembly to the new one, so the procedure may vary from case to case.

Computers

Choosing a computer motherboard: the best models in 2022

After you have selected all the components, you can proceed, in fact, to the assembly.

Installing the power supply

Although the power supply is chosen last in most cases (because you need to know how much all the components will consume in total, and start from this), we recommend that you start assembling the computer with its installation inside the case. Why BP should be put first? Because of all the components, it is the largest in size. If you install it at the final stage, you can accidentally damage other components. Moreover, the power supply is quite heavy, and it is easy to drop it from your hands.

The second reason is cable management. If you don’t want your wires sticking out in all directions, you need to carefully pull them under the back cover of the case. This will not only protect the rest of the hardware from unwanted contact with cables, but also give your computer a more well-groomed look, albeit from the inside.

In order to mount the PSU inside the case, you will need 4 screws, which are always included. They need to be screwed into the corresponding holes on the back of the component, where the connector for the cable is located, which feeds the unit from the network. Depending on your case, the PSU can be installed either from the top or from the bottom.

Purchase

Eat right: how to choose a power supply for your computer

When choosing a power supply, you should focus on several basic (if we are talking only about component compatibility) parameters. First, it’s the form factor. It must match the form factor of your case, otherwise the block simply won’t fit inside the case. Secondly, it is the rated power. It should exceed the peak consumption of all your iron by 20-30%. Thirdly, this is the number and type of connectors. The power supply supplies power to almost all components: processor, motherboard, video card, drives. All cables must be of the correct type. If the video card needs a 6-pin connector, then there should be one on the block. And so with all the rest of the iron.

Here, for example, is one of the most popular models on the market, which will fit into almost any assembly:

Installing the motherboard

After installing the power supply, it is desirable to equip the motherboard as much as possible and install it inside the case. By maximum equipment, we mean: installing a processor in a socket, installing a cooler on a processor, installing all the RAM sticks. And only the video card should be postponed to the end of the list. Why exactly? Now we will explain especially for those who for the first time solve the problem of assembling a PC themselves from scratch:

It’s much easier to install all the hardware on the motherboard outside the case when your hands are not constrained by space. And it’s very difficult to do all this inside the case when space is limited. And we do not recommend installing a video card immediately along with all other components due to the fact that modern GPUs are very bulky and can cover several slots at once. This raises the problem of connecting case wires that are responsible for USB connectors, audio, rebooting and turning on the computer. And they are always, like the video card, located at the bottom of the motherboard.

The installation of the motherboard itself is very simple. It is enough just to tighten the screws into the appropriate connectors. It is much more difficult to choose a motherboard. First, it must have a socket that the processor supports. Also, slots for RAM must be of the same type as the RAM itself. Be sure to check the number of slots and the maximum supported memory. In addition, the form factor of the motherboard, as in the case of the power supply, must be compatible with the case.

An example of a motherboard that has proven itself well in the market for AMD processors on socket B450:

Installing the CPU and cooling system

One of the easiest steps in the entire assembly. Each processor has a triangle in the lower left corner. The same icon is also on the socket on the motherboard. They must match so that both are in the same corner. Before installation, be sure to bend the corresponding latch at the CPU installation site. After the «stone» is installed in the socket, the latch must be returned to its original position. Thus, you will fix the component. Be extremely careful not to bend the legs of the processor.

After that, thermal paste is applied to the processor cover and the cooler is installed. If the CPU was purchased in a boxed format, then a thermal interface will already be applied on the base of the cooler radiator. You do not need to apply another one on the processor cover! As a rule, cooling, like the power supply, is fixed with 4 screws, which are located on the motherboard a little further from each corner of the processor.

Consider the socket when choosing a processor. It must be compatible with the motherboard and cooler. The cooling system, in addition to the appropriate socket, must cope with the heat generated by the processor. Also look at the dimensions of the fan: the specifications for each case indicate the recommended height of the cooling system.

One of the best models in terms of price / performance ratio:

Installing RAM

Simply plug the RAM into the appropriate slots. There are latches along the edges of the seats: they must be bent and the strips inserted. The correct installation can be judged by a characteristic click, which means that the latches have returned to their original position. You don’t even need a screwdriver to do this.

When choosing modules, pay attention to their type: this type must be supported by the motherboard. Under no circumstances will DDR4 sticks fit into slots designed for DDR3. Also take into account the fact that the brackets may not fit into their seats due to the fact that they will be interfered with by the massive radiator of the processor cooling system. This parameter is rarely specified in specifications. Therefore, before you assemble the computer yourself from the components, be sure to check with the seller for hardware compatibility.

The most popular brackets with excellent overclocking potential:

Assembling a computer manually: video card

How to assemble a gaming computer yourself? Of course, using a discrete graphics card. Installing a graphics adapter is similar to installing RAM. It must be placed in the appropriate slot, which is located at the bottom of the motherboard. There is also a latch on the connector that you need to unbend before installing the component, and which will also latch if you install the GPU all the way. But this should be done last. As we wrote above, the card can block other connectors, for example, which are responsible for connecting hard drives. Therefore, the video card should be installed as a last resort. Connect all wires first!

When choosing a graphics accelerator, you should focus solely on its performance, because all modern video cards are compatible with all modern motherboards designed for home use. Do not forget to pay attention to the dimensions of the device. In the specifications for the case, the developers indicate the maximum length of the video card.

A good solution with a margin for the next couple of years:

Drives and case

Every case has storage slots. In some HDDs, they are fixed with screws that must be screwed directly into the case. And in some there are corresponding baskets, where the hard drive is simply tightly installed. When choosing a hard drive, you should focus on the connectors that your PSU can power. Also pay attention to the number of seats in the case: each model has a different number. In theory, you can not fix your hard drive or SSD at all, but in this case it will hang out and can damage other components. And if you stack several hard drives on top of each other, then this is fraught with overheating. It is still correct to install the disks in the appropriate places.

Don’t forget to close the side cover for the last step. In an open case, airflow is disturbed, and the cooling of the components deteriorates. In a closed case, as expected, the cold air that enters from below completely blows through all the iron and exits from the top of the case in a hot state. This completes the build process and your computer is ready to go.

A couple of models that are worth your attention:

A short list of all actions:

Install the power supply and route all wires in advance.
Complete the motherboard. That is: put the processor in the socket, apply thermal paste on it (if required), install a cooling system, insert all the RAM sticks.
Install drives.
Connect all wires coming from the power supply and from the case.
Install video card.
Close the case and enjoy the result.

We hope that now you know exactly how to assemble a PC from components yourself. The main thing is to choose the right components.

Read also

Power of Stone: 2020 CPU Performance Ranking

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gaming computers

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Denis Mikhailov

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A selection of PC components for beginners / Habr

In our time it is difficult to do without a computer — this is a fact, since this device is the main source of information, entertainment, and for some, income. At the moment, the most profitable thing is to naturally build a PC yourself. Building a PC is a process that can cause a lot of problems, troubles, but at the same time, assembling a PC yourself can save you a lot of money. Components in electronics stores can be significantly more expensive. This article will consider the selection of both new components and used ones. We will consider several options in which you will remain both in plus and minus.

I would like to start with the basics! What, in fact, is needed for the performance of your future PC?

To assemble a fully functional PC, you need the following components:

The first thing to do when choosing components is to decide why you actually need a computer.

To use a computer in a browser and YouTube + work in Microsoft office — this is one assembly.

For games and entertainment, this is a completely different assembly.

Some users naively believe that by assembling an average gaming PC they will be able to work everywhere, in all tasks. For the most part, that’s how it works. But there are times when, for a specific professional area, it is necessary to assemble an assembly specifically for it.

Processor

We advise you to start with the choice of processor, as it is the most important part of your computer, which will play one of the most important roles in performance in programs, games and any computing tasks.

Now there are 2 major manufacturers of processors on the market — Intel and AMD. Intel often with the same characteristics as AMD slightly outperforms the latter in performance, but it will cost you more. Therefore, if you have a limited budget, then AMD is the best solution, but if you want maximum performance and are ready to spend money, then take Intel.

If we dive a little deeper into the processor market, then at the time of February 1, 2021 we will see something like the following picture:

From the budget stones there are: AMD Ryzen 2600 \ AMD Ryzen 1600AF — both of these processors are now the most relevant from the bottom of the market, taking something cheaper and easier means building an office, far from the most productive PC.

Both of these processors have 6 cores, each core has 2 threads. The architecture of the processors is a little old, but at the same time, having bought one of the above, you will not experience discomfort when working with a computer. And you can safely call your computer a medium gaming one if you add a decent video card and have at least 16 GB of RAM.

The assembly with the above processor will give you the ability to upgrade the assembly in the future while saving on the processor at the start.

If you are allergic to AMD, we recommend the following processor from an Intel competitor:

Due to the Coffee lake architecture, both the processor and the motherboard will cost you more.

In addition to the above three instances, I would like to shed light on a processor such as the AMD Ryzen 3100. The processor has 4 cores and 8 threads on board.

It costs not much less than the presented stones from AMD, but at the same time it has something to compete in the market of budget gaming processors. The competition works through a new processor architecture, namely “Zen2”.

This architecture gives the user access to high performance cores. These cores are of interest primarily to those who assemble a PC for games.

Since multi-core processors will be needed first of all when working in a professional field, for example, in the field of streaming or any other field in which you will see “Million” open programs.

The following processors can be distinguished from the processors of the middle price group:

AMD Ryzen 7 2700 — I would personally classify this processor as one of those that confidently open the middle among processors both in terms of cost and the filling of the processor itself. First of all, it is needed by those who are chasing multi-threaded processors. This processor has 8 cores and 16 threads.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 – A newer generation processor that already offers higher core performance due to the new architecture. There are 6 cores 12 threads on board. The processor is interesting primarily for those who play games. The price is higher than the stone dismantled above.

The abode of the middle class of processors from Intel is occupied by the following processors:

Intel Core i5 10400F — The processor has 6 cores 12 threads, in terms of performance with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, but the Intel option will cost less, so here We prefer blue!

Next, let’s move on to the most “Tasty” processors for a high price tag, or in other words, “what to buy to be top?”:

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X — The processor has 8 cores 16 threads and an improved version of its older brother Ryzen 7 2700.

Ryzen 7 3700X is the ultimate option. Suitable for any task and is the processor we recommend if you want to build a powerful computer that will not lose relevance for a long time.

Let’s also note the two top-end processors today that you could afford — this is the Intel Core i7 10700k — this processor is an interesting solution for its money, it will have 8 cores 16 threads and a new interesting architecture from Intel . The processor itself turned out to be very successful, but it also costs as much as half the average PC. Suitable for a long period of operation and will keep top performance in its segment for a long time.

Video card

Next, you will need to decide on the second very expensive product, namely the video card.

Choosing a graphics card will put you in front of a choice of the amount of memory and the manufacturer you prefer. In addition, you will need to pay attention to the size of the video card and the cooling system. Also, we would recommend clarifying the availability of a short circuit protection system.

In this question, just like in the previous paragraph, it is worth deciding why you need a video card, if for games or video editing, then you need a powerful video card, but if for study or office work, then you can get by with the graphics card built into the processor chip or the so-called «plug». About everything in order.

The graphics card market is divided between two manufacturers.

The first manufacturer is AMD — they make video cards that are usually cheaper than competitors, give more interesting performance for their money, but again, not in all cases. AMD’s price tags are somewhat more democratic than those of its competitor.

The second manufacturer is Nvidia — they, in turn, release extremely interesting innovative solutions in their models, and it has historically developed that there is more trust in Nvidia than in AMD. Video cards, as a rule, at the start of sales cost space money and at the same time they manage to actively hold positions in prices until the release of a new generation, after which the previous generation sags and becomes more affordable.

Next, let’s pay attention to one of the main characteristics of a video card — this is video memory.

The amount of video memory is such a resource that there is not much, take as much as you have enough money for.

Regarding the size and number of fans in the cooling system, we recommend taking at least two for gaming and medium builds. Video cards with a passive or one fan for cooling can be taken for office workers who will not open anything heavier than YouTube videos.

Next, pay attention to the architecture and the presence of any technologies, for example, Nvidia in assemblies is more expensive than average to consider video cards with “RTX” technology — this technology allows the user to look at the gaming space from a more interesting side, since the graphics begin look much more attractive and interesting.

Having dealt with the selection characteristics, let’s smoothly move on to the market:

From cheap, but still relevant, we recommend looking for models such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 gigabytes of video memory.

From a competitor, there is a very decent AMD Radeon RX 580 video card with 8 gigabytes of video memory.

In comparison, the above-mentioned cards will be mostly equal, somewhere Nvidia will perform better, somewhere AMD — it will depend on optimization for a particular manufacturer.

Next, the niche of video cards is confidently held by a video card from Nvidia.

Further, after a certain price interval, we will see video cards from Nvidia of the sixteenth series (1660,1660ti, 1660 Super) these video cards are “castrated” video cards of the twentieth family (2060, 2070, 2080) due to the removal of RTX technology, thus they become far from the most interesting, the 1070Ti remains more interesting.

But the twentieth generation is already becoming more interesting, but there’s not much to choose from, you just need to know that video cards with the “Super” index will be an order of magnitude more productive than similar ones without this index, as for prices, take the one at what money is enough! We would recommend to bypass the GeForce GTX 2060.

For those who are willing to spend a lot and a lot, you have the latest 30th generation of video cards (3060,3060Ti,3070,3080). There is nothing special to talk about for ordinary users, and this article is focused specifically on ordinary users, just note that performance has increased on average twice.

In order for you not to spend extra money on a video card and assemble the most balanced assembly, you need to refer to the tests and view the results of the components in benchmarks (system stress test). Benchmark data can be found on the official websites of video card and processor manufacturers, as well as on YouTube and other platforms.

Motherboard

Next, consider the choice of motherboard.

It’s a bit simpler — choose a motherboard according to your processor socket and case size. You should pay attention to whether the processor works with the motherboard chipset, for example, with the AMD B450 chipset, Amd 5000 series processors and higher will no longer work! Be careful when choosing a motherboard.
Choosing between chipsets B and X, for example, should be done only if it is necessary for the user to use overclocking of components. In addition, as an option, you can also pay attention to the presence of radiators on the motherboard and RGB backlighting.

RAM

After selecting all the components above, you will have to choose the RAM.

We select RAM based on what type of memory your motherboard supports. At the moment, most motherboards support DDR4 memory.

Further, we recommend that you install the RAM in dual-channel mode, that is, two RAM sticks installed across the motherboard. For example, having installed a plate in the first slot, the second will need to be installed in the third slot, thus dual-channel mode will be activated.

The minimum amount of RAM we recommend is 16 gigabytes, but more is better!

Next, we pay attention to the memory frequency, here, in principle, the same principle: More is better!

In conclusion, we draw attention to the presence of radiators on the dies, in some cases there is an interesting system of liquid cooling on the dies, such a system is accompanied by RGB lighting. In addition, RGB lighting can also be found on RAM without complex cooling systems.

Of the manufacturers we would like to mention the following:

Kingston

Crucial

9 0 0 XPG

Corsair

G.Skill

HyperX

Here, too, everything is simpler — there are online calculators for the energy consumption of your system, choose according to these data, we advise you to take it with a margin. In addition, there are 80 PLUS certification types: Bronze, Gold, Platinum, Titanium. Accordingly, the closer we move towards Titanium, the more the manufacturer claims about the reliability of the power supply.

In most cases, a 700W power supply will suffice for your eyes.

For manufacturers, we recommend paying attention to Chieftec, Zalman, Thermaltake, Cougar and avoiding the Aerocool brand. We don’t have any bias towards the brand, it’s just that their percentage of defects is higher than that of competitors, it has been tested in practice.

It makes no sense to talk about the cooling system for a long time, it is installed on the processor using thermal paste. It is better to choose the so-called tower coolers installed vertically, or if you take processors from AMD, the cooler that comes with the processor is quite suitable. It’s best to avoid water-cooled systems for the time being, as reliability and rejection rates are questionable. Repeatedly there were cases when the water cooling system flooded the system and an extremely unpleasant situation occurred, as a result of which the system failed. Or if you are still interested in the water cooling system of the processor, it is better to take a more expensive system, since it is more likely that it will last longer.

From the manufacturers I can distinguish the following:

Deepcool,

Thermaltake, 900 03

Quiet Beet!

SSD vs HDD

When choosing drives, you should pay attention to what you have to choose between HDD — hard drives and SSD solid state drives.

We recommend installing both drives, but if this option is not available, it is better to give preference to SSD. Since the system will work and start up much faster than when using an HDD drive.

In terms of memory, you should take at least 500 gigabytes.

We distinguish the following manufacturers: WD, Adata, Samsung, Kingston, Seagate.

When choosing between drives, you should pay attention to the speed of reading and writing. More detailed tests of each drive can be found on the Internet in thematic articles.

When choosing a case, you should decide which size is most relevant for your computer location. Case form factors are as follows: ATX (Midi Tower), Mini-ATX (Mini tower), Micro-ATX (Micro Tower), XL-ATX (Full tower).

Cases differ only in size. Again, we strongly recommend that you pay attention to the form factor of the motherboard before choosing a case.

In addition, you should pay attention to the presence of additional fans to cool the system. You can also see the glass “door” of the RGB backlight, all these small details require the user’s attention, because now the PC can already be not only a system, but also a wonderful addition to your interior!

Finally, let’s look at the purchase of accessories. You can buy components both in the store and from the hands on the used market. Next, we will analyze the purchase of components from different sources and note the positive and negative aspects of buying new and used components.

Buying in a store, you get a guarantee for the goods, advice from store employees, in some places you even get a PC assembly after purchasing components.

Pros and cons of buying accessories in a store

Pros:

You are using a new product,

Product warranty,

Large assortment,

Alternative parts available.

Cons:

The price is mostly too high,

You can be deceived by consultants in order to sell stale goods,

There may be problems with returns.

On the other hand, we have Avito and other sites where used components are put up for sale. What can we get by buying on Avito? We receive a component that has been tested by time and will most likely continue to work properly. In addition, the price tags will not be as biting as in the store.

Pros and cons of buying used parts

Pros:

Price is lower than in the store,

Greater variability due to the sale of older models,

gaining experience in the selection of components,

The ability to bargain with the seller,

disadvantages:

No work guarantee,

Determining components,

high probability,

There is a risk of running into remanufactured components.

In conclusion, we would like to say that the choice of where to build a PC is your decision, we only covered the current market today, namely the first of February 2021.