How To Build Your Own PC
Home computers are a lot more affordable than they used to be. You can still save yourself a considerable amount though by building your own PC from scratch, rather than opting for an off-the-shelf system.
Money-saving is just one potential benefit of building your own PC – you’ll also get the satisfaction of having done it all yourself. You’ll learn a lot more about how your PC works along the way too, which can be a big help when it comes to troubleshooting problems further down the line.
One of the most important benefits of the homemade approach is that you can better customise the PC to match your own needs. If you want to run the latest PC games for example, you can beef up the RAM, CPU and, most importantly, the graphics card. If you simply need a PC for work and browsing the Web, on-board graphics may suffice, leaving you more money to spend on a larger hard drive or a widescreen display.
If you’ve never opened up a PC case before then the thought of building a PC from scratch can be intimidating. It’s really a lot simpler than you might think though, and with the help of this guide we’ll turn you into a seasoned system builder in next to no time.
We’ve got all the information you need on selecting the right hardware, choosing compatible components, and installing them in your PC. We’ve even got tips on how to keep the costs to a minimum, helping your budget stretch as far as possible.
This 34-page Guidaroo guide is available for instant download for just £5.99.
(Roughly* €7, or US$9, or Can$10, or Aus$10)
PDF format, filesize: 58,003KB. How does this work?
Inside...
Getting started
- The basics: Learn about some of the best online resources for would-be system builders.
- Choosing components: Select the right hardware for your needs and ensure it’s all compatible.
- The case and PSU: Select the right case for your PC and fit the all-important power supply.
- The motherboard: Install your system’s motherboard – the foundation of your PC.
Key components
- CPU and RAM: Learn about the processor and RAM and safely install these in your new PC.
- Graphics card: Learn all about the dedicated device driving your system’s display.
- Hard drives: Make sense of hard drives and partitions, and install your PC’s storage.
- Optical drives: Find your way through the maze of CD drives, DVD writers and Blu-ray Discs.
Additional upgrades
- Display: Select the right screen for your new PC and set up a dual display.
- Peripherals: With your new PC built, it’s time to think about your additional hardware.
- Software: Get up and running by transferring data across from your old system.
Sample pages
