With Valve's Steam Deck continuing its successful run on the market, the PC gaming platform has become gradually more accessible, but there's still plenty of reason for prospective players to build a desktop setup. Building a desktop gaming PC can be an exciting experience, and the platform opens up new avenues for gaming in of performance and accessibility.
Even so, it can be an overwhelming (and expensive) prospect for first-timers. There are several tips worth keeping in mind, from planning out the build to the actual setup process, that will help the PC building experience be fun and rewarding.
Have A Clear, Organized Area For Building
Logistically speaking, ensuring there's an ample and designated area where the actual PC building will take place is important for more than one reason. It might partly depend on how big of a PC that players will be working with will be, but it's necessary to make sure the area is clear and has enough room to keep all the components organized and easily accessible.
In addition to preventing any parts from getting broken, this will also be crucial to keep from losing any of those smaller -- but necessary -- pieces. Consider a high and spacious table to have everything comfortably laid out, and use bowls to temporarily store and separate screws.
Build A PC According To Preferred Games
After settling on the decision to venture into PC gaming, one of the most important things to figure out next is what kind of setup to consider. Specifically, basing the prospective PC around the player's preferred type of games.
Whether gamers enjoy immersive, sweeping single-player RPGs or high-octane competitive shooters, keeping in mind what the average minimum requirements are for said games will be vital in the planning process. Creating s on websites like Game-Debate to check the specs of their favorite games can help gauge what kind of PC players will be aiming for.
Use Websites Like PartPicker
Compatibility is another highly important aspect of the planning portion of building a PC. This is an expensive facet of an already expensive overall hobby, so players will save themselves time and headaches by ensuring all the components they're after are compatible with each other. For instance, the motherboard will be a major deciding factor in what line of processors (Us) and graphics cards (GPUs) players will be able to use on it.
Frankly, the same can be said the other way around, depending on what components prospective s are thinking about buying first. PartPicker is a great online resource for experimenting with components to ensure they work with each other -- and are within the individual's budget.
Look Into Buying PC Component Bundles
Something that could help simplify the issues of price and compatibility is looking into bundles. Depending on the parts players are looking to buy, buying a bundle can take out a chunk of the guesswork in figuring out what parts are compatible with each other, as well as possibly saving some money if they were bought separately.
Of course, buyers will still need to know if the bundled components will work with any other parts that need to be bought and aren't included in the bundle itself. Likewise, it's important to know that the seller of choice is a reliable one.
Don't Low-Ball Too Much On RAM, Storage & Monitors
Players certainly shouldn't blindly buy the most expensive components they can out of the mere assumption that it's what they need. However, it's important not to get too cheap with some of the PC's seemingly less important components. Having enough RAM space is important and cost-effective options are available, but going too low could lead to performance problems down the line.
Likewise, especially with how demanding and large games are getting in file size, having a spacious and high-performing SSD will significantly shorten , install, boot-up, and load times for games. And for monitors, whether it's for high performance; graphical fidelity; or a balance of the two, players should buy something that justifies the power of the GPU under the hood.
Keep PC Component Boxes
Though it might be bad practice for those already hoarding a lot of device boxes, it can be good practice to keep those PC component boxes on hand. For one, should prospective builders receive a defective part(s), this will save them a lot of extra trouble in the return process.
But PC gaming is also an investment that could help cut down on the cost of upgrades down the road. Therefore, keeping component boxes stored safely will also make it easier if players want to sell their older components for newer ones when they deem that it's time for an upgrade.
Have A USB Drive With An OS Installer Ready
In general, no one is going to adequately use a PC without a fully-licensed operating system installed on it. So, even though this step doesn't come until the PC is just about ready for use, having an external device loaded up with the individual's operating system installer of choice beforehand will help speed things along.
For those that want the most -friendly experience and minimal headaches, loading up a USB drive with the Windows 11 installer is ideal, while for those that relish the complex customization capabilities of Linux, that's another viable option.
Cable Management
While getting sleek RGB accessories is great for stylish PC builds, practicing good cable management will go a long way in more ways than one. For the building part of this experience, players will eventually be dealing with a myriad of different cables.
Making sure each cable is neatly installed from the start will help ensure that things don't get too cluttered and tough to see when working in the PC case. And when it comes to aesthetics, it will also make sure the final product looks clean on a desk. Untangling cables beforehand and perhaps using zip ties to keep things straightened out and together are also worthwhile tips to keep in mind for this.
Find A Friend To Help If Possible
With some experience, building a PC can be a relatively straightforward and fun process. Many PC gamers online have likened it to a more complex and aged-up version of building LEGO sets, but it's also easy to see how complicated it is on the surface for someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of putting together components successfully.
That's why, if possible, it's more than reasonable to find a friend who has experience building PCs to lend a hand. Whether it's recommending the parts to get the most out of PC gaming or building the computer itself, it will help lower the odds of running into a problem as well as make it a fun group activity.