A Beginners Guide to Building a Custom PC
Building your own PC may seem like a scary thing to do, but it’s actually easier then you think and a great way to learn about computers and how everything fits and works together.
In this guide we will run through everything involved in building your own PC, and why everyone should try it, at least once.
Building your own PC can save you money and you get to customise the computer exactly to your needs.
Building a PC can give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as you see your creation come to life.
Building a custom computer can also be cheaper then buying a pre-made computer from a computer store or large PC manufacturer.
This guide will breakdown all the various parts you will need to build a custom PC.
Costs
Custom PCs can in three main price points.
- Low end PCs can start at $500-$1000
- Mid range PCs can start a $1,000-$2,500
- High-end PCs can start at $2,500 to $5,000
The main difference between your budgets will usually come down to the graphics cards, and if you want to use your computer for high-end gaming.
How Long Does it Take to Build a PC?
Building a custom PC can take around 4-6 hours, if you are a beginner. If you are more experienced you can build a PC within 1-2 hours.
Since there are few intricate parts, such as installing a CPU and CPU cooler, it’s best to take our time and not rush the process, especially if it’s your first time building a PC.
What Hardware Will You Require?
Whether you are building a PC for home office use or high-end gaming, the parts you need will generally be the same.
Although gaming PCs may require additional peripherals, such as a graphics keyboard, high-performance mouse, or an advanced IR tracker for enhanced head and motion tracking.
Almost every computer needs the following.
- Case
- Motherboard
- CPU
- Graphics Card (GPU)
- Storage (Hard drive) SSD
- Memory (RAM)
- Power Supply (PSU)
- Operating System
- Build it
Choosing a Case
Your first step will be in deciding what type of PC case you would like. It is important to think about how many parts you will have, the size of your graphics card and to make sure everything will fit into your case with some extra room for future upgrades.
Cases come in five different options:
- Small form factor
- Mini tower
- Micro tower
- Mid Tower
- Full Tower
It’s important you measure the dimensions of your motherboard and graphics card, and make sure they will fit perfectly into your desired case.
Motherboard
Every component of your computer will communicate via your motherboard. Companies tend to make motherboards for both AMD CPUs and Intel CPUs. It’s important you understand what brand CPU you will be purchasing as your motherboard has to match the Brand and CPU type.
Your motherboard will establish what type of processor it can handle, the amount of memory it can handle, and how many hard drives it can handle.
Just remember not all motherboards are compatible with all computer hardware, so it’s important to do your research here.
CPU (Processor)
The central processing unit (CPU) is the actually brain of your computer and is responsible for makin the PC work and complete tasks.
The speed of your CPU will determine how fast your computer runs, and CPU speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the GHz the faster the CPU. Most speeds stat at 3.6 Ghz and go up from there.
You will also need a Heatsink and Fan cooling unit to cool your CPU. Most CPU’s may come with a basic heatsink and Fan, or you can purchase a slightly larger cooling fan.
Graphics Card (GPU)
If you plan on gaming you will need a high-end gaming graphics card. The better the graphics card the better your games will look, as you be able to run everything on the maximum settings.
If you plan on doing basic office use and internet, we don’t recommend spending much money on a graphics card, as most CPU’s have built in graphics which are perfectly adequate for internet and word processing.
Storage (Hard Drive) SSD
Every computer will require a hard drive. We always recommend installing a SSD hard drive (solid state hard drive). This is a chip-based hard drive that has no moving parts and does not wear out over time.
The advantages of using a SSD include super-fast boot up times, and programs loading instantly.
We generally recommend a 1TB SSD M.2 hard drive.
Memory/RAM
Ram memory is used, when you open programs such as games – They are loaded off your hard drive into your Ram/memory.
If you plan to use your custom PC just for office use, 16gig Ram is perfectly fine. If you plan on playing games, the more RAM the better – 32gig or more RAM is recommended.
Power Supply (PSU)
A power supplies role is simply to power all your PC’s components and leave some juice in the tank if they need more power.
Power Supplies have a wattage rating, such as 500 watt, 750 watt, 1,000 watt. The power supply you need will be determined by your CPU, motherboard and graphics card.
When it doubt, get a slightly more powerful power supply then what you need.
Operating System (OS)
Currently there is only one choice of operating system for a custom PC, that is Windows 11 home or Windows 11 Pro.
We generally recommend windows 11 home for most users, as Windows 11 pro has some more specialised functions that are targeted at business users.
Build Your PC
After you have purchased all your PC components, it’s best to watch a few youtube video tutorials that physically show you how all the parts are mounted, prepared and installed together.
Building a PC is very similar to riding a bike, it’s best to watch somebody do it and explain the process, and try it as your get comfortable with the process.
If you would like assistance building a custom PC, speak with your local Jim’s IT computer technician on 131 546
Book Your Custom PC Build Today
We install, setup, configure and build custom office and gaming PCs. We can troubleshoot existing custom PCs and help you upgrade your computer to make it fast again. Call us today on 131 546 or fill out the form on this page and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
Paul Zdzitowiecki is an IT specialist and contributor at Jim’s IT, with extensive experience in computer repairs, managed IT services, and business technology solutions across Australia. Paul regularly writes about computer repairs, Wifi and internet optimisation, cybersecurity, and business IT support, delivering practical, easy-to-understand advice that helps readers solve real-world tech problems.