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Posts Categorized: How To: Build a Gaming PC

The Parts to Build a Computer – Building a Gaming PC Guide 2012

Posted by & filed under How To: Build a Gaming PC.

Building a Gaming PC Guide 2012
building-a-pc-guide-2012

Click to download the PDF - Building a Gaming PC Guide 2012.pdf

A guide to building a gaming PC for the year of 2012: Compiled and revised from the “Choosing Hardware” section here at Newb Computer Build. This guide will familiarize you with the basic descriptions of what each piece of hardware does, how to make sure each piece of hardware is compatible with one another and give you suggestions on how & where to purchase this hardware.

Contents: (links jump to relative parts in article)

Why Build Your Own Gaming PC?


Hardware you will need to build a gaming pc

If you are an avid Gamer or just a plain hardware enthusiast then there is nothing like building your own PC! Honestly there are so many reasons why you should build your own PC:

  1. Building your own PC is cheaper: You get much more for your money when building your own PC. You can build more powerful gaming computer at a much smaller price tag!
  2. Personalize and Customize: Building your own PC makes it more unique and yours. Gamers more than anyone know the appeal of being able to customize and by building your own PC you get to choose everything you put in it exactly the way you want it. Anything from the type of processor to the look of your snazzy computer case, you can make the PC that suits you.
  3. The satisfaction: Nothing makes you appreciate the machine you game on, watch movies on, listen to music on and do pretty much whatever else you do on than building it yourself. Building your own PC will enable you to learn more about the hardware you use giving you a greater understanding of each individual part. This does in turn give you so much more satisfaction than going to your nearest hardware retailer and buying a pre-built PC.
  4. It is FUN: Building your own gaming PC will take a little research for all the specific hardware you need and to do this you may have to visit hardware forums, read hardware reviews and ask others for advice. It may seem like a lot of work but you will have fun connecting with new people, learning new information, getting your geek on and most of all having a great understanding and appreciation for your gaming PC. After all, your money is hard earned!
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How to: Choose Memory (RAM) for Your Gaming PC Build

Posted by & filed under How To: Build a Gaming PC, Newb Computer Build Articles, Resources.

Banner for how to choose memory (ram) for your gaming pc build

Banner for how to choose memory (ram) for your gaming pc build
This article is part of Newb Computer Build’s “How to: Build a Gaming PC” guides to choosing your PC hardware for your Gaming PC builds. The type, the capable amount, and the speed of the Memory you put in your PC will all depend on what your motherboard supports. Generally in a Gaming PC Build you will end up having and needing more memory than a standard PC build. This is because computer memory is in huge demand for large software programs like games!

In this article I am going to give a quick overview of what Memory in a desktop computer is, followed by some terms you should be familiar with when searching for desktop Memory, and then conclude with a few steps to follow when purchasing Memory for your your gaming PC build.

What is “Memory or RAM”

An example view of some RAM / memory seated in a motherboardIn a desktop PC memory aka. RAM – Random Access Memory is the space where the Processor temporarily stores data and programs so that it can be accessed as quickly as possible for continual use. In layman’s terms RAM is usually described as a tool bench where you store your most used tools so that you do not have to keep searching for them when they need to be used. The speed of your RAM will ultimately determine how fast the data on your RAM can be transferred to and from the Processor resulting in more data being transferred in less time.

The system memory modules are stored on a stick called a DIMM (Dual inline memory module) which is the circuit board that can fit into your motherboard. There are also many different sub categories or types of RAM however since we are wanting to build a Gaming PC (and most general desktop PCs) we are concerned with DRAM aka. Dynamic RAM – which means the RAM is continually refreshed 1000s of times a second or else it loses its data.

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How to: Choose a Power Supply Unit (PSU) for Your Gaming PC Build

Posted by & filed under How To: Build a Gaming PC, Newb Computer Build Articles, Resources.

How to choose a power supply for your gaming pc: Part of Newb Computer Builds How to Series
How to choose a power supply for your gaming pc: Part of Newb Computer Builds How to Series

This article is part of Newb Computer Build’s “How to: Build a Gaming PC” guides to choosing your PC hardware for your Gaming PC builds. The power supply unit is very important as without it nothing in your PC would run; it gives your PC the power it needs to turn on and function. When purchasing a power supply for the first time you may feel confused by what brand of power supply to buy, the wattage you need for your particular array of PC hardware, and a few other power supply dependent terms.

In this article I will start off by describing what exactly a power supply unit is, followed by some power supply unit dependent terms, and then conclude with a few steps you should follow when choosing the right powers supply unit for you.

What is a “Power Supply Unit”

An example of a power supply unit and how to choose for your gaming PCThe main purpose of the power supply unit aka. ‘PSU’ is to power your PC, and it serves this purpose by converting regular alternating current (AC) power into direct current (DC) power to be used by the internal hardware parts of your PC. PSU’s are generally rated by their maximum power output in Watts. A general purpose computer would use less power and would only need a PSU with a power outage of around 300W to 500W, however here we are concerned with gaming PCs, which you will most likely need a PSU with a power outage of anywhere from 450W to 1400W depending on all of the hardware you have.

This is a preview of How to: Choose a Power Supply Unit (PSU) for Your Gaming PC Build. Read the full post (1754 words, 6 images, estimated 7:01 mins reading time)

How to: Choose a Hard Drive for Your Gaming PC Build

Posted by & filed under How To: Build a Gaming PC, Newb Computer Build Articles, Resources.

The hose to choose a hard drive for your gaming PC build: Newb Computer Build
The hose to choose a hard drive for your gaming PC build: Newb Computer Build

This article is part of Newb Computer Build’s “How to: Build a Gaming PC” guides to choosing your PC hardware for your Gaming PC builds. Here, you will find out how to choose a hard drive for your Gaming PC Build. Choosing a hard drive is one of the less complicated pieces of hardware to choose when building your own gaming pc, but there are a few terms you should be aware of, as well as a few factors you may want to keep in mind when purchasing a new hard drive.

In this article I will start off by describing what exactly a Hard Drive is, followed by the terms you should be familiar with when browsing for a new hard drive, and concluding with a few steps you should follow while looking for a new hard drive.

What is a “Hard Drive”

A look at how to choose a hard drive for your gaming PCThe Hard Drive acts as a storage device for your computer that can read and write data. So basically a hard drive stores all of your files, games, programs etc. Hard Drives can be found in any number of devices such as mobile phones, and laptops, however here we are interested in choosing a hard drive for our gaming pc. You can purchase hard drives in a number of different sizes, and which size you purchase will be totally up to you depending on how much you will be storing on your gaming pc (how many games, videos, music, pictures and files in general). As well there are different types of hard drives, hard drive speeds, and hard drive interfaces that you will also want to keep in mind. So lets take a look at some terms you should be familiar with.

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How to: Choose a Graphics Card for Your Gaming PC Build

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Learn how to choose a graphics card for you gaming pc build through Newb Computer Build's How to: Build a PC
Learn how to choose a graphics card for you gaming pc build through Newb Computer Build's How to: Build a PC

This article is part of Newb Computer Build’s “How to: Build a Gaming PC” guides to choosing your PC hardware for your Gaming PC builds. When building a Gaming PC the graphics card is the most important part to ensure you can run the games you play on the highest possible graphics settings possible. From my experience the graphics card can seem like to most confusing piece of computer hardware to purchase since there are so many different brands, names, and numbers on top of the actually graphics cards specifications. And this is all on top of actually deciding which card is best for you and what PC games you play, at what graphics quality, and for what price.

In this article I will start off with what a graphics card actually is, then follow that with the terms of a graphics card you should be familiar with, and then conclude with a few steps you should take when shopping for one.

What is a “Graphics Card”

A Graphics Card example for how to choose a graphics card. Part of Newb Computer Build's How to: Build a gaming PCA graphics card aka. “video card” is used to actually put graphics onto your screen and usually come with a number of different functions. There are allot of processors and motherboards that may have integrated graphics in them, however this often is not enough to support more demanding graphics programs like PC games. As well, allot of the time an integrated graphics chip will have limited ‘embedded memory’ and will instead start using the available RAM. This is why (especially for a gaming PC) having a dedciated graphics card helps since it will have its own processor and memory dedicated to only graphics processing. Often graphics cards will have a couple of options for video output such as a VGA connector,  S-video, component video, display port, digital visual interface (DVI) etc.  and will generally connect to your motherboard via a port like PCIe. Before you purchase a graphics card always check whether it has the connections you have and need on both the monitor you will be using and the motherboard you have or are getting.

This is a preview of How to: Choose a Graphics Card for Your Gaming PC Build. Read the full post (1501 words, 4 images, estimated 6:00 mins reading time)