Looking to broaden your knowledge on PC building? This short article shares a series of tips provided to us by computer experts. Please note, we will not be covering part selection within this post – Head over to this page for more information on PC components and specifications. Now that’s out the way, let’s get started with our tips for beginning your PC building adventure.
Compare The Price Of Parts Against A Prebuild Alternative
Once you have your heart set on certain specifications, it’s often difficult to even consider other computers. Take the parts from your build and search the web for computers that offer the same motherboard, processor e.t.c. Sometimes you will be surprised at the price of a prebuilt computer and occasionally, it will be worth the extra £50-£100 in order to have it built by a professional.
Watch As Many Tutorials As You Can
If I learnt one thing from building my own computer, it’s to never rely on a single tutorial. Most beginners utilize Youtube for such videos and while this is usually a safe choice, these videos are posted by random people, with a real lack of quality control (Youtube usually won’t take down a video purely because it contains incorrect information). Browse the internet and consume as much knowledge as you can, while also paying close attention to the like/dislike ratio and the comments on the videos you decide to watch.
Remove Static Electricity
Regardless of whether you’re surrounding by electronics, or simply have carpet flooring, your body will gather static electricity from your surroundings which can end up frying your selected components. There are a few ways you can remove all of this extra static, some being a bit more extreme than others:
- Touch something metallic before touching the parts.
- Pick up an anti-static wristband from a reputable provider.
- Stand on a solid surface (Not carpet).
- Avoid wearing a fleece, wolly socks or similar types of clothing (Sounds silly – but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!)
Understand The Importance Of Each Step
When it comes to building your PC, EVERYTHING matters. If one part is not installed correctly, it will have an impact on the computer as a whole. Pay close attention throughout each step and don’t cut corners. Not sure how to tackle a certain obstacle? Take a step back, research and reach out to experts – most are more than willing to lend a hand if asked nicely.
Use A Specialist Mat And Stay Organized
If you can afford to spend a bit extra, or you plan on building multiple PCs, a specialist mat is definitely an investment to consider. We would also recommend using a plastic pot to keep all of the screws and other small parts to ensure you are not missing any when re-assembling the case.
Be Gentle At First
When it comes to connecting various parts of the PC, it’s usually fairly straight forward (Obviously this depends on what you have purchased and where it came from). It’s almost like a jigsaw puzzle, where the piece you hold will often only fit in one place. Start by gently pressing each part into position, before applying a tiny bit more force when you are certain that it’s been fixed correctly.
