They come in different shapes and sizes, so you can choose one that fits your needs. The case is where all the essential components, like the GPU, CPU, RAM, storage, motherboard, and power supply go. Selecting the right power supply is crucial when building a gaming PC. We need a reliable and powerful source of energy to ensure optimal performance and longevity for our hardware components. To build a gaming PC, you’ll need essential components like a powerful GPU, high-performance CPU, ample RAM, sufficient storage space, reliable motherboard, dependable power supply, and a sturdy case. Remove the CPU from its packaging, do not touch the gold pins on the bottom.

When you determine everything that goes into your PC from the power supply up, you know that you'll be able to play the games you want at the frame rates you want. In addition, a home-built PC keeps the door open for upgrades—as technology changes, as your gaming tastes and needs change, or as your budget allows. You’ll need to carefully select and prepare your core components, making sure they’re all compatible with each other. Think of it like assembling the perfect team – each part plays a vital role in your gaming machine’s success!

Connecting power supply and cables

While it's not a mega-multitasker, as it only has eight Zen 5 cores capable of running up to 16 threads—it will absolutely blitz through any gaming task you ask of it. Pure Power 12 M 750W here, as it's a great modular platform from a trusted manufacturer. You definitely don't want to pinch too many pennies when it comes to your power supply—that can have dire consequences. It delivers great 1080p and 1440p performance for the cash, making it a mid-range-equivalent GPU for something approaching budget prices. Should you be able to find an RTX 5070 or RX 9070 for something approaching MSRP then they're the ones I'd pick, but the little RTX 5060 Ti still has plenty to recommend it for. Marshall Honorof was a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software.

I was working with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070, for example, which works best in a motherboard's primary PCIe slot and takes a single 8-pin power cable. As a reminder, to build a gaming PC, you'll need (at minimum) a motherboard, a CPU, a GPU, some RAM, a storage device, a power supply and a case. As we predicted in our original article, we had to modify a few of our proposed parts based on what vendors had in stock. The processor might be the single most important component you choose for your build. Memory and storage fuel the processor which controls every data transaction within the PC.

We find many kinds to pick from, so it’s best to keep a few things in mind. The only trouble I ran into here was that I got a wire stuck in a tight space between the PSU and the case — after I'd already screwed in the PSU. Just make sure that all your wires are free and clear before you apply your game review screwdriver.

But if all the talk about CPUs, GPUs, and frame rates feels overwhelming, don’t worry. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start strong — no tech degree required. Buckle up — you’re about to enter a whole new world of power, performance, and, yes, a bit of bragging rights.

We hope our guidelines were helpful enough to assist you in putting together the right PC build with the best hardware for your favorite games. Installing the GPU is much like installing the RAM slot, but first, you may have to remove some brackets. Based on the size of your GPU, the brackets can vary anywhere from two to four slots.

Step 6: Install the SSD

In some instances, installing storage devices into your case requires mounting them to a bracket with screws and, at other times, the process is toolless. But, really, you’d be much better off installing those components before you mount the motherboard to your case. You can do so by placing the motherboard on top of the box that the motherboard came in and then installing the components listed above. All that is wrapped up in the Havn HS 420 VGPU case, a fantastic looking modular case wrapped in oodles of sparkly glass.

The Advantages of Building Your Own Gaming PC

Plug the power cable into your PSU and the other end into an outlet; then, flip the power switch on the back of your PC to its "On" position. Press the power button on your PC, and if it turns on, you're almost good to go. Once the pump is installed, you'll want to make sure all of your cooling system's wires are plugged into the right spots.

If you’re using PCPartPicker, it will recommend a wattage based on your selected parts. If your wattage is too low, the system will shut off randomly or not start at all. At the other end, the PSU won’t be as efficient if the wattage is too high, which is what the gold and silver ratings refer to.

Just make sure you don't over-tighten your zip ties as doing so could damage your cables. Whether you're building a high-end performance machine or a budget-friendly PC, we've got you covered. The system is built, it’s updated, and you’ve tested it to make sure everything is running okay. So, it’s always a good idea to go right to the manufacturer’s website and get the latest drivers. Along with updating Windows, you’ll also want to update your GPU’s drivers and your motherboard’s drivers. Ultimately, it’s better to confirm if there’s a major problem with your CPU now, rather than going through the long process of updating Windows and drivers and then finding out your CPU is running too hot.

Once you've located the slot you want to use, you may also have to remove a heatsink / cover to actually get to the M.2 slot and install your drive. This usually involves removing one or two small screws(or possibly just pressing a lever on some high-end boards), taking the heatsink off, and then your M.2 slot will be ready to receive your SSD. You may need to install a large backplate that has to be mounted behind the motherboard, which you should do before installing it in your case. Many cases have cut-out sections behind the motherboard area to allow for adding a CPU mounting plate after the motherboard is installed. And holding a metal plate in place behind the motherboard while you add mounting hardware inside the case requires a lot of dexterity and patience. You don’t need to apply much thermal paste – a pea-sized amount (about 3 mm) applied to the center of the CPU is recommended for AMD's most recent chips.