Technology

The Things You Need To Build Your Own Computer

Building your own computer can be very rewarding and will help you learn more about this piece of equipment that most people take for granted.  When you build your own computer, you will also be able to upgrade it, which keeps you on the cutting edge. However, before you jump into building a computer, you need to know about all of the things that you need from tools to components.

The Right Tools

Before you start looking at components, you need to ensure that you have the right tools for the job.  Building a computer requires a number of different tools from Philips head screwdrivers to tweezers. Fortunately, you can buy computer building kits which have all of the tools that you need.

When you are looking at these kits, it is recommended that you get a 36-piece kit.  This will include all of the tools that you need for a basic computer build. You also need to ensure that all of the tools are demagnetized to ensure that your hard drive is not accidentally damaged when you build the computer.

The CPU

Once you have your tools, you can look at the components for the computer.  The first component is the CPU or processor. The CPU is the brain of your computer and will perform all of the tasks that you tell it to.  The better the processor you choose, the faster the tasks will be completed and the more tasks your computer can take on.

When looking at the power of the processor, it is important to note that most people will not actually use the full speed of a high-performance CPU.  However, if you are going to be completing intensive tasks such as using 3D modeling, video editing, and coding, you might want a higher end CPU. If you are not going to be doing any of these tasks, a cheaper and less powerful CPU will be fine.  If you think that you might complete these tasks in the future, you should still look at a less powerful CPU because you can upgrade this at a later stage.

The Motherboard

The motherboard or mainboard is the foundation of the computer and will connect all of the components together.  The motherboard will have all of the core components that you need to run a computer from USB ports to expansion slots for sound and internet.  There are a number of different sizes that can choose from when you look at these boards.

The size of the motherboard that you use will be determined in part by the size of the computer case you are getting.  When looking at size, you also need to consider the number of expansion components you will have and the ultimate performance you want.  All newer motherboards will have USB and network ports as well as inboard sound and video.

The Computer Case

A computer case is essential as it holds all of you components together and keeps everything in a neat box.  The features of the computer case will be less about the performance of the computer and more about where the computer will be located.  The case also needs to be chosen based on the dust protection it offers and the noise that will come from it.

The fans in the computer case will make the most noise.  This is why many people look at computer cases that offer a quiet fan feature.  Additionally, if you are going to be adding more fans to the computer, you will need to ensure that there is a noise dampening feature in the case.

The RAM

The RAM or memory of your computer is similar to short-term memory in humans.  This component will store all of the temporary data that your computer needs to make all of the programs run faster.  If you are going to be running a lot of programs, you will need more RAM to make everything run smoothly.

The size of the RAM that you need will vary depending on what you want to do.  However, if you find that your computer is running slowly, you can upgrade the RAM when you need to.  Of course, it is important to note that there is a point where more RAM is not going to improve the performance of the computer.  The base requirement for RAM is 8GB if you want to run Windows 10.

The Graphics Card

The graphics card also known as the video card and GPU is the processor that will take care of all the graphics for your computer.  When you want to use the screen, the GPU will draw all of the information from the other components and display it. There are a lot of motherboards that come with the graphics card built-in, but these cards will generally not be suited for high-performance users.

If you are going to be video editing or gaming on the computer, you will need a better graphics card than the one that comes with the motherboard.  It is recommended that you get a dedicated graphics card for your computer in these cases. However, it is important to note that the price of these cards will vary greatly and you should never spend more than what you need right now.

The Hard Drive

The hard drive of your computer is the long-term memory and where you keep everything.  The hard drive will store your documents, downloads and operating system. These drives will come in many different sizes and speeds as well as technology.  

There are 2 types of hard drives that you need to know about with the first being SATA.  These hard drives will have a physical disc which stores the data and a needle which reads the data.  The second is the SSD or solid state drive which does not have any moving parts. The SSD is considered better because it does not produce noise, is faster and will not be as prone to damage.  

There are many things that you need to build a computer.  The right tools are essential as well as the right components.  When looking for an electronic parts wholesaler, it is better to get what you need now instead of what you might need in the future.