I can’t spend two hours on the Internet without seeing enthusiasm regarding graphically-demanding PC games like Battlefield 3 or Skyrim. Maybe you’re thinking of making the jump from console to PC gaming, or maybe your PC is simply too far below the recommended specs for the latest games—either way, if you’re considering a new computer for gaming, this article is for you. Before you go spending a fortune on a pre-made gaming PC, I want you to know that building your own is easier than you think.
Cooler Master 690 II Advanced
It’ll cost you at least a grand for a really good system, but buying the parts and assembling it yourself will save you a lot (a lot) of cash. Here’s an overview on what you’ll need, and things to think about when deciding what to buy. For each necessary item, I will suggest a specific product, with an estimated price, and offer a link to it on newegg.com (the online store offers great prices and customer service for your computer needs).
The total for these suggestions comes to about $1,346 (not including taxes and shipping).
The Various Necessary Hardware for a Gaming PC
A gaming PC is the result of various parts. The necessary parts (with some notes) are:
- Processor (CPU, or “computer”) – Get a Quad core. I recommend Intel. AMD is cheaper, and their top performing CPUs are loved by their fans, but Intel has the highest quality (and yes, the highest price—but you get what you pay for). For gaming I’d recommend an Intel i5 2500k. If you also plan to edit large video files, I’d get the i7 2600k—just as good for gaming, but also has hyper threading. Recommended: i5 2500k -$220
- Motherboard – Get one that supports easy, “one click” overclocking. Recommended: Asus P8P67 Pro - $170
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) – AKA “Video Card”. Some processors have integrated video capability, but if you’re the kind of gamer who wants a PC for gaming, you need a separate, dedicated video card. Recommended: EVGA GTX 560 Ti - $240
- Power Supply Unit (PSU) – Make sure the total wattage is comfortably above the sum total of all attached parts (their power consumption will be noted on the box and/or on included documents). Ensure even more leg room if you plan on overclocking. Recommended: Corsair Professional Series 750 watt - $140.
- Ram – 4 gb is probably enough. I’d recommend 8. 16 is overkill unless you also plan on huge media editing projects. 1600 mhz DDR3 is a good choice. G skills are popular. Get ram with attached heatsinks. Don’t bother with the packages that include fans. Recommended: G. Skill Ripjaws X Series 8 GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 - $55
- Case (some may call it the “chassis”) – Get one that provides optimal air flow/cooling. You can get a great mid-sized tower for less than 100. Cooler Master is a highly regarded manufacturer. Recommended: Cooler Master 690 II Advanced - $90
- Hard drive - Unless you have lots of money to spend, go for a high end hard disk drive, like a Spinpoint, instead of splurging on a much pricier SSD. Recommended: Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200 RPM - $80
- CD/DVD drive – Get one with Blu-Ray. They’re not expensive. Recommended: Samsung Black 12 BD-ROM - $60
- Necessary Peripherals - Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers and/or headset. See section below for recommended items.
- Heatsink – Goes over processor. Keeps it cool. Recommended: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus - $26
Get a Processor that You Can Overclock—Don’t Worry You Can Do It Safely
Intel i5 2500k
I mentioned the i5 2500k and the i7 2600k, but consumers can also have an i5 2500 and an i7 2600. The difference is overclockability (which the “K” products have). No “K” means the item is locked, it cannot be overclocked. The “K” versions have been engineered to make for easy, safe overclocking.
Don’t worry, with the latest processors and overclockable motherboards (I would recommend Asus motherboards), easy, “one click” overclocking can now be done via user friendly bios, or even windows software programs.
If you plan on getting a "Sandy Bridge" processor (which includes these above mentioned i5 and i7), you really ought to spend a little extra (maybe $20 more) to get an overclockable version. To not overclock when it is so easy and safe (with the necessary motherboard features, and air cooling hardware) is practically a sin for a gamer.
An i5 2500k is about $220.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
If You Plan to Overclock, Get an Aftermarket Heatsink
If you overclock, you need a better cooling solution than you’ll get from the heatsink provided with your processor. You can get a good one for thirty or forty dollars. Make sure the heatsink is compatible with the ram you buy, and falls within the dimensions of your case. If a heatsink you plan to buy looks large, be sure to check the manufacturer’s website for compatible models of ram, and then choose your ram from that list.
A Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus, for about $26, is a good choice.
The Motherboard Is the Brain of Your System—It Controls Everything
Asus P8P67 PRO motherboard
You should give particular attention to the motherboard you choose. Since all the hardware and peripherals connect to the motherboard, which connects everything and makes it all into “one computer”, there’s a lot to look for to make sure you get the features you want.
Make Sure the Motherboard Uses a Chipset Compatible with the Processor You Want to Use
Compatible chipsets will be listed on the website of the manufacturer of the chipset you want (IE if you want an i5 2500k you will see the compatible chipset types on the i5 2500k pages on Intel’s website).
Make Sure the Motherboard Has the Necessary Slots for Your Video, Audio and Other Needs
It’s recommended you get a motherboard with at least two PCI-E x16 slots, one for the GPU you’ll need immediately, and another if you ever plan on getting another video card and using SLI (for an Nvidia card) or Crossfire (for a Radeon). There will be other (less than 16x) PCI-E slots, in case you want to add a network card or sound card. Also, though a 16x card can’t fit into a 1x slot (…duh), a 1x or 4x PCI-E device can fit into a 16x slot.
A good motherboard for easy overclocking, as well as Bluetooth, while also leaving room for upgradeable (an extra video card for SLI or Crossfire when you have the money and want to play the most demanding games at the highest possible settings), is the Asus P8P67 Pro (Rev 3.1), for about $170.
The Video Card Is HUGE in Gaming
EVGA GTX 560 Ti
One may assume that the processor (which is the actual cpu, or computer, in the system) would be the most expensive hardware in the overall build, but for gaming the GPU can often be the pricier of the two, or at least in the same ballpark. In fact, if your processor is more expensive than your video card, you’re video card is likely limiting the settings at which you can play games. I’d recommend getting a video card straight from the original manufacturer—Nvidia or Ati. These will perform well and be more reliable, if you don’t plan on overclocking it.
The EVGA GTX 560 Ti is a solid GPU which will enable maximum settings on most games (at 1920 x 1080 resolution), and high settings (nearly max, but with some features, like deferred anti aliasing, turned down) on the most demanding games. It is about $240, and offers upgrade-ability, because you can always get another one (from any manufacturer), and run them SLI to ensure maximum performance at ultra settings in releases to come.
Much Needed Gaming PC Peripherals
Though not often considered as parts of the actual gaming PC, peripherals play a big part in the overall gaming experience, and they obviously cost money, so they need a place in this article. Peripherals include many things, and can include microphones and printer, but this article will focus on the peripherals that you’ll most definitely need: a keyboard and mouse. Also, though not needed, high quality speakers and/or headsets are recommended.
Razer Abyssus Mirror Special Edition Black
You Should Get a Good Mouse for Gaming
The most important things to look for in a gaming mouse are 1) buttons that can be programmed with macros (to program specific actions to them), and 2) the dpi (dots per inch) the mouse processes. For FPS the macros provided on a mouse render a gaming keyboard unnecessary. Recommended: RAZER Abyssus Mirror Special Edition Black - $35
Logitech G510 Black
- Gaming Keyboards Are Particularly Important for MMORPGs
Players will want a gaming keyboard for MMORPG games, like World of Warcraft. For these kinds of games, many gamers want plenty of macro keys, to program various “Shift + key” and “Ctrl + key” commands onto single keys. Recommended:Logitech g510 Black - $100
Logitech z313
- Speakers or a Headset
Any pair of speakers or cheap headset will alert you to footsteps, but they won’t come in at the level of quality to inform you of footsteps approaching from 20 to 25 feet away, behind you and to the left. Spend some money to get the most out of game audio. Recommended: Logitech z313 - $45. Also recommended is an audio card, for better sound quality than plugging into the onboard audio (included in motherboard): Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Titanium - $85
Take Your Time!
Building your own PC really isn’t very difficult. But that doesn’t mean you can be careless! Take some time to read up on the different hardware. Once you’ve purchased all the parts and begin to build the PC, be sure to read the documents. This isn’t a bar stool from IKEA—you can break something if you try to put it where it doesn’t belong. Don’t let that scare you, just be cautious. Have fun, it’s a great experience!
One Response to “Hardcore DIY: Save Money by Building Your Own Gaming PC”
Oh yea this is true! A friend of mine really just have this idea in mind. I think there are going to be a lot of users if you build up a game place for them. It's pretty much undeniable people, especially boys lives the video games, and all the games you can ever think of, so it is good to have one.