Hello HN.
I am largely fond of technology and computers but never owned a computer(Well, I own a laptop but it's not desktop computer).<p>Now that I can afford and want a desktop computer, I am thinking of building it. Is that a good idea? How much difficult would it be? Can you share your experiences building one?<p>PS: I am thinking of going with AMD processors and graphics card. What suggestions would you give for complete noob like me?
All my friends built their first PC in high school/college (5-10 years ago) and I only recently did mine 2 years ago. I was nervous but it turned out to be pretty easy.<p>I would figure out what your needs are: play modern AAA games in 4K definition at 120 FPS? Play older games on medium graphics? Do video or other media editing? Etc etc<p>Then go look at Logical Increments for example builds and figure out how expensive you want to go to meet your needs (they have example builds from basically a toaster on up to the best that consumer money can buy):
<a href="https://www.logicalincrements.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.logicalincrements.com/</a><p>(Edit: keep in mind that the prices on Logical Increments may be lower than actual parts, due to the supply chain issues, pandemic, etc)<p>Use PC Part Picker to keep track of your build items, they have a handy interface to make builds out of specific parts, track the price of the whole build, make sure you don't forget a part, and even generally warn you if you choose incompatible parts (it's not foolproof but it worked for me and is nice for peace of mind):
<a href="https://pcpartpicker.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://pcpartpicker.com/</a><p>Finally, read/watch a few build guides on YouTube or find some articles via Google, to get more familiar with the process.<p>This is a rough and high-level approach to what worked for me as a first-time builder with roughly zero knowledge (beyond being as computer-savvy as an average person in tech, which I presume most HNers are). Good luck and have fun!
It's easier than ever to build a PC yourself. I built my first PC around 1988 and today's PCs are a dream in comparison.<p>One of the primary areas of advancement is PC cases - they are so well engineered now that just a few screws and everything is assembled in minutes. And everything lines up like it was made to go together.<p>On top of improved designs, there are YouTube videos today which didn't exist in the 80s and 90s.<p>IMO it's never been easier to get into so I can't see any reason not to build your own PC. It's very rewarding, though not necessarily an economic advantage verses pre-built.<p>The absolute best deal on a PC is probably a lightly used, name brand system from ebay. But you don't learn nearly as much with that option.
I was a console and laptop guy for my whole life, built my first PC I think age 32-33. It was initially daunting but /r/BuildaPC and analyzing many builds on PCPartpicker.com really helped. I also had a couple of people at work who helped me physically assemble it, which was huge.<p>Honestly, it's much more straightforward than it seems when you think about how complex PC internals seem without much prior knowledge. I would say find some builds you like on PCPartPicker.com and try to emulate them. When it comes to assembling specific parts together, find YouTube videos that closely emulate your setup. For example, the last PC I built used a Lian Li mini case which is very small and can only house very specific sizes of some parts (mainly MoBo and power supply). But it's a very popular case, so there were a ton of very detailed youtube videos on doing a Lian Li mini build. That stuff really helps.<p>Another thing, highly recommend getting some type of screwdriver / tool kit like this: <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/products/mako-driver-kit-64-precision-bits" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.ifixit.com/products/mako-driver-kit-64-precision...</a>. I am sure some frugal stickler will come along and tell me why I am dumb for overpaying for this kit, but I really enjoy the convenience factor and did not exactly have a robust set of hand tools laying around - which I expect is the case for many building their first PC.
I would compare the experience to putting together a large IKEA furniture piece. Not as hard as you’d think. Very satisfying.<p>The hard part for me 7 or 8 years ago was actually getting the right combination of all the parts. But those are all listed and put together by an endless parade of PC building YouTubers and websites like Newegg.<p>Later, any time you want to upgrade or change anything it is a pleasure. I have since moved on to an M1 but the machine is still humming away hosting stuff and rendering things and what not. I highly recommend doing it.
You should and it is rather easy (for the most part) these days. It is all very straightforward to put together a PC, take your time and follow the instructions that come with the motherboard. The biggest challenge is if you put it all together and the system doesn’t turn on. You may need to flash the bios.<p>AMD processors and graphics cards are good, but perhaps require a bit more troubleshooting than Intel + Nvidia. I have a 5900X and while very good, I had to flash my motherboard bios to have it recognized and then again later to fix a TMP issue. These are small hurdles I haven’t encountered with Intel in some time and I would imagine would be a real head scratcher for a first time build.<p>If you are building for gaming it is also worth noting that Nvidia DLSS is a feature that is very much worth the premium in my opinion. But depending on what games or what you are looking to do with your machine AMD cards can be the better value.
> Is that a good idea?<p>If you love building stuff, yes. Do note that you need to put in quite some time to do it well.<p>> How much difficult would it be?<p>Not that difficult, especially if you prepare by looking at some videos on building PCs on Youtube<p>> Can you share your experiences building one?<p>I've build three personally, and I had only problem once with a broken USB connector on a motherboard due to poor build quality of the manufacturer. Do make sure that you check everything a few times while building, I had some interns in the past (when I worked in a PC store) who accidentally forgot to connect the CPU fan and almost fried the CPU.<p>> What suggestions would you give for a complete noob like me?<p>Depends on what you want. If you want something good for gaming, like me, I would go for a Ryzen 9 7800X3D paired to a Radeon 7900 XTX.<p>And I also would go to your local PC store and have a friendly conversation, they will be happy to help you out.
Consider your primary use case. For gaming, AMD tends to be the more popular choice because it offers (most of the time) more bang for the buck.<p>If you want to try your hand at hackintoshing, Intel is your easiest option. It's not a garbage platform either.<p>Not ripping open the static bags and handling each component myself would be akin to going on a big game hunt and hiring a skilled hunter to shoot the animal so you can pose with it. Based on your question I think you're in my boat more than the other person's.<p>There's a number of configurators online where you can painstakingly choose each component and make sure they work well together.<p>It can be very rewarding. My daily driver has been a homebuilt PC, built by me, for many years. 10/10 would recommend.
6 months in to my first pc build. had one other pc for past 2 years from letsbld.<p>the build is easy, but it will take a full day. it is also a bit nerve racking, but mostly that’s just inexperience. parts are all sturdy and snap together. i will be building every nvidia generation from now on.<p>i used to code on laptops, then game on a pc. now i have two ssds, one windows one linux. bios boot option is unborkable. it’s a great setup.<p>it’s nice to be able to play fortnite, compile the linux kernel[1], and do gamedev[2] all in a single session.<p>be aware ddr5 amd boards boot kind of slow. i’ve heard intel is faster.<p>if you can afford it, go god spec. otherwise spec down into your price range. letsbld and originpc have good configurators to choose parts. newegg prices will be 30% less.<p>check out fractal torrent cases and dh15 coolers! 4090 fe fits in the nano and 4090 pny fits in the compact.<p>1. <a href="https://github.com/nathants/mighty-snitch/tree/master/kernel/arch">https://github.com/nathants/mighty-snitch/tree/master/kernel...</a><p>2. <a href="https://r2.nathants.workers.dev/jetpack_hand_animations.mp4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://r2.nathants.workers.dev/jetpack_hand_animations.mp4</a>
Go for it! Building PCs is really enjoyable experience for me and you can tailor the hardware to your needs - more memory, stronger gpu, stronger CPU, etc. Big fans at low rpm is better than smaller fan at higher rpm - it's less noisy. I'd highly suggest looking into Noctua for fans and cooling(I'm not affiliated in any way) - they're slightly expensive, but they're silent and do a great job. Don't get a GPU with "turbo fan" - they're really loud. GPU with single fan (unless low-end) is also not worth it, usually. It's very important to me to get a NVME SSD - read/write speeds can go up to 7gb/s (gb, not gbit). Don't overlook the PSU (as many people do) - you might get all kind of weird issues like GPU Coil while, random restarts, etc. If you want to get fancy, you can get into liquid cooling. At this point it does not matter as much if you'll go with AMD or Intel. Have in mind that the newest gen AMD CPUs is using different CPU sockets, so you need to find a motherboard that maches it. At this point it's not worth getting DDR5 memory - much pricier for 2-4% performance difference.
Another advantage to building your own system not mentioned (unless I
missed it) is that pre-built systems might not be available with the
latest and greatest components because the vendors are limited to what
they can reliably source with a fast turnaround, whereas when building
your own you can be more patient and selective. Given the need for the
person who builds a pre-built system to get paid, you'll be getting a
lower spec than you could build yourself and maybe paying the same or
more for it. You might save even more down the line when you want a
component repaired or upgraded and you feel comfortable ordering and
swapping it in yourself instead of worrying you might break something
unless you pay somebody to do it. The only downside I've experienced
is that I'm still too scared to overclock it too much and would have
felt better about getting someone who's good at it to do that for me.
I started my desktop journey around a year ago by buying a prebuilt HP Omen 40L and then swapping the motherboard. That immediately gave me control over the entire system, and since they use standard ATX cases (hell yeah) not a single connector didn't find a home on the new motherboard.<p>Might be an option to look into if you have around two grand to spend. I ended up with an i5-12400F and RTX 3060 for around $1200 (that's including the new motherboard).<p>Starting with an existing PC and swapping out components is a way to <i>start with something that works</i> so you won't build something from scratch out of 20 different pieces and then try to debug why it just won't work for some weird reason.<p>Stuff like "this CPU isn't compatible with this motherboard until you use an older CPU to flash the new BIOS update" will take you out easily if you're not careful. It's all over the place!<p>So I recommend starting with a prebuilt if it's your first. :)<p>P.S. HP Omen offers AMD processors as well, so check em out!
The first step would be to define <i>what you want</i> (& why & their priority for your budget), you would then search & select single components based on that. The <i>what you want</i>-step is really really important.<p>E.g. I just built a PC ("Fractal Define R5" case + 3 low-RPM Noctua fans + MSI X570S motherboard + 128MiB RAM Kingston + 5 2TB NV2 Kingston NVMe + 1 AMD Ryzen 9 5950X + the only PCIe x1 GPU I could find which turned out to be nVidia) to run a Postgresql DB server.<p>In my case I specifically ended up selecting for example MSI's X570S motherboard because it doesn't have an active fan for its chipset, the Ryzen 9 5950X because it has so many CPU cores that it would be able to manage my workload even when its "boost"-feature is disabled (in my case -15% less work done without CPU "boost" but at the same time with as well -33% watts used), all this because of wanting to have as less heat and noise as possible because I host this in my flat (trying to save $ by replacing a server which I used to host with "hetzner.com" for 100$/month).<p>In your case your usecase will probably be different.<p>In my case the whole experience hasn't been as smooth/mindless as multiple posts here mentioned: the RAM type/clock/whatever compatibility with the CPU&motherboard was the most scary one followed by the capability of PCIe x16 split to 4x4 (to have a single NVMe-card able to handle 4 NVMe at high speed). As well basic things like the pins of e.g. HDD-LED & Power & Reset & etc... of the case can get tricky (to be fair in both cases, "MSI" motherboard & "Fractal" case, they were described quite well).<p>I'd say that this is not the right place where you'd post such a question - I'd recommend you to clearly define what you want to do with that desktop and if you still want to create a custom solution to then potentially ask detailed questions in more focused forums :)<p>Based on what I've seen recently, pre-built PCs (especially simple "desktop" PCs, but as well mid-tower PCs for gamers) can be A LOT cheaper than self-assembled ones.
I usually order a custom pc from professional services.<p>I deal with choosing (the enjoyable part) and they guarantee the configuration works and assemble ot. IMO it is good value for the money.
There are specialized reddit forums about that where you can give your budget and preferences and people help you with picking the right parts. They will give you a pcpartpicker list or you can start giving one and they will tell you if it is ok.<p>Even if I consider myself well versed into hardware, it was great to see peoples feedback on specific motherboards and ram combinations for example (in my recent experience this is usually the biggest pain point).
I wanted to build a PC for a while but was a little anxious about it. This Christmas I really did it, got a heavily perforated case with a glass side, the top of the line AMD processor, liquid cooling system with lots of RGB and I settled for a 4080 GFX card because I couldn't find a 4090.<p>I hadn't done anything like this in years but it went together with no problems and I'm very happy with the machine, so I say go for it.
Just did this with my 11 year old. Honestly - it’s really easy now as the part count is low.<p>We made it a little harder with liquid cooling and lots of led lighting that appeals to an 11 year old aspring gamer!<p>Biggest issues were a clearance issue relating to the radiator and a motherboard flashing and configuration issue. I ended up needing to order an alternate fan.
Don't build the whole thing at once. Go step by step. So, first plug the RAM and the CPU onto the MBD, connect the PSU and power it up. When you hear the cheerful "beep", then turn off the PSU and continue adding stuff. A PC builder's set of PWR/RST/LED cables is a must, as well as 4-pin SPKR, piezzo buzzer. Good luck!
It's fiddly and there's a small chance you'll break some expensive components. (I once dropped a CPU from a height of a few inches, and had to straighten out the pins with a credit card). Cable routing is a pain. I'd still do it if I had to, but prefer to order from a place that'll do a build. <a href="https://www.centralcomputer.com/custom-systems.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.centralcomputer.com/custom-systems.html</a> is local to me, there's probably something in your area.<p>If you're picking an entirely novel combination of components, there's a higher chance of a compatibility problem. My 2018 machine browned out a lot until I tweaked some PCI-E power management thing in the motherboard's BIOS. There's some benefit in buying a bunch of parts that 100s of people are already using together.<p>If Youtube videos of building machines seem interesting and fun to you, go for it.
Building a PC is overrated. It’s Lego. The most fun part is picking the parts which is just a dopamine hit of consumerism, not engineering. Pick a small/tiny PC case to make it a challenge.<p>If you’re asking us whether you should build one, I can guarantee you’re going to build the PC you spent a month or two planning and then let it rust on a desk while you resume using your Macbook Pro or whatever like I did.<p>Use LogicalIncrements to build your PC on PCPartPicker. Enjoy that process because it’s fun. And then when that’s done ask yourself if you really need the thing. Or if you should just spend the $1000+ on a vacation with your sweetie.
Been building PC for most of my life, actually now realize that i have never bought or owned a prebuilt PC :). I agree with the general statement here, it's never been both easier and economical to build a PC. The only blemish theses days are GPU prices which are still wonky and never really recovered from the mining craze + pandemic shortage.<p>I really like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@PCBuilderChannel">https://www.youtube.com/@PCBuilderChannel</a> for the pragmatic and clear explanations. It's a very good place to start and he has videos on all the important subject.<p>But while i have your attention :<p>Step 1 : Decide your budget<p>It's easy to go overboard or to try to skim on important things. You probably want to reflect on your use cases and decide what is important for you. If gaming is the main focus, then most of your budget sink should be for the GPU. Find the best GPU you can afford, and then design/build the rest of the system as to not bottleneck your GPU.<p>Step 2 : Select your Platform<p>Probably the hardest when i come to part selection for someone new. Platform generally refers to the combination of motherboard + cpu + ram. Things are bit complicate to navigate here because they all need to be compatible, and the fan boy-ism is at its peak here.<p>Good news though, there is virtually no bad choices here, the CPU/motherboard/ram prices have come down and it's never been better to be buying.<p>On the CPU side you have first AMD vs Intel, then which generation (zen 3 vs zen 4 or 12th vs 13th gen intel), then you which performance tier (3 vs 5 vs 7).<p>On the motherboard side, you can group motherboard per "chipset" usually the tradeoff between price and peripheral support (things like usb4/thundebolt,pci5 vs pci4 etc...)<p>Step 3 : Select your form factor.<p>For someone new, i would recommend to get as big a case than you can fit in your environment. A big case maximizes component compatibility and really really make the building process easier. I would straight avoid ITX and focus on mid-towers or compact cases.<p>Step 4 : Post your proto build on a reputable forum, read the comment, ignore the crazies and iterate.<p>Finally, you want to keep things are simple as possible. PC building is a hobby and a rabbit hole in self. A lot of the example, advice online come from very passionate people who are okay sinking tons of hours in the process. So general recommendations :<p>-- For a first build, i would avoid anything to do with water cooling, cpu overclocking and low timing ram kits. Nothing wrong with any of it per say, but those tend to be the area of most problem and debugging a non functional build really really sucks.<p>-- Stick with reputable brands name when doing part selection. The Asus taxes is real, corsair PSU are over-priced and fractal cases can be boring. But in return you get (most of the time, all brands are capable or producing turds) some piece of mind and somewhat better return/support.<p>-- PC parts in general have a pretty aggressive diminishing return on the price/performance curve. Don't spend too much on any single component before making sure you actually need/want the extra oompphh<p>-- Electronics and PC parts in particular are depreciating assets. If you are patient, you can really really save a good buck on your build.
My Arduino, hardware and Linux blog has been translated in English: <a href="https://www.marcelv.net" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.marcelv.net</a>