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How to Build a PC: The Basics

Building a PC can be a daunting task if you've never attempted it before.  With all the different components that make up a computer, you need to know exactly what to get.  Building a computer requires patience and effort to learn and experiment, but it does not require a great deal of technical knowledge. Once you learn the basics of how to build a PC, it simply comes down to a matter of reading and experimenting with different components.

Here is a breakdown of the various PC parts and how they work together to make a computer run.

Motherboard

The computer's motherboard is the core of operations where all the other components connect to.  The main things you need to worry about with a motherboard are bus speed, form factor, what CPUs it supports, onboard video and sound, and supported RAM.

Case

A computer's case houses all the components, protects them, and keeps them together.  It needs to be large enough to accomodate your hardware and also the right size to properly allow for cooling needs.

CPU

The CPU (processor) is essentially the brain of your computer's operations.  Intel and AMD make the best processors; Intel currently puts out the Pentium line, and AMD puts out Athlon processors.  Both are excellent, though AMD sports a slightly more budget-friendly line.

Memory

Computer memory, also known as RAM, is the storage of the computer's brain (processor).  RAM usually averages 2-6 GB at the time of this article, though as with all computer hardware, that is constantly increasing.  Choosing your computer's memory should be based on a number of factors, but primarily what operating system you are going to be using.

Hard drives

Your hard drives are how you store data on your computer.  This includes your OS software.  They are prone to failure and usually wear out within a few years.  Look for brands like Maxtor, IBM, and Seagate for hard drives.  You can also elect for a solid state drive as your primary drive for faster, more energy-efficient computing at a slightly higher price.

Video card

Your video card selection will be determined by your computer needs.  If you plan to use your PC for gaming, video watching, or video creation, a higher video card will be necessary.  nVIDIA and ATI are the primary video card makers you should look at for a video card if you choose to have one separate from your motherboard.  Integrated graphics are often much less powerful and cannot support current gaming requirements.

Keyboard, mouse, and monitor

Keyboards and mice can be purchased very cheaply from any electronics store.  You can also buy gaming keyboards and mice if ergonomics are a factor.  In terms of a monitor, most monitors are 20-22" these days and come in widescreen format.  You can get a smaller monitor if you don't mind sacrificing size and quality a bit.

These are the essential parts of a computer that you will need to research as you learn how to build a PC that will suit your needs.  The first time is always toughest; after years of building and maintaining your own computers, you will become more comfortable with the process.

To learn more about the various PC components and how to put them together to make a computer that works for you, visit Rate this Article:

• Article Tags: how to build a pc, build a gaming pc, build your computer, build a computer, building your first pc, pc hardware
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  To learn more about the various PC components and how to put them together to make a computer that works for you, visit http://makeyourgamingcave.blogspot.com

  Author: Shane