What you need for a gaming computer. Assembling the system unit with your own hands, features of connecting the motherboard

When buying computer hardware, there are two options. The first is to buy a ready-made system unit, and the second is to assemble the computer yourself. The latter method is especially effective if you intend to build a powerful gaming computer.

1. Advantages and disadvantages of the system unit in the assembly

Assembled system units are sold in almost all stores, but they, for the most part, are designed to work in offices. Gaming computers are rare and have a number of significant disadvantages:

• they have very specific components installed that may not meet requirements or personal preferences;
• it is not always possible to agree on a replacement for the ones you need, they may simply not be available;
• you will have to pay a little, but overpay, since the seller must compensate for its costs of assembling the PC system unit;
• warranty conditions often do not allow you to open the system unit and change components yourself.

On the other hand, buying a ready-made system unit, you save your time, and you will not have to understand the intricacies of PC assembly.

2. What you need to assemble a computer with your own hands

No special tools are required for self-assembly of the system unit. All you need is a Phillips screwdriver and special nylon clamps.

They can be freely purchased at any specialized store or on the radio market. After completing the assembly of the PC, all cables and cables are recommended to be carefully sorted and pulled into bundles. This will avoid stopping the coolers due to wires getting in, will provide convenience when removing dust accumulating in the case, and such a system unit looks much neater. If necessary, it will be very easy and convenient to add a memory bar to it or replace the thermal paste on the processor.

3. How to choose accessories

Many people mistakenly believe that it is very easy to assemble a system unit on your own. To do this, you just need to buy the most modern components from the top category of computer products and connect them correctly. In fact, this is not entirely true. You will need:

• choose a high-quality case and not be mistaken with its form factor (a powerful gaming motherboard will not fit into a mini-tower);
• optimally calculate the required power of the power supply;
• take into account the possible incompatibility of the equipment.

3.1. Choice of case and power supply

There are several requirements for the case of the system unit. It should be:

• visually appealing;
• made of quality material;
• suitable in size for installing a motherboard, the required number of hard drives, additional cooling.

With the first point, everything is clear, this is a matter of exclusively personal preferences and features of the interior of the room. But the choice of material can make you think. In computer stores, you can buy two types of cases:

• steel, they are heavy, which means they drown out the noise of coolers, are resistant to vibration and have a good margin of safety;
• aluminum, the main advantage is a high level of heat transfer. This is a very valuable quality for high-performance gaming computers that get very hot.

The exception is various expensive options for modding enthusiasts who are not embarrassed by the high price of transparent computer cases made in the steam-punk style and similar unusual products.

The main characteristic that you should pay attention to when choosing a power supply is its power. For a gaming computer, it should be large enough and in no way less than 850 W, and it is better to immediately provide for a margin of one and a half to two times. Of course, the quality of workmanship also plays a big role. Unknown manufacturers deliberately overestimate the nominal parameters of the device and use the cheapest materials in the manufacturing process. As a result, power failures, spontaneous shutdowns or reboots of the computer, and even failed components.

3.2. Processor, motherboard, memory, hard drive

The main unit of any computer is a processor with a motherboard. These are interdependent components, since an arbitrarily chosen processor may not be supported by the "motherboard".

The main parameters of the motherboard that you should pay attention to:

• socket type for the processor;
• bus frequency for RAM;
• the presence and number of PCI-E (video card) and SATA (hard drives) connectors.

The choice of processor for a gaming computer is determined by the clock speed and the number of cores. The higher these indicators, the better the performance will be. You should immediately take care of its high-quality cooling. Boxed versions of processors (Box Edition) are equipped with a heatsink with a cooler, but this may not be enough. You may need to look after the cooling system separately. For example, from the popular and well-established manufacturer Zalman.

RAM is chosen in accordance with the motherboard bus frequency, now the most common standards are DDR3 and DDR4. The best option is to decide on the amount of RAM to be installed and divide it into two: if 16 GB is required, then the best solution would be to buy 2 strips of 8 GB each. This guarantees maximum performance and will allow you to increase the amount of RAM at any time.

As for the features of choosing and connecting a hard disk (hard drive), you can learn more about this from our article.

3.3. Video card

The choice of a video card for a gaming computer is never straightforward. This stems from the situation that has long been formed in the market, where only two manufacturers are fiercely competing: nVidia and ATI. The third company (Intel) can be ignored as it specializes in integrated graphics for PCs and components for laptops.

On specialized forums, the debate about which brand is better to choose in order to get maximum performance for a lower price does not subside, but there is no objective and clear answer to this question.

The easiest way to save yourself from thoughtful reading of hundreds of megabytes of information and reflections on this topic is to use ATI video cards with AMD processors, and nVidia in combination with Intel products. This will ensure maximum hardware compatibility (which, by the way, is also a subjective opinion). The main parameter that you should pay attention to is the amount of memory on the video card, the maximum reached to date is 12 GB.

The main competitors in the high-end segment of video cards for gaming computers are the GeForce GTX Titan X and the Radeon XFX Radeon HD7990. Of course, the price for models of this level is quite high, but if the motherboard has two PCI-E slots, then you can buy two cheaper video cards and use them together (this connection is called CrossFire or SLI, depending on the manufacturer). A slightly outdated, but very useful and informative article on this topic can be read on the 3D-News portal.

4. Assembling the system unit with your own hands

You need to start by installing the processor and cooling system on the motherboard. This can be done even without the help of a specialist, on your own, since the contact group on the processor and the sockets on the motherboard in one of the corners have a characteristic bevel. The locking latch systems may differ from model to model, but the principle of their operation becomes immediately obvious. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• installing a processor in a socket;
• fixing it with a special latch;
• applying thermal paste to the base of the radiator (if it is absent) and fixing it.

Placement of the main elements on the motherboard:

1. Processor and cooling system;
2. PCI-E video card;
3. Memory;
4. SATA;
5. IDE (for old hard drives and CD-ROMs);
6. Screw holes (6 pieces).

The most difficult problem faced by those who are trying to assemble a computer for the first time on their own is installing the motherboard in the case. As often happens, it seems much more scary and incomprehensible than it really is. First, the power supply is installed in the case, then you can start installing the motherboard, which is done in several stages:

• place the motherboard in the case and mark the holes that coincide with the board on its wall;
• install special insulating plastic supports (included in the kit) in the marked slots;
• fasten the board with screws and washers.

Then it's time for a rather painstaking process - connecting all the necessary cables for the power supply and case to the motherboard. The only difficulty can be caused by determining the correct way to connect a group of small connectors. To do this, you need to take the instructions that come with the motherboard and carefully study the description of that part of it, which (almost always) is located in the lower right corner of the motherboard.

This moment is necessarily described in the user's manual, most often in the form of a fairly detailed diagram. All small contact groups must be connected so that the inscriptions on the board and the plastic lugs correspond to each other, without confusing the polarity, which is also indicated.

For additional cooling of the computer system unit, you can use coolers, which are purchased separately. Usually in the case they have a place on the rear vertical panel (under the power supply) and in the front, under the bays for hard drives and CD-drives. They are fixed with self-tapping screws that come with the coolers.

Installing and connecting the remaining components is unlikely to be difficult. Errors are eliminated due to the fact that all connectors and slots have a different form factor. For example, a PCI-E video card or RAM cannot be inserted into a PCI slot because they differ in size. Assembling the system unit with your own hands is quite simple. The lack of rush and careful study of the instructions are one hundred percent guarantee of success.

• Video card;
• processor, cooler and thermal paste;
• RAM;
• motherboard;
• case with power supply;
• Screwdriver Set.

Instructions for assembling a personal computer from components

1 To prepare complete set

We will prepare all the components, once again take a look at them that we have not forgotten anything. I will build a computer from this.

2 Training motherboard

Let's open the box with the motherboard and take it out. The box usually contains an instruction manual, a CD with drivers, a back panel, cables for a drive and a hard drive.

It is important not to damage the motherboard with static electricity. Therefore, first discharge the static charge from yourself, “ground yourself” before picking it up. It is advisable not to wear synthetic clothing and your hands should not be excessively dry.

We take out the motherboard from the factory box

3 Installation central processing unit

The first step is to install the central processing unit (CPU, CPU) into the connector on the board. One corner of the processor is usually marked with a triangle. There is a similar triangle on the board. We set the processor so that the labels match. And then we press it with a special lever located on one of the edges of the processor (socket) footprint.

4 Installation heatsink and cooler

Now you need to install a heatsink with a cooler and connect it to the power connector on the board. If the heat sink has already been coated with thermal paste, then it is ready for installation. If there is no thermal paste, it must be applied in an even, thin, neat layer to the surface that will adhere directly to the processor. Then place the heatsink on the processor, rub it thoroughly so that the paste is evenly distributed in the space between the heatsink and the processor. Then close the locking latches. The final touch is to connect the fan wire to the power connector on the motherboard, usually labeled "CPU FAN".

Depending on the processor family, the heatsink installation options may differ slightly from those described. Usually, the technique is described in detail in the passport for the motherboard, read it before starting work.

5 Installing modules random access memory

The next step is to install RAM modules. If you have one module, then put it in the first slot. It is usually marked as "DIMM_A1" or simply "DIMM_1". If there are more than two memory slots, and there are several memory modules, then put them first in the slots of the same color: so the RAM will run faster.

6 Installation back panel

Now we install a shiny metal back panel with holes for all connectors into the case. It is installed from the inside by simply pressing it out.

7 Installation motherboard

The board has holes for fastening, and in the case there are holes and a number of metal racks, usually at least 6 pieces. Depending on the size of your board, you need to place the stands in the case so that they are under the mounting holes of the board. Now we place the motherboard in the case. There should be racks under all the holes. The motherboard connectors should fit clearly into the holes in the rear panel. We fasten the motherboard with screws to the racks.

8 Installation video cards

The turn of the video card has come. Modern video cards usually have a PCI-Express slot. We put it in the slot until it clicks and fasten it to the back wall with a screw.

9 Installation and connection power supply

Now we connect the power supply to the motherboard. The first step is to connect the large 20-pin, dual inline header (“8” in the picture) to the motherboard. Then connect the 4-pin connector "7". It can be placed either side by side or elsewhere on the board. A modern hard disk and DVD drive are connected with type "3" connectors, old ones - with type "2" connectors. If you have a powerful video card, then it requires additional power supply - connectors "5" and "6". The type "1" connector is used to power the legacy floppy drive.

10 Connecting ports and indicators

We connect USB ports, additional audio connectors, an internal speaker and front panel buttons: power and restart buttons, hard disk indicators and turn on the computer. Usually, these connectors are all located side by side and are labeled on the motherboard like this: USB, PWR_SW, RST_SW, SPEAKER, HDD_LED, POWER_LED.

To avoid mistakes, carefully study the instructions for your motherboard model and follow them when connecting the front panel, buttons and LED indicators.

11 Connecting hard drives HDD, CD and DVD drives

12 Turning on the computer and installing device drivers

Let's check everything again and then turn on the computer. If you had an operating system installed earlier, then it should boot immediately. Naturally, the first time you turn it on, you will need to install all the drivers: first on the motherboard and all its devices, and then on the video card.

The first time you turn it on, it is advisable to connect the monitor to the built-in video adapter of the motherboard, and not to a discrete video card in the PCI-Express slot. Then, when all the drivers are installed, switch the monitor to a discrete graphics card.

Read the manual (instruction) for the motherboard before starting work.

If possible, after assembly, use a wire to twist all the wires into one bundle so that nothing unnecessary dangles, does not stick out, and does not interfere with the free circulation of air inside the case.

After installing the drivers on the motherboard, restart the computer and only then install the drivers on the video card.

note

Make sure you are not electrified before handling any computer accessories. If you have static electricity, then moisten your hands, touch the computer case, or the central heating pipe.

Imagine that you cannot live a day without computer games, but you don’t understand computer hardware. Roofing felts you have no time to delve into this, or simply lazy, although most likely the latter, or you will lie by saying the first. For users in this, we will help you choose modern spare parts at an affordable price, for March 2014. Thanks to this article, you can assemble a gaming computer and not overpay.

Armed with the Internet and the necessary knowledge, we are moving forward in search of not expensive, but most importantly high-quality components.

Shopping plan

First of all, we need to assemble the system unit, why should we assemble it? The fact is that in any ready-made computer there are always 2-3 spare parts that can negate performance or break down in quality ahead of time. Do not be alarmed, no one is forcing you build a computer yourself... Usually, when you buy computer parts, you can use the services of our ITcom service center in Kharkov at.

Let's start with the selection of components for the system unit. To begin with, I will list it:

• CPU
• Motherboard
• RAM
• Video card
• System unit case
• Power Supply
• DVD drive
• HDD
• Cooling system for the processor (cooler)

Let's start choosing components for a gaming PC

System unit

The appearance does not affect the performance of a gaming computer, so we take a case without bells and whistles, an entry-level. The case should be of medium size so that everything fits in and does not take up extra space, that is, with the ATX marking. For example, the body AeroCool V3X Black Edition Black... As a rule, the case is sold with a power supply, but not our method, because the power in standard blocks does not suit us, so we choose without power.

Power Supply

We will not chase branded brands, but choose a good one based on reviews. power supply unit with a capacity of 600 watts, enough for a gaming computer. After looking at and reading the reviews, choose FSP Group ATX-600PNR 600W the average cost of which is about 700 UAH. Quite a decent power supply unit, the more a 12 cm fan in its case will dissipate heat well.

CPU processor

For stable operation and less heat dissipation, we choose Intel processors. Many AMD fans will prove that AMD is cheaper and more powerful, but I'd rather pay a little extra, but be sure that the gaming computer does not overheat and will work stably for more than one year. Choosing a processor Intel Core i5-4670 Haswell(3400MHz, LGA1150, L3 6144Kb) the average price is about 2600 UAH. Expensive, but for games - this is the same extreme price line, because further it is only more expensive. Intel i5-4670- the processor is rather cold, so there will be no overheating, however, just in case, you will equip it with a good fan to prevent overheating. Core i7 processors are still an unjustified luxury, without which games will fly well anyway. Now, starting from the processor model, you can choose a suitable motherboard.

Motherboard

Considering that we have a processor with an LGA 1150 socket, you can choose a motherboard, I will not be honest, I confess to you that almost since childhood I have been fans of high-quality hardware and hardware, so the choice fell on Asus products (I hope with me many will agree) And now more specifically. Nothing extra, 4 slots for RAM (for expandability) 6 USB slots on the rear panel (4 of them are USB 3.0) the ability to connect two video cards (if you suddenly want something more). where to roam. The name is "Barsik" ASUS Z87M-PLUS and this joy costs an average of 1330 UAH.

RAM.

Everything is simple here, choose a normal brand, choose a frequency of 1600 and a memory size of 8GB (two 4GB dies are better for the RAM to work in parallel mode). There is no more sense, there is no sense less, so to speak, the golden mean. Classic uncle Kingston never I didn’t let me down, so to the fanfare of a lifetime warranty and additional heatsinks, I chose the Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2 / 8G model (the set includes two 4 GB boards).

Advice: when installing Windows, be sure to select a 64-bit operating system, since the system simply will not see it in 32 Bit 8 GB.

Video card

One of the most subtle and scrupulous choices, since we are collecting not an office calculator, but a decent gaming computer. I must say right away that I trust my hardware only to GeForce products, so AMD Radeon again remains on the sidelines. Yes, I understand that AMD is cheaper and all that, but if you build a computer on this architecture, then you will not need a heater in winter, but in turn you will need an air conditioner in summer. So, what do we have in the sweet market? We always select the cards with the Ti postscript, which means increased power. I will not torment you, but I will present you with a cheap but angry bear cub called Palit GeForce GTX 750 Ti 1202Mhz PCI-E 3.0 2048Mb 6008Mhz 128 bit DVI Mini-HDMI HDCP so far this is a novelty on the market of budget gaming video cards, but judging by the tests, the game will pull on Hooray. The average cost is 1800 rubles.

DVD drive

Everything is very complicated here, we close our eyes and poke at any black CD (since we chose the black case). The lottery fell on the ASUS DRW-24F1ST Black optical drive worth 180 UAH.

HDD.

We choose Western Digital with a SATA 6 Gb / s connection interface with a volume of 1000 GB and a buffer memory size of 64 MB. All other parameters are standard. The Western Digital WD10EZEX model costs UAH 700. Why didn't I choose Seagate? Because in all my work in the engineering environment, only the hard drives of this company gave me the most trouble and gray hair for ... well, you get the idea.

Cooling system for the processor (cooler)

Everything is simple here, for good and quiet cooling we take a cooler with a 12 cm fan, it will quietly and sweepingly cool your processor, which is exactly what we need. This little Zalman CNPS10X Optima looks impressive and will work the same way in fact. The cost is only 360 UAH.

Let's summarize

• System unit AeroCool V3X Black Edition Black - 500 UAH.
• FSP Group ATX-600PNR 600W power supply - UAH 630
• Intel Core i5-4670 Haswell (3400MHz, LGA1150, L3 6144Kb) - 2600 UAH
• Motherboard ASUS Z87M-PLUS - 1330 UAH
• RAM Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2 / 8G - 1200 UAH
• Palit GeForce GTX 750 Ti 1202Mhz PCI-E 3.0 2048Mb 6008Mhz 128 bit DVI Mini-HDMI HDCP video card - 1800 UAH
• DVD drive ASUS DRW-24F1ST Black - 180 UAH
• Western Digital WD10EZEX hard drive - 700 UAH
• Cooling system for the processor (cooler) Zalman CNPS10X Optima - 360 UAH

Total: 9300 UAH

This is, at a minimum, the cost of a system unit for a gaming computer, the hardware of which will be enough for you to play games for at least 2-3 years. Let's continue with the choice. What else is left for us?

• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Mouse pad
• Validol tablets (this is for those who were strained by the price of the system unit)

Monitor

For a comfortable game and a good picture, we choose Philips monitors, model 226V4LAB, price 1400 UAH. Good color rendering, response time, resolution and, of course, firm. Just before playing, you will need to adjust the color, Philips has a factory default jamb, you always need to adjust it yourself. And the price for 22 inches is quite reasonable.

Keyboard

Opt for a backlit gaming keyboard for night gaming and a small fan for blowing your fingers. Model Tt eSPORTS by Thermaltake Challenger price 450 UAH.

Mouse

Here it is already more difficult, for a gamer, a mouse is everything !!! Therefore, her choice must be taken with responsibility. An inexpensive and quite competent solution is called Mad Catz R.A.T. 3 Matte Black. The cost is 700 UAH. Good indicators of accuracy and stability of work. This mouse was created by people who specialize in computer games and know what it takes to play well. The most budgetary option of the good gaming rodents. There is also a braided cord that eliminates kinks and chafing.

Mat

We take a carpet for the STEELSERIES QcK + mouse, the coupling with the mouse will be excellent and the dimensions are quite acceptable for the game (400 × 450x2 mm.) The price is 150 UAH.

Let's summarize the final result of our selection.

• System unit - 9300 UAH
• Monitor - 1400 UAH
• Keyboard - 450 UAH
• Mouse - 700 UAH
• Mouse pad - 150 UAH
• Total: 12 000 UAH for the whole set

In conclusion, I can say that this rocket will be enough for you for all modern games, and I think there will be no problems with quality and performance.

Many people ask: how to assemble a computer yourself? Most don't want assemble the system unit yourself... It is believed that this is a rather difficult procedure and it is not so easy to cope with the assembly yourself. This is certainly not easy without assembly experience, but it is still possible.

What is the advantage self-assembly of a computer? First, such a computer will cost less than a store-bought one. Secondly, the system unit will be assembled taking into account your requirements, and during the assembly you will learn what the computer consists of, etc.

The first step is to determine the configuration of the future system unit - home or office, gaming or just a multimedia center, or even some highly specialized computer. The choice of components for assembling a computer will also depend on the class of the computer.

Worker office computer does not need a gaming video card and huge amounts of RAM, but for gaming computer you can't do without a powerful video card and plenty of RAM. Multimedia center needs a good hard drive with a large capacity, and even better if there are several of them, as well as a high-quality sound card and an average video card with the ability to connect a TV with an HDMI cable.

In any case, it starts with defining the tasks and goals that this computer will perform. After you have decided on the type of system unit, it's time to make a list of components for the system unit:

• CPU and cooler with heatsink
• Motherboard
• RAM
• Video card
• HDD hard disk
• Frame
• Power Supply
• DVD drive

You have probably already noticed that there is no sound card in the list, the fact is that modern motherboards are equipped with a built-in sound, network card, and other modules. Which 10-15 years ago were separate devices. If you need high quality sound, then you cannot do without a high-quality sound card. Especially if you need support for multichannel sound.

We recommend choosing accessories with processor because only certain motherboards are suitable for different types of processors. The socket in the motherboard where the processor is installed is called a socket, so the choice of processor affects the choice of the motherboard. In addition, be sure to check if this processor core is supported by the selected motherboard.

Cooler with radiator also selected by the type of processor socket, taking into account power consumption and the need for subsequent overclocking. If you don't plan on overclocking, the box version will be enough. Otherwise, we recommend not to save on the cooler and choose with a copper core in the radiator and a fan with speed control.

Planks random access memory you need to buy those that are supported by the motherboard and its maximum frequency. Those. if the motherboard supports DDR3 memory with a maximum frequency of 2000 MHz, then there is no point in buying DDR3 memory sticks with a frequency of 2400 MHz, since they will still work at a maximum frequency of 2000 MHz.

By choosing video card, pay attention to the bit width of the video memory bus, the amount of built-in memory, and then to the frequencies of the video core and video memory. In modern computers. the video card is installed in a PCI-Express (PCIe) slot. At the moment, the width of the bus is as follows:

• 32 and 64 bit - a video card for an office computer, similar to a built-in video card.
• 128 bit is a video card for a home system unit, but rather weak for modern games.
• 192 and 256 bit - video card for a gaming computer.
• 384 and 512 bit - gaming video cards of the level of GeForce GTX760 and ATI Radeon R9 290X, will allow you to play modern games without brakes.

Select frame computer needs taking into account the form factor of the motherboard and the size of its other components, such as a video card. It may well be such a situation that the video card simply won't fit inside, since modern gaming video cards are quite large. In addition, it is worth considering the number of hard drives and DVD drives installed in the future.

HDD or a hard drive should be chosen first of all in terms of reliability, durability and speed. If finances permit, buy a small SSD disk to install the operating system and a conventional magnetic HDD HDD for storing personal data: photos, videos, music, etc. Thanks to the use of SSD disks, you will not only increase the speed of your computer several times and reduce noise, published in the course of work.

Select DVD drive it is better based on reliability, and to acquire proven manufacturers: LG, NEC, Samsung, etc.

Before the purchase power supply it is necessary to determine what maximum power will be consumed by the system unit. The main consumers are the computer's processor and video card. We recommend, after an approximate calculation of the power, to increase the obtained value by 20-30%, so that the power supply does not work at peak loads. This will significantly increase its service life.

That, perhaps, is all that you need to buy for self-assembly of a computer.

For the correct computer assembly You can use our ITcom service center in Kharkov. Our experts will not only help you choose compatible and reliable components, but also tell you where to buy them.

A laptop or tablet has many advantages, but if there is a desire to assemble a computer with your own hands, then the choice will be in favor of the desktop. The assembly of desktop computers has long ceased to be the lot of the elite: it does not require special knowledge and skills to work with complex tools. All you need to assemble a computer yourself is an instruction manual, a set of compatible components, a Phillips screwdriver and accuracy.

Configuration types

Each user knows well what exactly he intends to do on the computer. The main plus of a hand-made assembly is the selection of a configuration for the tasks with which it is planned to load the system. Simplistically, computers are divided into three types by purpose:

• Office / budget PC. For working with documents, tables, databases, 1C and similar software, correspondence, searching for information on the Web, etc.
• The multimedia system solves a wide range of tasks, from web surfing to games. This same computer is usually used to store information.
• The gaming computer is focused on maximum performance in resource-intensive games. A gaming PC handles the rest of the tasks without difficulty, since it has top-end equipment.

There are intermediate configurations, and in addition, a performance upgrade is possible.

Selection of components

At this step, you need to fulfill two conditions: select the most productive and compatible equipment that works flawlessly "in conjunction", and keep within the budget.

Components of any system unit:

• power supply unit (PSU);
• motherboard (system) board;
• processor with a cooler (fan);
• RAM strips;
• system disk, often it is also a data storage device (HDD or / and SSD);
• video card (or integrated video adapter);
• frame.

Some time should be devoted to the selection of "hardware". There is no need to rush. Firstly, many sellers, taking advantage of the client's inexperience, try to sell unpromising hardware, for example, a capacious and expensive, but slow hard drive. Secondly, if you compare the prices of several companies and online stores, you can find a considerable range of prices and choose the most advantageous offers.

Budget PC

Even taking into account the increase in prices, it is quite realistic to spend no more than 10 thousand rubles on the system unit. Modern motherboards have integrated graphics, which allows you to do without a video card, without giving up entertainment. At your leisure, you can play not only the simplest games, but also medium-demanding ones. Or watch a video in Full HD.

The best choice (if we talk about early 2015) would be Intel's inexpensive Celeron G1840 dual-core processor. The motherboard for it is on the Intel H97 chipset, for example ASRock Fatality H97. AMD platform - CPU AMD A6-6400K and motherboard based on AMD A75. When choosing a motherboard, pay attention to the presence of connectors for connecting a monitor: HDTV, DVI or DisplayPort.

If you pay a little extra by building a computer based on a processor with an integrated graphics core, for example, AMD A10-7850K, you will get a good multimedia PC.

RAM - DDR3-1333, 2 modules of 1Gb each. A 500 GB hard drive will be more than enough. HDD speed - 7200 rpm. The reduced speed models (5400 rpm) are only suitable for data storage.

Attention! You cannot take the memory sticks with your fingers by the contacts, just like a video card and any other cards.

A 350 W power supply and a MidiTower case, and if there is not enough free space, then MiniTower (the motherboard format is selected accordingly). A DVD + RW drive is an optional but not required purchase. The operating system and software can be installed from a flash drive or using an external drive.

You should not save too much on the monitor of a working PC - this can negatively affect vision. Option: inexpensive, but high-quality BenQ GL2460HM with TN + Film matrix and a diagonal of 24 inches.

Multimedia PC

A “wide profile” computer for the whole family can be assembled by spending no more than 40,000 rubles on components.

Sample configuration:

The noise level will be reduced by choosing quiet fans. Monitor - with a wide viewing angle, because there can be several viewers. The most popular diagonal is 27 inches (variants - BENQ QW2760HS, ASUS VN279Q). If the computer is installed in the living room, headphones, for example the Gigabyte Force H3X, will come in handy - in case one wants to play shooters, while the rest are watching TV.

Gaming computer

Such a machine will seriously empty your wallet and enrich your life with emotions. Experienced gamers are well versed in hardware, and Igromania magazine and the site igromania.ru will help beginners. The magazine has a section "Iron Shop", where 7 variants of game configurations are provided monthly, for every taste and budget. Elite "hardware" is presented in the category "I saw you in a dream." But you can choose the price level from "Borrow, but buy!" and "Death to the brakes!" to "Cheap and Merry". For both platforms.

Of the processors, the stable leadership is behind the AMD FX8350 (8 physical cores, 4 GHz, L2 cache 4 × 2048 KB plus the “popular” price), Intel fans will choose Core i5-4690 or Core i7-4790K (letter K - for overclocking lovers, means it is an unlocked multiplier).

Central Processor Rating (CHIP, December 2014)

Owners of a computer based on the AMD platform cannot save on cooling in any way - these CPUs are distinguished by increased heat dissipation. The cooler mount can be either universal or designed for a specific socket.

A video card is the "heart" of a gaming PC, just as important as a processor. The beginning of 2015 was marked by the release of an interesting model - Nvidia GeForce GTX 970. Its price is almost twice as modest as that of the "older" GTX 980 (14,000 against 24,000 rubles), and the performance is only 8% lower. The two cooling fans are quiet and stop when idle. The card consumes only 145 W (the closest analogs take 230-250 W).

Alas, the hard drive is the slowest link in data transfer. To prevent the hard drive from slowing down the entire system, it is advisable to use a bundle of SSD + HDD: allocate a solid-state drive under the system partition, and place your files on the hard drive.

When everything is decided with the configuration, you can go shopping or place an order online.

Advice: it is advisable to choose a monitor live, since the true color rendition cannot be displayed in any characteristics. It needs a human eye. If you decide to buy from an online store, then the way out is to go to the nearest market and see the monitors in action, that is, in the window.

Preparing for assembly

It is better to temporarily remove pets from the room where the assembly will take place, as well as anything that can be accidentally hit or knocked over. In the future, as you develop skills, such precautions are unlikely to be needed, but for a start it is better not to risk it. Hands are thoroughly washed and wiped dry. Clothing should not generate static.

The components are unpacked and laid out on a clean, flat, lint-free surface. A manual for the motherboard is required, if not, download the manual from the manufacturer's website. At the same time, they take fresh drivers (not beta, only stable versions!).

They check for the presence of thermal paste, because without it, you cannot install a cooler on the processor. It usually comes with boxed versions of the CPU. If there is no thermal paste, you need to buy it. The optimal choice: inexpensive, time-tested KPT-8, although Alsil or foreign analogues can also be used.

You will need 2 power cords - to the system unit and to the monitor, SATA cables, a video cable to the monitor, as well as adapters to the video card (if it requires additional power). Some PSUs already have connectors for connecting video cards. It is not superfluous to prepare a dozen small ties (clamps) in order to beautifully clean up the wires inside the system unit. The monitor, mouse and keyboard are also placed nearby - they will soon be needed, as well as the installation disk with the OS.

Assembly

It will not take much time if the workplace is prepared in advance. Sequencing:

1. Installing the processor. The system board is placed on a flat horizontal surface (on a table or on the floor) with bubble wrap or thick cardboard underneath it. Remove the plastic plug from the socket, open the latch and cover. The processor is placed strictly in accordance with the marking, referring to the instructions for the board. Usually, the reference point is the gilded triangles, which indicate one of the corners of the socket and, accordingly, the processor. You do not need to push hard on anything, otherwise the socket or processor will be damaged. After installing the CPU, close the metal cover and latch.
2. Applying thermal paste to the upper platform of the processor - gently and as thin and even layer as possible. In those cases when there is already thermal paste on the "bottom" of the cooler, all that remains is to remove the protective film.
3. Installing a heatsink and cooler on the processor. Produced in accordance with the instructions for the fan, since there are several types of mounts. General point: do not press hard on the radiator, especially on its edges. The processor is housed in a protective steel case, but there is still a risk of damage. Once installed, the cooler is immediately connected to the corresponding connector (CPU Fan) on the board.
4. Open the side case cover and install the aluminum plug that came with the motherboard. They put the case in such a way that the platform for the motherboard is in a horizontal position - it is more convenient to work this way. Attention: small metal objects (bolts, paper clips, etc.) should not get under the board!
5. Mount the motherboard (with the processor already installed) in its intended place. In any case, the "seats" for the bolts are placed in a standard way and coincide with 4 or 6 holes on the board itself. All interface connectors on the board must fit into the matching cutouts in the cover plate.
6. According to the instructions, buttons and indicators of the front panel are connected to the board - Power, Reset, IDE Led, etc. Then they connect the USB connectors (without confusing Power and Ground - otherwise you can say goodbye to several flash drives before the error is detected).
7. The power supply is secured with 4 bolts. Connect additional processor power (4-pin connector with 2 black and 2 yellow wires) and system board power (20 + 4-pin connector). Do not use excessive effort! Deformation of the board is fraught with rupture of the tracks.
8. One or more hard disks are placed in the HDD cage, their power supply and SATA cables are connected. If there is an SSD, connect it, as well as a floppy drive.
9. The video card (after removing 1 or 2 plugs in the back of the case) is inserted into the PCI-Express slot and gently pressed until the latch is triggered. Connect the power supply to the video card, if provided.
10. All loops and wires are selected so that they do not interfere with the air circulation inside the case and do not fall into the fan blades. Usually the wires are fastened with ties in the form of a bundle and placed around the perimeter of the motherboard. Check at the same time if all devices are connected.
11. Install memory strips into the slots - first making sure that the slots in the strips coincide with the "keys" in the slots, and then evenly and not pressing them too hard until they click.

The video shows the whole process step by step. Installation of the processor (AMD and Intel), memory cards, connection of front panel buttons, and other important points are shown in detail, with comments.

Assembling a gaming computer differs only in the price of components (top-end video card, 2 HDD + SSD, 16 GB of RAM, etc.). The video will help you make sure of this: