Computer Science student wanting to build his first PC
Posted by Oh_NiGhTmArE@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 45 comments
I am fluent with how software works but not so familiar with the hardware, currently im in a class called Computer and Operating system fundamentals and its really cool, im learning a lot and my question is, where is the best place to "learn" or to have someone walk me through how to build my first PC? My budget is $5k.
edjxxxxx@reddit
PC Building Simulator is a great resource if you want to practice the fundamentals of putting together or troubleshooting a system, and you can play it on pretty low-spec hardware like laptops with integrated graphics (although support is not guaranteed).
chrisrobweeks@reddit
Is this game good? I work in IT and I had a similar idea for a game, but more focused on software/OS diagnosis and training.
edjxxxxx@reddit
It’s alright. There’s different modes like free-build and a “career mode” where you run an independent repair shop. The parts are a bit dated (and there’s some oddities, like motherboards only having six screws instead of nine—but they still have standoffs), but the fundamentals are all there. All of the standard parts are represented, you have to have everything wired correctly for the systems to POST, sometimes people drop off PCs without knowing what’s wrong with them so you have to troubleshoot it, there’s an “achievement” for forgetting to put thermal paste on the CPU, it covers benchmarking and ways to optimize systems for better 3DMark scores, i.e. big numbers are not always better (1050 vs 980), BIOS settings etc.
There’s quite a bit that’s oversimplified, but for $5 and a few hours of time it’s probably the easiest way to dip one’s toe into system building. It’s certainly cheaper and less risky than buying $1,000 (or $5,000 lol) worth of components and going into it blind. And because it’s interactive and you can make (and learn from) mistakes, it’s probably better than just watching YouTube videos of other people building systems.
Routine-Lawfulness24@reddit
Bruh
Autobahn97@reddit
$5K for your first PC as a student?! You only need $1K and can come up with a solid build, in fact part of the hobby is trying to attain certain performance at lower price points. I'd suggest loading a popular Linux distro like Ubuntu if you really want to learn more about OS. Windows 11 is dumbed down quite a bit and is a very bloated OS but the best if your goal is to play games on the PC.
readdyeddy@reddit
lol 5k. probably gonna get the rtx 5090 twice with that lol... get windows 11 and use windows bloatware remover.
Dredgeon@reddit
For real, the dude could buy 5090, build a monster around for $1500 more, and still have at least a grand left over to get an OLED monitor and really nice peripherals.
readdyeddy@reddit
so OP isnt doing this for games, he needs the cuda cores not DLSS4.0 id say an rtx 4000 series be better
Live_Blackberry4520@reddit
the guys at r/homelab would like to have a word with you. they will build a small datacenter to run plex and a small windows virtual machine and call it a day.
Autobahn97@reddit
lol - I used to be one of those guys until I couldn't afford the monthly electric bill and replaced that big server with a lame 65W PC with a few extra drives in it!
Gansaru87@reddit
The best thing I ever did for my power bill was replacing aging hardware with an e-waste laptop that I fixed with an 11800h. Runs everything I was using it for plenty fine and uses <20w idle.
Autobahn97@reddit
Thats smart, also companies like Bee Link make inexpensive mini-PCs I have got from Amazon, you just need to shop the lowest power CPU options.
toadx60@reddit
You don’t need a university education to build a computer but learning Linux is fun. Probably watch a YouTube tutorial. There are a lot of good PC build videos for each budget point. Yours is on the far high end. I don’t think I ever needed to know anything from my schooling besides that one time I had to wire a speaker in for beep codes
Parzivalrp2@reddit
what i would recommend is pcpartpicker.com, and a yt tutorial
Grydian@reddit
I will be honest I have a PC with a 4090 a 9800x3d and an oled 4k mointor. Clearly the kind of build you would want. However, to keep this PC going at 4k ultra settings I am going to be spending a lot of money. I am 44 you are not. I would go with a 1.5k build that hits the mid range hard. Something like a 7500f with a 5070 super.
Winter_Revolution695@reddit
Watch the Linus tech tips full guide, a couple of times. Should be good.
ultrasimz@reddit
if you have a budget that big, you should try finding out price to permance ratios for everything towards the higher end so because i doubt that you need stuff like a 5090
2clipchris@reddit
Bruh, I am going to give you a starting point. First lesson on Computer Science you should start learning how to locate this information and ask questions based on your research. I know this sounds like I am being a dick I am not.
My preferred website Pc part picker
Blasian_TJ@reddit
For $5k, I'm just going to assume you're including everything outside of the actual pc components? You could easily have a solid setup for $1000+/-.
Aside from the budget, there are tons of YT videos that can easily walk you through it. I gave most of my old pc parts to my 10yo and she built hers using YT and random Googling.
2raysdiver@reddit
I smell a Threadripper build!
KingOfTheWorldxx@reddit
I paid less than 1k bro
Been playing all my games D2, red dead, gta v all with high settings badass graphics imo
Run smoothly asf too and i have 4.5 tb of storage 500 nvme 4tb hdd
You can do it cheaply m8!
SushiBump@reddit
"An F in English? Bobby, you speak English."
semidegenerate@reddit
"Uggg. 6 AM, and already the boy ain't right."
Below-avg-chef@reddit
If you can put a puzzle together, you can build a PC. Just stay away from a custom liquid cooled loop.
Environmental-Pool62@reddit
Go to micro center lol $5k budget for first time pc builder gonna get overzealously jealous comments.
Dredgeon@reddit
Honestly, even if you manage to buy a 5090 for msrp of 2k, you're gonna run out of things to buy after 3k. At some point, you're just pissing money away on shit you don't need. You could go crazy on peripherals, but you need to slow down before you sink a ton of money into it and realize you aren't that big of a fan.
Redacted_Reason@reddit
Having someone there in person to watch over your shoulder is ideal. If you’re comfortable with saying where you’re from, you could probably find enthusiasts who’d be happy to sit down and make sure you don’t break something.
Matt0706@reddit
For 5k you will literally have to find stupid ways to waste money just to spend it all.
Maybe if you want a 5090 it might cost 3k but it’s better to spend half that now, earn interest on the rest and be able to sell/upgrade everything for brand new parts in a few years.
UNAHTMU@reddit
5k phew... Drop all that cash into a rtx5090. Intel 15th gen or AMD 9800x3d. Avoid Intel 13/14th gens. 32gb of RAM and a motherboard to drop it all into. Do read the motherboard manual and QVL (Qualified Vendor List) for compatibility. 5k is overkill for me... I just keep banging away with my Ryzen 2400g for my HTPC and Ryzen 7600x and rx6700xt for gaming.
aw3sum@reddit
5 thousand is insane, please do not use more than 2500 for the pc. haha.
penisstiffyuhh@reddit
Budget is 5k bruh just buy the most expensive prebuilt and you good
RenderFaze@reddit
Don’t do this please, prebuilts are often trash compared to what you could build on your own. Even high end prebuilts often skimp on some parts that could make it better.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
buildapc-ModTeam@reddit
Hello, your comment has been removed. Please note the following from our subreddit rules:
Rule 1 : Be respectful to others
^(Click here to message the moderators if you have any questions or concerns)
Dampin1@reddit
Daddy's money
readdyeddy@reddit
for video games, use windows 11, and google windows 11 bloatware remover.
for pc build, from scratch goto pcpartpicker, there are many community builds. if you want prebuilt, go something like a reputable SI like iBuypower, cyberpowerPC, maingear, or google others.
generally gaming pc have at least 16 or 32gb ram, keep cpu up to date like AMD ryzen 9000 series or intel 14th gen or higher. for gpu stick with nvidia rtx 5000 or amd 7000 or 9000 series, at least go for high end. for motherboards, dont cheap out get Z/X series. and get 1000w Gold rated psu, make sure the 12V rails have at least 50A and 5v should be at least 20A
HeyRiks@reddit
OS fundamentals might teach you some low level and architecture stuff but I assure you you'll learn nothing about builds in university.
Use the resources the others posted for all the necessary and compatible parts, and read the manuals.
When in doubt, ask. Don't try stuff like powering up a half-built pc to see if the cpu is properly seated.
Also read the manuals.
Typical_Teatime@reddit
5k u can get a top spec pc. 9800x3d Or 9950x3d, 4090 or 5090
skyfishgoo@reddit
$5k holy cow... youtube has lots of high end gaming builds and they are more than happy to show you how they put it together.
groveborn@reddit
You likely won't need $5, but building is a lot like putting a Lego set together. It's pretty easy to do right. Not too hard to do wrong, either.
Buying is harder than building. Once you've got the cou in it's all pretty smooth. The wiring can be difficult, but not dangerous.
Hungry_Reception_724@reddit
If you arnt playing games and dont need the absolute best hardware that is available (which no one really does)
you can build a computer for school for like 500 bucks if that. If you need it to play games 1000-1500 will get you a fantastic experience...
Why the gigantic budget?
Lumpy_Ad_9608@reddit
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9RH7C8, but minus the monitor, get somethin cheaper
Trungyaphets@reddit
I would try to get a cheap used workstation cpu(s) + mobo + lots of ram combo (I remember seeing a video where you could get like 48+ cores + mobo + 128/256gb ddr4 2133 for under $500) and potentially a few good GPUs if you like LLMs, maybe 2 or 3 used 3090s for 600-700 each. There are some videos on Youtube on this topic. Imo you don't need to spend 5k to learn computer science.
ChanceMeet3283@reddit
https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails?ItemList=Combo.4756804
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pDnyxg
Here you go
I would get all the parts and wait for the 5090 release in like 1-2 weeks. The 9800x3d bundle is good
kaje@reddit
/r/buildapcforme if you want someone to spec out parts for you. Watch tutorials on Youtube for the building process.