Looking into a PC but not really sure where to start
Posted by OGraffe@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 4 comments
So my wife and I have decided we’d like to renovate our office and part of said renovation is looking into getting a PC. Basically got a new job where I no longer intend to WFH so my work setup isn’t in there anymore and all I have left is my old college laptop which is 10 years old and living on hopes and prayers. Figured I probably need some sort of new computer and figured why not look into a PC. So a few things I wanted to know so I could start looking into possibly making it work:
What kind of things do I need in the first place? Since it’s replacing my laptop, all I was using it for before was bills, appointments, and other miscellaneous things like that. However, I’d like to maybe start doing some gaming on there too; I’m a fairly casual gamer so idk if I really need the top end of resolution and whatnot but I also literally don’t know. I also have a spare Xbox that I play online games with my wife on; I don’t know if there’s a way to incorporate that into the setup or something and if so, how one would go about doing that.
Second, since this is part of a renovation project, it’d be nice to know approximately how much space I would need for it. I don’t doubt the room in question could fit it, but I’m thinking more for getting a new desk and adding new furniture to the room.
Sad-Character9129@reddit
Size: I would suggest to get a mid to large case if you just started to get into pc building so you don't always have to consider size constraints while picking parts.
I personally have a Corsair Crystal Series 680X which is big:
H: 505mm/19.9''
W: 344mm/13.5''
D: 423mm/16.7''
FatChungusRedditor@reddit
You will need a CPU, CPU Cooler, Motherboard, Ram, Storage (M.2 SSD pref), GPU, Case, and PSU. For building a PC, I recommend putting the parts you want to buy in https://pcpartpicker.com/ . It will tell you whether its compatible or not. Generally, you want to start with a budget, then I would look up a videos that explain basic use of each component and the current best components for varying budgets to understand the market a bit (video recent within last 6 months). After that, you can try to build a computer with a pcbuilder site and refer to people on forums for advice or ask r/buildapcforme to make a PC component list for you.
For picking a CPU, generally you want to stick with AM5, because they are power-efficient CPUs that have great platform longevity. For casual use and gaming, the 7600X and 9600X are the ideal CPUs. For a CPU cooler, it doesn’t really matter, any Thermalright single tower cooler will be fine, but you can also get a dual tower cooler like the Phantom Spirit, which costs $35. Don’t go AIO unless you prefer the aesthetics because performance and sound performance is marginal to a dual tower air cooler. Motherboards that are compatible would be the A620, B650, X870, B850. There are ATX boards and mATX boards. ATX boards are regular size and mATX boards are smaller and come with fewer features but are generally less expensive. For RAM, the rule of thumb is to look for DDR5 6000MHz with CL36–CL30 latency. For Storage, you generally want a 1-2TB m.2 SSD. You don't need DRAM for casual use. Some common SSDs would be the MP44L, UD90, M482, which are all price efficient. For the GPU, it depends on your budget, but you would want to look for an MSRP card that is modern, unless you don’t mind buying used. For cases, the most common are full tower, mid tower, and mATX towers. Generally, you want to buy a mid tower if you have an ATX motherboard and need to buy a mATX tower if you have an mATX motherboard. Lastly, for the PSU, you want some wattage headroom, I generally look for a PSU that has 20% or around 200 extra watts than recommended usage. Also, use https://cultists.network/140/psu-tier-list/ or search online to see the quality of PSU to buy. If your budget is low, I would look for a non modular C tier PSU, and if your budget is high, I would look for a fully modular A-B tier PSU.
If you are not buying now and looking to buy later, then I recommend looking at r/buildapcsales. They constantly have sales on all PC parts and peripherals. An ideal sale for you would probably be a 9600X bundle. They had a couple this month, but generally, what to look for is a bundle that comes with a CPU, motherboard, 32GB RAM, and a 500GB–1TB SSD. Here are some examples. (Ex 1, Ex 2, Ex 3).
MickyG1982@reddit
Start off with a budget, look at what you want to pay & how much you are willing to go above that.
secretagentstv@reddit
You can make a PC in many different sizes and form factors. I would suggest heading over to r/buildapcforme and they can get you situated. You can make a great 1080p ultra PC for around $1200. It will do 1440p as well.