How hard is it to build a PC for a first-timer?

[-]

Kreason95@reddit

People exaggerate the ease a little bit but as long as you're careful with the components when you're handling them, you'll be fine.

[-]

Not at all just buy the mother board first. Everything will need to be compatible with that. Following the manual and use YouTube for guidance/questions. There's alot of online tools like PSU calculators and compatibility checkers you can google.

[-]

JustM3l@reddit

I’d say you can definitely build one. YouTube helps too. My first build was all in YouTube. So if I can do it. So can you. Trust the process 😂

[-]

DMReader@reddit

I did it a few years ago I did a lot of prep ahead of time which helped. I also did most of the work one night at a maker space and some guy who was there gave me some help, so that helped a lot.

However I had problems getting it to boot. I ended up calling the maker of the motherboard and they got me over the finish line.

Main thing I wish I did was get one of the magnetic screwdrivers. I dropped those itty bitty screws over and over again into the machine and had to hunt around for them. Definitely invest in one of those.

[-]

iyfs@reddit

I would recommending finding a tutorial for your pc case and using chatgpt whenever you get stuck. The entire experience really fun though dw!!

[-]

iyfs@reddit

Ngl I used Chatgpt SO MUCH for my first pc build. haven’t had a single issue with the hardware, you will have to tweak your pc settings and stuff but the whole experience is really fun.

[-]

-UserRemoved-@reddit

There are over 8 million users in this sub, and they all figured out how to do it. It's not that difficult, although navigating the current market can be challenging, but that's why this sub exists.

Being nervous and having reservations is natural. We counter this by learning, things are a lot less intimidating when you understand what needs to be done.

[-]

SlySly20@reddit

Not everyone in the sub has built a pc

[-]

Fenixri3es@reddit

I've built 4 in my years, nervous every time. Its just sprinkled with confidence a little more now. Do your due diligence and you should be fine. Take measurements of your gpu for case fitment, and how tall your air tower is if you are using one. My current pc the air tower was almost on the glass!

[-]

fish60@reddit

I've built over a dozen machines in the last 30 years. Still nervous every time. Although, these days my builds tend to POST first try.

[-]

Fenixri3es@reddit

Addition, dont cheap out on the psu!

[-]

esoteric_plumbus@reddit

I mean to be fair I would presume some were like me who had a friend whose already done it help me out the first time.

[-]

SleestackMcGee@reddit

There are videos on YouTube that can help. If you're handy with tools, you can handle it.

[-]

TiredYoungg@reddit

To be honest, the "adult LEGO" analogy is accurate. The difficult part isn't the assembly itself, but finding compatible parts. The physical setup—screwing and connecting cables—isn't as hard as you might think. It's also difficult to break anything, as long as you attach it correctly without forcing it. It takes a little time the first time, but it gets easier with practice.

[-]

sup3rdr01d@reddit

Not hard

[-]

4070ti@reddit

honestly pretty easy

[-]

Sawetzgy@reddit

You just need stable hands and good nerves and u will be alright

[-]

Just_Advertising_657@reddit

Its easy. Super easy. Learning to components necessary is a learning curve but that's easy.

Learning the subtleties of comparability can be difficult, but you likely won't need to care until after you've built your first one.

!!!!! Take the static band seriously and wear one, other then that you can't really mess it up ever. !!!!!

After you're comfortable you won't need the static band. I actually ground my case and maintain contact because I don't appreciate the bracelet. But if I didn't have a procedure, grounding my case as such is actually more dangerous then otherwise. My ground? It's an eye-loop from home depot I thread directly into a wall outlet. Just use the bracelet :)

[-]

kawaii_Summoner@reddit

$2000 Lego set for adults that has electricity.

If everything goes right it's just a few snaps, screws, and cords plugged in.

If everything goes wrong, well, we'll be here for you! :D

[-]

tooquick911@reddit

Not true. It's way more than just a few snaps, screws, and cords. I built four PCs and just helped my step son build one last night. It can take several hours to complete. He bought a liquid cooler and the screws were extremely difficult to attach, since it didn't line up properly. The parts are all made from different companies so it's definitely not like Legos where everything fits.

[-]

Ecstatic-Vermicelli2@reddit

It will definitely take a few hours to complete. But as they said: snaps, screws and cords. You don't need any special equipment and it's not dangerous with all the failsafes that are built in. Just make sure to get a good screwdriver. And there are many lego sets that can take longer and are more complicated than a PC. Just make sure you do stuff in the correct order by reading the manuals.

[-]

tooquick911@reddit

I had to use my star bit screw driver to take out where the CPU sits, to allow for the liquid cooler to seat, so it's more than just basic tools in some cases. Also the power supply has cpu/pcie cords that will fit in the same slots since they all have 8 pins, but if you plug the wrong one in you can damage your hardware. You also need to be careful of holding static electricity since that can fry your components.

It's definitely doable for most people, but saying it's like Legos and just a few clicks is going to give people a false impression. It will take several hours depending on your build and you can run into issues if you aren't careful.

You also need to make sure components are compatible. My first build a bought a combo motherboard that came with ram off Newegg. My PC didn't post when completed. I sent everything back one at a time replacing parts. It turned out the ram that was bundled with the mobo was not compatible and I had to get a different version of the same ram for it to work.

[-]

pythonic_dude@reddit

It is perfectly comparable to legos though. Just need to highlight that it's not "lego but $2000", but exactly "a $2000 set of lego and instructions are spread across several manuals" (and manuals are there, too many posts in this sub from people who couldn't be bothered to check their mobo one).

You need to be incredibly stupid and strong to fry something by plugging in the wrong cable. PSU 8pin 12v, EPS 12v 8pin, and pcie 6+2pin are all different shapes. Static is solved by touching something grounded before you start.

[-]

tooquick911@reddit

I mean there are some similarities but not exactly the same. In Legos if you put a piece backwards you can take it out and your fine. If you put you cpu in the wrong way and not see the arrow and you clamp it down you've just bent all the pins and ruined your cpu.

[-]

pythonic_dude@reddit

I don't argue that it's not exactly the same, but it's not a terrible way to explain it.

And, once again: people are too impatient to read mobo manuals.

[-]

tooquick911@reddit

I made the point because OP, who never built a PC, was asking how difficult it was and the top answer was it's just like Legos just a few twists and snaps and your done. Just wanted to give my advice and let them know it's not that easy.

[-]

P1ka2001@reddit

It’s not difficult just follow instructions there are laterally tons of good creators that show you and I’m sure there are pictures books with instructions just like Legos

[-]

kennny_CO2@reddit

Watching a YouTube video with the same motherboard I was building on was the best thing I found on my first build. If people are worried, get a motherboard that has a tutorial video on yt. That being said, most mobos are very similar so even if its not fhe exact same mobo, youll probably be fine

[-]

SpagettiStains@reddit

After reading this whole conversation, I still think legos is a really good analogy.

[-]

Fredasa@reddit

As with anything that's surface-level easy, there are bound to be hidden complications that no manuals, guides or videos really manage to underpin. Not because they couldn't, of course, but because there's always a threshold of understanding, below which one is expected to fill in with intuition ideally, or experience otherwise.

My microcosm of this is just how much force is often required to truly seat RAM. A beginner will unavoidably feel like they're on the verge of breaking something before most RAM is seated properly, and cheaper motherboards may not even provide the means to make it clear when RAM is or isn't seated.

[-]

SegataSanshiro@reddit

I never had that issue with ram, it's that damn CPU retention arm that scares me every time.

[-]

Full_Vegetable_5348@reddit

I mean if you really know what you're doing it really is a few snaps screws, and cords. I'm at the point where I build in SFF PC cases and even with the finicking with cable management to make everything look nice and tidy still only takes me about 2 hours start to finish, and if I don't care about making the cable management clean, I could probably get the PC assembled and running in a bit over an hour

[-]

oby100@reddit

True, but this doesn’t help a first timer. Once you’re used to all the little strategies and typical struggles I’m sure you can blaze through it, but first time builders will often need a lot of extra time to undo mistakes and try again and troubleshoot once they’re done but it won’t turn on

[-]

Thien1o1@reddit

so real

[-]

EZzO444@reddit

Wow. I love this post:)

[-]

clutzyninja@reddit

Things have to go REALLY wrong to mess something up permanently. Usually it just doesn't post, you fiddle with whatever was unfiddled, and try again

[-]

DreamWeaver2189@reddit

Yeah, basically be careful and gentle with you expensive electronic components and you should be fine.

Assembling the PC is the easy part, troubleshooting what went wrong when your PC isn't turning on is the hard part.

[-]

Old_Leather_Sofa@reddit

I'd give the extra upvote for this if I had it. Assembly is usually fine. Discovering you've done something in the wrong order (like video drivers) or something dumb - like ordering a CPU without integrated graphics for a motherboard without video outputs that you intended to use without a video card are the things that will trip you up.

[-]

Freakwilly@reddit

Yeah, this really nailed it. Makes me want to build a pc

[-]

EZzO444@reddit

Gives hope in humanity!! 🙏 :)

[-]

tooquick911@reddit

Too bad it's the top post and not accurate. Saying it's like Legos and just a few snaps and screws is not accurate at all.

[-]

Dilanski@reddit

It's just bad advice, I won't pretend it's difficult, but it's not lego set easy or forgiving.

[-]

oby100@reddit

Yep. I really hate the comparison. Maybe a better one is this: ever been frustrated putting together IKEA furniture or similar? Directions a little unclear? Hook things together the wrong orientation? Does it seem like there’s no way step 10 can actually be done cleanly?

PC building can be a lot worse than that frustration, especially if you go to flip it on and nothing happens. That’s why you need to do everything slowly and methodically. Plugging one wire into the wrong thing will result in nothing turning on and troubleshooting to figure out what went wrong is really frustrating.

It’s all “easy” but on your first time there can be tons of things that aren’t going quite right or mistakes you make that force you to undo work you’ve done, especially around cable management.

But have no fear. Leave a lot of patience and time to cool down when things get frustrating. I built my first over a whole weekend and already planning to set everything down when I got stuck made the whole experience relatively painless.

[-]

streakermaximus@reddit

True.

More Gunpla than LEGOs.

[-]

thuggishruggishboner@reddit

Most likely everything will go right except for one thing.

[-]

xepion@reddit

Hard part is

Ram install is 1 way. Watch a video to get confidence .
Mobo wiring. + case manual. Read both and triple check each one. Sometimes you won’t use all cables.
Thermal paste. Or AIO cooler. Watch the video.
Fan direction. It matters 🤣

[-]

oby100@reddit

This is underselling it massively. It’s easy overall in the sense that you’ll never be scratching your head over technical stuff (once you bought everything), but I had a bunch of moments where things just weren’t clicking together because my CPU was tucked in a corner and connecting the power to it was damn near impossible with my larger hands.

Then the ram needed enough force to bend the motherboard to get it to click, so it took a couple hours to convince myself to put that much force into it. And the hardest part imo is getting the power supply fully connected to everything it needs to connect to exactly right.

I’d prefer not to undersell it and instead invite people to plan to do everything slowly over a whole day. If you’re lucky and learn fast, you might blaze through it in a couple hours. If your components fit together awkwardly, don’t sweat it and just take it all nice and slow.

It’s insanely easy the second time you do it, but my first time had a lot of moments where I was in disbelief how obnoxious some things were to get connected correctly.

And god bless anyone with the patience to go for pretty cable management. It’s not for the faint of heart

[-]

Bombshellings@reddit

Spent like a few weeks educating myself on PC building last summer and was able to do it first try in two nights. The hardest part was the anticipation to building it honestly

[-]

Vader425@reddit

I gifted my 12 year old nephew my old gpu. He saved for the other parts and put it together in about an hr and a half. I was going to walk him through it but he was already playing games by the time I called.

[-]

MIneBane@reddit

Just make sure everything is finger tight even when tightening screws. No need for hammers and forcing things into places they don't fit. Most things have a guiding point or arrow if the correct orientation is required.

[-]

Coldhearted010@reddit

And back pain! But I'm old now.

[-]

jetstrea87@reddit

Im at $4000

[-]

Yen_Colebno@reddit

There's a part that is Lego and there's a part that is Tony stark

[-]

tarnished_ashen_1@reddit

Not hard. Read the manual and don't rush.

[-]

The_Internal_@reddit

TLDR version: If you can change the oil in a car and have 6th grade reading comprehension, you can build a PC.

Longer version: I compare PC building to changing the oil in a car. Both require basic spacial reasoning and sometimes intermediate problem solving skills, and most problems encountered can be addressed by doing remedial research ahead of time or referring to manuals, forums, or youtube videos. I'd guess the biggest thing that would be ignored from novice builders would be mitigating the risk of ESD (electrostatic discharge, aka static electricity) by grounding themselves regularly / wearing a strap and going with cotton or other non-conductive clothing (avoid polyester) or the uncomfortable amount of pressure sometimes needed to mount a heatsink or RAM. Also, expect a blood sacrifice to the PC gods. Rare to do a build of an unfamiliar system without cutting yourself at least once on some PCB or case. Like most folks learn by 3rd grade, read the directions / do some basic research first / plan out a reasonable sequence for assembly, then take your time.

[-]

FunDesk197@reddit

It can be difficult for me my main struggle was the aio position bc i had a cheap case with no proper mount point everything else was pretty smooth sailing just always check before you do smth.

[-]

Ok-Pea1438@reddit

Go for it! Research before, make sure your parts are compatible, and off you go!

I built my first one some months ago and I'm quite happy with it

Worked out on the first try

[-]

forgetful800@reddit

It’s expensive legos that have the durability of a wet paper towel and even those might be stronger. Just keep in mind everything is sensitive so don’t just jam it in like it’s your girlfriend. Take your time research how to do it and remember always always always check for static discharge before touching anything internal.

[-]

Athena_IIV@reddit

It’s really not that difficult. Just don’t go in blind and set yourself up for failure. Actually do a bit of learning beforehand so you know what you’re doing.

I’d also advise to watch a YT video or two of someone doing a build. I found it mighty helpful watching a build video that used the same case as I.

[-]

Keffflon@reddit

Yes its LEGO. If you have a junk yard nearby or see some posts of people giving stuff away, it can be fun to play around with older parts to make your first setup. I bought an old gaming pc for $60 and added some used parts, that was a fun start. And if you mess something up it doesnt matter.

[-]

Popobertini@reddit

Today is the easiest it has ever been. Years ago there was no one to help you out really. You cold print instructions but compatibility was pretty much praying and faith. Now just look up the blueprints online

[-]

Zigetin@reddit

Not too difficult. Make sure things are plugged in, if you are unsure, go back through and give it a once over. If you know where everything goes and you read the instructions fir each piece, you should be able to it easily, although the first time might take a little while.

[-]

konikpk@reddit

So ez...

[-]

neverspeakawordagain@reddit

Cable management is hard. The rest is comparatively easy. I had only one serious difficulty building a computer for the first time - got stuck for an hour trying to attach the CPU cooler to the motherboard, because the instructions weren't clear that you had to attach a part to the back of the motherboard first to screw the cooler into.

[-]

KAODEATH@reddit

Cable management is the fun part in my builds! Connecting the damn things, especially ATX, USB, and CPU are the most difficult.

Being 100% confident of PSU socket layouts is where the stress comes in. Posts like these are my saving grace.

[-]

SherLocK-55@reddit

Cable management is fun? You sir are a very sick man.

It's the most time consuming and annoying part of a build for me, hate it with a passion.

[-]

KAODEATH@reddit

Usually means I'm near done, no more screws, no payments left to make and whatever I mess up at this point is cosmetic, hidden in the case and at worst, able to be left for future me to deal with!

[-]

SherLocK-55@reddit

But you're not near done if you still need to cable manage lol, it's without question the most time consuming part, slotting in the components takes no time at all.

[-]

neverspeakawordagain@reddit

I mean, I spent an entire day disassembling and reassembling my computer to by to get the cable management right, and eventually just gave up. It's spaghetti and that's OK.

[-]

RobertDeveloper@reddit

It is easy if you get matching parts and a case that is big enough to work with. So check if the cpu fan will fit the case, make sure that the powersupply fits, that the cables have enough room to get where they need to do, read up on how to put the cpu in the socket of the mainboard, there is only one way for it to fit, dont force it or you will break the pins.

[-]

Remarkable-Sample273@reddit

It’s installing the OS and updating the BIOS that’s the worrisome part. Maybe be ready to ask for help there. Follow the videos/guides and you’ll be fine. Try to be neat with the cabling & wires.

[-]

blu3tu3sday@reddit

I built one a few years ago- I had no experience with hardware at all, only software. I followed a youtube video, had it done in a couple of hours. It was not difficult, but I am a methodical, careful person so I was double and triple checking where and how I'm attaching stuff to the motherboard.

[-]

GoldPlatedMilk@reddit

Arguably there has never been an easier time to build. Now cost that’s a different story.

[-]

GoldPlatedMilk@reddit

LTT has a fantastic “how to” video I recommend watching.

[-]

croud_control@reddit

Not really hard. Just time consuming. I built my first PC back in late January, and it took me about 7 hours. Just make sure you take your time, read your manuals and take it easy as you build it.

[-]

Zack_W__@reddit

It's not hard, just make sure not to force anything too hard. And be careful with the cpu. Other than that, it really is just Legos.

[-]

ran_choi_thon@reddit

I is aways easy to build if as you execute a youtube video, following it up

[-]

DownvoteOwnComments@reddit

You are likely to run into issues which will cause you to troubleshoot and redo things, but very unlikely to run into issues that will break anything unless you're not careful.

Look up a guide video or two and then just try. If you run into any problems refer to manuals for your parts or look up more specific videos.

[-]

pimpguice@reddit

It's not as hard as you think initially, just watch some YouTube videos while you're building it, it will help a lot

[-]

DnAGyal@reddit

I built my first ever PC last summer and I have zero background or experience. So I took at least a solid month learning what each component does and then another month or so shopping for the a particular component with the specs I was after. The learning and compiling parts took the longest. I spent two weekends putting everything together because I chose to work slow for my ease of mind. I’d say familiarize yourself with the motherboard’s diagram and draw out the connections you’ll make to it BEFORE you even start taking parts out of packaging. Read the manuals for everything too. It’s not as intimidating when you’ve learned the fundamentals.

[-]

capibara_dono@reddit

Have you ever changed a computer part before?

I started learning when I upgraded the RAM for a computer, lots. of reading online, watching tutorials, etc. Then switching a HDD, etc.

As others. said, it's an expensive Lego set with electricity.

Long list of tips from my experience (and mistakes)

You'll need to have a screwdriver set, thermal paste (buy a decent one, it's not expensive), check what comes with each part, you may need to buy extra cooling fans or a CPU fan.

Read about the pieces, share your proposed build, make sure all parts are compatible, both in the technical sense and the physical sense. I once bought a GPU and I didn't think to check the size, so I had to literally saw off part of the case and remove a hard drive for it to fit.

Get a good PSU, there are sites to evaluate how powerful it has to be based on the components. Get one more powerful than the estimate. Also buy a quality one, there are ratings, it's worth to spend more on the heart of the computer's electronics. Check that it has enough plugs for everything you want to power.

Motherboard, check that all parts are compatible, the CPU socket, the RAM, the slots for GPU and other things you want to add, like a WiFi adapter.

RAM, depends on what use you want for the computer, you might need different amount of RAM. I'd say 16 GB is enough for gaming.

Static electricity, look into this, it kills electronics. These pieces are sensitive. Do t build over a carpet, look into ways to avoid damage, I use a wrist thing that is connected. to the computer case.

With all this, start building. Start with the PSU (check that it's set to the correct voltage for your country, 110V, 220v, etc), check that the switch is off, and don't plug it in yet. Then motherboard, CPU, then CPU fan (unless you use liquid cooling, I have no experience there). Then RAM and GPU. Make sure the cables fit comfortably and don't touch any moving parts, like fans. Connect storage (use SSDs, I'd recommend an M2 for the operating system).

I'm sure I missed things, there are many videos online showing complete builds.

Good luck!

[-]

Azmasaur@reddit

It’s extremely easy if everything goes well.

Occasionally you have to troubleshoot something and then it just depends on what exactly needs troubleshooting.

[-]

Evstar@reddit

It's gonna take you all day. It's harder than people give it credit for for someone who knows nothing, but easier than you think it is. There are many good guides online for people, and every single item that you buy has its own instructional manual. It's quite finicky but you can do it :)

[-]

L1teEmUp@reddit

As long as you did your research and watched youtube video tutorials, it is not that too complicated..

You need good reading skills to be able to understand and build your first pc..

And always expect to make mistakes, even if ur a seasoned builder..

[-]

azsheepdog@reddit

The actually building of the pc isnt too hard. Making sure everything you buy is compatible and physically fits in the case is probably the hardest part.

[-]

gonephishin213@reddit

I'm a fucking idiot and I've built 3

[-]

Brazosboomer@reddit

I remember building my first PC after watching the Screen Savers with Leo and Patrick. Good show. I miss Tech TV.

[-]

Demokrates@reddit

It took me, and still takes me a few hours to build one. I'm always overly cautious, especially with the really expensive parts so I take my time. I always sweat like a $5 h***er, so i make sure to have enough kleenex or whatever to wipe my forehead :). Linus Tech Tips has great PC building vids - i'd watch those - don't use The Verge video though. One thing that still gives me the creeps is how much force some of the parts need to be put in properly. My personal pet peeve is the CPU cooler - there are the really easy ones to install, and some quite the opposite. But it is extremely satisfying to build it yourself.

[-]

ClaudeVS@reddit

I did it and it worked first go 👍

[-]

PunyParker826@reddit

It's not hard; it just has some low-to-moderate financial risk. In the (unlikely) scenario that something does go wrong, the components involved are very expensive, and it can put a dent in your wallet, or at least your time.

Luckily, 90% of the risk can be negated by looking at quality tutorials, and researching your parts ahead of time, which mainly comes down to knowing their physical dimensions, their compatibility with each other, and what you're trying to do with your rig.

This video largely put my mind at ease during my first build: Jay goes out of his way to recreate many of the common "mistakes" that builders can make, and his build still comes out more or less fine in the end.

Long story short, just do your due diligence, watch others build several different towers to get some context, and have fun.

[-]

rikki-tikki-tavi-oh@reddit

It took me a full week to build my rig. The first four days were used to double and triple check my work to make sure I connected every component correctly. The last three days were used to make sure I downloaded and set the necessary software correctly and tested to make sure my pc actually ran. But I went overboard with my build so there were more components to worry about compared to if I built a less powerful pc

[-]

Progenitor3@reddit

I built my first PC in 2018 by just reading the manuals for the case and power supply and CPU cooler. Didn't watch any videos. It went very smooth.

[-]

droopyy11@reddit

Honestly for me physically building a PC is the easy part. I just built a new PC and had everything working fine up until I had to download windows. Now I’m having it crash constantly. Clearly fine with the hardware. Software though, not so much.

[-]

Gettsy@reddit

I built my first one about a year ago. I spent a few hours over about three days getting it done. The hardest part for me was figuring out where everything went on the motherboard, and getting windows on it. I’m not the best at these kinds of things, but I got through it with YouTube videos. Feels good that I built one but next time I’ll probably buy the parts and have someone else do it lol. Picking my components was my favorite part of it.

[-]

LITHIUM79@reddit

The trickiest part is to install the processor and the fan on top of it. You just need to be careful with pins, its position (there's only one way to slide it in the socket) and take your time. The next steps are basically wiring elements to the power unit so it's pretty easy to figure out. And also, there's YouTube now.

[-]

fall0fdark@reddit

built my new pc yesterday the hardest cable i had to plug in was the god dam cases power button who ever designed that and the header for it needs a slap upside the head.

[-]

FrequentWay@reddit

Easier to get an extension cable set. Plug them in prior to dropping the motherboard into the case. Same with ram and cpu.

[-]

elvpak@reddit

The worst cable for me was the front USB 3.0 header! Very stiff cable and difficult to route plus a very snug fitting plug!

[-]

Nishnig_Jones@reddit

very snug fitting plug!

So true, I hate it so much.

[-]

IHateRedditors42@reddit

Fuck that cable. Granted, if I knew I needed a 90 degree adapter/more flexible extension cable it wouldn't have been that bad.

[-]

FrequentWay@reddit

That’s always a fun cable to then take off. Had that one break off from the motherboard multiple times.

[-]

Better-Credit6701@reddit

At least it is better than the old days when there were tiny switches and a different way to hook up power to the board

[-]

semidegenerate@reddit

Also, jumper pins were everywhere, and the documentation wasn't always stellar and often only in print. Even HDDs had jumpers to set master/slave.

[-]

bongmitzfah@reddit

Hardest for me was power to gpu I had very little room to make it fit

[-]

Ok_Historian_2381@reddit

I'd say putting the processor in is scary but easy.

The heatsink was the worst. accidently dropping it while trying to screw it in and smudging the pre applied thermal paste everywhere, having to turn it on to heat it up enough to unstick it.

Then recently with an am3 I was pulling the heatsink off, accidently ripped the cpu out, then went to the window to inspect the pins, and then the cpu slid off the heatsink and hit the ceramanic floor (topside up luckily).

[-]

An4rchy48946@reddit

As someone who has built multiple, people really deny the fact that it’s very overwhelming for your first time doing it. It really is a lot of information and knowledge that you should learn first before even doing anything

Also, shopping is a big part too. First you gotta make sure your parts even work together. Definitely don’t want a PSU that can’t power your PC, and you absolutely can’t cheap out on it either. Then your parts. . . Sizes, gotta make sure they’re also not bottle-necking each other.

I’d say just do a TON of research beforehand. Don’t grow a big head and think that you know it all after a few videos. Before you even order the parts, watch videos, read articles, etc etc. There’s more to it than these comments claim, but it is a bit easy once you’re used to it and relaxed.

(I think there are also online simulations you can play to get used to the inside of a PC and the parts)

[-]

virgotop@reddit

I bought a prebuild PC at first back in 2019. To learn the schematics😆 and then I change the processor and fan. After that I change GPU and upgrade storage. Lastly I change case and swap in rgb case fan. Voila! now I can build from scratch. To date I've build 6 PC on my own(nothing went wrong yet)..i can't afford ruining parts cause I'm poor that's why I take extra step in the beginning🤣..but yes you can build it if you watch enough YouTube video..there should be step by step video. Also all components got manual included so go for it. It easy and fun

[-]

Fuzzy_Yossarian@reddit

Where I buy my PC they will seat the processer and ram for free.. don't know if that helps.

[-]

Aadarm@reddit

The longest and most difficult part will be cable management.

[-]

BruceLeeMitless@reddit

Not mandatory. Better for airflow and more satisfaction to look. You can do it later and with modular power supply ans m2 ssd , there are not much cable now and no more ide cables.

[-]

sixsh0t311@reddit

It is quite easy if you know what you’re doing but I found it stressful the first time that I was doing shit wrong. Had issues with my liquid cooler and then a dead power supply that really pushed my hardware knowledge on computer 1. Did eventually get it to work with Reddit YouTube and a few friends help.

Computer 2 then was flawless and took me like 3 hours.

[-]

nomorespamplz@reddit

Just watch a good rated video on YouTube, and then use common sense and you will be fine. Just avoid The Verge’s video 😅

[-]

Stunning-Hat2309@reddit

people always say it's easy but it was immensely stressful for me.

granted i'm audhd so maybe neurotypicals have it easier

[-]

BruceLeeMitless@reddit

Choosing each components is not easy but building it is not difficult and you have no risk. Just read notices and mount each part in order to make it easily. Only thermal paste could be "difficult" but check temps in the bios for the first start. If it's not ok clean it and repaste. Read, have some space, correct and take your time. If you re not sure, stop and ask friends or on forum.

I bought my brother's pc, mounted by pros but they do mistakes (computer was ok but not exploiting all it's power) but they mount a pc very quickly.

Mounting with only new parts, maybe you can miss some cables or small things. With used parts, its always a mess with scews, cable but if you're careful you cant do something wrong and break parts.

Always power off.

[-]

PotatoSilence@reddit

It’s not that difficult it’s just nerves that you might not plug the the thing in the right thing. My first PC build I followed a 1hr step by step video and I finished building (after installing and updating OS) after almost 5 hours. I went tripled check I had the right connection where the vid said to.

[-]

_RrezZ_@reddit

It's fairly fool-proof especially if you watch a youtube video on how to do it first or as you go.

You can't really plug anything in wrong the only "spooky" part would be putting in the CPU for the first time imo.

I built my first PC a couple years ago and I just watched one youtube video and then assembled it myself and I didn't mess anything up. It's a lot easier than you think and the only part you want to really be careful with is putting in the CPU. After that it's pretty much fit the parts into the right slots and gg ez.

[-]

TheKrzakkTTV@reddit

Not hard

[-]

Remote_Thought5208@reddit

Lots of research to make sure parts are compatible, tech wise and dimension wise. 2-3 hours of building, some scary moments, some blood and sweat. Have built 8 systems since the 2000`s. Worst part is usually the front panel connectors.

[-]

DoctorOfTheCookie@reddit

Hardest thing about it is fitting the motherboard into the case. If it's not exactly in the right place it will not play nice with you. I had to put as much pressure as possible on the motherboard to get the screws in and I constantly got scared thinking something was going to snap. Just keep your head and you'll be fine

[-]

SyrusDeathHunter345@reddit

Tiny messups can problematic. If you are worried i recommend asking for help

[-]

_lefthook@reddit

Its not hard, but its easy to make expensive mistakes. I worked PC retail and the amount of people bending pins or snapping things and expecting warranties...

If you can get somebody who has built before to watch and guide you, thats the best bet.

[-]

pandaSmore@reddit

It is as easy as people say. The hardest part is selecting the parts. If you put all if your parts you want to buy into PCpartspicker.com it will tell you whether or not the parts are compatible.

[-]

ConsonanceDissonance@reddit

it’s pretty easy, pretty much like legos, as long as you have a couple thousand dollars to spend on parts that are worth half the price.

[-]

dax660@reddit

this is all you need to know:

https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/bs4u7r/im_a_master_builder/

[-]

cuteman@reddit

Hard? No.

Lots of steps with some uniques depending on your set-up? Yes

Pain in the butt to trouble shoot if something goes wrong? can be

[-]

CherryGarciaisKing@reddit

https://youtu.be/KH69WsTzgU0?si=ca2L_HjbQAOEkFU8

Here you go!

[-]

Consistent_Bar_7644@reddit

I don't think that I can ever build it lego, I have no sense when it comes to PC

[-]

HealthNut1337@reddit

For a newcomer it's way way harder than most people say it is.

Getting every single thing working properly (eg: full color mode on your Nvidia GPU, Gsync/Freesync, etc...) takes a lot of research. It's very easy to install your CPU cooler fans facing the wrong direction, a fan in a sub-optimal spot, to put your M.2 in the slot further away from your CPU on accident (closer to the CPU has better performance usually), easy to buy RAM that is too tall, or buy a case that is too narrow for a tall CPU cooler (eg: DH-15).

Then you need to adjust your hardware settings (eg: on a Samsung Pro SSD) onto maximum performance mode, and test it with eg: CrystalDisk to make sure you're getting the maximum performance for the SSD. It's going to warn you that it may destroy things but to get the advertised speeds that's what you need to do with a Samsung Pro SSD (should be illegal to advertise that way but w/e).

Then there's setting up your RAM overclock in the BIOS, should be as easy as just picking a default OC profile, but many people say that's sub-optimal or dangerous.

On top of all that you need to calibrate the HDR settings on your monitor so things don't look too bright or too dark.

Remember to go and check your monitor refresh rate settings, some default to the lowest hz for power saving reasons, or perhaps your monitor set to the lowest refresh rate before you installed your specific graphics card drivers.

Anyone who says "All you do is plug in some legos" is either massively experienced, or very inexperienced (I'm leaning toward the latter).

Remember to optimize your thermal paste for what you want, eg: a few more C on temp but thermal paste lasts 5+ years (MX-7 paste or graphite pad), or 5-8C lower temps but you risk issues with conductive paste (Conductonaut).

Remember to get your ergonomics set up properly (put your monitor on a stand on your desk to put the center of it at your natural eye level).

Get a mouse that fits your hand properly (especially if you're left-handed). Get a keyboard (ideally mechanical) with switches that are right for you in terms of sound and resistance.

Download proper backup software (eg: iDrive, Paragon) to back up your important data to the cloud properly, and clone your PC to keep complete system backups ready in case of catastrophic loss.

IMO this sub is full of people who haven't actually built a PC before, they've just watched a bunch of GamersNexus or Jayz2Cents videos and look at a computer, see 4-5 parts, and think "Wow that's really easy!"

[-]

AreMeOfOne@reddit

If you can follow IKEA instructions, you can assemble a computer. The hard part is picking the parts.

[-]

NateHohl@reddit

This probably isn’t feasible now, but what I did when I first got into PC building about ten years ago was buy a cheap pre-built PC (I think I paid like $500) and then I taught myself how to upgrade it part by part. First I replaced the graphics card (also referred to as a GPU), then the hard drive, power supply, RAM, CPU, and then finally the entire motherboard.

It wasn’t long until I’d replaced pretty much every part and I felt confident enough to build a full PC from scratch. Sadly, as I mentioned above, given the cost of both a pre-built PC’s and individual parts these days, this route probably isn’t as economically feasible as it was for me ten years ago.

[-]

busbybob@reddit

Easy

[-]

weggaan_weggaat@reddit

Physically it's not that hard, especially for a simple setup. RIP to your wallet if you're trying to build something fancy, though.

[-]

bakedpatata@reddit

It's not too hard, but there's some stuff you can mess up. My biggest tip is to read your motherboard's manual and follow those instructions on how to mount it and connect everything. It also helps to put all your components into pcpartpicker.com and see if it flags any incompatibilities before you buy everything. Also if you have any doubts there are tons of videos showing how to install different components.

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

Hi there! Thanks for the comment.

We ask that posts and comments be in English so they can be understood by as many people as possible. Translations on Reddit are client-side, and not all apps or browsers support auto-translate. Currently many users (and moderators) aren’t able to read your comment.

Could you please submit a new comment in English?

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[-]

Turbulent_Soil5212@reddit

C’est facile 😌

[-]

GioCrush68@reddit

The hardest part is acquiring the parts. Grab a screwdriver and read the manuals for the components and it's no harder than assembling simple furniture.

[-]

Wolfeman0101@reddit

There are so many guides, videos, and resources now I feel like it's really not too hard. The problem is I've built dozens of PCs and never once not had an issue so be prepared to troubleshoot. Places like this are a godsend though, I used to have to go to phpBB forums and pray for help. I feel like it not going smooth is part of the initiation process.

[-]

Luthian@reddit

For the most part, I think with a couple YouTube videos and an AI on standby to ask basic questions would allow a persom with basic tech competency to knock it out.

I think the more difficult aspect (for someone green) is picking up parts that work together and fit in the case they buy, but there are tools that make that easy (you just have to know to use them, something like PC Part Picker).

[-]

AnsgarAhuizotl@reddit

Not hard, it's like lego with extra-steps.

You've got to watch some YT tutorials as there could be expensive f ups.

[-]

Intrepid_Reach_1330@reddit

It’s easy. Watch some tutorials. Lot’s of yotubers can tell you what to keep in mind.

[-]

Full_Vegetable_5348@reddit

It is like adult lego. It can be frustrating for a first timer, and you will like make a few mistakes here and there that might cost you time, but it isn't something to shy away from by any means. Especially with how many step-by-step build guides there are online now.

[-]

DL1982@reddit

I've build my first pc about 5 years ago, with my second one build 2 years ago.

It's really not hard, just use your manuals and there are enough guides on YouTube to use. I used Bitwot guides. There might be better guides but I used that one.

[-]

polishfighter5000@reddit

first time i installed a gpu it took me 50 minutes next time i needed to put sata cable into motherboard and had to take it out and put back took me like 1.5 first time is always the worst you dont know how much strength to put into each cable if something goes there where to put a screw etc

[-]

sgrobpla@reddit

The hardest part are the nerves, like when trying to clip RAM in and not knowing how much force you need without breaking it.

[-]

OldOne999@reddit

Make sure you research and get the right CPU and RAM for the right motherboard (check the motherboard support page for supported CPUs and memory...don't just trust pcpartpicker). Make sure the CPU is supported by all BIOS versions of the motherboard...otherwise you will have to update the BIOS of the motherboard to use your CPU...but for most motherboards you have to have a working CPU to update the BIOS lol!

Make sure you get a good power supply, not just in terms of wattage but don't buy a cheap brand (get Corsair RM model or Seasonic or maybe beQuiet power supply). For gaming PCs I would say get an 850W power supply. Also make sure you are grounded and have no static electricity when building it...touch the metal parts of the case for example to discharge static safely. Static electricity can burn CPUs and motherboards so make sure you don't fry those when you handle them.

Also, make sure you get the right CPU cooler....I got a cheap 4 pipe heatsink (Thermalright Assassin X) for my 9800x3d and I quickly realized it was bad....so bad I replaced it 3 days later with a Phantom Spirit 120 SE. Any air cooler you pick should have at least 120mm sized fans (any smaller and they make too much noise).

The case you pick should be a mid tower ATX case (easiest one to build in that doesn't take up too much room). Air cooling is easiest for a beginner and also lasts longer. Get a case that has room for two front fans for air intake and one rear fan for exhaust and also a top fan for exhaust. All fans should be at least 120mm in size.

As for which CPU to go for (Intel or AMD) and which model...you will have to do your research however, the current gen of top gaming CPUs favor AMD (9800x3d)...but AMD CPUs run screaming hot so you need a good cooler. This doesn't apply if you are building a budget system.

[-]

Capta-nomen-usoris@reddit

Buddy of mine built his first about 25 years ago. He bolted the motherboard straight to the casing. But hey lessons learned and now he can built one pretty quick. Just remember OP that mistakes are okay, just try not to electrocute yourself or set the house on fire.

And to your question is it hard? Depends on so many things, are you smart, do you get frustrated easily, do you have the proper tools. I’m sure you’ll manage.

[-]

Colessus@reddit

I built my very first PC at age 40, last year, and I can give you this advice.

Watch a few PC build tutorials on YouTube, it really helped me.
Order is one of the most important things, building the CPU, RAM, and GPU into the motherboard first makes things a lot easier, depending on the size of your graphic cards. Also, it makes running the necessary cables/wires a lot easier.

[-]

resorcinarene@reddit

Just make sure to post here if you get weird artifacts on your screen so I can be the first to post that meme with a guy's hand on someone's shoulder

[-]

Able_Canine@reddit

It's easy if you can do basic problem solving and utilize tools like a parts picker website and YT or whatever floats your boat for tutorials if you get stumped by something.

[-]

ShainRules@reddit

I have very large hands and the hardest part for me is putting small cables onto small connectors in small spaces. Besides that if you can put together a piece of IKEA furniture you can put together a PC.

[-]

KAODEATH@reddit

Bog standard wood pencil to the rescue with the eraser tip releasing my GPU and RAM!

[-]

Terakahn@reddit

Kids harder than people say it is and it'll take longer than you think but it's not that hard if you follow some kind of instruction.

[-]

altousrex@reddit

Fairly easy but there are 3 important things to keep in mind that you can mess up

Part compatibility- there are websites where you plug in your build and it tells you which parts are/aren’t compatible, and will recommend PC parts with the same slots/ports and such.

Anti Sag bracket - not always needed, but you should get one or at least look at the GPU weight to decide. If your GPU sags since it is free hanging, it will snap a port off your motherboard and then you need a new one.

Wire organization - if you go full adhd, your computer will look like a terrible science experiment. Try to think of the layout of the wires and where to put them as you build

[-]

necomus@reddit

I used pcpartpicker after deciding on what CPU and GPU I wanted and went from there. I watched multiple tutorial videos on YouTube (there are a lot of great ones) and was able to do it myself. It was stressful, and frustrating but in the end, very fun.

Scariest part was not knowing what to do when you first boot up into the BIOS. (YouTube and Google helped.) I would also say it’s challenging because it’s a lot of steps and you have to be very careful with a lot of components so you don’t damage them. But for the most part, things will only go where they belong.

Another hard part for me were things like having to force the RAM in so hard I thought it was going to break it, not knowing how much torque to use on the CPU cooler screws, using the wrong CPU cooler standoffs the first time, being careful to not bend the pins when inserting cables, I made the huge mistake of building right next to my brand new $800 OLED and scratching it with my PC case as I was turning it.

Make sure you have all of the tools you need too. Screw driver, thermal paste, zip ties, extra pc case and fan screws, fan and/or RGB controller, clear and clean desk for building, alcohol wipes to wipe down your fingers if they get dirty. Also if you sweat a lot, paper towels and making sure you don’t lean over the system when building. Having a GPU support bracket if yours needs one is good too.

I’m excited for you and envy those that are building their PCs because it’s an exciting and frustrating experience but it’s so worth it. Good luck!

[-]

PeriWroteThis@reddit

It usually goes well but you should have a techy friend to lean on to get you out of trouble. Motherboard manuals are 100+ pages long last I checked, and full of missable important details like "will not boot if this (ant-sized) DIP switch is in an invalid position" (root cause of my first build attempt and five hours of helpless debugging).

You should do this with a friend anyway, if only to validate basic physical stuff like "am I really supposed to push this in this hard?" "Yes!" "Can I push it in this way?" "...No!"

[-]

Fickle-Athlete3644@reddit

It is a lot of precision and some stuff might be confusing but you should be fine with the wonderful world of YouTube or Reddit help

[-]

ssnipperr@reddit

I did it and I can't even cook to a recipe. (Past outcomes are not a guarantee of future results)

[-]

iridescent_herb@reddit

buy a good case, buy a good modular psu, anhd a good mb. and then it is really easy. you will feel oh this is designed with some brain cells.

[-]

Ssenseiii@reddit

I had changed my graphics card, switched the RAM and removed my air cooler once from my pre-build so that was pretty much all my experience with PC's. I found it do able but it absolutely isn't "lego for adults" type of easy. Sure one would have an easier time then others but for me the most difficult part was finding where certain cables had to go.

In the end I think it took me about 3 to 4 hours to build my PC.

[-]

MrPotts0970@reddit

Super easy. Until you have to plug in that one big stupid chunky billion pin power connector and feel like you're snapping your board in half. Then super easy again

[-]

cewillir@reddit

I’d be cautious about getting advice from AI. Or at least some AIs.

Just finished up another build this week.

When I was advised I need to connect a power supply to my M2 I realized that they aren’t so smart.

[-]

iszoloscope@reddit

When I was advised I need to connect a power supply to my M2 I realized that they aren’t so smart.

O yeah? How else is that SSD getting power??

[-]

cewillir@reddit

I’m assuming that’s humor….

[-]

iszoloscope@reddit

You assumed correct good sir.

[-]

Warcraft_Fan@reddit

Not hard at all. Just be sure to remove the film from the bottom of the heat sink before mounting it on the CPU.

Do get the CPU, RAM, and the CPU heat sink mounted on the motherboard first before installing the motherboard. It is harder to do everything inside the case, especially the heat sink.

[-]

owengaff@reddit

I've never messed up a PC build and I've been doing it for decades, before YouTube even existed. It's not hard but I do recommend watching a build video if you're nervous.

[-]

WPBaka@reddit

I had a DOA motherboard on my first build and troubleshooting that was a little stressful. It was glorious when I got the RMA back and everything worked perfectly though!

[-]

iszoloscope@reddit

I had this with the first build I did alone as well, in hindsight I did see something in the socket that was off ('new' mobo), likely a bend pin or something. But I thought it would be fine to put the CPU in and test. Spoiler, it was not fine :)

[-]

owengaff@reddit

Yeah, fixing a co-workers PC was a pain because the USB port on the front of the case was broken and it shorted out the motherboard. Fortunately that's the only thing it took out. Don't get me started on that build though. There were so many things done wrong, it was a disaster.

[-]

WPBaka@reddit

oof, i don't even want to show you my current build lmao. disaster is a good description. I really gotta tidy it up this weekend.

[-]

owengaff@reddit

Can't be worse than what I dealt with. CPU plastic not removed and the fan going in the wrong direction. RAM not installed in the correct slots for duel channel. The list goes on, but this was bad.

[-]

Infinite_Thanks_8156@reddit

I did it and I’m a complete idiot. It was fairly easy, just need to follow basic instructions really.

[-]

JEveryman@reddit

Entirely friends on how thoroughly you read instructions/follow tutorial videos. If you're like me it never works the first time because you skip ahead because "you know all this already". Then you find it you didn't actual know any of that.

[-]

TheWaslijn@reddit

Can you follow instructions for a Lego set? If so, then yes

[-]

grahamulax@reddit

I think it’s easy, but been doing it for a while. There’s a lot of gotchas like memory placement, where to plug in ish, getting the on and off and reset pins to fit in easily… grrr. Usually the cpu cooler is a lil tough too. But “easy” in the technical sense where pieces go where they go!

Even though I say it’s easy, I sweat bullets every time I build one lol.

[-]

Rosarose4@reddit

I build my first pc 16 years ago without any knowledge beforehand. I read about it and watched a video, and it went fine without issues. I was nervous when connecting all the wires after, but apart from it taking longer then expected it was not difficult. I actually enjoyed it so much I've done it 4 more times after. Nowdays there are very good videos on YouTube you can follow

[-]

MonteCristo85@reddit

My first one I bought all the parts and my brother snapped it together in an hour.

Did one last month all alone and it took 3 days and so many tears. It was the most frustrating thing Ive ever done, every piece came with like 100 extra unneeded parts and all the instructions were utter crap. I must have watch dozens of YouTube videos for every step.

However a lot of that was me unnecessarily panicking. I could probably build another one with very little problem now.

[-]

DeliciousTest291@reddit

building the pc is easy. managing those cables though…

[-]

ziyonnn@reddit

I built my first pc recently. I watched a tutorial like twice before actually building it. Used the video while building it, took me 6 hours and booted up fine first time just had to fix my dolly chaining on some fans then it was all good. Been running smooth for a month. It was time consuming not hard just make sure to carefully follow every step and be cautious with the parts. I still get post build anxiety all the time though.

[-]

SavingsPoem1533@reddit

It’s not hard at all - especially nowadays with so much resources at your fingertips. Its a great learning experience

[-]

Stykera@reddit

Its easy. I did it when i was 12.

[-]

ThatPerfectCule@reddit

Let’s be frank about it, building a computer is a lot like working on an adult sized LEGO set. You can find all the instructions you need in the motherboard guide and all the pieces will slot into place in one particular way only. It may take a bit of time, but if you watch just one quality instructional video, you’ll manage without any problem.

[-]

aguafranca@reddit

Hardest part is the CPU with the dissipator and fan. And it isn't even that hard.

The rest is easy. Maybe connecting the one a d reset button to the motherboard since it requires you to read the pins in small letters or go to the manual.

[-]

RossC90@reddit

Easier than you'd expect but for a first build it'll probably take quite a bit of time. While it is basically a big LEGO set, I'd stress that you should still not take it lightly. For the smoothest experience, I recommend watching various PC Build Guides on YouTube. There's plenty, feel free to search them up on major tech YouTube channels. The more you know about how components work and how they function on the PC the easier it'll be for you to understand what you're actually doing.

In my experience, I prepared myself by watching a ton of those videos and getting an understanding on how everything works and it was pretty smooth sailing. The hardest and trickiest part is placing the CPU into the motherboard and putting the CPU cooler on top of it. After that, it's pretty much slotting in components.

My PC components have safeguards to basically help prevent you from making fatal mistakes, like the modular power supply ports have unique cables and shaping so you shouldn't place them in the wrong way. Like again, you really have to handle the components and parts poorly and do some incredibly intentional mistakes to prevent the PC from booting. That being said, following some guides so you can know the easiest mistakes to avoid helps.

If you follow all that advice, you'll probably surprise yourself. My first PC build had zero problems and I've built multiple PCs for myself and for friends.

[-]

Talyan@reddit

Installing CPU is kinda scary. Thermal paste always feels like I'm doing it wrong. Connecting power buttons is a pain in the ass but not scary.

[-]

Finetales@reddit

I built my first PC a few years ago. It really is Lego for adults. As long as you are extra careful (both in planning the build, and actually building it) and none of your parts are dead on arrival, you'll have no issues. Just go slow and follow any tutorials you need, and you'll be fine. :)

[-]

Pheo1386@reddit

Only one part you can actually mess up on is putting on the CPU, but you’d have to actually try in order to do any permanent damage.

I built mine 5 years ago with a YouTube guide. Since then I’ve built several for friends and neighbours, and if prices weren’t so high and I hadn’t just bought a new house, I’d build more :)

[-]

cool_slowbro@reddit

Easier than ever.

[-]

Skywers@reddit

As far as I can remember, when I built my first PC, the hardest part was honestly fitting the air cooler on the CPU. The rest is just like playing with Lego. You just need to unscrew the components and follow the instructions to install your cables. But if you plug one into the wrong connector on your motherboard, don’t worry, it won’t blow up

My advice to you would simply be NEVER to force anything. And, of course, make sure your hands aren’t charged with static electricity or damp. Watch a video showing someone building their PC. Ideally, someone with the same motherboard as you

[-]

Blackops606@reddit

20 years ago? Difficult and you should have a friend. 10 years ago? Pretty middle of the road but I’d still have a friend around that knows their stuff. Now? There are enough YouTube videos to do it all on your own. I’d watch those as my parts are on the way. Any issues you come across can easily be answered online and usually with multiple replies within an hour.

[-]

HumungreousNobolatis@reddit

LEGO is harder.

[-]

Android8675@reddit

Not hard. Harder than it used to be maybe, BUT better resources now for when things happen, which they may. Good luck. If anything it's a confidence booster.

[-]

2raysdiver@reddit

By "LEGO for adults", think building a 1200 piece LEGO Tie fighter from the 2000s. Not that there are 1200 pieces, but it will take you just as long, there is an order to doing things, you need to read the instructions, and if you screw up, you may need to take the whole thing apart to fix your mistake. It may also be very difficult to tell where you went wrong, specifically if it is your first time. I can't count the number of times I've seen "First PC Build. Here's a picture of the inside of my PC. Why won't it power on?"

BTW, yes, I do have that Tie Fighter set. Well, I had it. It is mixed in with all my son's legos, along with my X-Wing. Also the 7000+ piece Millenium Falcon. Building a PC is easier than that.

[-]

edgyonigiri@reddit

Just built my first PC last week.

(Upgraded from from RTX 2060 / I7-9700 to a RTX 5080 / Ryzen 7 9850X3D)

I was super hesitant to build one for over a year, decided to bite the bullet (crimson desert was not looking great on the 2060 lol) used PC part picker to make sure everything worked together, purchased the parts and watched a bunch of videos. the day of the build i was watching videos for absolutely every step, for every piece, probably took me like 5+ hours.

Everything works, (the comp is an absolute beast) and i'm confident the next PC i build will be a piece of cake, like an hour or so now that i know what all the pieces are, what they do, and what to plug them into.

long story short, it is like lego, once you understand what your actually putting together XD.

Good luck!

[-]

Representative-Crow5@reddit

Not hard with proper planning and research. Mostly get a case that has easy access to all your components. Usually takes from 30min to an hour to have everything plugged in and running but getting windows ready is a whole different topic...

[-]

WizardMoose@reddit

My advice, look up build videos that are using your case, another build that is using your heatsink/AIO, and CPU.

Those are the biggest headaches that are usually addressed by having a reference.

The next biggest headache is realizing you bought a GPU that's too big for your case, and figuring out cable management. Some people really struggle with cable management, and others do it with ease.

Then you pray to GabeN and hope it turns on.

Happy building :)

[-]

Early_Conflict_4292@reddit (OP)

i buy rtx 5070 on a 3 ventus

[-]

WizardMoose@reddit

What case, that's the question lol. 5070 is big, but there's plenty of cases that'll fit it.

[-]

Early_Conflict_4292@reddit (OP)

DeepCool CC530 4F

[-]

WizardMoose@reddit

DeepCool CC530 4F

oh that's plenty big enough lol. You're good. Here's a video showing a build with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjBx_aQxL10

[-]

Early_Conflict_4292@reddit (OP)

thk very much

[-]

CrustyBatchOfNature@reddit

So much easier now than it was 25-30 years ago. A site like PCPartPicker can help you make sure everything works together properly and you have the right size power supply and case. From that it really is almost like Lego.

[-]

udi503@reddit

Difficult is the cable management.

[-]

Alarmed-Risk7885@reddit

I think for your first build, it's better if a friend or someone who knows how to build one is on your side

[-]

Past-Reception-424@reddit

the building is the easy part. Picking the parts without second-guessing yourself for 3 weeks straight is the real challenge

[-]

Desmond_Winters@reddit

My experience: built a gaming PC from scratch for the first time in my mid-30's. Overall it was easier than I expected it to be. Swapping out fans and GPUs was the extent of my prior experience. Cables and such only plug in or slot in one way, they really make it pretty much impossible to insert something incorrectly. For me the most stressful part was applying thermal paste and then not knowing whether or not you applied it correctly while screwing on the cooler. Managing cables is going to take up probably quadruple the time it'll take you to actually build your PC. An added benefit of doing everything yourself is that you know exactly where everything is. And if anything goes wrong (which it won't), the knowledge you have from building helps out a lot with troubleshooting.

[-]

MyUshanka@reddit

I'd put it closer to Ikea than Lego. Every part has its place, and by following the instructions to the letter, you will be just fine. However, it can absolutely be frustrating -- some parts will be really close to others, some cables might need to be finagled in just such a way, etc.

[-]

xCASINOx@reddit

In 1999, kinda annoying

In 2026 its just legos

[-]

xCASINOx@reddit

In 1999, kinda annoying

In 2026 its just legos

[-]

NJNeal17@reddit

It's never been Hard. It just USED to be how you got your gaming PC at a discount. Now the GPU costs more than the rest of the rig!

[-]

seamew@reddit

not hard at all. just need $800 for ram.

[-]

StoneyyCody@reddit

I did it at 14 years old. Anyone can do it, many, many years later, it’s a passion.

[-]

cassiopei@reddit

LEGO comes in a set that usually works out of the box. While the assembly process ist mostly straight forward, there are things that can go wrong, if "your" set is not optimal.

Make sure to choose the correct memory. While it sounds easy, mixing modules (i.e. XMP/Expo) or filling all slots may produce unwanted results.

Make sure you have all your cables at the right length or you can store them properly. Cable management can be hard if you have not the right cables or start with a power supply without cable management.

Make sure the bios supports the CPU. Colleague of mine had to borrow a CPU from a friend to flash his bios to get his new CPU working.

Take into consideration the airflow, heat, fans, the application of thermal paste on the CPU.

Parts can be or become defective while assembling them and may have to be replaced.

All of this can be solved. Configurations can and should be checked beforehand, but just buying parts and assembling them can produce problems, sometimes not that obvious, i.e. with memory. The most frustrating part is if one thing doesn't work or fits (cooler, GPU, missing cable, even screws) you have to reorder it, may have to pay more and often have to wait for days until the missing part is delivered.

Due to all of the stuff I listed nowadays I go the route to select the parts and have them assembled by the store selling them. The store finally does some basic tests to make sure that everything is working. This costs, where I live, usually around $100-150 and is far from perfect, but saves me the hassle when something goes wrong.

There is nothing wrong building your own PC, but imho it's not LEGO.

[-]

armahillo@reddit

I've been building PCs since I was a teen, 30-some years ago. I built my most recent box Nov 2024. Some things have changed, some things are the same. What I've learned most recently:

Spend time researching parts compatibility. You want to be sure that your CPU, Motherboard, and RAM are all compatible.
Buy good quality RAM. Buy it in pairs. It's pricey, but start out with 2x16GB minimum, if you can. That'll set you up for a while at least. You can always add another 2x16GB later. If you've got the cash now, go for 2x32GB.
Your choice of video card will likely be a huge cost sink. However, if you buy mid-range right now, you can buy a better one later; these are probably the easiest thing to swap out (roughly an hour), with some caveats (see below)
Buy a good quality PSU that has slightly more power than you think you'll need. \~700W is probably a good place to start. Higher-end video cards will have greater power demands. Replacing a PSU is roughly the same level of effort as replacing a video card (\~an hour)
Get a case that has sufficient space for a larger video card, in case you want to upgrade later. Look at the dimensions of some different cards to get a sense of how much space you'll need, then see what each case will allow. Swapping cases isn't impossible, but it is a pain in the butt and will take you a long afternoon.
Get an AIO (All-in-one) cooling unit. I just started using my first one, and I love it. It's crazy how well it cools the case. It was also surprisingly easy to install.
Use thermal paste (a small amount). Many motherboards will include it.
nVME disks are awesome - The access time is RIDICULOUS. If your motherboard supports this, definitely use one for your primary disk (1 - 2 TB nVME disks are fairly cheap!). You can get a separate traditional SATA disk for media storage, if you want (where you need storage, but not read/write speed)
Take your time and don't rush. Use a large table surface if you don't have a workbench. Get small dishes or cups to hold your screws and things in. Take notes / photos. Gather all your manuals beforehand, especially those with diagrams. There are often installation demo videos from the vendors -- use these if you aren't certain what to do.

[-]

SirDimitris@reddit

I built my first PC when I was six in the nineties.

[-]

GameofMoans827@reddit

If you are building from an empty case it's very easy, I did my first last year and recently did another, little tip I learned was connect all your psu cords before you put it in the case, makes it easy to route all your plugs and makes connecting everything a dream.

[-]

Funny-Carob-4572@reddit

Easy.

Watch a few videos, first attempt will take a good 3-4 hours lol.

Also buy some aftermarket thermal paste as I always find the stock CPU crap to be nigh on impossible to spread or anything, always seems to be very dry to me unlike some aftermarket ones which are a joy.

Just double check things.

Remember to remove the cooler sticker! I almost did this on my last build !!!🤦😂

[-]

MammaStringbean@reddit

You can do it. To feel comfortable I highly recommend watching 2-3 full complete YouTube videos of different channels building a pc. You’ll notice it’s more or less the same and will be super helpful. Good luck!

[-]

kcpistol@reddit

More expensive than hard these days.

[-]

Apinaheebo@reddit

Quite simple but there are few mistakes that can break a part quite easily. Bending or breaking CPU/motherboard pins and accidentally scratching motherboard with a screwdiver come to mind.

[-]

m4tic@reddit

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

[-]

LucidFir@reddit

Plugging the cpu in is scary. Same with the heatsink and the gpu power. Everything else is kinda hard to mess up.

[-]

Charrbard@reddit

For the most part, it has been legos for adults since the aughts. But it also depends on parts you get.

A very basic tower build is going to be much easier than the fancy rpg, multiple internal display fishbowl waifu boxes we tend to post on reddit. Cable management is a legit skill and can make things way more complicated. AIO and rgb fans also have wires and hub boxes. Even otherwise wireless ones like Lian Li still require a hub if you want lights to sync.

I've seen people try to get into PC gaming and follow build lists for waifu boxes, and end up having a miserable time. But if you keep it simple, its fairly easy. Just watch a video. Make sure the MB goes on the risers, and you're gentle with the cpu. Never force anything that isn't a damn MB power cable or the USB3 line which never seems to sit right.

You'll likely make mistakes. Thats okay.

[-]

Unclefox82@reddit

My advice, if you’re prepared to have your pc not work the first time you power it on, than go ahead and build one. But if you’re not prepared to troubleshoot a fancy new $1000+ paperweight, I suggest getting someone to help you.

[-]

Captain_Nipples@reddit

Most things only go in one way. Motherboards are generally labeled. Just make sure you have anything thats slotted (like RAM or your CPU) facing the correct way and the slots line up. The worst thing is probably figuring out where your fans and RGB (If you have that) plug in. Also, remember to peel the plastic off the surface of your CPU fan or pump before you put the thermal paste on it and stick it in

[-]

KlassLikeVlassic@reddit

Not very hard. I built my first PC at age 9. By myself.

[-]

rav-age@reddit

Fun to do! Even after many of them, switching it on the first time is a hallow moment :-)

Note: Give a modern pc with ample RAM time to post, as they'll test/train/configure the RAM modules, which can take a good while.

I built a pc with 64GB + am5 CPU last year and first time I booted it, I really thought it was toast. Tried again and looked at a black screen and that's it. But many minutes later it booted anyway.

After that it seems to remember those settings and is much quicker.

[-]

Hairy_Act_8498@reddit

I built my first one this year and it wasn’t hard, I watched a lot of tutorials and took my time plugging everything on the right spots. It helped that the aio had its own instructions and I double and triple checked connections and instructions. The most stressful thing was installing windows and making sure the drivers were installed and that was the easiest part if that makes sense. I liked it so much I ended up building a second pc 🤣.

[-]

dorting@reddit

Not that hard, look for tutorials online and you are set, I was 21 with zero experience the first time

[-]

EirikurG@reddit

Not very hard, just watch a couple of youtube videos to know how things connect

I really don't agree that it's like "LEGO for adults" because 1. LEGO is for everyone and 2. building a PC is nothing like building with LEGO

LEGO bricks can connect in anyway, there is no wrong way to build LEGO. With PC building there are defined ways that you need to connect things, and you can mess those up

[-]

Simbuk@reddit

Even back in the 90s with jumpers and IRQ conflicts and such, the hardest part of building a PC was overcoming the intimidation factor intrinsic to handling and assembling expensive and sometimes arcane looking components. Today building a PC is…I won’t call it dead simple, but it’s close. So much of the process just takes care of itself, now.

[-]

Core308@reddit

If your case is a normal ATX sized chassis i would give it a 3/10 difficulty rating. Except for a very few exceptions things only fit one place and it should be very obvious what goes where. And if something fits it will work as intended

[-]

Early_Conflict_4292@reddit (OP)

"Thanks for the advice! I actually already picked up a DeepCool CC560 V2 (or CC530) case. It looks pretty beginner-friendly with all that space. Any specific tips for building in this one?"

[-]

Plenty-Industries@reddit

My first time, almost 15 years ago, wasn't hard.

It just took a long time - I think like 4-5 hours.

Now? I can build a PC from scratch and be installing windows within an hour and a half just taking my time, including cable management.

I watched a PC building video on youtube a few times and that was pretty much it.

[-]

bongmitzfah@reddit

I built my first one in December with zero prior knowledge. I found the wiki here along with the motherboard blueprints and the build video for my PC case was all I needed to make sure I didn't miss anything and I haven't had any issues since

[-]

Early_Conflict_4292@reddit (OP)

My configuration: Asrock b650M Pro RS, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Msi GeForce RTX 5070 Gaming, Gougar Gex X2, DeepCool AK620 Zero Dark Black, DeepCool CC530 4F, Prism 6 pro (3 pieces), Kingston FURY DDR5-6000 32768MB PC5-48000 RAM (Kit of 2x16384) Beast Black (KF560C36BBE2K2-32), Samsung PM9A1 1TB NVMe S, TITAN ARMY P2510S PLUS 24.5 inches, fast IPS screen 2560*1440 16:9, 240 Hz Ajazz AK820 MAX PLUS Daydream Switch RGB Wireless/Bluetooth/USB Black (AK820MAX-DD-BGY)

Your comments made me feel much better. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I'll decide to build a PC, and I think I'll succeed. It'll take a lot of time, but that's okay.

[-]

Ramuh@reddit

There is exactly one part where you can really mess up and cause permanent damage easily but even that part is not hard (installing the cpu). The rest is really Lego for adults and in fact it’s not that many parts

[-]

Jordantylerg@reddit

My first ever PC Bill took me about eight hours total including software side. Most of my time was spent double and triple checking my hardware installation I wanted to take my time and really learn the process.

Fast-forward one year later after building a few few computers for Friends… I was able to swap cases (completely disassemble and reassemble into a new case) in about an hours time.

My best advice is to just take your time and do it right the first time because if you’re chasing little gremlins for issues that you overlooked by rushing the first time it’s gonna take more time than if you actually just paid attention the first time I did it all properly

[-]

YoSpiff@reddit

That last bit is great advice. Some people will explain things differently that will make more sense. And there will be other things that they all explain the same which reinforces the concepts.

[-]

Jirachi720@reddit

I was intimidated by the task but watched enough videos and tutorials and everything else and decided to wing it and upgrade my PC myself. It's all pretty straightforward, everything just slots into where it needs to go and it's all labelled as to what goes where.

The majority of my issues came from not pushing down hard enough on the RAM to click into place, not pushing the 24-pin all the way, forgetting to plug the CPU power in and not plugging in the CPU fan header. 🙃 Practice makes perfect and I've now upgraded my PC 4/5 times and built my daughter their own with little fuss.

Just crack on, dive in and give it ago. It's good fun.

[-]

YoSpiff@reddit

The big thing is making sure you select components that are compatible and will work well together. I build a new PC every 5-8 years and the first step is always educating myself on what has changed since my last build.

On my current PC I made an error selecting an M.2 SSD . I had two slots and bought the same one for each. I didn't realize that on slot was Gen 4 PCI and the other was Gen 3. Since Gen 4 is backward compatible it only meant I paid a little more for the second one than I needed to.

Another time I needed an M.2 with an external case. Accidentally ordered a PCI drive and a SATA external housing for it.

[-]

VizualAbstract4@reddit

It really seeing anyone mention: it’s a pain in the ass picking parts that truly work together right.

Some memory speeds work better with certain processors
processors have power stage requirements and this will dictate what motherboard you buy
you need to make sure the motherboard has enough USB headers for what you’re building
some fans brands have proprietary connectors that you should be aware of, and may result in you buying additional hardware.
itx vs matx vs atx motherboard sizes will affect what you can build
Picking the right case will affect which motherboard size you can get
be aware not all motherboards have their first slot in the same place, which can affect how much clearance you need for a graphics card
your PSU should have more than exactly the amount of power your components need in case of power fluctuation
some additional tweaking of your bios may be required to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth out of your memory and components
be mindful of airflow: fans should pull inward from front, sides and bottom, push out from top and back
cable management can take a couple of hours alone, and probably something I wouldn’t worry about in my first build, just make sure no wires are “pinched”, in case you build in a small tower

Use PC Parts Picker.

[-]

Reason7322@reddit

It will take ~4-5 hours. Around an ~hour of that time will be spent on reading manuals, and watching youtube tutorials.

[-]

RabidTurtl@reddit

Its a little more than Lego, but not that much more.

Watch a video or two on youtube on how to build a PC, RTFM, and if you are still unsure while building post in here. Just make sure to say what you have done and that you have in fact checked the manual.

[-]

Tquilha@reddit

It's not difficult, but you will have to read a bit before you start.

At least read your motherboard's manual twice. It should have most of the steps needed for a successful build.

[-]

QueensOfTheBronzeAge@reddit

I did it, and I’m a dipshit.

You’ll be fine. Just watch a video and pay attention.

[-]

Pugilist12@reddit

It is and it isn’t. It’s really not terrible complicated, but I think doing it for the first time is quite stressful. Order of operations of what goes in and in what order can be tricky. Figuring out where certain wires go, or where all of the power supply cables go, can be stressful. But if take your time and keep some build videos handy it really isn’t brain surgery.

[-]

zozoetc@reddit

If everything works, and you follow the manuals/tutorials, it can be really easy. If something isn’t working, and you have to figure out where the problem is, it can be dauntingly difficult.

I’ve built 10 computers with a 100% eventual success rate, but the one I built last September with the defective power supply was my most difficult build yet. If I didn’t have a bunch of extra parts to swap in to find the problem, it would have been a nightmare to figure out

[-]

Cultural_String87@reddit

I'm dumb as hell and figured it out even as a teenager. I believe you can too!

[-]

Available-Koala-3892@reddit

Just built my first pc a month ago and while it did take a while to fix some issues, at no point did it feel like I was risking anything

[-]

roehnin@reddit

I watched my 18-year-old do it a few weeks ago.

Gave some hints when needed.

The trick is in picking the right parts in the first place.

Then it's LEGO.

Just be sure to follow the instruction pamphlets in order: my 18yo would have forgotten the heat sink paste without a "did you skip a step?" hint

[-]

dyttle@reddit

It’s a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake.

[-]

Unfair_Influence_659@reddit

Its not bad if you've watched videos on it. When I first built mine the only thing I found annoying was cable management and the power on buttons

[-]

annie_key@reddit

You have to pick the right components, they should be compatible. Add cooling paste. Make sure the air flow is correct. Fiddle with the cables. For the rest, it's easy.

[-]

Cefer_Hiron@reddit

I build mine first one months ago

My take is: If you know enough about your own MOBO, the rest is kind easy to follow

[-]

globefish23@reddit

Not that hard.

Make sure before purchase that all your components are compatible and also have the enough power (power supply, CPU cooler).

Stick to the manuals of each component.

Don't use force to push anything! It either goes in quite smoothly, or you're doing something wrong.

Make sure that all the spacers are in before your mount your motherboard into the case. Same goes for M.2 SSD slots (spacer and/or foam pads).

So far the trickiest part for me was to differentiate the various screws from the crude drawings in the manual.

[-]

TheBioethicist87@reddit

Linus Tech Tips used to do (they might still) full build guide videos on their YouTube channel. Like hour+ long videos showing literally every step to building a PC.

I watched those a few times, and by the time I actually got around to building my own, I’d seen the process a dozen or so times and was comfortable with it.

It also confirmed to me that the manual is gospel. Keep that thing and consult it whenever you’re stuck.

[-]

mordeusz@reddit

I would say it is easy. There are lots of tutorials on the internet. The harder part is finding good parts but someone fan help you with this.

[-]

Nugzy420@reddit

It's very easy. Just follow along with a good tutorial and you'll be fine.

[-]

AceLamina@reddit

Hardest part these days is the cost

[-]

CheeseLife840@reddit

Make sure to read and follow instructions carefully, measure twice cut once methodology.

[-]

tiimsliim@reddit

First PC went swimmingly. No issues at all. Took me like an hour.

Second PC took longer bc I reused the case and had to take apart the entire PC before rebuilding with all new parts. Took my like an hour and fourty five minutes.

It’s nerve-racking for sure, but it’s not difficult.

[-]

Far-Pie-6226@reddit

The only real pain in the ass is if somehow the PSU or motherboard is DOA. I'm not sure how you troubleshoot that without another system. Plus you then can't find out if there's a problem with your RAM sticks or CPU until that's sorted out and by then, you can't just return it in most cases and have to deal with a warranty.

It's been a little while since I priced things out but back during the GPU mining craze, bare bones pre-built systems were on par with piecing things together yourself. From there you can do things like upgrade cooling, ram, GPU, even PSU with a little more confidence than starting from scratch. It's more money in the long run but building PCs should be viewed as a hobby IMO.

[-]

don2470@reddit

I've built the last 6 or so of mine. The toughest bits in no particular order. Making sure the components are compatible (speed, socket type, form factor, cooler and fan sizes) Case motherboard stand offs, the most forgotten item. Motherboard specs determine alot of things. How many SATA or M2 drives can i have, what memory and how much can i have, what cpu's generation can be installed. Power connectors, making all connections with the right type and size. RGB has the worst connectors ever made, and they're polarized. Case specific connectors. I have the most trouble with this one (front usb, power button, activity light, etc) Some case makers give really good documentation and labeling, others just make you figure it out on your own. The connectors are small, polarized for positive and negative and usually in a hard to reach mobo edge area. Buy a quality case in the form factor you want. It helps alot!

[-]

CartographerSilver20@reddit

It’s really easy if you read the instructions. Get ready to spend some cash though. I ended up buying an open box instead of building one because component price is wild rn.

[-]

CartographerSilver20@reddit

To be clear, I’ve built every PC I’ve owned except this last upgrade. (I built two over the last 4 months for some local folks)

[-]

lentil_burger@reddit

When I started out I found the trickiest part was knowing how much pressure to safely apply to components. Like "should the RAM need pressing this firmly into the slot?" Once you're familiar with it all it's reasonably straightforward. Apart from cable management, which is hell 😂

[-]

SavedMartha@reddit

It's not that hard. I build my first PC pre-youtube AGP era and it was a Lego set back then. Even more so now. Even the damn front io pins are usually labeled on the mobo.

It's also extremely rewarding when you boot up for the first time and see that bios logo. Highly recommend learning to build your own.

[-]

TyranWolf@reddit

really not that difficult if you take the time into it and not rush. just watch a video tutorial as you go and set aside a good chunk of time of your day (3-4 hours) to build. not a difficult part for me but what i would find tedious imo would be individually plugging in your front panel connectors into the motherboard unless you have a pc case where it's one unified connector,

[-]

--Sandstorm--@reddit

With as many step by step tutorials that are on YouTube, it's pretty easy. I'd say the hardest part is deciding on what components to get and making sure they're all compatible. Building a pc for the first time does seem daunting and we were all there at one point, but once you complete it you'll realize it wasn't so bad. After I finished my first build I wished I had done it sooner instead of buying crappy Dell rebuilt gaming pcs.

[-]

elvpak@reddit

I only built my very first PC about a month ago...it's pretty straightforward as long as you're careful.

Only minor hiccups I had were forgetting to plug in part of the ATX power cable into the PSU (so it didn't switch on) and then one of the case fans not spinning (had to rejig the cables and plug another one in).

You have to use a *surprising* amount of force to close the locking lever after installing the CPU onto an AM5 mobo!

[-]

Better-Credit6701@reddit

Back when I was a professor, I would order parts, but since I didn't want to carry all the boxes, I would bring down my screwdriver and in a few minutes, carry up a computer. I would often order cases with power supplies already mounted to safe a few minute, snap in the processor, heat sink, memory, screw the board into the case and screw the hard drive into the hard drive spot.

Now my own computers I would have a bit more care into them like better power supply, video cards, more ram, M.2 drives (3 of them) and a mess of ssd and few spindle drives for long term storage. Once when replacing the power supply, I got some of the drives in the wrong connector, fixed it but left the SSD hanging by the wires. That was 5 years and they are still working great, just dangling

[-]

PAChilds@reddit

Not that hard. Done it twice, more than 20 years apart. Both successful.

Read. Ask advice. Take your time.

Everyone is a first-timer once.

[-]

Saltkrakan01@reddit

The most difficult part is sourcing correct components. You have to choose a case, where you will be able to fit motherboard, processor cooler and graphic card (in most cases). Then You have to choose motherboard, processor, RAM sticks and nvme SSD which will fit and work together (in terms of sockets, standards and frequencies) Then You have to calculate power consumption of Your setup ( there are calculators online) and choose power supply with some reserve power. And then put everything nicely and carefuly together.

[-]

Starborn-Wanderer@reddit

It’s a gamble. I did everything right on my first shot but had faulty ram, and a faulty hard drive right off the bat. Of course I couldn’t troubleshoot what was wrong without paying to find out.

[-]

BigEanip@reddit

Honestly just use chatgpt. Any mad question you have, it'll give you midel specific instructions. Even showed me how to enable overlooking in bios. I had a random issue when I first booted up and chatgpt solved the issue in 5 mins. Saved me hours of trial and error.

[-]

soonerdew@reddit

Heck, it's easy, just be patient and pay attention to details. I'm a career IT guy and have built/rebuilt/tweaked a ton of systems, but just built a brand new one for myself the other day... the expense of the parts is enough to make you a little twitchy about slipping with a screwdriver or something silly like that.

I swear I wish I could get a part time retirement job assembling PCs at a Microcenter LOL

[-]

AMS_Rem@reddit

The only "hard" part is if you put it all together and it doesn't work you won't know how to troubleshoot it but there are so many people that have done the same thing just browse subs like this and you'll find answers

As far as actually building it, yes it's legos for adults haha

You are just plugging in cords, slotting in pieces built specifically to go in a specific spot and screwing some fans in! It's very very easy, just follow a youtube guide from start to finish there are a bunch of em

[-]

dixmondspxrit@reddit

the hard part right now is affording the parts

[-]

AngeloPappas@reddit

It's very simple if you know how to follow directions and have some patience.

Your motherboard's manual will be super important since it will have all of the instructions on where to connect and plug in everything. Your case's instructions will also be helpful. I thought when building my PC I'd end up just using YouTube videos, but the actual paper manuals that came with my components were FAR more useful and made things easy.

Final tips I can share are to make sure you have a good, clean workspace to do it in. A large table or desk with good lighting makes things much better. Also having the proper tools like a small screwdriver, cable ties, thermal paste, etc. will prevent delays if you have them ready.

[-]

nomadrone@reddit

If you know what is what and where it goes then it is not hard at all.

[-]

Lumpy_Asparagus_5151@reddit

Read the manuals, carefully, especially the one for motherboard where all the connections go to.

[-]

IntelAmdNVIDIA@reddit

if you get it wrong, you might have to take everythapart that's already been installed.

Also, where do you plug the cable at the end of the installation? It can be pretty difficult for beginners to figure out how to connect it properly.

Finally, there are tons of tutorials online - just follow them step by step and you'll be good to go

[-]

Sol33t303@reddit

Most of the difficulty stems from selecting parts and finding good deals.

In terms of the actual building, if you can put in screws, and plug objects into sockets, you should be good.

[-]

natej82@reddit

I recently built my first pc using matx mobo in a small form factor case (lian li a3) and it all went pretty well and easy after watching some videos on the specific case and some other tutorials, but I would say I got lucky that all the components fitted because it was very tight with a few things that I didn’t expect, so I would recommend going with a larger case for a first build if you have the space and want to make life easier.

[-]

Restil@reddit

The problem is thst you don't know what you don't know so when you miss something simple and the computer doesn't post you won't know if it's because you missed a cable, a part is defective, or you are hitting the reset button instead of the power.

[-]

odkfn@reddit

Piece of piss. Built my first one last year - just watched some LTT videos, prowled here, and asked chatGPT any small questions I had. Between those sources I didn’t it very easily.

[-]

the_Athereon@reddit

Pretty easy to do if you watch enough tutorial videos on YT first.

It is pretty much Lego for adults now. Not like it was in the 80s where every PC had to be specifically configured both hardware and software wise to even turn on. Or the 90s where drivers were a mess. Or 2000-2010 where RAM configs were motherboard dependant. Or 2010-2015 where SSDs were dying after a few years of use.

Face it, PCs today are mostly plug and play.

[-]

Huge_Valuable9732@reddit

did this for my first time just last month. if i can suggest anything. READ READ READ, watch videos. if even your cpu cooler has an installation video WATCH IT. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EVERYTHING.

youre building an investment. theres a really good chance the first time you push the power button youre gonna get an error.

just make sure you have a good flat clean area to build and dont get stressed out. give yourself time.

[-]

pureformality@reddit

Just have a tutorial open on your phone, preferably one that has the build separated into segments so you can just skip to whatever part you're having issues with. It's really just LEGO with electrical parts like another user described it

[-]

TheSilence783@reddit

There are literally millions of videos on YouTube to guide you through every step. Watch as many as you can and learn what to do. I built my first on my 15th birthday (granted it didn't have fancy RGB, Fans, Controllers and the like). I went in prepared and it all went smoothly. Research the build, the how and the why. You'll be fine.

[-]

BarnacleMcBarndoor@reddit

Depends on how careful you are. Legos dont break easily when you misalign them.

Just watch some videos on YouTube of PC building. The hardest part for me has always been cable management. Rule of thumb, if you are trying to force something to connect or disconnect , and it’s not easily doing so, you’re probably doing it wrong.

It’s not hard to do it if you’re following direction and careful. Just move through it slowly the first time around.

[-]

groveborn@reddit

First build with zero experience?

About as hard as one's first oil change. The hardest part is finding what you want. Everything else is LEGO hard. Once the CPU is installed the worst is over, and that's just a gentle plop.

Truly.

Cable management is tricky but basically both unnecessary (do it anyway) and unlikely to cause issues.

[-]

Hungry_Reception_724@reddit

Watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1fxZ-VWs2U

Will tell you everything simply. Its long but building a PC generally takes about 3-4 hours.

[-]

bustsheedi@reddit

Linus's build a pc video on the side and go.

[-]

anon6_5@reddit

Follow a tutorial to avoid any catastrophic mistakes