How hard is it to build a PC?
Posted by WeatherLegitimate848@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 344 comments
Is building a PC easy or hard?
Posted by WeatherLegitimate848@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 344 comments
Is building a PC easy or hard?
elelec@reddit
All I know is that those "chips" all taste horrible
zeptillian@reddit
They don't go well with salsa either.
Lore-of-Nio@reddit
Its pretty easy.
I built my first gaming PC in 1922. It felt daunting going in and it did take me two days because I misread the manual, but it was a fairly easy task.
Giant_Swigz@reddit
1922, impressive.
Lore-of-Nio@reddit
The homie Nikola Tesla hooked me up with the parts! 😂
zeptillian@reddit
The hardest part, wrapping all the wires by hand.
TwinkieMayhem@reddit
Oh thats cool, what was WWII like grandpa?
Lore-of-Nio@reddit
We just got done with the first. You're mean there a second one?!
miroljubni-rom@reddit
Wait till you hear about the third one.
bp1976@reddit
haha this interaction was great.
Canadian_Border_Czar@reddit
Reading these comments I kind of feel like a grandpa lol. I built my first PC in 2002.
EpsilonProtocol@reddit
Looks daunting, but is fairly easy.
Think of a PC as a very expensive Lego set. Once you have all of the pieces and instructions, you build it and marvel at your creation. Then troubleshoot it because invariably you’ll make a mistake and get to learn from it.
SuspiciousArt7316@reddit
If it doesn’t boot, it’s the RAM. It’s always the RAM.
zeptillian@reddit
Or remembering that the power switch on the back of the PSU exists.
No-Lavishness8593@reddit
Yep, this was my issue on my first ever build last year. You have to press quite a bit more firmly on several of the components than I expected lol
Dpek1234@reddit
Psu?
Quick-Inspection-481@reddit
Y6g1m
Alucard661@reddit
PSU when it doesn’t turn on.
EpsilonProtocol@reddit
My mistake on one of my first builds was not plugging in the 8-pin at the top of the board. Took too long for me to figure that out.
Canadian_Border_Czar@reddit
Yeah people forget the CPU power frequently. Its in the top left and kind of hidden so it's easy to miss.
zeptillian@reddit
If you can put together Legos, assemble furniture and correctly plug in wires to the back of your TV, you can build a computer.
It's not really difficult at all, but it takes patience and being methodical to do it well.
Just read all the instructions and watch a few videos online and you should be good.
LockTutorial@reddit
Difficult as fuck the first time due to you being scared, the hardest part for a new person imo is putting the gpu back because how scared u are, also the 2nd part might be connecting to the agrb
CrisDan1905@reddit
It's way easier than cheaper actually
ishtuwihtc@reddit
Lego
Nagi-Seishiro10@reddit
Not very hard, last year with a few months of lazy research I was able to as a first time builder get my build up and running in less than 6 hours and if you really just follow Linus or geekawhat you'll be completely fine. Just make to have the general gist of it.
X-Kami_Dono-X@reddit
To me it is like putting together one of those like giant 10 piece kids puzzles. Only certain pieces fit in certain holes.
Xoxrocks@reddit
I have built my own. It has192 GB ram. I think it’s my retirement package.
I’ve had my PC for 15 years. Replaced everything in it… motherboard is the expensive thing with cpu/cooler/mb and ram. Good PSU lasts for ever. My next upgrade will be the GPU.
lazyhustlermusic@reddit
In 2026 it’s basically legos
txalex3@reddit
Easy asf
WafflesAreLove@reddit
Not difficult but easy to mess up if you don't pay attention.
ddhh@reddit
instructions exist for a reason and people still ignore them
WafflesAreLove@reddit
Unfortunately 😕
LeadershipEuphoric87@reddit
NEVER wear socks on carpet while building or even touching your tech 😭
blackoutxv@reddit
Por?
mgp901@reddit
Easy, just time consuming around 3 hours. Then cable management is however easy or hard you want it to be. I prefer to go the easy route cuz after ~3 hrs of building I don't want to deal with more bs.
BlLLMURRAY@reddit
It's a few thousand dollars hard.
candiedbunion69@reddit
Well, you’re probably asking the wrong people. My first PC build was nerve wracking. I installed the RAM wrong, initially forgot to connect SATA data to the SSD and HDD, forgot a power connector or two, and took like 3 hours to install Windows because I was confused about the process.
Now the process takes an hour, I drink a beer or two, and the machine boots first try.
King_Zilant@reddit
I do walkthrus over discord Video chat, lmk 👍
AetaCapella@reddit
Way easier than sourcing the parts for a decent price :-)
mx20100@reddit
This exactly. Same goes for me with professional grade parts for work. It’s now all coming in waves of parts while I build a server
No-Head-633@reddit
Facts. I have a ddr5 board sitting cause I’m not paying those prices. I’ll stick with the 32gb ddr4 kit that I paid $80 for a few years ago on my Z690 board vs paying $300+ for a ddr5 kit on my Z790 board.
First-Bat-7440@reddit
I have money but im stubborn like that too. I dont like the feeling of getting ripped off and paying 200 plus for ddr5 is crazy.
Memory prices is the reason why I might buy an xbox helix. I just want a decent pc for my tv but I ain't getting ripped off. lol If its decent enough I'll get it. The steam machine is just too low spec for my taste.
altiuscitiusfortius@reddit
Wait a year till it's $400 and you'll be begging to pay $200
First-Bat-7440@reddit
I'll wait till my current pc cant play games at 1080p 30fps.
No-Head-633@reddit
Same, I have the money but because I know what ram used to cost, I can’t justify it. I also don’t want a Z790 board sitting tho…
DxvilSnipes@reddit
I have 32gb ddr5 ram but I’m sticking with my ddr4 because it works and I don’t feel like buying another motherboard when I just paid for a motherboard lol
Iamthechallenger87@reddit
I have a new build with ram and storage that I transplanted from my 2024 build. Now I’m stuck deciding if I want to buy ram and storage to put in the old one to sell it, or just part it out.
PristineHalf1809@reddit
Prices won’t be going down ever sooo, you may as well.
qtx@reddit
They will go down. They always do. They're already going down in a lot of markets. Might take a bit longer to get back to normal but eventually they will.
Stop talking yourself into doom and gloom constantly.
richard_splooge@reddit
By the time prices come down, years later, ram for that board is probably still going to be expensive.
Friendly-Advantage79@reddit
I have a B450 board with a R5600G, 32 gigs of RAM and a 9060XT. Clear case of upgradeus interruptus.
Serious_Today_961@reddit
Yeah, if you get lucky and find good parts for cheap, that's more than half the job already done. If you are worried about messing up or damaging your parts, just watch some YouTube tutorials and most importantly, take your time; you aren't being held at gunpoint to build a pc. If you are, good luck :)
Shaggy_One@reddit
That's the part I help my friends and family with the most. Figuring out the part list and where to buy the parts is definitely the hardest part. Second is setting up a clean OS install (fuck Microsoft). The PC is usually a 30 minute, 45 if I show them how, assembly.
Friendly-Advantage79@reddit
So true.
SuspiciousArt7316@reddit
Newegg has some decent combo deals. I picked up a b650 mobo, 16gb ddr5 6000, and 9600x for $450 just now.
Ram prices are stupid right now so that’s where it gets difficult.
jetstrea87@reddit
Hard part: finding reasoning prices for the build at this time
Build: straight foreard after a few youtube videos and reading manual.
ArickxEightOne@reddit
They are easy to put together, sometimes they are harder to make them work.
kutswa001@reddit
Building a pc was the easiest part for me, I had been watching Linus Tech tips ( Rig assembles)way before I could ever dream of owning a pc.
throwawaymentality10@reddit
I spent 8 hours last Saturday putting a pc together. Alot of that was breaks but sometimes its frustrating, especially when you have to do good cable management.
willmorecars@reddit
About as hard as a small Lego set
Ok-386@reddit
Lol I just typed the same. Tho, that's only when one is lucky and everything works. Troubleshooting is PITA and csn costs you an arm and a leg. I had to replace ram mainboard and the cpu just to realize it was the cpu. Amd at least respected the warranty and send me new cpu after 2.5 years of usage. Will rarely happen with mainboard producers.
And yeah, it then turned out the mainboard was damaged as well. My guess is the mainboard was the culprit and has damaged the MCU of the processor. System could still boot, but barely. It was one of early MSI AM5 boards.
Mustang260Rog@reddit
If you were one of those people who as a child built 10k piece Legos and took them apart and assembled them from memory, PCs will be child's play.
Ok-386@reddit
Like a relatively simple Lego set.
Sajgoniarz@reddit
It depends.
SA_Swiss@reddit
Simple answer - It depends on who is building.
If you are the type to take a TV out of the box and immediately switch it on, building a PC may be a bit challenging, but not difficult.
If you are the type that takes it out of the box, reads the manual and then turns it on, building a PC will be easy.
What I am getting at is that if you are new to the process some elements may not be as clear as experienced builders think they are. There are a lot of connections and knowing that there are more types already puts you in a better place to not try to force something that should not be there.
I built PCs with my dad when there were still DIP switches to configure and I stopped for about 15 years. When I came back to it there were so many changes that I had to familiarize myself before jumping in again.
Not stating that not anyone can do it, but it is like trying to build a lego model without instructions. Some parts are obvious, but not all parts are.
pss395@reddit
It's not hard to build a PC. It's really hard and frustrating to troubleshoot a PC.
FlatWhite_xshot@reddit
I built by first ever PC a couple years ago. Did a lot of research on parts and cases. Watched lots of YouTube vids and had a mate oversee the whole build. I did everything hands on and he was there help out when needed.
Just have a go! Take you time and don’t try to rush it. It was a lot of fun I’m going to be helping my mate build a work PC soon.
MaisonDavid@reddit
ive build close to 10 PC's by now. for me personally its 50/50 whether it will work like a charm or you'll run into some issue and have to troubleshoot
spenzalii@reddit
If you can put a Lego set together, you can do this no sweat. Have a nice screwdriver, read the directions, And if it don't fit, don't force it
Masaaki14@reddit
Actually physically building it with your hands? If you ever played with lego, it's pretty much the same level of difficulty. Maybe even easier
Sourcing the parts, doing your research and getting good deals? Now that's the hard part
MagicMaverick22@reddit
It’s LEGO for adults
ByteAxon@reddit
The hardest part is to connect ur PSU cables with the rest of the PC beside that the rest is very easy
forsaken_template@reddit
it's mostly just not forcing things. Watch a 20 minute video, take your time, and you'll be fine. The hardest part is usually just the RAM clips, which is funny because it's the easiest component.
MrSolenoid@reddit
Today a 5 year old can build a pc with little instructions. In the 80s you really had to have a deeper understanding on how each part worked and how they worked together.
TempestTwist@reddit
I learned how to build a pc by watching Scrapyard Wars. Someone compared building a pc to legos so I said why not.
Miserable_Bobcat_594@reddit
A trained dog could do it. Setting it up software -wise, that takes following guides a bit more closely or knowing what you're doing a bit more
Core308@reddit
Big case with little cable management = Easy. Small case with perfect cable management = Hard
PuzzleheadedFriend78@reddit
Physically, not that hard to assemble, adult Lego. Mentally, somewhat of a challenge making sure all your parts will work well together and you're indeed installing everything correctly.
-ben151010-@reddit
It actually wasn’t that bad, the main thing getting in the way for me was my own paranoia, plus it helps my case had a slide out motherboard tray but man it is a heavy case.
The only snafus that happened was I had to carefully put restraighten an argb pin. One of the m2 slots was not working so I had to use another. The last was my noctua cooler refusing to screw fully in. I had to screw the cooler in and then screw the bottom pieces mounting kit thumb screws in after with barely enough room for my hands to get to.
typological_gamer@reddit
It's quite easy, but it can be stressful at times, especially if things don't turn on first try. But, there's always youtube, that's how i figured it out anyway.
DepressedDrift@reddit
Affording a PC with these RAM prices is the toughest challenge
nagyee@reddit
Piece of cake. If i did when i was 15ish, you can do it too with a yt video
SL0WRID3R@reddit
The hardest part is to research and source those parts that are compatible to each other.
Assembly them up is actually... easy.
ZequineZ@reddit
It's easier than Lego imo
assholejudger954@reddit
Building a pc in this day and age is easy. Troubleshooting mistakes/figuring out where you went wrong/why it's not working is hard.
skillie81@reddit
Building is literally like Lego. With the correct tools, a nice YouTube guide, anyone can build a pc.
The hard part is finding parts at decent prices, and then convincing yourself you bought the right parts.
Soon you will come on reddit and ask " Are these parts OK?" And you will get a million different answers...
YZJay@reddit
If you’re going in completely DIY and haven’t built a PC of your own before, then the biggest hurdle is making sure the parts you buy are compatible with each other.
Once you’ve overcome that and have the correct components, the actual assembly is fairly straightforward, but that’s assuming you have some rudimentary knowledge of tech, and can understand technical names to know what parts are what in a manual.
NesquikBoi@reddit
In my experience, things that seem unquestionably easy will take forever, while something that seems complicated gets done in a second. Connecting all cables to the motherboard correctly? Easy. Plugging in your GPU connector? Will take ages. Installing an additional fan with self-tapping screws? 9th circle of hell
HiAndGoodbyeWaitNo@reddit
The question is how hard is it to buy the parts
PunishedMuffin@reddit
It’s really not “difficult” at all. It’s just plugging things in and there’s tutorials for nearly every case and computer part out there. It’s just incredibly nerve racking because it’s all so expensive. Some coolers require a decent amount of force to attach and it hurts your soul the first time.
flaunty0@reddit
If you’re good at reading and working with your hands, it’s relatively easy with a video tutorial and the Motherboard’s manual. Everything specific can be searched, and if you get it from a good store (MicroCenter, etc), they can provide some good tips (such as flashing BIOS, borrowing CPUs for Upgrades, and good Case choice for cable management, drive bays, etc). Having PC buddies or someone that can guide you audibly or over a video call (in person is even better) is actually the tried and true method for getting it right the first time, as you’ll get confirmation on minor things that need to be correct before you break something. If you’re generally gentle and slow, the worst thing that can happen is it doesn’t POST. I would actually take an old computer you have access to and just play with taking out RAM, Fans, and reapplying thermal paste (if you’re brave) to really get some confidence if you’re wanting to make a $2-5k rig.
UmMaybeBeauty@reddit
Not, but component price is... less than ideal right now.
Lumpy_Roll158@reddit
It’s one of those things where you can watch one YouTube video and then build your first and you’re pretty much an expert. I use the term expert pretty liberally but you can at least put them together or replace things over time pretty easily. Just don’t ever mix power supply cables from different brands and you won’t have to learn that lesson the hard way like some of us have had to
MiXeD-ArTs@reddit
If your case is small plan out what goes in first
klti@reddit
Watch a decent video on how it's done, use your brain, don't force things that don't seem to fit, and you are going to be fine
XBL_Fede@reddit
RAM would be an exception to an extent. It took me like 3 tries to gather the courage and push the sticks hard enough for them to click.
Goes without saying I made sure the notch was aligned first.
klti@reddit
Yeah not a huge fan of the modern RAM sockets that only have one latch. It's probably to guarantee good contact / for signal integrity reason, but the older double latch sockets required way less force to seat.
Lumpy_Roll158@reddit
The mounting force of ddr5 definitely makes me panic every single time I mount or unmount the modules. I hate it
ArtyMcFierce@reddit
I recently upgraded my system from Gen 4 parts to Gen 5 parts. It's crazy how different the cpu is going from an AM4 board to an AM5 board. No pins and all.
Old system: Ryzen 7 5800x3d 64GB 3600Mhz DDR4 850 GOLD standard PSU RTX 3070 8GB ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi) AM4 Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen Ryzen ATX Motherboard with PCIe 4.0
New system: AMD Ryzen™ 9 9900X 12-Core, 24-Thread Unlocked
Crucial Pro DDR5 RAM 32GB Kit (2x16GB), 6400MHz CL32, Overclocking Desktop Gaming Memory, Intel XMP 3.0 & AMD Expo Compatible [Dropped the frequency from 6400 mhz to 6000mhz since that's the sweet spot for the cpu]
1000W Fully Modular Power Supply, 80+ Gold Certified PSU, ATX 3.1 & PCIe 5.1 Ready
PNY NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti OC Triple Fan, Graphics Card 16GB GDDR7
ASUS TUF Gaming X870E-PLUS WIFI7 AMD Motherboard, 16+2+1 Power Stages, PCIe 5.0
Neo_ZeitGeist@reddit
Yeah the hardest part is convincing yourself that this is the right way to put it and MOBO won’t break at this weight after triple checking the direction.
…which is why I’ve just paid $200 for an expert for my second PC.
vagabond139@reddit
I finished my first build in like 20 minutes minus getting the cable management absolutely perfect.
The key to a smooth build is research, research, research. Study the owner manuals for the parts while they are being shipped to you. Get to know them. Especially the motherboard. And I would definitely say watch more than one video if you want a buttery smooth time. Yeah sure you could probably figure it out but different videos will contain different methodology, different parts, etc. It is best to be as well rounded as possible. You should be at the point you feel pretty confident. I would honestly treat it like you're studying for a test.
The actual building part should be the easy and fast. It should be as easy as putting legos together. You should have put in the actual work before you even got a part in your hand to ensure a buttery smooth build process.
WeatherLegitimate848@reddit (OP)
What did you learn when mixing the power supply from different brands exactly?
vagabond139@reddit
The issue is that the pinout inside may not be the same since there's no set standard on the PSU end of the cable. A 5V cable might be a 12V cable on another one. You would be mixing up voltages. A part that wants 3.3V or 5V will not be happy to 12V to say the least. That part WILL go up in smoke. It will be fried beyond repair. There's no protection for this either since there's no way for the PSU to tell that you were an idiot that hooked it up wrong. For all it knows it is sending the correct voltage to the correct cable.
You can technically switch the out if the pinout is the exact same but that's a very niche scenario.
windowpuncher@reddit
Never mix sets of cables. Each brand has their own different specifications, and even models within the same brand are usually different. Unless a set of cables is specifically listed as being compatible with a certain PSU, never use them. Whenever you replace the PSU on any pc, you have to remove all of the cables, then keep them with the old PSU. You can't just swap the box and re-use the old cables. You will fry things.
Ouaouaron@reddit
It's not just different brands; different models from the same brand are often not compatible.
Millkstake@reddit
Don't use power supply cables from different PSUs only use the ones that come with it
pdt9876@reddit
You can mix and match power supply cables (they're literally just bundles of wire) as as long as the PSU side pins are in the right place
Vivid-Software6136@reddit
Which they almost never are because theres no standard for modular PSU cables. Even within the same brand the pinouts can be totally different for two PSUs.
JustThatOtherDude@reddit
I mean... he's right
You can switch them
Once
pdt9876@reddit
You have to check with a multimeter obviously (use a jumper in the atx 24 pin to turn it on without plugging it in)
Superflower and EVGA share pinouts. Asus and Seasonic also share full pinouts.
Then other brands don't have full compatibility but will share some cables and not others.
makemybrainmelt73@reddit
Theyre not compatible so it can cause shorts that fry your other components or, worst case, cause a fire that destroys your whole pc or your house lol.
Lumpy_Roll158@reddit
That the cable pinouts are rarely the same between manufacturers and the power button can turn into a small puff of smoke inside the case and some newly nonfunctional hardware button instead
thedeftone2@reddit
Uh, don't leave out the important parts my man
2raysdiver@reddit
This is a gross oversimplification. We get plenty of people who come here because the did just that but the PC doesn't turn on, so they post a single picture of the interior and ask what they did wrong. Sometimes it is obvious, like CPU power connector or the plugged in the F_PANEL connectors incorrectly and other times it turns into a couple-hundred post thread with, "have you tried this", "have you tried that", etc.
It can be easy and if it works it by no means makes you an expert or anything close... you still have no idea what to do if it doesn't work.
SpinX225@reddit
Don't even mix power supply cables with a different power supply of the same brand either. Just don't mix power supply cables at all.
Professional-Shoe388@reddit
I'd say it was easy. But you get held up a lot by thinking twice or overthinking everything you do. My first build took hours. If could do it again (and I did when I changed PC cases, minus the attaching the cooler), it took me less than an hour.
RithvikXboxfan@reddit
The building is easy, but finding good parts at a good price is super hard. Part compatibility is not that hard either it's just finding them for a good price. In recent times the price of pc parts has gone up due to AI demand
Dynablade_Savior@reddit
I mean I did it when I was 14
PookieBubs@reddit
It’s intimidating, but worth it. Once you do it and it boots up, you’ll know how to build a PC so easily. Don’t worry about cable management, get everything connected right then think about the paths and room in the build to rework it if need be. Watch a few different creators on YouTube build PCs and you’ll pick up on different things from each. I got lucky and found a new build video with the exact case I bought, it helped me not overthink and complicate it. Sure you’re going to run into issues, but YouTube is your friend. Good luck!
LostRonin@reddit
The most annoying part for me was always inserting and securing the cpu. Just nerve wracking. Everything else is pretty easy. Your manuals basically explain everything.
You literally have to skip steps or be negligent to fuck it up. 1 good YT video will bolster your confidence.
There was a good video with very intricate detail that I remember from a long time ago, but I cant remember it exactly and no longer have a link. Im pretty sure I found it through Reddit though and you can Google search or Reddit search the subreddit.
czaremanuel@reddit
Let me put it this way: if you can google "how to build a PC" you're better qualified to build a PC than most.
altiuscitiusfortius@reddit
Incredibly easy these days.
No matter what parts you buy you can find a YouTube video of someone installing it, and just copy them.
Pcpartspicker will ensure your parts are compatible
Unfortunately costs are up 500% since last year and will keep rising.
It's no longer a hobby for average people
ShermansNecktie1864@reddit
The tricky part was all the little wires that plug into the motherboard. Hardware was fine, software wasn’t too bad. But the little wires took the longest. Wasn’t hard though, their connectors are different shapes so unless you over force it in it won’t go in. Finding the right port for the right cable just took patience.
Making sure all your stuff is compatible and fits in the case is more complicated than building it.
Defect123@reddit
It’s only like 7 parts or something it’s a lot more scary than it seems.
No-Operation-6554@reddit
easier than you think it is but not as easy as its made out to be
StarWhorz00@reddit
Easier than working on anything in your car
dearest_mediator@reddit
its pretty straightforward if u follow a manual and take ur time, way easier than ppl think it is. just watch a build guide and youll be fine
yerza777@reddit
can you do a 100 piece puzzle and watch a youtube video ? than you are qualified
The_New_Flesh@reddit
Put the I/O shield in the case before you install the motherboard
Make sure you plug the monitor into the discrete GPU and not the motherboard (if it has an integrated GPU)
Bominyarou@reddit
Building a PC is expensive, if you're referring to "assembling" a PC (putting the parts/etc together to make it work), then it can be complicated depending on the parts, but youtube video guides walkthroughs will help you do everything without any problem. That's what I did, watch tutorials for an hour then go in. If you're computer illiterate, then learn what every PC part is one by one (there's guides/classes for those too on YT) beforehand, so you don't put something where it isn't or break something trying to force it in xD.
Icchan_@reddit
Difficult enough that I was 13 when I built my first one in 1990's...
BlackHawk2609@reddit
Building is easy peasy lemon squeezy... Finding parts with decent price?? That's the hard part.
Trust_8067@reddit
It's 100x easier than it was 30 years ago.
ItBeRyou@reddit
Building a PC is like adult Legos, it's time consuming but not too difficult. The harder part getting it to post, making sure you have the correct bios update, getting all of your drivers in order, installing windows, ensuring Windows recognizes the proper boot drive, etc.
AllMyFrendsArePixels@reddit
People in here really saying they've taken 2+ days 😭😭
Bro it takes like 4-5 hours, and that includes doing a full bench build (putting the parts together outside the case for easier troubleshooting if something doesn't work), then the full assembly inside the case including cable management, and installing the operating system and running a stress test.
The bare basics (installing CPU+Cooler+RAM+NVMe into the motherboard and hooking up the power supply, getting you to the point of a functional/bootable PC) is like... 15 minutes if you're taking your time with it.
cvsmith122@reddit
Hard no expensive AF right now yes.
Your better off buying a prebuilt micro center machine if you can right now
skyfishgoo@reddit
harder now because finding the parts is going to be your biggest challenge.
on a scale of 1-10 with one being opening a can of soda, and 10 being rebuilding your internal combustion engine, i would would put building a PC on about a 3
Own-Researcher-4691@reddit
Like legos.
mighty1993@reddit
Building it is like Lego maybe 3/10, some fiddly parts. Reading the manual is making everything easier but seems like a 10/10 difficulty for some people. The hardest part is matching parts and choosing decent hardware of reliable non sucky, scammy brands and keeping them on par with each other. Saw so many peope with a calculator CPU and an RTX 5090.
juicius@reddit
It’s like building a moderately more expensive LEGO.
cocosoy@reddit
The only thing stopping me from upgrading my PC every couple year is getting all the fans to work with the AIO. Everything else is very easy, but the fans with different connector really annoy me.
WeatherLegitimate848@reddit (OP)
Also, I have no experience at all with electronics and wires. Never done anything like this at all...
lukaibao7882@reddit
Hi, I built my PC completely on my own last summer after having literally never worked on anything like it before. I didn't even know what a CPU or RAM was before starting my research. The actual build took me about 4 hours in total because I kept checking and rechecking and triple checking everything, but it worked perfectly on first try.
Just need to take the time to inform yourself as much as you can, watch good YouTube videos that explain the process, don't be afraid to ask for help from people on the internet, and when it comes to actual building just take it easy, don't rush it, check every manual and YouTube video to make sure you understand where everything goes, and again don't be afraid to ask for help online. It really sounds a lot more daunting and difficult than it is in the end
WeatherLegitimate848@reddit (OP)
Thank you 😊!
snmnky9490@reddit
The actual assembly isn't that difficult if you follow the instructions. It's more like assembling IKEA furniture than woodworking with power tools or welding if that analogy makes sense.
The hard part is picking out the parts, making sure they are compatible, physically fit, are good matches in performance, and are on sale for a reasonable price! You can find lots of guides and example builds to follow but there are also a million different ways to build one that will work!
dskou7@reddit
On a normal PC build, all the "Wiring" is just plugging cables into the correct socket. As long as you aren't forcing a cable into the wrong hole you'll be fine. Watch a few build videos, and use PCPartPicker to verify all your parts are compatible.
where_is_the_camera@reddit
The hardest part is learning to parse the jargon, and knowing what kind of components you want or that make sense. Do you want a 3070 Ti or a 9070 xt? What's the difference? Stuff like that.
If you can figure that out and get the right parts, putting it together is (usually) very straightforward. If you have any problems, it's more likely to be software related.
You also have to be prepared to fix things that aren't covered by a warranty, and usually without clear direction.
narutofishy@reddit
Before ai, I had to ask a bunch of people and wrote down everything needed. Used google to make sure all of the information was reinforced. No knowledge, and lack of experience was the hardest. Bought some parts from Newegg, had my prebuilt pc from Costco. After parts were delivered, had to try to unplug wires, and try to mix and match while absorbing information. Didn’t realize that cpu needed a specific mobo for it to work so never unused that cpu until years later. Got the Costco pc with some newer parts, worked until it didn’t.. pretty sure my psu got shot at one point. After I built my own pc with my half-assed knowledge, and after a gruesome three days, got a pc to function. Built pcs there after and understanding mechanics of pc’s was a lot simpler to understand. Now with ai, you can ask it to pick your parts and guide you on the build. Very convenient if I say so myself.
Knowledge is the setback at first, but after some videos and now with AI, shouldn’t be that hard to comprehend
sammavet@reddit
Building a PC isn't difficult. Is it easy? No, but it isn't difficult. Just remember to check for plastic to peel, and thermal paste goes on the CPU, not on the socket.
tHornyier_ork@reddit
It's just intimidating on the surface once you know how things connect it can actually be pretty simple. Honestly I think the hardest part about building a PC is really just cable management. Watching a couple of YouTube videos on how to build a PC goes a long way. You could even follow along while you're actually building the PC.
Two pieces of advice that I'll give you though
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast: take your time read the motherboard manual and double check things.
Firm yet gentle pressure.
Don't just monkey something into a slot you might snap it but at the same time don't be afraid to put a little bit of force into something.
ChabISright@reddit
Its very easy but if you dont know what you are doing or what to expect, any problem can be hard to fix on your own. Posts about redditors changing a component and having issue after are common
Thepcfd@reddit
its adult lego
Better_Associate6528@reddit
For a first timer, easy to assemble. If something doesn't work, it can get tough to troubleshoot
tibodak@reddit
Buy a pre built. Lol, jk. Build a pc.
LeoLaDawg@reddit
The only difficult part is determining what parts you want.
WeatherLegitimate848@reddit (OP)
Interesting...
Adventurous-Eagle829@reddit
That is the tricky part. What parts work well together? You can look at at sample builds. (Try PC part picker)
The actual building is easy.
LeoLaDawg@reddit
Yeah that's always what I spend the most time on. Just researching and getting back up to speed with the latest tech, what the chips chipsets do, etc etc
Blackops606@reddit
Same. I spend two weeks looking at reviews and the best bang for your buck parts then about 6 hours putting everything together lol.
FalconBurcham@reddit
If you don’t listen to anyone else here, listen to the person above me who said the hardest part is sourcing the right parts. 1000%!
I built my PC a couple months ago, and even though I used the PC Part Picker website, there was still a ton of stuff I had to look up, sift through, and verify. For example, it’s good to check RAM compatibility directly on the motherboard’s website.
I used Perplexity AI for advice sometimes too. I’d take a photo, ask it a question, and it would give me a response along with links. I found Perplexity and ChatGPT to both be useful in that it saved me the trouble of combing through a million YouTube videos. I used very few videos.. I only needed maybe 2 or 3, 15 seconds each to show a very specific thing. Huge time savings!
pandaSmore@reddit
Use PCPartspicker.com to find out parts compatability.
External_Pass_8369@reddit
As long as you don't start with some fancy stuff, or complicate yourself with aesthetic stiuf, is pretty straight forward, just make sure you have the couple of hours available to concentrate on that
CreeDorofl@reddit
It's not hard in the sense of plugging stuff in the correct places, basically everything has a slot and you can use a website to confirm compatibility, and you just stick things into the slots that they fit into.
It is hard in the sense that sometimes you'll turn it on, nothing happens, then you try some troubleshooting, nothing happens, and an hour later you're wondering if one of your parts arrived defective. It can be frustrating. But all the more rewarding when it finally works.
Bubbaganewsh@reddit
Very easy. The only part that scares some is seating the CPU but everything else is basically plug and play. You watch a few YouTube videos you'll be good to go.
nookster145@reddit
I dropped my cpu and bent half of the pins
sopclod@reddit
Adding to this, some of the parts are quite delicate. Lowering m.2 SSDs into position makes me a little nervous too, they are so tiny. Take your time and be careful, you'll be fine.
Melantonine@reddit
Windows and driver installations are harder these days than building a pc.
Either-Razzmatazz848@reddit
it's not easy at all if you don't know what you're doing. my first pc build definitely took over 12 hours. mostly fear from breaking the stuff you just bought.
Curtilia@reddit
The Verge did an excellent video on it. You should check it out.
ywgflyer@reddit
It's about the same difficulty as putting together a moderately-involved Lego kit. Most of the components only fit in one direction into the motherboard, and as long as you're careful, go slowly, don't force anything that doesn't fit properly, and read the board manual very carefully if you're confused about something, it's really not that difficult. It takes me a couple of hours to put one together from having all the components in the boxes, and even then, some of that is time wasted because I am an idiot and installed something before checking to see if it would block another component, or I put the case fans on upside-down, or a cable won't reach because the header on the board is in an awkward spot (right, in the car and off to Canada Computers I go, again, fuck).
2raysdiver@reddit
It is easier than building the 7000+ piece Millennium Falcon Lego, but harder than a 250+ piece Lego Creator kit.
You need to read directions, double check you work, and if you screw up, you may have to take the whole thing apart to fix it.
And if it doesn't turn on once you think it is done, it is unlikely that a simple picture of the interior is enough for someone to figure out your mistake.
NemrahG@reddit
Its not hard at all, just make sure to pay attention to the details so you don’t miss anything.
megselepgeci@reddit
Like LEGO
Sue_Generoux@reddit
Last night, I just rebuilt a PC for my little girl I'd been working on. A stripped motherboard standoff/screw bothered the hell out of me. (Yes, thanks, I finally got it. Great feeling.)
Building your own PC is a little like driving a car: There seem to be a thousand videos on a thousand different ways, and it looks scary as hell before you get behind the wheel the first time.
But chances are, you'll get through it without incident, you might even say, "That wasn't so bad" and look forward to the next time you do it.
The hardest part after all these years is still those damned tiny cables for power, reset, hard drive LED and power LED on the front panel. Double check the motherboard manual on this step.
After the front panel connectors, it's usually a piece of cake.
unimportantinfodump@reddit
It's like one of those kids toys where the block only fits into the correct shape. But it's cables and plugs.
You really only have to plug a few things in and you are good to go.
Gpu, CPU, ram, CPU fan, sdd. Plug into motherboard.
Motherboard, fans, PSU plug into case.
PSU cables, plug into anything with a female connection. And wall.
GG well done you have a PC
TheNoodleBucket@reddit
I built my PC about 2 months ago and it was mostly very easy, just adult Lego basically. But I had lots of fans with RGB and an AIO cooler. Daisy-chaining the RGB and power cables, managing the cables and connecting them properly was a huge pain in the ass for me. Took me about 4 hours to get them set up nice and tidy.
Most people never mention having trouble with this though, so maybe I’m just dumb.
craaates@reddit
If you can use basic hand tools and follow detailed technical instructions and are also comfortable doing basic wiring and installing the software it’s not too bad. If you’ve never done anything like that I’d say watch a lot of yt builds before you spend any money.
Apprehensive-Ad4063@reddit
Depends on patience and competence
cosmicr@reddit
The hardest part is wiring the case connector pins tbh
Erebus03@reddit
I found the act of building a PC to be time consuming, took me like 3 or 4 hours. But overall it was very simple, I made some mistakes to (like did not plug in my graphics card properly but that was a quick fix)
The hardest part was waiting as I slowly saved up and bought everything, mother board this payday, memory the next, graphics Card took 2 paydays
SuperLuigi9624@reddit
If you can assemble a piece of furniture you can assemble a PC.
windowpuncher@reddit
It's not hard. Be gentle with your parts. They're not fragile, but pushing too hard and bending things and using too much force will break things.
Do not take the cpu out of the case and do not remove the cpu cover from the motherboard until you're ready to install the cpu.
Most important, read the motherboard manual. The entire thing. It's not that long and it tells you what to do.
za72@reddit
its like legos
wam22@reddit
It is easier than you think. It’s hard to plug anything into the wrong slot or the wrong way since a lot of it is directional (i.e. the RAM has a notch just off the middle so you can’t plug it in upside down).
The only thing I struggled with the first time was where to plug some of the accessories (fans, rgb lighting) into the motherboard. But it is all in the manual or there are lots of YouTube videos.
Bazinga_U_Bitch@reddit
Not hard at all. My dipshit cousin did it, and he glugs down at least a 6 pack a day. So he's got maybe 1/2 his braincells still.
tusca0495@reddit
The hardest part is obtain pc parts
DxvilSnipes@reddit
not that hard to be honest I built mine on carpet and it works great to this day although I don’t recommend doing that.
TheSweeney@reddit
It’s daunting but pretty straightforward. Find a good video on YouTube to follow, aim for one that’s at least 30-60 minutes long. Follow it step by step and take your time. Don’t rush, don’t be afraid to take a step back and redo something. Once you’ve done it once, the next time is much less daunting and before you know it you’re an expert - if you do it enough.
JonWood007@reddit
Harder than most pc builders think it is, not as hard as people who know nothing think it is. Its not an impossible task you need a brain surgeon to do but its not as easy as "playing with legos."
New-Deal2694@reddit
it is incredibly easy these days
Liwi808@reddit
How did people build PCs before Youtube tutorials? I can't imagine.
SuperbNova213@reddit
If you've ever built Ikea furniture, you can build a PC no issue lol
platomaker@reddit
Google part picker on new egg and play around with a theoretical build, then ask reddit for feedback.
Sparse the rabbid discussions and arguments to find a reasonable middle ground of affordability and features.
Even assuming money wasn't an issue- some parts just aren't available. GPUs come to mind. That's why it's better to have an idea and then enjoy the hunt (something to look forward to black friday). Some friends may even upgrade their rig and have spare parts to share/sell.
.....but if you're used to macs or mobile devices and don't care to learn what's under the hood then maybe it might be too hard for you? Try out the theoretical build first since that's free.
1yrik@reddit
way easier than finding parts that won't ruin your wallet and dealing with windows' bullshit... the actual building is the easiest part
Liwi808@reddit
Wiring everything is the hardest part. Making sure the PSU cords are connected to the right ports, and the mobo has the right connections. Liquid coolers are also a bit tricky to install for newbies. Other than that, it's pretty straight forward. Parts can only go in one place for the most part.
Wargamer2016@reddit
I built my first PC about a year ago and I feel it saved me hundreds of euros. I was able to do so for about €540. I used an old power supply, but otherwise a new case, gpu (though out a few years), DDR4 RAM and a MSI 550M PRO motherboard. I used an AMD Ryzen 5 processor. The 32GB RAM I used made this setup able to run high end games like AC Unity at a good speed.
Natural_External5211@reddit
It's not hard to build it. The issue becomes that. If something goes wrong it can be hard to diagnose and fix it.
BxtchPlzIDGAF@reddit
If you go in completely blind, its tougher, but not impossible, on the hardware side, its plug and play for the most part.
If you have even the simplest understanding on how the install process for wjndows goes, then it would be a breeze
CartographerTall1967@reddit
can you build a lego set? if yes you can build a pc
Spirited-Counter762@reddit
It’s like building legos
EtemonDarknetwork@reddit
In 2002, i bought my first PC store prebuilt. And then start to learn about cleaning PC, changing one parts, upgrading parts. Most of time i was helped by a friend who knew about PC. After awhile i startes to learn to built my own PC. If this is your first time, i would suggest asking help from friends or someone who actually know about it. No matter how detailed any youtube instruction video out there, there is always a risk of breaking one of your PC parts.
Noah_BK@reddit
It’s not hard. Legos for adults. If you can follow simple instructions, it’s very easy. Finding affordable parts and picking what pieces you want for whatever reason, a little harder.
Western_Conflict5249@reddit
easier than a LEGO figure.
Raderg32@reddit
Stuff can only be assembled in one way, there's thousands of step by step videos online of how to do it, READ THE MANUFACTURER MANUALS those will say if there's something different about how to install a specific part.
Building a PC is quite easy. The difficult part is troubleshooting the software. But it just boils down to writing, "My PC is doing this and that, how to fix" on google and trying stuff. That will make you learn stuff so you can feel confident and break other stuff so you can learn some more.
1fom3rcial@reddit
The physical act itself? Easy as legos basically. Plug part A into slot A. If you can read and follow instructions, you can build a PC.
HOWEVER
It can be psychologically challenging. PCs are expensive and there are some parts like a CPU which can be easily damaged. If you are careless, you might mess up a $5-600 part and that can be stressful. Also, there is always troubleshooting that comes with building a PC. Inevitably something will go haywire during the process and you need to be the type of person who is OK with stepping away and looking up guides to help you know where something went wrong.
So just go slow your first time, watch guides, really do your homework to make sure you have a good understanding of how all the pieces fit together and in what order you need to install them. You'll learn a lot and it's a really rewarding process!
Crimson_Sabere@reddit
Assembling it is easy but it can be stressful if you're a worry wart like me.
gpowerf@reddit
Super easy! “Build” is the wrong term. You’re really just putting a few components together. Assembling flat-pack furniture is harder. The hardest part about building a PC is making sure you’ve got all the right parts, the correct type of memory, and so on. But there are plenty of sites to help with that.
pandaSmore@reddit
Sandwich shops have build your own Sandwiches which you don't even put together yourself .
DemSumBigAssRidges@reddit
Sourcing parts: mildly difficult (PC Part Picker has made it MUCH easier, but you will need to develop an understanding of what you're looking for which, in the PC world, can be complicated)
Buying parts: very difficult (unless you have the money to compete with data center "futures" and/or are fine with being ripped the fuck off cost-wise because of data center "futures". Plus you can't trust companies. Intel just had a big scandal in 2024/25 over shipping out bad CPUs)
Assembling parts: not difficult (most PC parts have specific slots and the parts/plugs are shaped accordingly, motherboards tend to be labeled and have install instructions with them, etc.)
You will likely need to do some shedding of static electricity during install, but if you have a small/medium philips head screw-driver, you can get a PC built.
pandaSmore@reddit
It's easy. Deciding on the parts is the hardest part.
Bleezy79@reddit
With youtube, its not difficult at all. The first time is obviously the hardest but once you dive in and learn the basics, you'll realize its not too bad at all. You'll probably make some mistakes but thats how you learn, and thats part of the fun. It's definitely worth a shot if you're curious. Just be wary of RAM and SSD prices right now. lol
Least_Ad_2255@reddit
Building the pc is the easy part . cable managing is the hard part.
AleDxD@reddit
it's easy but it's not quick
maybe 1 hr only setting up the parts and 1hr only messing up with the wires (problems with non modular psus)
but if you don't care about the stettic, 1 hr its enough
FatalGamer1@reddit
Never built a PC in my life but after watching a couple of videos on YouTube by big PC channels, it was way easier than I thought.
Watch some PC building videos and if you’re still unsure, build while watching the video and pause step by step.
RunDatBihUp@reddit
I apparently broke 60 prongs on the motherboard while installing it 🙃🙃🙃 Amazon refunded my purchase but I still had to buy a new one and let a computer store fix it for me
miroljubni-rom@reddit
Easy.
EatsOverTheSink@reddit
Honestly the worst part is the software installs afterward. I feel like that’s when you start running into headaches that aren’t your fault.
WorldScientist@reddit
The first and second time you do it you will spend most time just checking and rechecking everything. Did I screw all screws in, did I seat the Memory properly, how do I attach this dang liquid cooler, etc.
Steals_Your_Thunder_@reddit
Imo people underplay the difficulty based on their own existing knowledge. There is absolutely plenty to learn, particularly in the event of having to deal with something going wrong.
That being said, It's absolutely possible to watch a YouTube video and learn enough to do it yourself. You just might run into some frustrations along the way. I would highly advise watching the whole video in advance so you understand the process in its entirety rather than trying to do it along with the video while you watch it for the first time.
m4tic@reddit
yes
manor2003@reddit
Built mine, took me a few hours, the cpu cooler was a pain to install and after i turned it on turns out i didn't connect the fans but after everything was done it is so satisfying to see it boot up.
Harry_Yudiputa@reddit
its harder to remove rectangle legos from another rectangle lego.
go build a pc
RipSkinsByBet@reddit
I just built my first PC from scratch (I previously had a pre-built which I swapped a few parts out of over time. It’s way easier than you think. It can be intimidating but as long as you make sure all your parts are compatible (use a website like pcpartpicker) and put in some time to Google search and look up YouTube tutorials you’ll be fine. Also a fun experience :)
_Springfield@reddit
Pretty simple honestly.
Strongbow_Wolfrider@reddit
Get the right pieces, put in some screws, snap on some chips. OS installation and driver install is the hard part. Nobody to call when it doesn't work is the nasty part.
Hopeful-Climate-3848@reddit
A lot easier than it was in the 90s.
Generally things only go together one way, it's really difficult to mess up, particularly with the amount of YouTube tutorials there are.
No_Imagination___@reddit
Ngl it got easier over these past 5 years. Just take your time and watch a video if you need to. No need to rush things.
soup2eat_shi@reddit
If you can put together furniture from Ikea you can build a PC. PC building seems daunting the very first time you do it, but once you do you realize it really isn't all that difficult. Watch a PC build video to get the overall process. Your motherboard and CPU cooler will probably also come with instructions so follow those as well. I think the hardest part about PC building is just doing the research and making sure your parts are compatibl, and check clearances for stuff like GPU and CPU coolers
lucashhugo@reddit
it's easy if you're not overconfident and take your time with everything, i built mine when i was 13 watching yt videos.
KingdaToro@reddit
Building a PC is 40% choosing and sourcing the parts, 20% actually building it, and 40% installing and configuring the OS and software.
AxelsOG@reddit
Somewhat time consuming but easy. Just follow instructions. If you’re even half decent at following instructions, you’ll have to try to mess up. Just triple check that parts are being put in the correct way before forcing them in. Some parts will require more force than you’re potentially comfortable with and that’s fine.
You’d rather take time and maybe stretch it out over a session or two than rushing to get it out together and potentially bending the pins on your motherboard CPU slot or the CPU itself depending on what type of CPU you have. You don’t want to bend or break things.
Although my biggest advice is to wear some thick-ish gloves or be very, very careful with the motherboard i/o shield as the edges can be very sharp and cut you if you’re not careful.
Quirky_Map4087@reddit
As long as you treat it carefully it’s pretty easy. Scariest part is putting the graphic card in IMO.
Waretaco@reddit
These days, PC building is less a question of difficulty and is more defined by motivation to learn and technical proficiency. As a 17 year old kid in 2000, my buddy and I were able to build a PC using a mishmash of various parts scrounged from old PCs and hand me down equipment with our only resources being the motherboard manual and rural dialup internet. Where there is a will, there is a way.
The internet has changed significantly since those days, so I'd say it's never been easier to learn how or to get started.
Kqyxzoj@reddit
It's fairly easy oh ram prices yeah never mind it's incredibly hard don't do it man, don't do iiiiiit. :(
BNSF1995@reddit
My first PC build back in the summer of 2024 had a few hiccups (losing a standoff screw for the CPU cooler, not knowing where to plug in said cooler, not knowing that reverse blade fans are intake fans, getting Phanteks D30-140 fans that were already broken, getting GPU support brackets that didn’t fit 140mm fans, and still not getting around to proper cable management), but everything came together and it’s giving me great service (I built it when I did in the event that Trump won in November, which he unfortunately did).
joyOFFmissingOut@reddit
Per niente difficile. La rottura di pale arriva alla prima accensione se per qualche motivo va in recovery. E quindi via a rompersi le palle con banchi di ram etc
Punpun86@reddit
Did it the first time with my Father with some help of YouTube. My father is PC illiterate, can't even turn on the PC.
Novels011@reddit
It's okay, you can mess up but a good tutorial will lead you too the end 95% off the Time. Getting the money to pay for the parts is the hardest part :'(
cizorbma88@reddit
Have you ever put together a Lego set? Or followed a recipe to make a dish?
It’s about as hard as either of those things
seamew@reddit
just watch any pc building video on youtube from the past 10 years.
skernstation@reddit
Hardest part nowadays is having the money lol - so freaking expensive
deadbeef_enc0de@reddit
Actually building a PC is fairly easy and most things that used to be configured (think 90s/2000s) is automatic. You may have to look up what to do if it's your first time.
Picking the parts to get the best price/performance with the other features you want is harder and either requires research or continued investment into keeping up.
passwordistako@reddit
Was easier about 18 months ago.
Background_Job4878@reddit
I have built a ton of pcs at this point and heres my take
making a build list: difficult and requires a great interest (DONT USE CHAT GPT) also requires a certain amount of luck with prices
assembling: provided you pick an easy to work atx case and a modular psu, easier than legos! everything fits where its supposed to, only difficult things for beginners are where to apply more/less force and what order to do everything in
setting up os, bios: can be the easiest thing in the world or the hardest thing in the world, depends purely on how interested you are
michaelbelgium@reddit
Look at some yt videos and find out
LeGreatToucan@reddit
Extremely easy
DaveLLD@reddit
Little bit more complicated than lego, with the fun added fact that doing the wrong thing will wreck the very expensive hardware.
Ragingpoo@reddit
Having built about 5, it's very easy in my head, but the actual when I get to do it, it can be hard / annoying if not planned out properly
First PC I built, started with motherboard in case first, that was a bitch as when you try to insert ram/gpu, the motherboard on standoff means it can flex a little, so I was in between trying to more force in the slot, but worry about too much. Connecting the CPU fan header to the motherboard is annoying when I don't have direct sight of the header as the tower overshadows it. Oh and those Front connector with case, I had to use a tweezer to hold them to plug them in due to some shit getting in the way.
Last PC built, 10 fans, all with power header and argb header (which I have now turn off), getting them to the fan controller was difficult due to cable length, end up with two fan controller one near top of case and antoher near bottom of case. USB 3 mother board connector was also a pain due to the tightness of the header.
TheKingofTerrorZ@reddit
Building it in a way that works is pretty easy. Having the knowledge to put everything in the correct slot, so there is no lane sharing going on between the gpu and other pcie devices, using the right amount of fans per header, and other things require a bit more understanding of your parts. Doing things in the BIOS to get more performance is also part of it, just like changing certain aspects of your OS is.
On the surface its easy, and people compare it to lego sometimes. I dont think its quite that simple, but the knowledge can be obtained quite quickly.
Keaten88@reddit
Its not really difficult at all, just kind of daunting considering the fragility of some parts and how much they cost.
SirDimitris@reddit
I built my first PC in the mid 90's when I was 6-years-old. It's really easy and has only gotten easier.
Scam_Faultman@reddit
Its not hard but you do need to be careful and take your time. Watch a video on the process and it will be fine. It's also very fun to build it and seeing it turn on afterwards
IncomprehensiveScale@reddit
Easy. Like, scale of 1-10, maybe a 2 or 3.
Dead_Bones001@reddit
Easy enough to build if you watch a few videos first. Harder to trouble shoot if something doesn't work, but it's all part of the learning process and there's so much help out there these days. I've been building my own computers since around 2000.
starsiegegambit@reddit
I wouldn't call the experience "easy" but it was entirely manageable. Just watch some YouTube videos so you know what you're doing ahead of time and it should work out. Also, and I'm not speaking from experience or anything, but do make sure all the power cables are pulled through to where they need to go before you tighten the motherboard down or, depending on your case, there's a nonzero chance you'll find it blocking the way for one or more of them and you'll have to pull the whole motherboard back out again.
HatJunior@reddit
Very easy, i was very nervous and scared of building a pc, but when i got all the parts together and started building while watching a youtube video, it made thinga a lot easier and wasnt as hard as i have expected.
LiveYoLife288@reddit
Building is easy if you follow the steps. Buy a headlamp btw.
wealldieeventually1@reddit
Building it is extremely easy, if you follow a guide step by step you will be done in just a few hours if its your first time. The thing that is hard is picking the components right now because everything is so absurdly expensive, you picked a bad time to build one.
Canadian_Border_Czar@reddit
Easier than its ever been. The big concern is installing the cpu, which is still super easy it just has a big penalty for failure.
As long as youre not like a frustrated child that tries to force things, a stubborn ox that needs to figure everything out on your own, etc. Youll be fine.
If you buy your motherboard and cpu in the same store you can typically get them to seat the CPU for you.
From there its basically building Lego.
Also, if youre a sweaty person wear a hat and dont lean directly over your PC.
dzone25@reddit
Researching components / finding good deals is SIGNIFICANTLY harder than building a PC.
And troubleshooting it when there's issues is also harder than actually building it - but it just takes some patience and trusting the process.
waitingForMars@reddit
If you got decent results in science labs coming through school, you should be fine. (Attention to detail and good at following directions)
WildcardKH@reddit
It's not too too bad, but it can definitely be stressful. Wanting to make sure everything is connected and functioning properly.
I see why people call it like building lego for adults.
badger906@reddit
Incredibly easy. I bought a book! Because YouTube didn’t exist! called “how to build a pc” only issue was, it was fairly out of date, and early 2000s online tech shops werent great either!
ashgx6@reddit
Square peg go in square hole.
Idahoboe@reddit
I've put together a couple over the last 35 years. Putting together the pieces isn't difficult if you have some kind of mechanical skills. The difficult part is the software side. Formatting, partition the drives, dealing with bios and drivers then operating system. Then making it all work to your liking. If you like to tinker with things, jump in.
donut4ever21@reddit
My first time was a mess, but I made it through. Just slow down and take your time. Make sure you watch a good YouTube video while you're doing the build. Also, make sure you read the manual of the MB to make sure you're plugging things in the right places.
GoldenDom3r@reddit
Much easier than it may seem at first. There’s also several great YouTube videos that you can follow along with from start to finish.
PunchBeard@reddit
If you can turn a screwdriver that's about 80% of it. The other 20% is plugging the case and fans into the mobo.
Nabeshein@reddit
Once you have all the pieces, it's about a difficult as a Lego set.
sondergaard913@reddit
As someone that just built my own, and had no previous experience whatsoever, I say it's not hard, but it requires atention.
For example, in my build I forgot to put one type of screw that would prevent the motherboard from touching the case, but I didnt know for what it was for, and because the case had 2 pre-installed (4 more that came separated with the case).
So I say, get in discord/reddit and ask for what is what for so you dont screw it up.
I would say is lean towards easy, but you need attention.
sup3rdr01d@reddit
Very easy
Hungry_Freaks_Daddy@reddit
Overall, I’d say it’s pretty easy…certain parts of the build can be a pain in the ass tho
pacochalk@reddit
I think if you're able to plan out the parts you need for the build, you're able enough to do the actual build. It's not like carpentry or something.
Alucard661@reddit
My 11yr old built his computer with minimal help from me. You can do it!!
AspiringHippie123@reddit
10 years ago I finished putting one together in ~1 hour as I did not care about wiring. Few months ago I upgraded and spent about 2 hours as I wanted to hide the wires sand get some good cable management. It’s actually surprisingly easy. Plus Gemini can help with wiring questions.
horrorpages@reddit
I bought a popular case with instructions primarily in a different language and terrible illustrations (bleeding ink and blown out like someone tattooed it to the paper). Other than that, it's really easy! Just need a clean and quiet space and somewhere to store the remaining residuals.
Ditto_is_Lit@reddit
Every build is different, so it's not a straightforward question. If you keep it as simple as possible ie minimal number of fans/RGB/cooling solution, it makes the process much less confusing. If you compare it to like 15-20 years ago it's become very user friendly so like 7/10 difficulty level. The most important thing to building a PC as someone who hasn't ever done so previously is preparation, and keeping things as simple as possible so the cable management doesn't become nightmare fuel.
Sephoyy@reddit
Very easy the searching is the hardest. Find things that you can within your budget is the hardest part.
jmill155@reddit
It’s easy but time consuming. I just recently built my newest pc and it took me a few hours.
Xenoryzen_Dragon@reddit
easy way for new pc builder
buy new gen amd ryzen 7 mini pc amd nuc, you only need add m.2 nvme ssd + ram ddr5 + m.2 wifi
Adviseformeplz@reddit
About as hard as putting together a decent size Lego set
Sea_Airport_7985@reddit
I built my first last September. I thought it was easy. In preparation, I watched some YouTube videos to get an idea of what I needed to do. I thought the widows/drivers installation was more complicated than the assembly.
sharpshooter999@reddit
Putting a pc together is easier than putting an engine together, which isn't that difficult either but requires a lot more tools
SFLoridan@reddit
As easy as assembling an IKEA furniture, if that single sheet of instructions was lost and you had to depend on the internet to understand how the pieces fit together.
Sourcing the components is a different issue - nothing like Ikea's neatly packed box(es) to help you relax
Come to think of it, I wonder why IKEA is not into selling PC packages: components that fit together in one nice package...?
KlassLikeVlassic@reddit
EZ PZ
lost_nomai@reddit
Easy if you are cautious and organized.
happntime@reddit
It’s like adult legos
Intrepid_Bobcat_2931@reddit
Medium
Verzada@reddit
Even though it might not be necessary, but having a nice toolkit from ifixit or similar for building pc, makes the process nicer.
However, you get far with the correct screwdriver :)
nobanpls2348738@reddit
"say the line"
"lego for adults"
TechnoGMNG589@reddit
Brutally honest? If everything goes smoothly, aka you picked the right/compatible parts (which is made easy with pc part picker), and nothing is faulty and nothing is broken either in transit or buy oneself, then its easy, which is the case with most people.
Though if something were to go wrong, it CAN turn into a nightmare, specifically if you dont know what's wrong. This scenario is unlikely but you should know.
Jackyl84@reddit
It’s like building a really expensive Lego set. If you can follow instructions and have patience, you can do it.
Dr_Tacopus@reddit
Stressful, not hard. Especially the first time
lamp7777@reddit
Pretty straightforward but if you have no experience, there are steps that require more force than you may feel comfortable with, while other steps require some care or you may ruin expensive parts. Read the manuals and make sure you don't forget to install things like motherboard stand off screws and don't lose a screw somewhere in your build that could cause shorts.
The real problem with building a PC is not putting it together but troubleshooting an issue once you turn it on. You could have a defective component and the symptom doesn't obviously tell you which one. If you don't have the spare parts to swap into the build to begin narrowing the problem down, it can become a bit of a nightmare.
Joates87@reddit
Financing the operation is the hard part.
RedshiftOnPandy@reddit
It's honestly a lot easier than expected and you'll have a very basic and powerful understanding of how Computers work.
There's not that many components at all, and it's mostly all just light work with a screwdriver. You'll be able to make upgrades like hard drive/sad/m storage very easily and confidently.
Obzenium@reddit
Easy for some and hard for others. If you’ve spent time working with your hands in life it will be easier, otherwise not so much.
pertante@reddit
It isn't too difficult imo. It helps to try finding decent how-to videos to get an idea of what parts go where/what order of putting things together. Additionally, making sure all your parts are compatible in terms of function and size helps a lot.
doombase310@reddit
Very easy if you buy the right parts. Just watch YT video. I've built dozens of pcs since I was a teenager. Over 50 now and will never buy pre-built. Use PC part picker like site and plug in all your parts. It'll do a compatibility check for you.
Maximum_Maxwell@reddit
Just like with everything else in life, it gets easier with practice/the more you build. The first time I built from scratch, it took me at least 10 hours including installing windows.
So yeah, it's hard but gets easier. Always refer to their respective manuals, and check before buying if the parts are compatible with each other.
ZoteTheMitey@reddit
can you play with legos?
then you can build a computer
Zertaku@reddit
It's easier than it looks. Just dont cheap out on the power supply.
Zertaku@reddit
It's easier than it looks. Just make sure the cables are pluged in tight with no gap. For the rams, it might require a bit of effort to put in. Just make sure you hear the click before adding in the next ram. when installing the heatsink or aio. Just make sure not to over tighten it and stop when you feel a little resistance when tightening.
heyItsDubbleA@reddit
I built a PC in the early 2000s as a kid and another one 5 years ago as an adult. It is much easier now than it was in the past.
Pynchon_A_Loaff@reddit
The assembly is straightforward and fairly simple. The cable management towards the end takes some patience but isn’t difficult.
WhatIsIdentity03@reddit
Building? Easy! Getting the parts? A lot of research if you want to do it right and pricing is utterly screwed up right now.
Naughty_Monsters@reddit
Not hard, just take it slow and have your phone/a tablet on hand to watch youtube to figure out where you're going wrong when something doesnt fit correctly. Its only really shoving things in the correct holes when it all boils down to it, and making sure you plugged everythings power cable in.
JueManji@reddit
If you’ve never done it before, then somewhat? If you’ve handled any kind of PC parts and tinkered then it’s easier. If you’ve done it lost of times before then it’s easy.
Watch a load of build videos, LTT did one called the last build guide you’ll ever need which is fairly handy as a point of reference. Do the research, do the prep.
If it’s the first time you’ve ever done it you will need a whole day to do it - it will stress you out and be a little nerve racking but take your time and then enjoy the feeling when it’s completed and you’ve built your own system.
laughms@reddit
Yeah I think 99% of the replies here are downplaying the whole thing. Difficulty is relative to the experience of the person. They forget there are plenty of people that have absolutely no clue what they are doing.
It also depends on the custom build. Some are way more work than others. And if you are clueless about even the most basic stuff you might not be capable of assembling it, or even more importantly not understanding how to troubleshoot at all.
IndependenceTiny2931@reddit
Hard no, but can be frustrating Yes
First-Bat-7440@reddit
Its easy if you are willing to do some research and follow instructions. Most info you can find on youtube or in the manual.
Always read the manual.
RDS_WAS_HERE@reddit
If you can pay attention to details (manual) it's basically plug-and-play to build a PC computer. Just make sure you spend 30 minutes looking at and editing (pencil) the motherboard layout shown in the manual. Google any label you don't understand and mark it on motherboard layout (manual). Also most connectors are "keyed" so you really can't screw up the connections. On the hardware side, an SSD (drive) is a must if you want a fast PC. Also, don't skimp ($$$) on the Power Supply.
clarkcox3@reddit
These days, it’s like putting together a Lego set.
jvishwanath@reddit
Easier and more fun than actually finding the parts, especially with today’s prices. It’ll be pretty nerve wracking your first time, but trust in the process and watch lots of YouTube videos! Have a pc building buddy with you just in case if possible, but totally doable solo (I built my first solo)
EmoGuy3@reddit
Only thing Ive ever struggled with is the CPU cooler. Make sure to watch a tutorial on the one you get even if budget, decent cooling, some reviews will be honest and say it's a pain. It's up to you though! Modern boards do a really good job of error coding for other things.
Only other advice is dimensions of your stuff make sure you know if you're getting an ATX board that your stuff will fit, don't get a 360 rad if your case only supports 240, all cases have pictures and websites of Fans setups and can always reach out to reddit for support.
Parking_Cress_5105@reddit
It's easy if you have some diy spirit.
But it's not really consumer easy, you need to be careful.
MichiganRedWing@reddit
You ever play with LEGO? It's LEGO for adults.
scrigface@reddit
in a world where everything wasn't 5x more than normal I think it's easier to build a PC than to troubleshoot what's wrong with it (when you're new to the hobby). Youtube and google have made things a lot smoother, of course. I've built many PCs and sometimes I miss something that has me stop and backtrack. After your first one it definitely becomes easier.
Now...a custom loop is something I still haven't had the courage (or money) to do yet. Maybe some day.
frostyflakes1@reddit
If you're a tech person or you like tinkering with stuff, then yeah it's pretty easy. These days, there's so much information available from so many different sources to help you through the process.
EvilDan69@reddit
I'd say its easy, but this depends on the quality of case that you purchase.
It is easy to watch infinite amounts of youtubers build theirs and providing guides online. Its possible to find every combination put together.
I started building when I was a teen. that was 30 years ago. I do IT work professionally I started by learning from magazines, pre-internet and how-to books etc.
My best advice? Visit a parts picker site to see if all your parts are compatible.
If you buy a newer model motherboard, see if its compatible with your CPU/RAM right out of the box, or only after a bios update on the motherboard.
IF it needs to be udpated, most will power up with nothing installed, and you just need to insert a USB key with the firmware on it.
Don't rush it. Take your time. tuck the cables neatly.
Test line up the motherboard onto the case, pay attention to where the holes in the motherboard line up with the mounting holes on the case. Only install the standoffs in those locations.
AlwaysHopelesslyLost@reddit
All of the parts come with instruction manuals. The Motherboard is the most complicated one and it is like 10 pages.
Lego sets are WAY more complicated.
grapejuicecheese@reddit
It can be tough the first time through.
The people telling you that it's as easy as LEGO are lying or already familiar with tech. It's more comparable to building a shelf from IKEA
prestigiouspopcorn10@reddit
Very easy, I didn’t know what a GPU was six months ago. YouTube was my best friend and just built my first PC this month with very few issues (I didn’t fully click the RAM into place because I was too scared to break it lol)
infernobassist@reddit
I've built a couple of machines before and haven't been too challenged in the past. The last build I did though, I was surprised how many small questions I was having. Stuff like should my motherboard flex this much? How hard do I have to push to seat this RAM (Really hard it turns out)? Is my GPU seated all the way? Why is it wiggling? Where do I see where my case wires plug into? A lot of these questions need additional research to answer.
It doesn't put itself together and you need to be detail oriented and willing to do some research to get it right. Idk why everyone acts like it is foolproof and no one could ever get it wrong.
pattperin@reddit
It’s pretty easy. What’s hard is learning enough to choose your own parts. Took me about a year of anxious googling before I finally pulled the trigger on parts
Perplexe974@reddit
If you like Legos and do them often it's actually very easy - the real challenge is to get parts and boot first try
Spirited_Coconut7390@reddit
Recommended to be sober.
SavingsPoem1533@reddit
Super easy
Schnezler@reddit
Building the PC is the easy part. Finding the right parts is the hard one. Once you clicked that order button you are at the "advanced Lego" stage. Before that.... have fun diving deep into the rabbit hole of comparing parts, prices, min maxing things etc. :D
The hardest part of building is cable management. And if you don't care if it looks super duper clean... well that also isn't to hard of a thing
kuuups@reddit
As easy as playing Legos. Ive been building PC's since mid 90s and it kept getting easier and more streamlined as time went by.
Naerven@reddit
On a scale of 1-10 I would give it a 3.
Vertigo103@reddit
Easy just take your time and properly think about how you want to run cables and tie downs.
Do the cable management right the first time then you won't have to do it later.
shipshaper88@reddit
"Adult lego." Easier really since there's fewer parts and fewer steps and it takes less time. Just don't be a gorilla and smash the pieces together and you'll be fine.
740990929974739@reddit
Super subjective!
Were you the type of kid that liked Legos? Can you follow a recipe? Are you patient and able to read instruction manuals, watch YouTube videos? Easy.
Did any of the above give you anxiety or give you the ick? Possibly hard for you.
Giant_Swigz@reddit
It’s pretty cake man. A wise man once told me, if it don’t fit, it don’t go there.
Relevant_Mail_1292@reddit
No. I could follow a guide on youtube pretty easily. The hardest part is trusting yourself not to push the stuff in too hard and break something
Stooovie@reddit
You mean the actual physical work? I've done my first after many many years of not working with PC parts, took me roughly 2-3 hours. Most annoying part is cable management.
AbedGubiNadir@reddit
It was easier than I thought but I did a lot of researching before I did mine. Just make sure you push and wiggle the PSU cables in all the way.
Jealous_Acorn@reddit
Difficuly is relative.
What is the most complicated thing you have every assembled or built? Maybe I can compare it to that.
Huebertrieben@reddit
Not that hard if you follow the instructions from a YT guide and make sure to not rush or be not calm
CrispyJalepeno@reddit
Its easy, but very nerve-wracking. Everything is expensive and if something goes wrong, it just gets more expensive. For the most part, though, everything just plugs right into each other
Business-Document-59@reddit
Very simple, just check guides since there are a couple of things that are counter intuitive
capital-d_colon@reddit
Not
Nyx_Zorya@reddit
Very easy