In fact, if you build a computer yourself, you can save a lot, and at the same time choose decent components. Of course, there is a certain risk and responsibility is high, but it’s not as hard as it seems, especially if you study the question well and follow recommendations.
Types of computers
First of all, decide for yourself why you need a computer: gaming computer (powerful computer with an expensive graphics card, high-speed bus, fast processor and RAM + plenty of memory), standard office computer (low-performance computers for running office programs and surfing the Internet, but you should not build a computer from the cheapest components), a computer for professional activities (this refers to the launch of demanding programs – Photoshop, Autocad, 3dMAX, CorelDRAW and so on), and server (the choice of server components largely depends on the requirements and understanding of the task).
So, to build a working computer, you need at least:
- Housing with power supply;
- CPU with cooler;
- Thermal grease (on coolers that come with the processor, its layer is already applied);
- Motherboard;
- A video card (it may be built-in on the motherboard, in this case, it is up to you to decide whether or not to take a separate video card);
- Memory module;
- HDD;
- Optical DVD drive;
- Keyboard;
- Mouse.
The Central Processing Unit is the main part of the computer, its so-called electronic-computing brain. While choosing it, consider:
The Manufacturer
At the moment there are two major manufacturers of processors for desktop computers, laptops, and servers – Intel and AMD. As a rule, AMD is loved for its great overclocking ability, and Intel – for predictable stability.
Socket
Type of connector for mounting to the motherboard. Must match the socket on the motherboard.
The number of cores
The more cores, the higher the performance. It is worth considering some nuances:
not all programs are able to optimally separate streams by cores and their number does not increase productivity
- some server software is licensed by cores – a large number of them will cause unnecessary expenses.
- For computer games, it is better to choose processors with a large number of cores.
The cache
The higher the cache, the faster the response of the processor and the less its utilization, but also the higher the price of the product.
Heat dissipation/electricity consumption
It is measured in watts and determines the load on the power supply and the need for the efficiency of the cooling system. For laptops, it is not recommended to choose processors with high power consumption.
The maximum temperature
The temperature at which the processor will work without throttling or turning off the computer.
Choosing the components for a computer, you can find many different reviews about it. Anyone can write them, so you should not consider single statements. It is worth paying more attention to reviews with descriptions of specific incompatibility problems.