The Best Tools for Building Your Dream Gaming PC
There's plenty of help out there if you know where to look.
The PC market is huge. It’s easier than ever to game on a PC, especially with efforts like Microsoft’s Cross Play between Windows 10 and Xbox One. And let’s not forget that it’s just simple fact that games will always look and perform better on a PC. But attempting to build a custom computer of your very own can be extremely daunting, especially if it’s your first custom rig. Luckily, in this modern age, there’s a wealth of resources out there to help you out.
PCPartPicker does most of the heavy lifting for you.
PCPartPicker
PCPartPicker is the go-to site for planning a custom PC. The site gives you free rein to select the parts you desire but will tell you if any of your hardware is incompatible, which could be a lifesaver in the long run. You don’t want to build a PC to find out that your CPU is bottlenecking your video card. You can filter parts by price, brand, chipset, and more to narrow things down.
Newegg TV
Newegg is a well-established one-stop shop for all things computers. You can purchase pre-built PCs and laptops, along with any other gadget you could dream of. And then there’s the hardware. So much hardware. But the community at Newegg is strong, with consumers leaving informative reviews on products to give you a good read on whether or not something is worth buying.
And Newegg doesn’t stop there. Their YouTube channel, Newegg TV, has over 100 million views and is full of videos for both beginners and more experienced enthusiasts alike. If it’s your first time building a PC, you’ll definitely want to check out their beginners series that walks you through the PC building process step by step.
ChooseMyPC is great if you need a jumping off point.
ChooseMyPC
ChooseMyPC makes things even simpler if you’re intimidated by all of the technicalities. Set a budget, choose whether you’d like to overclock, select extras, and the site selects the parts for you. It’s a great starting off point if you’re feeling especially lazy, or are trying to keep a strict budget, but always check the reviews of the products recommended to make sure it’s the right fit for you. It’s a good idea to check the GPUs, too. Now that the next generation of cards are out, you might find cheaper, but equally powerful options on the market.
If you need great feedback, look no further.
/r/buildapc
Sure, Reddit can be a mixed bag, but you’ll find a supportive group of fellow nerds in the BuildAPC subreddit. It’s quite active, with plenty of people asking for troubleshooting help, requesting recommendations, or showing off their latest build. If you don’t want to jump in with your own questions, you can always check out their extensive beginner’s guide.
Maybe someday you'll have a computer that's this shiny.
