Custom Computers – How to Select Components
Introduction:
So, you want a custom desktop
computer. There is a lot to consider.
The objective for building a custom
computer is to select a set of components that when assembled produces a system
for your particular use with your personal best tradeoffs among performance,
quality, physical size, aesthetics, power consumption, ability to adapt to the
future, and of course, cost.
Customs are built from the following
components:
1. CPU
2. Graphics Card
3. Motherboard
4. RAM
5. Storage
6. CPU Cooler
7. Power Supply Unit
8. Case and Fans
9. Operating System
To select a set of components, start
with the custom’s primary task. Custom computers are usually built for gaming,
trading, 3D modeling, video editing, or AI. The first step is to determine the
performance requirements for your platform. If you are a gamer, what games do
you want to play and at what level? What are the recommended requirements for
those games at the level you want to play? If you want a custom computer for
trading, 3D modeling, video editing, or AI, what software platforms will you be
using? What are the recommended requirements for those platforms? The second
step is to determine the most demanding requirements, and those will be the
requirements for your custom computer.
The components listed above are
numbered because the decisions on the higher numbered components are dependent
on the lower numbered component decisions. Components 1 through 8 should be
selected in that order. Select each component to meet or exceed the platform
requirements for that component and compatibility with the components that have
already been selected.
In this post, we will focus on
selecting components for gaming custom computers because they constitute the
vast majority. The principles and methods for other custom computers are very
similar. We will not address the assembly process in this post.
Gaming Custom Computer
CPU
While we could get into a
mind-numbing discussion of CPU core counts and clock speeds, there are really
only two decisions about CPUs for gaming:
·
Intel
versus AMD, and
·
Performance
level
Intel and AMD compete in the CPU
market, and the lead switches back and forth fairly often. As this post is
being written, AMD CPUs provide slightly better price/performance for high-end
gaming, but the situation could change quickly. For Intel, current generation
i5 CPUs are the minimum we would recommend for gaming. If the games you want to
play recommend i7 or i9 CPUs, then that is the requirement. For AMD, current
generation Ryzen 5 CPUs are the minimum we would recommend for gaming. If the
games you want to play recommend a Ryzen 7 or 9, then that is your requirement.
If you are on the fence, consider future-proofing by choosing the higher
performance option.
For gaming computers, your CPU does
not need to include onboard graphics. CPUs with onboard graphics typically cost
more, and your graphics card will handle the graphics work.
Graphics Card
Graphics cards are responsible for
generating the images for your monitors. Different games are capable of
different resolutions, image detail levels, and frame rates. However, you can
decide how much of that capability is important to you. Do you want 2k or 4K
resolution? Do you want 60 or 200 Frames Per Second (FPS). Do you want good or
ultra-realistic image detail and smoothness? It’s not only about your monitor’s
capabilities. Higher FPS can also reduce image latency.
There are four graphic card
decisions:
·
Nvidia
versus AMD Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) chip,
·
Graphics
Card Brand,
·
Performance
level, and
·
Monitor
connector types.
Graphics card performance is a
function of the number of cores, core functionality and clock speed of the
chip, and the amount and type (DDR_) of Video Random Access Memory (VRAM).
Higher specs require more cooling heat exchangers and fans and larger size. The
length of your graphics card will probably dictate the length of your case.
Recently, Nvidia has been leading in
chip technology and performance, while AMD has been lower priced. To
future-proof your custom computer, we strongly recommend that you make sure
your graphics card supports ray tracing (Nvidia RTX series or AMD RX series).
Currently, we think that Gigabyte,
XFX, MSI, and ASUS make the quality Nvidia-based graphics cards. AMD
manufactures its own cards.
The graphics card performance
decision is a trade-off between image quality/reality versus cost.
Newer gaming monitors support HDMI
and DisplayPort connections, so your graphics card should too.
Some graphics cards sport RGB
lighting and some don’t. If RGB is important to you, select a card that
provides it.
Using Scalable Link Interface (SLI),
two graphics cards can be connected to provide significantly better
performance. Obviously, the motherboard must have two PCIe slots to use SLI.
Clearly, this option add significant cost.
Motherboard
Of all the components required to
build a custom computer, the motherboard has the most specifications to
consider.
Form Factor
A motherboard’s form factor indicates
its size and shape. While there are a number of motherboard form factor
standards, ATX and Micro-ATX are the only two that are practical for gaming
custom computers. ATX is bigger, and we recommend it for maximum flexibility.
ATX motherboards typically support four RAM slots, two graphics cards, and
multiple M.2 NVME drives, while Micro-ATX motherboards do not.
CPU Socket and Compatibility
You have already selected a CPU, so
be sure the motherboard you select has the correct socket and is compatible.
Chipset
The chipset provides critical
functionality that is not provided by the CPU. If the motherboard says it
supports your CPU, then clearly the chipset on the motherboard does too. In some cases, there may be multiple chip set
generations capable of supporting a given CPU. We recommend that you select a
motherboard with the most current generation chip set that supports your CPU.
RAM Slots
Virtually all ATX motherboards have
four RAM slots, while Micro-ATX cards typically have two. Be sure that you
select a motherboard that support the RAM type (DDR_) and speed your CPU can
handle.
PCIe Slots
ATX motherboards typically have two
PCIe slots that are usually used for graphics cards, while micro-ATX
motherboards have one.
M.2 NVME Drive Slots
Some motherboards provide more than
one slot for M.2 NVME drives. If you plan to have more than one M.2 NVME in
your system, be sure you select a motherboard that has enough slots.
Ports
All motherboards have SATA, USB, and
audio ports. There are many USB types. Be sure the motherboard you select has
enough of the right types of ports for your intended use.
Networking
Your custom computer should have
networking capability. We recommend that you select a motherboard that supports
both Ethernet and WiFi. To future-proof, be sure the motherboard’s Ethernet
port will support 1Gb/s and its WiFi supports WiFi 6.
Other Features:
Motherboards must also regulate power, dissipate heat, and power and control fans, cooling, and RGB. Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) numbers and quality are major factors in supporting overclocking. Higher quality motherboards have more and better VRMs and, as a result, cost more. Those VRMs generate significant heat, and the motherboard must have sufficient heat exchangers to dissipate it. All customs need a CPU cooler and fans to exhaust the generated heat. Be sure the motherboard you select has the required headers to power and control the cooler and fans.
Some gamers like RGB, and some don’t.
If you want your custom to have RGB, be sure your motherboard has the appropriate
headers and functionality.
Windows 11 requires that the motherboard
have a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chip. Since Windows 10 only has a limited
lifetime, be sure the motherboard you select has a TPM chip.
RAM
Compatibility:
RAM must be compatible with your CPU
and motherboard. The motherboard will specify the RAM type, typically DDR4 or
DDR5, the speed in Millions of Transfers per Second (MT/s) and will have a list
of qualified RAM by manufacturer and model. For future-proofing, DDR5 is
preferable to DDR4. If you select RAM with a higher MT/s rating than your motherboard
supports, the motherboard will adjust. Be sure you select RAM that is listed as
qualified for your motherboard.
Capacity:
How many gigabytes (GB) of RAM do you
need for the games you want to play? We recommend a minimum of 16GB for gaming
computers, but you may need more for certain games that depend less on graphics
card performance.
Other Features:
Motherboard RAM slots are usually
placed right next to the CPU. If you are considering an air cooler, be sure the
physical height of the RAM stick will not interfere with the cooler’s heat
exchanger fins. Some RAM has cooling fins on top; some also sports RGB; both of
those features increase the RAM’s physical height.
Not all RAM brands and models are
built with the same quality, and relative quality changes through time. You can
check out your possibilities on the internet or ask ClickAway for our opinion.
Storage
All modern gaming motherboards
support M.2 NVMe SSDs, and they are significantly faster than 2.5” SSDs. NVMe
SSDs are available from 256GB up to 4TB. For performance and durability
reasons, SSDs should never get anywhere close to full. We recommend NVMe
capacity of at least 3 or 4 times your current storage needs. Most users find
it easier to manage their storage on a single drive.
Not all NVMe SSD brands and models
are built with the same quality, and relative quality changes through time. You
can check out your possibilities on the internet or ask ClickAway for our
opinion.
CPU Cooler
Compatibility:
A CPU cooler is mounted on top of the
CPU installed on the motherboard. There must be a layer of thermal paste
between the CPU and cooler. The cooler’s baseplate must cover the CPU’s
Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), and the mounting bracket must be designed for
the motherboard. Be sure you select a CPU cooler that is compatible with your
CPU and motherboard.
Type:
There are two types of CPU coolers:
air and liquid. An air cooler conducts heat away from its baseplate, through
heat pipes, to heat exchanger fins; then one or two fans exhaust the heat. A
liquid cooler conducts heat away from its baseplate, to a liquid pump, through
liquid in hoses or plastic pipes, to a radiator; then one to three fans exhaust
the heat. Liquid coolers can be all-in-one (AIO) where the pump, hoses, and
radiator are a single unit, or can be assembled from kits. To avoid leaks and
keep assembly simpler for liquid coolers, we strongly recommend AIOs.
Considerations:
Surprisingly, benchmarks show that
the best air coolers are actually more efficient than the best liquid coolers.
While modern all-in-one liquid coolers rarely leak, if they do, serious damage
can result; electricity and liquids do not mix well. Liquid coolers also lose
liquid over time to absorption and evaporation and, therefore, have limited
service lives. Air coolers do not have those problems, but they occupy more
space and can create RAM clearance problems. Liquid coolers can support RGB,
while air coolers do not.
We think Noctua makes the best air
coolers, and Lian Li, Cooler Master, and Corsair make the best liquid coolers.
The height of an air cooler will
dictate the depth of the case. The length of the radiator may dictate the
height or length of the case depending on where it is mounted.
Cooling Capacity:
Each CPU has a specified maximum
temperature measured in degrees Celsius (C) – typically around 90. The CPU
cooler must be capable of maintaining the CPU temperature comfortably below
that maximum under the most strenuous loads. Higher capacity air coolers have
more and better heat pipes and fins and better and possibly more fans. Higher
capacity liquid coolers have bigger pumps and radiators and more fans.
Be sure to select a CPU cooler that
can maintain the temperature below the maximum. Once the custom is built, we
strongly recommend installing temperature monitoring software and being sure
CPU idle temperatures are in the high 20s or low 30s, and maximum temperatures
do not exceed 85. You do not want to burn up your brand new CPU.
Power Supply Unit (PSU)
Your custom computer will need an ATX
power supply that has sufficient capacity measured in watts (w) to power all
the system components. CPUs and graphics cards consume the most power, but the
other components’ requirements must be satisfied too. Look up the power
requirements for your components and then plug them into at least one of the
online power supply calculators to determine the required capacity. We
recommend adding about 200w as a safety margin and to future-proof.
We strongly recommend fully modular
power supplies to minimize bulk and cable routing work.
Power supplies come with various
efficiency ratings: 80 Plus bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Over a power
supply’s lifetime, the number of wasted kilowatt hours can add up. To avoid wasting
electricity we recommend at least 80 Plus Gold.
Not all power supplies are built to
the same quality and durability standards, and their warranties vary. We think
Seasonic is a great choice.
Case and Fans
The case decision is about size, air
flow, and features.
Size:
The case must be capable of mounting
and have room for all of the components. It must have mounts for the
motherboard: ATX or micro-ATX.
The case must be long enough from
front to back to mount the graphics card.
If you selected a liquid cooler and
want to mount the radiator on the top, the top must be long and wide enough and
have mounts for the radiator. If you selected a liquid cooler and want to mount
the radiator on the front, the front must be tall and wide enough and have mounts
for the radiator.
If you selected an air cooler, the
case must be wide enough from side to side for the cooler to fit between the
motherboard and the left side as you face the case.
Be sure there is enough room on the
right side of the case (behind the motherboard) for neat cable routing.
Air Flow:
To keep all of the custom computer’s
components cool, the case must provide good air flow. The best cases allow air
to flow straight in the front, through the case, and out the back with a
minimum of obstacles. Typically, they have either fans or a radiator on the
front and a fan in the back. The idea is to push the air into the case from the
front and pull it out the back. Some cases also have a fan on the bottom
pushing air up toward the graphics card to provide extra cooling. We especially
like the NZXT Flow H5 and Fractal Design Torrent and Meshify cases.
Other Features:
If you plan on RGB, be sure the case
you select has a glass side panel. If you plan to have 2.5” SATA storage
drives, be sure the case you select has a good place to mount them. USB and
audio ports on the front or on the top near the front of the case are
convenient.
Operating System
Your custom computer will need an
operating system, and once it is installed, it will be associated with the
motherboard. Almost all gamers choose Windows. Technically, you have a choice
between Windows 10 and Windows 11. However, Windows 10 is approaching end of
life, so we recommend Windows 11.
RGB
While RGB is not a component unto
itself, it is a possible feature on several components. If you want RGB and
want sophisticated control functionality, you should be aware that motherboard,
CPU cooler, graphic card, and RAM manufacturers have not agreed on a standard
way to control RGB. Therefore, you may want to consider selecting as many of
those components as possible from the same manufacturer.
Conclusion
After reading this post, most readers
may be a bit overwhelmed with the number and complexity of dependencies and
decisions to be made. Frequently, customers come into ClickAway with a
collection of parts that they were trying to assemble into a custom computer,
but they hit one or more brick walls because the parts were not compatible or
were not well chosen. Clickaway would be happy to consult with you
to assure you end up with a custom computer that is best for you.
If you have never built a custom computer, it’s not as simple as it looks. If you don’t know the correct order of assembly and some of the tricks, it can become extremely frustrating. ClickAway also offers assembly services.
Information Source: - https://clickaway.com/custom-computers-how-to-select-components/
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