Building a computer in the year 2023
August 23, 2023 5:53 PM Subscribe
I want to build a computer with my teen as a fun mother/son project (that's a thing right), but the last time I helped assemble computers from scratch was a very long time ago. Way back when I remember a lot of cursing, swearing, and making repeat trips to Fry's to swap out parts that ended up being incompatible with each other and/or the OS. I'm assuming things are easier now? What's current best practices?
There are a variety of websites that will help you pick components for a complete build, any best of in that category?
My teen will be using this computer for gaming and 3D rendering. He currently gets both done on a refurbished Dell business laptop, so literally anything would be an upgrade. Any pointers on best parts to select on a limited budget (less than $1K) for this use case?
Other things to keep in mind when buying/assembling to keep things as fool proof as possible?
There are a variety of websites that will help you pick components for a complete build, any best of in that category?
My teen will be using this computer for gaming and 3D rendering. He currently gets both done on a refurbished Dell business laptop, so literally anything would be an upgrade. Any pointers on best parts to select on a limited budget (less than $1K) for this use case?
Other things to keep in mind when buying/assembling to keep things as fool proof as possible?
Best answer: PCPartPicker is pretty great. You can go through and pick parts and it'll tell you about compatibility and all that, and you can see other people's lists. That's pretty helpful. They don't sell parts but everything has links to store sites to go buy things.
You might also get some inspiration from looking at system integrators - places like Origin PC, iBuyPower, Build Redux, NZXT Build, etc. These will generally be over your $1k budget but they all also use normal parts (and will tell you what they are) so you can get a starting point for what you need and what'll match up with what (especially useful for CPU and motherboard - the naming of motherboard chipsets right now is real confusing). If you've got a Micro Center nearby, they'd also be a good place to stop in - they have parts and the staff is (supposed to be) pretty knowledgeable. (I don't have one nearby so can't attest to that, but they certainly actually stock things.)
There's also tons of info on the Youtube. For example, this JayzTwoCents video, or this series by Paul's Hardware (which is more recent). There's also Gamer's Nexus, which is heavy on in-depth detail.
Also, as someone who has both a retrocomputing habit (even back when that hardware wasn't retro) and a new build habit, doing stuff with modern parts is so, so much easier than it used to be, though there are still some places you can trip up. Most everything is just a "shove it into the place that it fits" sort of deal and you basically put 80% of the machine together on the motherboard now before you even put it in the case.
posted by mrg at 6:33 PM on August 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
You might also get some inspiration from looking at system integrators - places like Origin PC, iBuyPower, Build Redux, NZXT Build, etc. These will generally be over your $1k budget but they all also use normal parts (and will tell you what they are) so you can get a starting point for what you need and what'll match up with what (especially useful for CPU and motherboard - the naming of motherboard chipsets right now is real confusing). If you've got a Micro Center nearby, they'd also be a good place to stop in - they have parts and the staff is (supposed to be) pretty knowledgeable. (I don't have one nearby so can't attest to that, but they certainly actually stock things.)
There's also tons of info on the Youtube. For example, this JayzTwoCents video, or this series by Paul's Hardware (which is more recent). There's also Gamer's Nexus, which is heavy on in-depth detail.
Also, as someone who has both a retrocomputing habit (even back when that hardware wasn't retro) and a new build habit, doing stuff with modern parts is so, so much easier than it used to be, though there are still some places you can trip up. Most everything is just a "shove it into the place that it fits" sort of deal and you basically put 80% of the machine together on the motherboard now before you even put it in the case.
posted by mrg at 6:33 PM on August 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Good for you! Great idea. It's fun, definitely achievable and you'll end up with something you enjoy.
We've built two here, both for under $1,000 and one of them a nice gaming machine.
A few observations:
-- Echoing PC Part Picker. Computer store guys said the same. You can plan out all your parts and be sure they're compatible.
-- Set up wish lists or whatever they call them on various parts website like newegg. Track the prices over time; if you give yourself enough time you can see big swings and maybe get a bargain on a GPU or whatnot.
-- Check measurements, obviously. Make sure the GPU (if you're using one) fits the case.
-- What mrg said -- it's so much easier now, practically like building with Legos, just snapping stuff together.
-- Map out your movements. On our first built we ended up assembling a couple of things in the wrong order. It was still manageable but thank goodness the kids have smaller and more flexible fingers...
-- You really have to push hard to snap RAM into place! On our first build we got it all done, closed up the case, and .. nothing. Turns out we thought we had snapped everything in nice and snug, but actually one of the RAM sticks wasn't quite in right.
-- We planned a third build but I don't think it's going to happen, and so we have a GPU we're not using. If you can't find the one you want at a decent price, MeMail me. I'll ask the juniors to give me the info on it and you can see if it fits the bill for you.
posted by martin q blank at 6:39 PM on August 23, 2023
We've built two here, both for under $1,000 and one of them a nice gaming machine.
A few observations:
-- Echoing PC Part Picker. Computer store guys said the same. You can plan out all your parts and be sure they're compatible.
-- Set up wish lists or whatever they call them on various parts website like newegg. Track the prices over time; if you give yourself enough time you can see big swings and maybe get a bargain on a GPU or whatnot.
-- Check measurements, obviously. Make sure the GPU (if you're using one) fits the case.
-- What mrg said -- it's so much easier now, practically like building with Legos, just snapping stuff together.
-- Map out your movements. On our first built we ended up assembling a couple of things in the wrong order. It was still manageable but thank goodness the kids have smaller and more flexible fingers...
-- You really have to push hard to snap RAM into place! On our first build we got it all done, closed up the case, and .. nothing. Turns out we thought we had snapped everything in nice and snug, but actually one of the RAM sticks wasn't quite in right.
-- We planned a third build but I don't think it's going to happen, and so we have a GPU we're not using. If you can't find the one you want at a decent price, MeMail me. I'll ask the juniors to give me the info on it and you can see if it fits the bill for you.
posted by martin q blank at 6:39 PM on August 23, 2023
Seconding logicalincrements. I'm buying at the very top of their tier list these days, but about 10 years ago I built one of their mid-range configs and that lasted me about six years reasonably welll. My workload was very similar to your son's -- 3d rendering (Blender) and gaming.
posted by Alterscape at 9:12 PM on August 23, 2023
posted by Alterscape at 9:12 PM on August 23, 2023
Make sure you have a magnetic screwdriver. It makes it so much easier to work with the tiny screws that often need to be placed in tight or awkward spaces.
posted by alex1965 at 4:22 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by alex1965 at 4:22 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
What a cool project!
Nthing pcpartpicker as a really cool way to play around with builds and get warned of any incompatibility issues (and whether you have enough power).
If you have a MicroCenter nearby it might be fun to buy components there. Otherwise I would recommend Newegg.
And here's a Rock Paper Shotgun guide to building a PC which is kind of elementary but covers the basics nicely.
posted by implied_otter at 5:07 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Nthing pcpartpicker as a really cool way to play around with builds and get warned of any incompatibility issues (and whether you have enough power).
If you have a MicroCenter nearby it might be fun to buy components there. Otherwise I would recommend Newegg.
And here's a Rock Paper Shotgun guide to building a PC which is kind of elementary but covers the basics nicely.
posted by implied_otter at 5:07 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Before I bought the parts I'd selected, I wish I had googled things like "[motherboard] problems" or "[motherboard] dreaded" because much later I discovered a lot of posts about "the dreaded boot loop" while trying to fix the boot loop...
I don't know if this will actually head off any issues, but it might be helpful to see what kind of problems other people have had and whether they were fixable. Could also help if you have a few options for a given part and aren't sure which one you want to get.
posted by Baethan at 6:19 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
I don't know if this will actually head off any issues, but it might be helpful to see what kind of problems other people have had and whether they were fixable. Could also help if you have a few options for a given part and aren't sure which one you want to get.
posted by Baethan at 6:19 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Use PC Build Simulator to practice.
posted by itesser at 6:29 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by itesser at 6:29 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Make sure the motherboard you choose has updated firmware to recognize the CPU you choose, or choose a motherboard with flashback. Otherwise you will spend hours at all times of the day and night trying to figure out why your new build won't post.
Ask me how I know.
posted by rhymedirective at 8:07 AM on August 24, 2023
Ask me how I know.
posted by rhymedirective at 8:07 AM on August 24, 2023
Excellent advice so far, just wanted to emphasize that Microcenter is the new Frys. Plus the staff is actually knowledgeable. Maybe worth a road trip.
And also wanted to emphasize that it is so, so much easier to build a PC than it was 20 years ago. Objectively, the cases alone are so much better designed, with so many features to make it easy to mount components and route cables. No jumpers, no DIP switches, it's all in firmware now. Water cooling, not so long ago the exclusive domain of what were called supercomputers, is now almost normal. The only real downside is that the aesthetic standards have gone through the roof.
There are a couple of subreddits that are actually good and helpful, your first proposed build is likely to be laughably unbalanced by expert standards. PC Part Picker is not 100% reliable, sometimes there are problems when power supplies have different optional connectors. Or you might need help with a mounting bracket to hold your heat sink or GPU. Good to have a place to ask questions. And of course watch a bunch of Youtube videos before you actually pick up a part.
posted by wnissen at 11:13 AM on August 24, 2023
And also wanted to emphasize that it is so, so much easier to build a PC than it was 20 years ago. Objectively, the cases alone are so much better designed, with so many features to make it easy to mount components and route cables. No jumpers, no DIP switches, it's all in firmware now. Water cooling, not so long ago the exclusive domain of what were called supercomputers, is now almost normal. The only real downside is that the aesthetic standards have gone through the roof.
There are a couple of subreddits that are actually good and helpful, your first proposed build is likely to be laughably unbalanced by expert standards. PC Part Picker is not 100% reliable, sometimes there are problems when power supplies have different optional connectors. Or you might need help with a mounting bracket to hold your heat sink or GPU. Good to have a place to ask questions. And of course watch a bunch of Youtube videos before you actually pick up a part.
posted by wnissen at 11:13 AM on August 24, 2023
One main reason to visit Microcenter is to see the cases, instead of having to rely on pictures.
Does your budget include the monitors? It's very nice to have multiple monitors for working in 3D. One strategy might be to have one nice one, then two bought from craigslist, FB marketplace or Goodwill. There are 3D monitors that show up on the used market, worth setting up alerts for that.
Monoprice has monitor stands that clamp to the desk, frees up space, and you can rotate them 90 deg. So he can have 2 landscape for Blender and one portrait for documentation/tutorials.
A mouse with a programmable 12 key pad on the side is handy.
I like AMD over Intel. I think if you are balancing the cost of a faster CPU vs GPU/graphics card, put more into the card.
16 gigs ram would be a minimum, 32 would be better for Blender.
1 TB NVMe M.2 would be fine for the boot drive, then add a 2TB 7200rpm hard drive
Maybe do a followup ask with your parts list
posted by Sophont at 1:38 PM on August 24, 2023
Does your budget include the monitors? It's very nice to have multiple monitors for working in 3D. One strategy might be to have one nice one, then two bought from craigslist, FB marketplace or Goodwill. There are 3D monitors that show up on the used market, worth setting up alerts for that.
Monoprice has monitor stands that clamp to the desk, frees up space, and you can rotate them 90 deg. So he can have 2 landscape for Blender and one portrait for documentation/tutorials.
A mouse with a programmable 12 key pad on the side is handy.
I like AMD over Intel. I think if you are balancing the cost of a faster CPU vs GPU/graphics card, put more into the card.
16 gigs ram would be a minimum, 32 would be better for Blender.
1 TB NVMe M.2 would be fine for the boot drive, then add a 2TB 7200rpm hard drive
Maybe do a followup ask with your parts list
posted by Sophont at 1:38 PM on August 24, 2023
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posted by jozxyqk at 6:18 PM on August 23, 2023 [6 favorites]