Building a PCPARTS REQUIRED AND CUSTOM BUILDS

Important Parts:

Processor Motherboard Memory Storage Power Supply Video Card Case Optical Drive Operating System

Processor (CPU)

“Brain” of the computer One of the most important parts of a computer Carries out instructions from programs to perform different

operations such as output and input Example picture:

Motherboard

Connects all the other parts to form the computer itself Controls them as well (except for power supply) Most have a built in sound card and video card Example Picture:

Memory (RAM)

Pulls data from storage and stores it temporarily Makes accessing things faster Dedicated video cards have their own RAM (used for video) Example Picture:

Storage

Different kinds (HDD, SSD, etc…) Stores long term data so it may be accessed at a later time HDD’s store more data and are less expensive than SSD’s SSD’s are A LOT faster but store less data and are more

expensive SSD usually used for boot drive Example pictures:

Power Supply (PSU)

Very important Sends power to each computer part Converts power to specific voltages for each part Example picture:

Video Card (GPU)

Arranges pixels on the screen to form an image Different kinds… Integrated are built into the motherboard and are on the CPU Dedicated are separate pieces that attach to the motherboard Example picture:

Case

Covers all the inner components of a computer (motherboard, CPU, graphics card, etc.)

Not actually required to make PC run, but is usually recommended

Comes in different sizes (mini, mid tower, full tower, etc.) Example picture:

Optical Drive

Reads and writes disks (CD, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) Usually used to install the operating system Example picture:

Operating System (OS)

Allows users to interact with the system by making an interface Communicates with the hardware that is in the pc Handles other things such as programs and actions from the user Examples:

Processor (CPU)

High Performance PC: Intel Core i5 4670k Unlocked Quad core (4) Clock speed of 3.4 GHz Supports up to three monitors Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Good overclocking

Media PC: AMD Athlon 5350 Quad core (4) Clock speed of 2.0GHz

Processor (CPU)

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Cooling

High Performance PC: Corsair Cooling Hydro Series

H90 Liquid cooling Included fan Tubing – low evaporation and

easy to bend, guaranteed leak free

Low noise, high performance Thermal compound pre-applied Looks cool

Media PC: Fan comes with the CPU and with

pre-applied thermal paste

Cooling

High Performance PC:

Motherboard

High Performance PC: ASUS Z87-A USB 3.0 Boost (1.3x faster than

traditional USB 3.0) Realtek 8-channel high definition

audio Remote GO! Looks cool

Media PC: ASRock AM1H-ITX Mini ITX (tiny) USB 3.0 Surge protection Has DVI and HDMI outputs,

including two more

Motherboard

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Memory

High Performance PC: Corsair Vengeance Pro Black

8GB Two sticks (2x4GB) Built for overclocking making it

easier and better Looks cool and matches

everything else inside Heat spreader allowing it ti run

better

Media PC: G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB Two sticks (2x2GB) Loos awesome and will make

inside look less plain

Memory

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Storage

High Performance PC: ADATA 128GB SandForce SSD

and Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD

SSD read and write speed – read of up to 555MB/s and write of up to 530MB/s

HDD – rotation speed of 7200rpm, good price-to-performance ratio

Media PC: Western Digital Caviar Blue

1TB Rotation speed of 7200RPM 64MB cache OEM (save some money)

Storage

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Graphics Card (GPU)

High Performance PC: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 Looks cool 2GB of memory Total of 4 display outputs 2 fan coolers 3D vision and PhysX ready Processor speed of 1046MHz Comes with FREE Watch Dogs PC

game download

Media PC: Using integrated from

motherboard

Graphics Card (GPU)

High Performance PC:

Case

High Performance PC: NZXT Phantom 530 Full tower ATX Steel Case Color – Matte black (only color

available) Fully modular hard drive cages Eight motherboard expansion

slots Just look at it…

Media PC: Bitfenix Prodigy mITX Artic

White Mini-ITX (small and cute) Steel Lots of flexibility despite its size

Case

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Power Supply (PSU)

High Performance PC: XFX Pro 750W 80+ Gold certified Power efficiency of up to 90% Fully modular Lots of safety and protective

features (over current protection, over temperature protection, under voltage protection, etc.)

Media PC: XFX PRO 550W Core Edition 80+ Bronze certified Power efficiency of up to 85% Nice and quiet at moderate to

medium loads

Power Supply (PSU)

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Optical Drive

High Performance PC: ASUS DRW DVD Writer Black Just picked cheap one with good

ratings really…

Media PC: ASUS BC-12B1ST Internal

Blu-Ray Just found random Blu-Ray player

for decent price

Optical Drive

High Performance PC: Media PC:

Operating System (OS)

High Performance PC: Microsoft Windows 7 Home

Premium Edition 64 bit OEM, so it’s a little less

expensive Better for older games and

programs

Media PC: Same as high performance pc Some of the hardware is not

compatible with Windows 8

Operating System (OS)

Wireless Cards

High Performance PC: ASUS PCE-N15 Wireless

Network Adapter 300Mbps 802.11B/G/N Once again just picked cheap

one with good ratings

Media PC: Same as high performance pc

Wireless Card