Custom PC is something that many people look forward to, especially if it is for gaming.
For gaming, PC is undoubtedly one of the most popular platforms there is. However, there are certain mistakes that lots of people make, especially if they are new to building PCs. Today, we will go over the common mistakes that many make while building a custom PC built in India.
So, if you are wondering how to build your PC with no mistakes, this guide will help you.
Firstly, let us talk about what it is, and why you would want one.
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What is Custom PC?
Just as the name suggests, it is a customized PC in which all the parts are according to the choices made by the buyer himself/herself. For this reason, the person needs to know all about the various PC components. However, some common mistakes for first-time custom PC builders. In this guide we would talk about all of those, and what should be done instead to ensure that it does not happen.
Tips to build your PC with No Mistake
So, here are 5 common mistakes that a new custom PC builder might end up making:
Mistake #1: Incompatible motherboard/processor
The first mistake is choosing the wrong motherboard or processor. Not all motherboards are compatible with every processor. First, you would have to see if it is an Intel or AMD processor, and then it will also depend on the exact socket requirement of that processor.
Solution: Decide on the processor first according to your budget, and requirements. Then, get a motherboard that is compatible with it. The specification of the processor will state what is its socket type, and you would have to get one accordingly. Then, if you need overclocking, then you would have to ensure that both the motherboard and the processor support overclocking.
Mistake #2: Wrong DDR Standard Memory
This is another mistake that you might end up making. This is getting incompatible RAM for your motherboard. Motherboards only support a specific DDR standard such as DDR3, or DDR4, or now, DDR5 as well. You cannot plug in DDR3 RAM in a DDR4 RAM slot, and vice versa.
Solution: Get RAM or memory, depending on the motherboard you are getting. The specification sheet of the motherboard will tell you which DDR standard memory it supports.
Mistake #3: Bottlenecking
This is a mistake that several custom PC builders end up making with their custom PC. What is bottlenecking, you might wonder? Well, it refers to the situation when one of the hardware components ends up limiting the other component(s).
For example, you might have a very powerful graphic card, that can easily deliver 100 FPS in a game. However, when you play it you realize that despite having similar hardware, you are getting much less frame rate. And, the only difference is that you two have different processors, and yours is significantly cheaper. In this case, the CPU is bottlenecking the GPU.
Solution: You should get processor, CPU, and RAM depending on each other. So, if you are getting a mid-range processor, getting a mid-range card, and around 16 GB of RAM is recommended.
Mistake #4: Choosing the right PSU
When new builders think of PSU, they think it is just responsible for the power routing, and won’t affect performance, they should just get whatever works. However, that is a horribly bad idea. Since it is responsible for the power routing, you should always ensure that you get one from a good brand, that is of quality. If it is of inferior quality, then it can end up damaging the other expensive components of the PC.
Another mistake is getting too powerful, or a severely underpowered PSU. Depending upon the graphic card, and the other components, you should determine the PSU that you need. Having an overly powerful PSU, would not have a bad effect, but it will be an unnecessary expense. However, having a PSU that is less powerful than required has consequences. There will be stability issues, frequent crashes, etc.
Solution: Check the specification sheet of your graphic card, it should show the TDP, and also the wattage of the PSU that the manufacturer recommends for such a PC. Since the graphic card is the most power-hungry component of a PC build, you can decide on your PSU just depending on the card. CPU is not all that power-hungry, and other than these two, everything else requires very less wattage of power.
Also, ensure it is from a reputed brand, and also read the reviews of it. Furthermore, it is a good sign if it comes with reliable components and also has 80 Plus efficiency certification.
Mistake #5: Not getting an SSD
Since the SSD is just a storage device, people do not give it much importance. However, having an SSD can seriously improve the user experience. Once you use an SSD, you would never ever go back to using an HDD. Everything installed on the SSD would load faster, be it games, operating systems, applications, anything! Even documents would load faster.
Solution: Regardless of your budget, at least try to get a 120 GB or even better a 240 GB SSD. It would be worth every penny spent.
So, these were 5 mistakes that many end up making when building their first custom PC build India. Other mistakes that happen when you “build my pc” without proper knowledge include installing memory in wrong slots thus preventing dual-channel memory configuration, and applying wrong amounts of thermal paste. Let us go over those briefly.
Mistake #6: Applying wrong amounts of thermal paste
Thermal paste allows for direct contact between the CPU coolers heatsink, and the CPU surface. And, thus allowing for better heat transfer. Another bonus mistake in regards to CPU coolers is not installing them properly, which is not tying the screws or latches properly.
Solution: Refer to the manual and ensure that the CPU cooler is snugly installed.
Mistake #7: Not enabling dual-channel memory configuration
This mistake can only occur if your motherboard has support for dual-channel memory, and you are using two sticks of the same memory. You, generally, have to install RAM in one of the slots, and the slot next to the next slot. So, for example, if you plug one RAM in the leftmost slot (say slot number 1, then plug the other module in slot number 3, and not 2.
Solution: Refer to the motherboard manual, and ensure that your RAM is installed in the specified slots accordingly.
Building a PC is much easier than most think. However, these issues are a very common occurrence. If you are planning on building a PC build India, or “build my pc”, then do not make these mistakes. These are a few mistakes that custom PC builders end up making, and now you know what those are, and how can you avoid them.
