How To Build A Gaming Computer

How to build a gaming computer is not the simplest of tasks for a computer novice, but learning how to put together your own advanced computer is a skill that can be great to have and can also save you money in the long run. Computer literacy is a necessary part of modern life, and it doesn't get much more literate than being able to cobble together your own technically superior from separate components. This is also a cheaper option. While desktop PCs and computers in general have become cheaper and faster, it is still possible to spend hundreds of dollars less on a computer if you put the parts together on your own.

1. Find a guide. This is the step you are completing right now, but a more in depth guide might be useful. Although the best way to figure out how to build a gaming computer is to ask somebody you know to show you the ropes. This is not a task that somebody without a basic knowledge of the parts in a computer to undertake. Studying up on basic computer know how is the very first thing you should do.
2. Set your price range. Decide how much money you would like to spend. A good thing to do would be to set your budget and then find an equivalent pre-built desktop from a company like Dell. Use the parts included in that computer as a bare minimum and a starting point for what will be going into your actual tower. This will also show how much money you are going to save. Another good strategy is to find what games you really want to play and see what the system requirements are in order to play them. It would be counter productive if you built a computer that wouldn't be able to play the game you built it for!
3. Research, research, research. When you decide what your budget will be, begin to research the best 'bang for your buck' for the parts you need. For example, deciding on whether you will be running a SLI set up or just a single video card will change what you need as components for your gaming computer. It is integral that every part you purchase is compatible with the rest of the parts you've purchased. Researching is the only way you can figure this out.
4. Commence purchasing. For a top of the line gaming computer, you will need a motherboard, RAM, a processor, a video card (or two if you choose to run a dual card set up), fans, a power supply powerful enough to run everything you will install, a DVD drive (reader or burner depending on which you need), storage drives, an operating system, and, last but not least, a case to put it all into. This might seem like a bit much, but after you've adequately researched what you want to get out of your computer, and your budget, this will all seem like second nature.
5. Put it all together. Now the "easy" part, installing everything. Generally you will want to install the processor, heat sinks, fans, and RAM onto the motherboard first. Then before you install it into your case, you will want to make sure your power supply is attached to the case and that anything else that will be difficult to install after your motherboard is put in is also already present in the case. After this, it gets simpler. Install the motherboard, slot in the video and sound cards, attach all the plugs and cords to where they are supposed to be on the power supply and motherboard, and last of all install your DVD or CD drive. After everything is hooked up, power it up and install your chosen operating system. That is it! Now get to fragging!