How to Build a Gaming PC (2019)

**2019 Gaming PC Build Tutorial with Mr. Jon Rettinger**

Hey guys, this is Austin. And today, it is time for our 2019 gaming PC build tutorial with a very special guest, Mr. Jon Rettinger. The OG of Tech YouTube. But I wouldn't say that likely, - I'm like, I'm team crusty. And at this point, we're doing it for, I've been doing it for so long.

**A Confession**

So I have a confession, this is embarrassing, not only have I never built a gaming PC, I have actually never built a computer ever. - You gotta give yourself some credit, like you've done some RAM upgrades and that kind of stuff. - I've done that kind of stuff and I know the components, but I have never actually, like physically put them all together myself.

**Preparing for the Build**

So we pretty much every year, when we do our PC build tutorial, we try to pick like a different variety of parts so this one's a very standard build. So there's a full-sized chassis. We have like the hard drive. We have like the SSD. A little bit of everything that you would typically do. But the most important thing here is that we actually have to put it together.

**The Tools Needed**

So when it comes to building a game PC, you need exactly one tool, a screwdriver. So, I will bestow this upon you. - I know what this is. - Yes. I prepared for this part of the build. Okay, you've unboxed a thing or two in your day. I'm not worried about that.

**Choosing the Case**

There we go, look at that. That's pretty good, actually. So this is the Fractal Design Focus G, and when it comes to building a PC, the actual case itself doesn't make a huge difference. So the main thing is to look for the size, so let's turn this over.

**Installing the Power Supply**

So most of the time when you're buying a case, a lot of hardware comes with it. You'll see a couple of other screws come like for example the power supply but just make sure you don't lose this. We would need this a little bit later. Besides that, there's really not a whole lot to do besides install the power supply.

**Choosing the Power Supply**

So, something like this is a 600-watt EVGA unit. It costs somewhere in the neighborhood like $50 or so. You can get cheaper 600-watt units but they will catch on fire. I'm not even kidding, like some of the really cheap units will straight up last like 3 months and legitimately can catch on fire, ruin your components.

**Calculating Power Needs**

This is not an area to save a lot of money. Get something that's decent 80+ and make sure it has enough power for your components. So there's PCPartPicker has a great calculator that you can plug in all your parts right. So generally speaking, it's your CPU and your graphics card. Those are like the main components and if you wanna do any overclocking you always wanna have some headroom.

**Mounting the Power Supply**

But usually just get something that's a little bit over what you need or a fair bit over because it doesn't hurt and you'll never know if you want to do any upgrades. So for a case like this, if you take a look, we actually have a grate on the bottom so we can put the power supply face down.

**Installing Hardware**

But some power supplies will need to be faced up. For example, this on the top of the case. Just make sure that when you see this fan, it has access to at least some airflow. - Is it pulling it in or pushing it up? It's pulling it in and it's pushing up the back.

**Tips for Installing Hardware**

And so one good tip when you're installing any kind of hardware, this is not even like a PC specific thing, do the corners. So start with this corner, then do this one, this one and this one. That way, you're always applying even pressure. That's something that's nice for computers but legit, like if you're putting like tires on your car or anything like that, doing sort of a cross pattern is always a good idea.

**The Initial Idea**

So the initial idea on why I want to build a PC. My mom just retired. She's been running my Dad's office for years and she's got this old computer that she uses for all her business stuff. And I was like, alright, like at some point I gotta man up and be like, you know what, maybe it's time to get her a new computer.

Note: The original text has been formatted into paragraphs with proper spacing between them. No words have been removed or summarized from the original text.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Hey guys, this is Austin.And today, it is time for our2019 gaming PC build tutorialwith a very specialguest, Mr. Jon Rettinger.The OG of Tech YouTube.But I wouldn't say that likely,- I'm like, I'm team crusty.And at this point, we're doing it for,I've been doing it for so long.So I have a confession,this is embarrassing,not only have I neverbuilt a gaming PC, I haveactually never built a computer ever.- You gotta give yourself some credit,like you've done some RAM upgradesand that kind of stuff.- I've done that kind of stuff and I knowthe components, but Ihave never actually, likephysically put them all together myself.- So we pretty much everyyear, when we do our PCBuild Tutorial, we tryto pick like a differentvariety of parts so thisone's a very standard build,so there's a full-sized chassis.We have like the hard drive.We have like the SSD.A little bit of everythingthat you would typically do.But the most important thing hereis that we actuallyhave to put it together.So when it comes to buildinga game PC, you need exactlyone tool, a screwdriver.So, I will bestow this upon you.- I know what this is.- Yes.- I prepared for this part of the build.- Okay, you've unboxed athing or two in your day.I'm not worried about that.- There we go, look at that.- That's pretty good, actually.So this is the Fractal Design Focus G,and when it comes to building a PC,the actual case itselfdoesn't make a huge differenceso the main thing is to look for the sizeso, let's turn this over.- So is this computergonna find a home afterI destroy it?- Ah, we'll see about that.We'll see, we have tobuild the system first.We'll see, if it could actually survives.- I meant to do that.- It's okay.- For five minutes, I've alreadybroken something, alright.- So most of the timewhen you're buying a case,a lot of hardware comes with it.You'll see a couple of other screws comelike for example the power supplybut just make sure you don't lose this.We would need this a little bit later.Besides that, there'sreally not a whole lot to dobesides install the power supply.So, something like thisis a 600-watt EVGA unit.It costs somewhere in theneighborhood like $50 or so.You can get cheaper 600-watt unitsbut they will catch on fire.I'm not even kidding, likesome of the really cheap unitswill straight up last like 3 monthsand legitimately can catch onfire, ruin your components.This is not an area tosave a lot of money.Get something that's decent 80+and make sure it has enoughpower for your components.Right, so what we're running here,600 watts would be just fine.- How do you make sureit has enough power?- So there's PCPartPickerhas a great calculatorsthat you can plug in all your parts right.So generally speaking, it's your CPUand your graphics and card.Those are like the main componentsand if you wanna do any over-clockingyou always wanna have some headroom,but that would generally giveyou a good sort of ball parkof is it gonna pull300 watts or 500 watts,or whatever the case is.Usually, just get somethingthat's a little bit overwhat you need or a fair bit overbecause it doesn't hurtand you'll never know ifyou want to do any upgrades.- Do I have to inducemyself before I mount it?- No.- Or just go ahead and do it?It's a PG Channel.- So for a case likethis, if you take a look,we actually have a grate on the bottom,so we can put the power supply face down.But some power supplieswill need to be faced up.For example, this on the top of the case.Just make sure that when you see this fan,it has access to at least some airflow.- Is it pullingit in or pushing it up?- It's pulling it in and it's pushing upthe back.And so one good tipwhen you're installingany kind of hardware,this is not even like a PCspecific thing, do the corners.So start with thiscorner, then do this one,this one and this one.That way, you're alwaysapplying even pressure.That's something that's nice for computersbut like legit, like if you're puttinglike tires on your caror anything like that,doing sort of a cross patternis always a good idea.- So the initial idea onwhy I want to build a PC.My mom just retired.She's been running myDad's office for yearsand their PC at home islike running Windows 7and it's ancient.And she's like, shall Ijust get a new computer?And I was like, alright,like, at some pointI gotta man up and be like,"I can build a computer",like I, it's almost embarrassingthat I'd never done itso, I'm gonna take this knowledge,- And you're gonna get hooked up.- And I'm gonna builda computer for my mom.- So this is Step one.Installing the power supply.We can actually set thisoff to the side now,and start puttingtogether the motherboard.So with this system, Iopted to go for Ryzen.As far as I'm concerned,especially in the sort oflike, middle budget area,Ryzen is basically the way to go.So we are using Ryzen 5 20600X.I actually usually recommend the 2600'cause this guy is alittle bit more expensiveand it's not totally withinthe price but I had one, so.So you're probably aware, butit's usually a motherboardis kind of what everything touches, right?So we have that processor inhere, our RAM, graphics card,SSDs, everything pretty muchattaches to the motherboardin some way.So, the first step is to work on our CPU.- Okay.- So this is the built-in stock coolerthat comes with the processor,so if you look at this bit right here,that's thermal paste, don't touch that.Basically, that's goingto be what makes a nice,solid connection with our CPU.Now this is the part of a buildthat I think most peopleget really anxious about.- True.- So the CPU you can see,it's got all these likelittle pins and stuffand you have to be very carefulwith it, but realistically,probably the easiest component to install.It's literally like it'sgonna take you 5 seconds.- It might take you 5 seconds.- Let's see.- Okay.- I have faith.- Okay.- So this area in themiddle of the motherboardis where our CPU socket goes.All you do is just pull that on backand pull it all the way up to that.- This look the sameon pretty much any motherboard right?- It's slightlydifferent between INdI andIntel, very similar though.- It's like I'm bringingthe T-1000 to life here.- Well, you kinda are.- So just gently- Just like that?- Ah, you're a little off now.There you go, okay.So, all you do now isjust push this on down,- Okay.- We're installed.- Got it.- As simple as that.- Now it's time to putit in our CPU cooler.I might need a bigger screwdriver.Yeah, I'm gonna grab a biggerscrewdriver, hang on a second.- I'm gonna go ahead andtake this opportunityto say I was actually nervousjust putting in the processor.Hopefully it didn't show.I RAM have done, but nevera processor, I'm nervous.Alright, Austin's comingback, I gotta be quiet now.Don't tell him I'm nervous, okay?I was totally coolputting in that processor.- I'll be totally honest,I told you to do itthe wrong way at first.It was to the side and Irealized when I looked over at it%that actually goes thatway so that was my bad.- Not on me.- Cut that part out of the video.So with our backplate,fully in the right zone,we're good to put this in.So all you do is line up soas you can see the screws.They have little springs onthem so they're tensioned.Before you sit it down, just keep in mindthat you have thermal paste together.The thermal paste, once it's applied,you just think about like this,you wanna have even pressureas you push it down.So basically, you set it down,try not to move it too much right?So try to like line upand then put some pressureto kinda make sure that thisis making a very solid sealwith our processor.- Does it need a lot of pressure?- It doesn't need a lot,but you don't want it to wiggling around,cause then the thermalpaste starts to slide,and kind of get uneven,you can get air bubbles.So after a bit of tighteningto make sure the screwsare very evenly placed, not your fault,something super easy to happen.- Austin's to nice tosay it's not my fault.- No, no, no, it's totally,totally easy to happen.It was particularly finickybut the main thing isthe actual cooler is on.Next, we need to plug in the actual fan.So it's the CPU fan header right here.You see these two notches?- Yeah.- So it only goes inone way, so literally, justplug it in.- I can handle it.- I believe in you.- Hey, nailed it.- Alright, nice.Next up is the fun part, installing RAM.- I've done RAM before.- Okay, I will let you have at it.- So with Austin Evans, andhis attention to detail.Look at that, the RAM.- I was hoping it's the right size,- It matches the case.Like, when you open it upshould match and look beautiful,to Steve Jobs.- Dude, I always do like theworst color coordinating.- Look at that.- That's pretty good.- So we have 16G of DDR4.So one of the thingsyou should keep in mindspecifically when you'rebuilding Ryzen systemsis that the speed ofthe memory is important.Not even for just likeintergraphics or somethingwhich this does not have.But it just speeds upthe entire Ryzen systemand gets a little more out of that CPU.So usually, I would like to budgeta little bit more moneytowards some fast RAM here.So 3000 Megahertz ispretty quick for DDR4,but importantly, it's also blue.So this uses dual channel memory,or this is can utilizedual channel memory.So you wanna set it in channel oneand channel three typically.So, you can check themotherboard again to be sure.And if there's only two of them slots,it's super straight forward.But for this, we're gonnaput it in one and threeso I'm gonna hinge you this.- I can do that.- So as soon asyou can open up the littleretention pens so it'spretty straight forward.And then, I think you,is that the right way?I think you need to flip it.(clicking)There you go.- Boom, I've rammed.- Rammed, rammed up.Next up is our SSD.So we're doing a couple of things here.So we are using a standard hard drive,but you always wanna use anSSD pretty much for any build.Like, I don't reallyrecommend any Windows PCor any computer in general right nowwithout some kind of SSD.- Okay.- Especially consideringthe SSDs have gotten cheap.This is a 500GB M2 Driveand so proper fast,and it costs like 80 bucks.So there's two tiny little screws.So the bigger guy, you canjust literally hand tighteninto that hole.- Okay.- And the otherscrew will hold the driveinto place.- Okay.- So now, we need toinstall the actual M2 drive.So if you take it, you'llsee the gold connector.It only goes in one waybecause there's a little notch.So the label is facing upin this case, so just like,basically just rested in.So when it's in, youcould actually see likethere's a little bit of tension.So the screw is what'sgonna hold that down.That's what you prettymuch always do with this.Now we can actuallyinstall it into the case.- Let's do it.- Before we do that, we dowanna install our I/O shield.So this is essentially, if youimagine, the port right here,this kinda goes on topof the ports, like this.You wanna put this inbeforehand, cause otherwise,- it doesn't fit.- Makes sense.- And believe me when I say,I've installed quite a few motherboards,got it all screwed in, and then realized,I forgot this part.So, do this first.So next step is to install our stand offs.Try to get them as tight as you can.It doesn't make a hugedifference right now,but if you ever need topull out the motherboard,and you don't get yourstand offs all the way in,the stand offs will likepull out with the boardand it's a huge hassle,you have to use pliers.Alright, so now that thestand offs are in place,we can put the motherboard in.So this part, it's a little bit annoying.Mostly because is there really anythingthat you need to worry about.I mean, don't like scrapeit on inside the case,but you got to get it lined up just rightand sometimes, it doesn't.And it is, by the way, totally okay,as long as you have yourCPU cooler in correctly,to hold it by this.It's actually, it's fine.- It does make me anxious,I'm glad you said that.- And then, you see allthe ports right here?We wanna make sure that we'relining up with these ports.So we don't have to getit perfectly first try,but we wanna get it in the ball park.- Okay.- So you want to make surethat all of your portsare lined up in the backand that no tabs or anything are there.You also wanna take a visuallook to make sure that allof your screws are lined upso when you have that centerpost, typically speaking,you're gonna be prettyclose to being ready.So with this one, we lookpretty much good to go.So now, we can actuallystart screwing it into place.Look at Mr. Rettinger,building a PC over here man.Look at that!So this is like,this is a bucket list.- So that, we can pick it up right,and assuming it doesn'tcome crashing down.- Falls down immediately.- So you can definitely seethe beginnings of the build right?I mean, we've got our powersupply, we got a motherboardwith almost all of allcomponents involved.There's still a ball of cabling and stuffwe need to work on, but at this point,you can kinda take a breath, go, hey look,- Nailed it.- That's something that'sstarting to resemble a PC.Now, this is our RX590,this is actually a cardthat I would be completelyhonest, I mostly picked,because it's a decent card, but it's blue.And it matches the rest of the system.- Look at the detail thatyou get from Austin Evans.Look at that.I want bumper stickers madethat say, "Austin cares."- So if you guys are notfamiliar with the 590,this is essentially a 580 thathas been heavily overclocked.And that is way bigger than I thought.Look at the size of the heat pipes!For a card, which is realistically,not an insanely powerfulcard, that's a lot of cooling.This is actually reallysimple, before we install it,all we need to do is totake out the PCI covers,so it's literally just assimple as unscrewing these twoand it should slide right in.So you know of course in theend, we have to name it right?- Yes.- Start thinking about names in your head.- I've already been thinking.This is gonna be like my third kid.- Whoa, man!A little too much pressure.So, we're actually almost doneinstalling components in the case.So we still need to do cable management,but before we do that, we haveto install our hard drive.Now that it's actuallystrictly not necessary,what we have here right now with the SSD,this is an optional thing,but I think a lot of peopleenjoy installing hard drivesjust to get the extra capacityor if you don't want to usean SSD, although you should,you can run the OS off the hard drive.So all you do is, becauseit's a tool-less drive,you see it's got theselittle like notches,so you just wanna make surethat the actual connectors,the SEGA connectors are facing in the backso we can plug it in.So I'll let you do it, but literally,it just lines up with the metal holesand it just holds it in.Now, it's time to actuallystart cabling things up.- Okay.- It seems intimidating.- Yes.- It seems scary.Not gonna be that bad.So we have little bit of space back here,so usually you wanna routeas many cables behindand then bring them back, right?So, if we look over here,we're gonna take these two cablesand just run them through the hole.- So does thisone plug in to the topwhere it goes kinda like this?- It matches one connector.- Okay, got it.- So two 20 full plus four,but you always use it together.Next up, we have our CPU power,so shall I say, four plus four.Now this is something thatshould be plugging in right,where is it, right up here.So I'm going to run it directly upand pass it through to you.Next, let's work thison these other cables.This is called SATA.so we actually have twowhich look identical.Right, yeah.So this is what we needto run to our hard drive.If we weren't using ahard drive or an SSD,there was like in this bay,we wouldn't need this but we do need this.So do you want to unwrap that guy?So actually, if you lookto the side here, you'llsee that SATA1, SATA2,peripheral, and VGA.- Okay.- I'll plug it in to SATA2.Mostly so it kinda we can get a little bitof a cleaner cable run.So you can see, there's thisone with has a long connector,but it's got a little notch on the end,so that corresponds toyour hard drive right here.All you need to do, isliterally just line it up,press it in, it doesn't clickbut just make sure it'sseated all the way.The next thing in, arguablyreally the more important thingis we need to make surethat we have plenty of powerfor our graphics card.So actually, this is a goodpoint to kinda mention,do you see this is startingto get a little tangled?- Yeah.- You wanna do your best tokind of flatten these cables nowbecause it will makeyour life easier laterand especially if you seethem like start to likestack on top of each other,try to make sure there'sa little bit of space'cause the side panel won't go onif you have like three cables on top.So what we need to do iswe need to use almost allexcept for this one.So, you put it together,- That's one connector?- Yeah, so when you do it,just make sure you pinch it.It's kind of annoying, butit's basically the same thing,just plug in the 8-pin here.So power-wise, we'reactually looking pretty good.Now, it's time to startcabling all the little finickythings which are gonna take a while.- Okay.- So this case only has two fans.So there's a pair of fans up front.Now we need to run these cables.So there are multiplepoints on the motherboard,those fan headers we weretalking about earlier?So, our fans are now powered.Let's actually work our way down.So we have bunch of panelsthat are up top here.So you just wanna make sure USB works,our audio, all that kinda stuff.- So how could you tell what's what?- It's all labeled.So you see this littleconnector right here?It says HD audio?So pretty much everythingwill say what it is.So when you're doing these sort ofsmaller connectors on the board,I like working from left to right,cause basically, if you domore stuff in the right,it's kinda harder to run.So with that, it should just be a simpleas plugging into the AAFP port right here.So you see how it's like it's a 10-port,10-pins but with one knocked out.- Yeah.- You can't put it in the wrong way.So just make sure that thatone row with the 4, is on top.So one thing to note, as youdo all this cable management,it's very easy to have somethingthat's either not corrector maybe not all the way in.So once we test andlike turn on the system,if you see like yourUSB's port is not working,or your audio port isnot working, or whatever.Just go back and double check the cable.Nine times out of tenit's not something broken.It's just like a littlebit loose or something.Next step is our USB3 header.Now, I will say one thing about this,it looks bigger andeasier, and it is easier,but I have broken somany of these connectors,specifically when you pull it out,like this is just nota well-designed thing,so there is a notch at the bottom.So you'll see that it correspondswith this guy right here,so you wanna put the notch on top.- And before I plug it in,shout one out with the blue.- Oh yeah!USB3, here comes the mostfiddly part of any PC build.These guys.- What are those things?- These are all of ourfront panel connectors.So we have the power switch, reset switch,our hard drive LED, and our power LED.So if you take a look at the cables,you'll see that if you've put it overthat there's a little arrow.The arrows denote positive.So on this panel, you willsee the positive and negative.Anytime you see the positive,you know that it's the littlearrow that is going to denote.So just use that asyour frame of reference.- Okay.- There is a SATA cable leftand I think that's gonna be it.So you can see it's a smaller guy?And it has a notch.Now this actually just click in,so if you look on the side here,you'll see all our SATA ports.- Yeah.- So plug it in to SATA1.So you wanna plug this guy in here.- Okay, got it.- And then you'll see on theback side of the hard drive,this goes in right here.- So there you go, and there we go!- And, that my friend, is what should bea completed PC build.Now of course, we needto do a lot of cablemanagement, but don'tdo any of that until youactually test to see if it works.Cause if it doesn't, thisthing is coming back apart.- Right, it's the moment of truth?- Alright, three, two, one.Hey!- I saw the light.- Excellent sign.So our CPU fan is spinning.Only one of our fans is spinning.We'll have to fix that.The port of intergraphics card,oh look how good it looks.- Look at that.Blue lights, we did it!- So now, comes the hard partwhich is waiting toroughly 10 to 18 minutesit takes for it to post.It's not actually 18 minutes.It should take like 30 secondsbut it feels like 18 minutes.Oh, there it is!Immediate, immediate!- So if my three-yearold ever gets excitedhe always yells, "Me did it!"See, he can't even get the words out,so I feel like "Me did it!"- Oh Dude, there we go,we got our Ryzen 5 2600X.We have 16 Gigs showing up.Two keyboards and mice.I'm not sure why itshows two, but it's fine.We've built ourselves a game PC.- High-five man.- We did it!- So, the best part is,we didn't build thisjust for no reason.This is yours to takehome to your parents.- What?- Yes.- This is for Mom?- This is for Mom.Mom has a dope gaming PC now.- Mom's getting a...That's unnecessary butvery, very appreciated.She's gonna appreciate the blue.I'm gonna get a footageof me giving it to herand replacing her Windows 7 computer.- Oh, that's great, okay, cool.If you guys enjoyed this video,definitely be sure to subscribe.Not only here but also toJon Rettinger's super shiny,rebranded new channel, beena lot of changes over there.And as always if youguys wanna know anymoreabout any of the parts we used,the links will be in the description.All the links to a coupleof other tutorials,if you wanna check out more information,but if you wanna learn how to build a PC,hopefully, this has been helpful.Jon, play us out please.- And if I can do it, you can do it too.- That is somemotivational words right there.- I mean it.