Building a Gaming Computer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hey guys, this is Austin and today I’m here with a full tutorial on how to build a gaming computer.

With the current generation of consoles stuck in 2006, there’s never been a better time to build yourself a gaming PC. To start with, let me go over the parts which are all from my latest $500 budget gaming build. If you’re building that computer then perfect, but even if you’re building a different machine, this tutorial still applies.

I won’t go into detail on each part, so if you want to know more, feel free to check out that video and then come back here when you’re done. To build the computer, you should have a decently sized workspace and as far as tools go, all you really need is a Phillips screwdriver and a knife.

You should also work on tile or hardwood floors as if you build on carpet, you could potentially build up some static electricity which could harm your components. It’s also a good idea to touch the steel case before handling any sensitive parts to ground yourself out.

The first step is grabbing our case, which for this build is an Antec 300. Bust out the unboxing knife and pop the cap on the box. You’ll find a bit of foam and under that, the instructions which of course we aren’t going to look at. We’re rebels like that.

Flip the box upside down and then pull the box over the case. Then just pull the plastic wrap off and flip it right-side up. Now that we’ve freed the case, it’s a good idea to look it over to check if it was damaged in shipping. If everything’s good, move around to the back and undo the fourth umbrella screws holding the side panels on.

Slide both the left and right panels off so we have room to work. Inside you should find a small box of accessories which will contain two small bags of screws. Put these aside as we’ll be needing them a bit later. Push the case off to the side for a bit and grab your power supply.

Inside here is another manual, the power cable, a few small screws, and the supply itself. Grab it and remove the plastic wrap. Now let’s install it. Make sure it’s oriented correctly with the cables coming out the back and then place it on the bottom of your case.

There should be metal tabs to make sure you’ve got it properly aligned, but the best way to check is to look at the rear of the case. There are four screw holes you’ll need to keep the supply in place, double-check that all of these are lined up. If not, readjust the supply until it’s secure.

Moving on, we have to install the heatsink. For this build, I’ll be using the stock Intel cooler, however, if you’re using an aftermarket cooler, then it’s best to look up a specific tutorial as they all install differently. The stock cooler is easy, on the bottom, you’ll find thermal paste already applied.

All you need to do is align it over the CPU with each of the four pegs inside the holes on themotherboard. Then press each down by starting on the opposite corners until they click into place. Once it’s installed, you can lift the motherboard by the heatsink.

Slide the motherboard off to the side and grab your RAM. For this build, we’ll be using a pair of 2GB DIMMs which will give the build 4GB. These aren’t extremely delicate however, it’s still a good idea to only handle them by the edges or heatsinks.

On the bottom you’ll find a series of gold pins with a slightly offset notch. You’ll see a matching notch in the slot on themotherboard which means they can only go in one way. Pop open the clips on the side and then drop the RAM in. Press firmly on both ends until it snaps into place.

Then just pop the other DIMM in the same way, and you’re good to go. That’s it for part one of this tutorial. If you enjoyed definitely be sure to leave this video a thumbs up and check out part two which will be on screen now as well as in a link in the description of this video.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHey guys, this is Austin and today I’m herewith a full tutorial on howto build a gaming computer.With the current generation of consoles stuckin 2006 there’s never been a better timeto build yourself a gaming PC.To start with let me go over the parts whichare all from my latest $500budget gaming build.If you’re building that computer then perfectbut evenif you’re building a different machine thistutorial still applies.I won’tgo into detail on each part so if you wantto know more feel free to checkout that video and then come back here whenyou’re done.To build thecomputer you should have a decently sizedworkspace and as far as tools goall you really need is a Phillips screwdriverand a knife.You should alsowork on tile or hardwood floors as if youbuild on carpet you couldpotentially build up some static electricitywhich could harm yourcomponents.It’s also a good idea to touch the steelcase before handlingany sensitive parts to ground yourself out.The first step is grabbing ourcase which for this build is an Antec 300.Bust out the unboxing knife andpop the cap on the box.You’ll find a bit of foam and under thattheinstructions which of course we aren’t goingto look at.We’re rebels likethat.Flip the box upside down and then pull thebox over the case.Thenjust pull the plastic wrap off and flip itright-side up.Now that we’vefreed the case it’s a good idea to lookit over to check if it was damagedin shipping.If everything’s good move around to theback and undo the fourthumb screws holding the side panels on.Slide both the left and rightpanels off so we have room to work.Inside you should find a small box ofaccessories which will contain two small bagsof screws.Put these aside aswe’ll be needing them a bit later.Push the case off to the side for a bitand grab your power supply.Inside here is another manual, the power cable,a few small screws and the supply itself.Grab it and remove the plastic wrap.Now let’s install it.Make sure it’s oriented correctly with thecables comingout the back and then place it on the bottomof your case.There should bemetal tabs to make sure you’ve got it properlyaligned but the best way tocheck is to look at the rear of the case.There are four screw holes you’llneed to keep the supply in place, double checkthat all of these are lined up.If not readjust the supply until it’s allgood.Grab the small bag of screwsyou got with the power supply and your screwdriver.Drop a screw into one ofthe holes and tighten it decently but notall the way in case something needsto be readjusted.Then go to the hole opposite where the firstscrew is anddo that one.Then just finish the last two screws.Now that everything is inthe proper place go back and tighten eachscrew down to make sure the supplyisn’t going anywhere.Nicely done, we have the first component inour buildinstalled.Push the case back for a bit and grab yourmotherboard.In hereyou should find a pair of SATA cables, onestraight and one angled and theI/O shield for your ports.Set the motherboard aside for a second andbelowyou’ll find the manual and drivers DVD.Set this one aside as it actually ishelpful later on.Now gently pull the motherboard out and setit on thebag.One thing to keep in mind is that the motherboardis one of the mostsensitive parts to static so when you arehandling it always touch it by theplastic parts.You should also leave it on the anti-staticbag instead ofletting it sit on your table.Before we move on let’s take a look at afewof the important features of the board.First of all is the CPU socket whichas the name implies is where your CPU goes.To the right of this are theslots where you’ll install RAM.Below the CPU socket you should see yourPCI Express slots.These are what you’ll plug your graphicscard into aswell as various other cards like Wi-Fi orcapture cards.Toward the bottomof the board are 4 SATA connectors which arefor connecting hard drives.On some motherboards you’ll have two types,SATA 2 and SATA 3.The onlydifference is that SATA 3 is faster and worksbetter if you have an SSD.There are more important bits on the boardbut those are the main thingsyou need to learn.Now grab your processor.If you’re using an Intel CPUlike we are the process is identical but AMDCPUs install slightlydifferently.Bust the box open and inside you’ll findthe manual alongwith a Core i3 sticker, stock heatsink andfan along with the CPU whichis a little too easy to overlook.Like the motherboard this is an extremelydelicate part so only touch it by the edgeswhen handling it.To installyou’ll need to push back the arm holdingthe socket closed and lift theprotective cover off.Now line up the two small notches on the CPUto thenotches in the socket and gently rest it down.Do not apply any pressureat all, it should rest nicely by itself.Lie the cover back down and firmlypress the arm down under the clip.It will give a lot of resistance butdon’t worry, just press it all the way downuntil it’s secure.Now you’vegot one of the hardest parts of the buildtaken care of.Moving on we haveto install the heatsink.For this build I’ll be using the stock Intelcoolerhowever if you’re using an aftermarket coolerthen it’s best to look up aspecific tutorial as they all install differently.The stock cooler is easy,on the bottom you’ll find thermal pastealready applied.All you need to isalign it over the CPU with each of the fourpegs inside the holes on themotherboard.Then press each down by starting on the oppositecorners untilthey click into place.Once it’s installed you can lift the motherboardbythe heatsink.Slide the motherboard off to the side andgrab your RAM.Forthis build we’ll be using a pair of 2GBDIMMs which will give the build 4GB.These aren’t extremely delicate howeverit’s still a good idea to only handlethem by the heatsink or edges.On the bottom you’ll find a series of goldpinswith a slightly offset notch.You’ll see a matching notch in the sloton themotherboard which means they can only go inone way.Pop open the clips on theside and then drop the RAM in.Press firmly on both ends until it snaps intoplace.Then just pop the other DIMM in the same wayand you’re good to go.That’s it for part one of this tutorial.If you enjoyed definitely be sureto leave this video a thumbs up and checkout part two which will be onscreen now as well as in a link in the descriptionof this video.