Assemble your computer: how to choose parts for your new PC

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Processor, motherboard, case… understand the alphabet soup of the components needed to start this new machine process from scratch. Shopping Guide: Assemble your PC Juan Silva/g1 Assembling a PC at home is a task that can be simpler than you might think. But it does take some good pre-planning to buy lots of separate components and the basic technical knowledge to fit the parts in the right place. The main advantages of building your own desktop computer are: 🛠 High level of customization, with cabinet and RGB lights the way you want. ⌨️ Complete control in choosing machine parts: processor, motherboard, RAM memory, storage, cabinet, among other parts. 🔌 Many PC manufacturers don’t offer desktop PCs for basic or intermediate users – only for gamers or those who want high-performance machines. 🧰 Assembling one is also an alternative use for working or studying for those who don’t want or don’t need a notebook. The main disadvantage is the assembly itself, a puzzle with much more expensive, sensitive and sophisticated parts. Other guides: VALENTINE’S DAY: 50 gift ideas for up to R$ 150 NOTEBOOK: learn how to choose 2 in 1: test with 4 laptops that turn into a tablet ALL GUIDES The Shopping Guide assembled two computers with intermediate configurations, using parts available in internet stores. One of them has an AMD processor, with the option of a branded video card. The other, from Intel, has two graphics card suggestions – from Intel itself or from Nvidia. Items such as memory, enclosure and SSD can be switched between the two configurations. Adding up the values ​​in the stores consulted in June, the total configuration of the AMD was in the range of R$ 5,000. The machine with Intel cost around R$ 6,000. The two configurations do not include the Windows 11 Home operating system, which costs an additional R$1,200 at Microsoft. But you can use the Linux system, which is free. And not include monitor, keyboard and mouse. For comparison, a similar Dell PC, already assembled, cost from BRL 6,200, with fewer options for hardware changes other than memory, processor and internal storage. See the list below and, at the end, the tips on what are the essential items to assemble your PC yourself. AMD Platform Processor AMD Ryzen 5 5600 Motherboard Gigabyte B550M Aorus Elite Memory RAM Kingston 8GB Video Card Asrock RX 6600 CLD SSD WD Green PC SN350 240 GB Kit Gamer Brazil PC with case, power supply and cooler Cooler for processor Rise Mode Winter Intel Platform Processor Intel Core i5 13400F Motherboard Gigabyte B660M Memory RAM Kingston Fury Beast 8 GB Video Card Asrock Intel Arc A380 Asus NVidia GeForce GTX 1650 SSD NV2 250 GB Kingston TGT Combat Enclosure Kit + TomaHawk 500W Power Supply Cooler Master Blizzard T2 What to pay attention to at the time of purchase: Processor “The processor is the first item to be taken into account, and from there it is possible to start planning the machine”, explains Artur de Oliveira Jr, responsible for the area of ​​CPUs at AMD. “It is also necessary to understand what the computer will be used for, if it is something for everyday use, for specific applications or to play games”, adds Bruno Shigemura, Intel’s manager. The most recommended is to opt for the latest generations of AMD and Intel processors. They offer “more performance and better benefit”, in the words of Shigemura. Manufacturers indicated a quick way to identify which year and generation that processor is. FOR AMD: The Ryzen 3, 5, 7 and 9 processors are in their seventh generation, the most current. The division between the numbers tells what type of use that chip is indicated for, in general: Entry-level PCs: AMD Ryzen 3, 5 or 7 with a model name with the letter G at the end (such as Ryzen 3 3200G or Ryzen 7 5700G). Mid-range PCs: Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 without an additional letter or with an X at the end (like Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 7700X) High-end or gamer PCs: Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 with an X or X3D at the end (like Ryzen 7 5800X3D or Ryzen 9 7950X3D) The generation is indicated in the second number after the term “Ryzen”. A Ryzen 5 6600 chip is a 6th generation one, for example, and it’s still fresh. FOR INTEL: The most recent generation is the 13th generation of Intel Core (i3, i5, i7 or i9), released in mid-2022. The division is made between: Entry-level PCs: Intel Celeron and Intel Core i3 processors Mid-range PCs: Intel Core i5 High-performance or gamer PCs: Intel Core i7 or Core i9. The identification system follows a specific order. Example: an Intel Core i5-1235U is a 12th generation chip – it appears after brand (Intel), processor family (Core i5), in product number (1235U). If the product number is not indicated or shows anything less than Intel 9th ​​Gen, it may be an obsolete model with minor updates and not worth installing on a new PC. On AMD, this limit is below the 3rd generation (which was released in 2019). Above that, the better. Motherboard The motherboard is the “glue” that unifies all parts of the computer and is where the components are fitted. Your choice should be made based on the processor (AMD or Intel), the maximum amount of RAM you want and the number of connections the consumer wants to have on their PC. Enter here USB ports, USB-C, SATA connectors (for hard drives and other items), for example. The motherboard is also the guide for the format of the computer case, which follows market standards – the most common are ATX and mATX. “A good tip is to check on the motherboard manufacturer’s website which hardware is compatible with that card”, explains Alfredo Heiss, hardware specialist at AMD. Brands must state this in a part called the HCL (“Hardware Compatible List”). This list is usually available on the manufacturers’ websites, on the motherboard support page. Some brands may show HCL information like “CPU & Memory Support/Drivers & Software”. The HCL must list compatible items already tested by the motherboard manufacturer, such as memory, SSD and video cards. In this way, the new PC does not run the risk of using a RAM memory that is not compatible and giving an error. And the golden tip is always to compare the values ​​with what is expected from the machine. There’s no point in buying a “cheap motherboard with an expensive processor, something will go wrong”, explains Heiss, from AMD. RAM Memory The minimum recommended for use on a PC is 8GB, according to experts consulted by g1. When building a PC, it is necessary to check whether the motherboard and the chosen RAM memory are compatible with the DDR4 standards (more popular and cheaper) and DDR5 (more expensive, faster and with the advantage of being more efficient in energy consumption). . Video card The video card, also called the GPU, is the part that determines the consumer’s gaming experience. It serves to increase performance in games. It can be one of the most expensive parts of your computer, depending on the model you choose. Some processors from Intel and AMD have an integrated graphics card (which is part of the system). They are more suitable for consumers who want to play games in a more basic mode, without high definition or great performance. “It’s the gateway for those who want to start entering the gamer world”, explains Patricia Lenny, responsible for video cards at AMD. External cards are called dedicated and installed on the motherboard, indicated for those who want to play with higher performance and screen resolution. The most common models are AMD Radeon and NVidia GeForce, which work with motherboards compatible with AMD and Intel. Intel also has a newer line of graphics cards called Arc. Internal storage (SSD/HD) Experts recommend using SSD, solid state disk, as the main place to store the operating system and applications. Performance will be faster and without bottlenecks. The HD – hard disk – is a slower storage method, but with greater capacities. It can be used in parallel with the SSD to store work files, photos and videos, among others. Source, case, cooler These items are essential to provide the PC’s structure (case), power to the components (source) and internal ventilation of the machine and processor (cooler). The choice of case should be linked to the size of the motherboard. The cases indicated in the list already come with a 500W power supply and fans for ventilation. The power supply requires a calculation of the estimated power consumption of the motherboard and the video card, for the PC to work properly. This data is provided by the manufacturers. At the end of the assembly process, the internal cables must be organized inside the case, so as not to interfere with the air flow and overheat the computer. Operating system Once everything is mounted and organized, it’s time to turn on the machine and install the operating system, which can be Linux – which has free versions – or Windows 11 Home, from Microsoft. The system is sold directly from the manufacturer for R$ 1,200. Other versions of the system, such as Windows 11 Pro, were found in internet stores for the same price. Microsoft also offers a list of Windows 11 compatible products on its website. Monitor and Peripherals Monitor and peripherals – keyboard, mouse, external microphone, webcam, headset – are the last step in choosing this piece of PC hardware. The Shopping Guide teaches you how to buy some of them: Monitor Wireless keyboard Headset Webcam This report was produced with complete editorial independence by our team of journalists and specialized collaborators. If the reader chooses to purchase a product from the links provided, Globo may earn revenue through commercial partnerships. We clarify that Globo does not have any control or responsibility over the possible shopping experience, even from the links provided. Questions or complaints regarding the product purchased and/or the purchase, payment and delivery process should be directed directly to the responsible retailer.

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