Xander Walther, Head of Video
@xanderwcourant
Your laptop that carried you through middle school not cutting it anymore? Now you’re determined to be the best at high FPS games and edit short films that will seemingly determine your future? You need a personal computer, informally known as a desktop computer, or a PC. The task of choosing a PC may sound simple, however, it is a complex process depending on how you use the computer. On top of that, there are many brands competing to thin out your wallet with their four or five digit price tag (take the new Mac Pro, for example).
Before even assessing the uses of your, soon to be, personal computer, you must take your budget into consideration. When choosing parts to build the ultimate, or realistically standard PC, it is important to set your expectations parallel with your budget. There is no secret to building an amazing computer with a minimal budget, but with a basic understanding of the role each component plays, it is much easier to build a computer that is right for you.
The budget varies from person to person and depending on what you want to do with your PC, spanning from only a couple of hundred dollars to $54,000, when purchasing a super computer. “The labor cost of building a PC can exceed $100 depending on the expert,” said sophomore Alex Hamilton.
There are three main parts that vary in price depending on the specific use of the computer; the CPU (processor), the GPU (graphics card) and the RAM (random-access memory). “For tasks such as video editing and video rendering you will need a more powerful GPU. If the task is CPU dependent, such as photo editing, you’ll need a CPU with many cores and hyper-threading. You’ll also need a lot of ram for video editing. If you’ll be programming, you won’t need powerful parts since programming isn’t as demanding,” Alex said.
Freshman Ned Ravanesi wants to know where he can buy all his parts. “There aren’t any stores selling the parts I need nearby,” said Ned.
Alex recommends buying parts online. “They have the cheapest prices that are proportional to the quality of the parts. Websites such as Newegg.com and Amazon.com provide the best prices and fastest shipping. If you are not able to shop online, the Micro Center in Yonkers, New York can also give great deals,” he said.
It’s important to keep in mind, while you can build a PC using a CPU, GPU, and motherboard all from different brands, not all parts are compatible. “Once I have found the part I want, how do I know whether or not it is compatible with my motherboard?” said Ned. Alex recommends sites such as PCPartPicker to check if the parts are compatible or not.
Part selection has further implications when concerning the power supply. “The power supply is what powers the parts in your PC by converting AC to DC through your outlets,” Alex said. The more you pay for a power supply can actually have a lasting impact on your energy bill. Power supplies can be rated bronze, gold or platinum (this is usually not reflected in their color). If two power supplies have the same wattage but have different efficiency, the higher efficiency/rating will use less power but have the same power output.
The more powerful the part, the more wattage it requires to run properly. Parts will underperform resulting in a huge waste of money if your power supply is too weak. Although purchasing a high-end power supply that exceeds your needs will do no harm, in the long run power supplies can last 3-10 years depending on the quality.
Finally, it’s important to choose a case that works for you. Cases can vary in USB, HDMI, VGA, DP, SD card, micro SD card, microphone and headphone jack etc. The multiple inputs can be used for a multi monitor setup or a setup that requires USB power for streaming or VR (virtual reality). Some cases are completely opaque and others are translucent or completely transparent which is more important when the parts are RGB or brightly colored. Ned Ravanesi needed advice when choosing his case. “How do I determine case size? Is a bigger case better?” Ned said.
Alex said that the case sizes usually depend on the parts you choose. “A PC with a small motherboard usually goes well with a small case but if you’re on a budget (which most high school students are),” he said. “A mid-tower case is usually cheaper than a micro atx case. Unfortunately a smaller case does have some disadvantages; limited space for a GPU and not as much airflow. Having a larger case allows more airflow and large space for your GPU. A larger case is mostly used for workstations and multi GPU setups.”
Now that you know how to choose the right components for your dream PC, you should head over to one of the recommended websites to buy your parts and check their compatibility. Either hook them up to your motherboard and snap it into place inside of your case or Venmo an expert to do it. Whatever you choose to do, get excited because the next three or four years you will have all the power you need to win every game of Apex Legends or the new Doom Eternal. Of course all this can be done in complete isolation or quarantine if it comes to that, so the rapid spread of COVID-19 will have no effect on your gaming, editing or whatever else you choose to do with your all powerful PC.
