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Self-assembly of a system unit in pictures or how to assemble a computer at home. How to assemble a system unit yourself

It is worth noting next moment. Budget motherboards are equipped with a 4-pin connector CPU power supply. So, we divide the existing 8-pin cable into two 4-pin cables with our hands and connect to the board. Expensive motherboards, on the contrary, are equipped with an additional connector in addition to the 8-pin connector. The trick is that in this case everything will work from one 8-pin wire. An additional port is needed if, for example, you seriously overclock CPU. But then you will need an accompanying power supply or adapter.

Step #5: installing storage drives and optical drive

For desktop PCs, there are two most common drive form factors: 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch. Plus they are gaining popularity solid state drives with M.2 connector. As for the latter, everything is simple with this form factor: the device is installed directly into a port soldered to motherboard. But 2.5- and 3.5-inch drives must first be secured in the case.

In 99% of cases, the case is equipped with a special basket with a slide. The manufacturer also indicates in the specifications the number of slots for 2.5- and 3.5-inch drives, as well as 5.25-inch devices. In the case of the Fractal Design Define R5, two metal baskets are used. The first (top) can accommodate five 3.5-inch or the same number of 2.5-inch drives. The second (bottom) is three. In some cases these baskets may be removable. Plus, this particular case has two seats for 2.5-inch drives behind the chassis.

Not all computer cases optionally support installation of 2.5-inch drives. True, many SSD manufacturers complete their products with special adapters for 3.5-inch sleds. They are usually packed in cardboard boxes, but not sealed in a blister.

Do you want to build a computer for games or for Photoshop? Are you looking for instructions with photos on how to assemble a computer with your own hands? You've come to the right place.

The article continues the story about assembling a computer at home. Let us remind you that we are assembling a computer for a photographer, which can easily be converted into a powerful gaming computer by simply adding a video card. The choice of components for the photo and gaming computer being assembled, as well as methods of protecting electronic components from static electricity has been described .

Before you begin the computer assembly process, make sure you have a Phillips screwdriver - this is the only tool you will need. Make sure you have all the components needed to build your PC. Make sure you provide antistatic protection for sensitive electronic components. All this was described in detail in the previous article. If everything is in order, let's get started.

Computer assembly sequence. Step-by-step instruction

It is convenient to start assembling a computer by installing the processor (Core i5 6500) into the socket on the motherboard (H110M PRO-VD). To do this, remove the motherboard from the antistatic bag, holding it by the ends, and place it on a cotton fabric (calico, satin) folded in several layers. Several layers will gently hold the board, it will not slip and scratch the table. In addition, cotton does not accumulate static electricity. Raise the processor pressure plate lever (press down slightly and move it to the side), and fold back the processor pressure plate. There is a plastic plug on the pressure plate. We don’t touch her, she will go away on her own. Next, take the processor out of the box and remove it from the blister. We hold the processor exclusively by the ends, without touching contact pads. We combine the triangular key on the processor and on the board. Also on the processor on the opposite side of the key there are 2 notches on the sides; they should also go around the corresponding protrusions on the board socket. Having aligned the key and the notches, we simply place the processor with the contacts down on the socket without any effort. If the key and the notches are aligned correctly, the processor will lie flat, without distortion. Next, simply lower the pressure plate onto the processor and secure it with a lever. At this moment, the plastic plug on the plate should bounce off on its own. We put it aside, it is no longer needed. The entire processor is installed on the motherboard.


MSI h110m pro-vd processor installation

The box with the processor also contains a fan, the so-called box cooler. Take it out of the box. Be careful not to lubricate the thermal paste that is applied to the heatsink where it touches the processor. The paste is needed to smooth out micro-irregularities, to ensure a tighter contact between the radiator and the processor body, so that heat is better dissipated. Every time you install or dismantle the cooler, you need to apply new paste. So if you want to withdraw for any reason already installed cooler, do not forget to buy additional thermal paste in a tube. Installing a boxed cooler is generally simple: you need to rotate the fan around its axis so that the power connector reaches the mating part on the motherboard. Align the 4 holes on the board with the clips on the fan. Press down on the clips and they will snap into place. The clips must be fixed one at a time in the following sequence: first opposite along one diagonal, then along the other. Having snapped the clips, we connect the fan power connector with the mating part on the motherboard (marking on the cpufan board).

Next, install 2 sticks of RAM on the motherboard ( Kingston HyperX FURY Black Series 16 GB). The planks are very easy to install. You need to move the levers on the sides of the memory connectors on the motherboard to the sides. Install the strip into the connector, aligning the only notch on the strip with the protrusion in the connector, and gently press down. The bar will sink down, and the side arms will rise and snap into place.


CPU cooler and memory sticks on the MSI h110m pro-vd board

It's time to install our motherboard into the system case. We take our case (AEROCOOL MC3), remove the side covers, and put them aside. We put the body in horizontal position. You need to install the missing support bushings on the motherboard mounting panel. Four pieces, which are present on all board sizes, are already installed. We look at how many mounting holes there are on the board; under each hole you need to install a support sleeve. The support bushings are in a bag with screws that come with the body. The same bag contains a hex adapter for a Phillips screwdriver. The adapter is needed to tighten the threaded connection between the bushing and the panel. At first I didn’t notice this adapter and tightened the bushings with pliers, but you do everything as expected using the adapter.

When all the support bushings are installed, you can mount the motherboard connector socket on the rear wall of the system unit. The panel comes complete with motherboard. There are special recesses in the system unit case, so this socket seems to snap into place.

Now you can screw the motherboard itself onto the support bushings. For this we take the screws from the same package included with the case. When tightening the screws, the board must be pressed against the back panel, since it rests and springs with special tendrils.


Mounting the MSI h110m pro-vd motherboard in the system case

For those who want to build a powerful gaming computer and bought extra gaming video card type GeForce GTX 10 series, it's time to install it on the motherboard connector pci boards express and attach the socket to the back wall of the system unit.

Turn the body over to a vertical position. Now we will install optical DVD drive(DVD-RW LG GH24NSD0). In the following pictures, the devices are conventionally shown with connected wires. There is no need to do this yet. Installation of wires is a separate operation. On the front panel of the system unit case, you need to remove one of the three removable panels for external 5.25-inch devices. This will be the topmost panel. To remove it, you need to bend one of the side clamps from the inside and press on the panel from the outside. The panel will fall inside, after which it can be removed. Insert our optical drive, aligning the drive with the front panel of the system unit. We fix the drive in the basket for external devices. On one side of the basket there are clips for quick fixation; there you just need to bend the lever. On the other hand, there are no such clamps, so we screw in 2 screws from the kit.


Optical drive in the basket for external devices

Now it's the turn of SSD (OCZ Trion 150 TRN150-25SAT3-240G) and HDD (1 TB WD Caviar Blue) drives. We put the solid-state drive in the basket for internal devices, 2.5 inch compartment. On one side, we insert the basket pins into the disk mounting holes, and on the other, we fix the disk with two screws from the kit to the system unit case. For hard drive On one side we screw in screws with a narrow pin head, they will slide along the guide. We insert the pin heads into the guides and insert the disk into the basket for internal devices, 3.5-inch compartment. On the opposite side, fix the disk with three screws from the system unit case kit.


SSD and HDD drives in the basket for internal devices

Now comes the power supply (Aerocool KCAS 600W). We take it out of the box and install it at the bottom of the case, with the fan down, towards the ventilation hole. The system unit is on high legs, so there is room for air to enter. The power cord connector will face the outside and the wiring harness will face the inside of the chassis. We fasten the 4 screws from the kit on the rear wall.


Power supply at the bottom of the system unit

Now that all the components are in place, you need to connect them with electrical cables. All devices must be connected by interface cables to the motherboard. Plus, each device needs to be connected to a power cable from the power supply. In the pictures, all power cables have a black polymer braid. Almost all connectors are keyed, so it is impossible to mix them up unless you use excessive force. Plus, the board has signatures for each connector part. You should immediately try to lay the cables through channels and through technological holes in the system unit case, so that all that remains is to secure them later.

Let's connect the signal wires to the motherboard:

  • 3 SATA3 cables from three devices: DVD drive, HDD drive, SSD drive. On one side of the cable the connector is connected to the device, on the other side of the cable the connector is connected to the motherboard. For the HDD drive, there is no need to connect the connector on the motherboard side yet. We will connect it after installing Windows on the SSD disk, this will be discussed later;
  • Wires from the front panel of the system unit: USB3 connector of blue color, audio panel connector, USB2. The buttons and lights on the front panel of the system unit come to the motherboard in the form of single contacts with markings. To install them, you need to check the diagram included with the motherboard. We also connect the front panel fan connector (marked on the sysfan board).

Let's connect the power wires to all devices. We take the wires from the power supply:

  • CPU power connector;
  • Motherboard power connector;
  • Additional front panel fan power supply. The Molex connector is mounted parallel to the signal wires, increasing the cross-section of the power wire;
  • 3 SATA power connectors for each device: DVD drive, HDD drive, SSD drive.
  • Those who installed a video card need to check whether it has an additional power connector (for powerful video cards). If so, then it needs to be connected.

Connecting the connectors to msi board h110m pro-vd shown in the picture. In this and other pictures, the wires are conventionally shown held together with plastic clamps. There is no need to install clamps yet - this is done on last stage when everything is already working for sure.


MSI h110m pro-vd connector connection

After connecting the wires inside the system unit, you can connect the power cord, plug it into a power outlet, connect the keyboard, mouse, monitor, and then . If you need to correct something during setup, do not forget to remove the plug from the outlet, including the one at the monitor.

After setting up the BIOS and installing the OS, if everything works, you need to use plastic clamps to secure the wires in the system unit case so that they do not dangle when moving the computer. If you are like in in this case If you use an integrated video card, you need to install a plug on the hole in the first PCI expansion slot (on the back wall, where the panel usually comes out discrete video card). The plug is included with the system unit case. You should end up with something like this:


Fully assembled system unit. View from the motherboard
Fastening cables to the panel motherboard

All that remains is to screw on the side covers of the system unit and you can use the computer.

In this configuration, everything came together and worked the first time for me. I solved my problem: camera developer raw Photoshop I began to move and process the raw image from the photo matrix (RAW format).

Build your own computer– This is an excellent opportunity to choose computer components in accordance with your individual requirements and preferences. In addition, this allows you to save a considerable amount of money and get exactly what you need, with all the necessary characteristics, without overpaying for assembly and without once again enriching large and not very large large stores office equipment, which often sin by “stuffing” cheap components into an expensive fancy case and selling it at triple the price.

This article will take you step by step collect yours own computer , which will be maximally adapted to your personal needs.

Ready desktop computers often do not have the configuration that meets the needs of a specific buyer. It also happens that the computer being sold has a good configuration, but is overvalued in terms of cost. A finished computer may also satisfy you with almost everything, except for one component. This may not even be related to the functional side of the computer, but to the aesthetic one. For example, you may not like the case of the system unit.

On the other hand, by carefully selecting each component of your system, you are not only free to choose components from various manufacturers, but you also assemble a computer at a much lower price. You don't have to worry about the warranty. This is an argument that many sellers of ready-made computers like to make in order to scare inexperienced buyers. Buying electronic components separately, you also receive a warranty for each of them, and if any hardware problem arises, you can easily fix it by replacing one or another component under warranty. However, I hasten to reassure you, similar problems They are quite rare, modern computer components are very reliable, so the likelihood of their failure is quite low. Later in the article we will get acquainted with some technical information concerning individual components and manufacturers computer components, she will help you in selecting them and assembling a computer with your own hands.

Selecting components to build a computer

Below are descriptions of the computer components you will need to purchase to build your computer. If you have no questions regarding the choice of components for the system unit, you know what it costs and why, or everything has already been purchased and is waiting in the wings, then you can move on to the second part of the article - directly to. But if you don’t fully understand something and have any questions or doubts, it’s better to read this material again in order to ultimately choose what you really need, assemble a computer with your own hands, and not overpay.

Let's consider the composition of the system unit, what will we assemble it from? First of all, this is the processor itself, which we will install on the motherboard. The motherboard, in turn, is the foundation of the computer, where, in addition to the processor, RAM, sound and video cards are installed. Below we will look at how to choose both the “motherboard” and other components.

What, in fact, the “thought process” itself occurs in is the computer’s RAM.

The optical disk drive is designed to read information from laser discs various formats. Whether to equip a system unit with it or not is a purely personal matter; it all depends on your goals, objectives, and capabilities. As an option, operating system can be installed using bootable flash drive, and download drivers, programs and games on the Internet.

The power supply sometimes comes with the case, but when self-assembly It is better to take it separately from the computer. Its main characteristic is output power.

And, finally, such devices that belong to the computer, but are not part of the system unit: monitor, mouse, keyboard, source uninterruptible power supply(which can be done without, but is not advisable).

Processor, motherboard and RAM

Processor speed has important. A powerful processor ensures high speed of the computer. If you are going to play computer games or use design programs, then you need a processor with clock frequency not lower than 2GHz and not less than 2GB of RAM. It is better if these two indicators are higher. Some extreme PC games are very resource intensive, so you should be prepared to purchase powerful processor, a representative of the older line of AMD or Intel. Pay attention to such a parameter as cache memory, it works on approximately the same principle as RAM, only much faster and directly affects the speed of the processor. It will be great if its volume is 3 MB or higher. Processors can be supplied in a BOX configuration, which is when it is already equipped with a cooler, or OEM, in which case you will have to buy a cooling system for the processor separately, however, they are relatively inexpensive and available, so this should not be a problem for you.

Read more here: How to choose a processor for your computer>>>

Motherboard

The motherboard is the “foundation” of the computer. Today, several manufacturers are leaders in quality and price: Gigabyte, Asus, Msi, Foxconn, AsRock. Plus, if you are assembling a powerful gaming computer, it is advisable to take an ATX format motherboard, because it has a larger number of slots and connectors, it is more convenient to install and install, and accordingly, you can attach more different things to it.

Before purchasing a motherboard for the computer you are building, make sure that the processor you choose is compatible with it. Pay attention to the socket (socket for installing a processor), it should be similar to the processor socket, otherwise the “stone” will have to be placed on the “mother” with a hammer, and this is not good. Also pay attention to whether it has all the necessary slots and connectors.

More details here: How to choose a motherboard>>>

RAM

RAM Now there are two types: DDR2 and DDR3. DDR2 is already outliving its allotted time, it is being replaced by the faster DDR3, and DDR4 is on its way. Motherboards can support one or both types. But it’s better to install the same type of RAM, of course. The principle is simple - the larger the volume, the better. And, as has been said more than once, for modern home computer it needs at least 2GB.

Even more here: How to choose RAM>>>

Video card

A good video card will give you excellent quality images, and is mandatory for those who will work with graphics or use a computer assembled with their own hands to computer games. Nvidia and AMD are the most famous brands. Other manufacturers - insofar as. However, it will be extremely difficult for you to “run into” an unscrupulous manufacturer. The fact is that very few people can afford to develop video chips. The vast majority of video card manufacturers use technology and produce their products through licensing from giant manufacturers.

The meaning of the choice here is the same as with RAM - the larger the volume of the video card’s own RAM and its frequency, the more sophisticated toys it will handle. For games, RAM should be at least 1GB; for office, 512MB is enough (or you can get by with the video core built into the processor). No less important is the frequency of the video processor itself (from 600 MHz and above) and throughput data buses (at least 128 bit).

You can find out more here: How to choose a video card>>>

Hard drive, or hard drive, also known as HDD

In order not to puzzle over what is more important for us, performance, volume or something else, it is best to install at least two hard drives. One HDD- With high speed rotations from 7200-10000 rpm for the operating system (currently they are being replaced solid state SSD drives), And second hard a disk with a speed of at least 5400-7200 rpm for storing files. It is recommended to opt for models with a rotation speed of 7200. They optimally combine access speed and moderate heating.

The primary purpose of a hard drive is long-term data storage. Accordingly, you need to choose its capacity depending on how much of this data you are going to store on it. If you are a film buff and you large collection movies, especially if the movies are in HD format, then the larger the hard drive capacity, the better. Currently, prices for hard drives have dropped significantly. You can buy a 1TB hard drive quite cheaply. Moreover, the cost of storing 1GB of information decreases significantly with an increase in the total volume of the selected hard drive. When choosing a hard drive, pay attention to such characteristics as volume buffer memory. Currently, models with a buffer of 16, 32 and 64 MB are mainly presented. It is preferable to opt for the latter. Also make sure that you buy a SATA3 type hard drive from good manufacturer and with the provided warranty, this will allow you to repair or replace it free of charge in case of problems.

More details about How to choose a hard drive>>>

Frame

The choice of case will depend on your aesthetic preferences. Some cases come with a pre-installed power supply. If you choose such a case, make sure that the output power of the power supply is sufficient to connect all necessary components systems.

How to choose a computer case >>> read here.

power unit

The best solution would be to purchase a power supply with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). In any case, you take a case with a built-in power supply or purchase them separately.

But, in any case, the main characteristic of the power supply is the total output power going along several buses with different voltage. The main bus is the one that produces 12V. In addition to it, there are buses with voltages of 3V and 5V, but the main attention should be paid to the main bus. And the total power of the power supply unit for all outputs should be 40-50 percent greater than the total power consumption of all components of the system unit, which will make it possible for future independent upgrades computer without replacing the power supply with a more powerful one. Well, pay attention to the number of connectors and the length of the cables (at least 45-50 cm), especially if the power supply is located at the bottom.

An article about how to choose a power supply>>>

Optical DVD drive

When purchasing a DVD drive, pay attention to the writing and reading speed; the higher the performance, the better. It is advisable that the drive belongs to famous brand eg Sony, Pioneer, Samsung, they provide good performance and long service life. It is highly undesirable to purchase a CD-ROM, non-writing DVD drive and other outdated components. However, it is quite difficult to find them on sale now. But prices for Blu-Ray recorders are gradually decreasing, so that they will soon displace DVD drives from store shelves.

About how How to choose an optical drive>>>

And, briefly, about choosing additional accessories for self-assembling a home computer.

Keyboard

Exists great amount models for every taste. If you plan to type a lot, take a look at models with a pyramid layout; your hands will not get tired as quickly as with keyboards with a regular layout.
If you are a gamer or music lover, then choose keyboards with special buttons, adding additional functionality. This provides additional convenience to music lovers and gamers, while simultaneously increasing the price of such a device.

Learn more about How to choose a keyboard>>>

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Mouse

When choosing a mouse, you need to be guided by approximately the same characteristics as when choosing a keyboard. The main thing is convenience. For some users, it will also be important appearance devices. Some mice have additional buttons, allowing, for example, to control the browser and the speed of cursor movement on the screen. The mouse should optimally fit the size and shape of your palm. These parameters should be decisive for you when choosing and purchasing this device.

Read more about How to choose a mouse for your computer>>>

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Monitor

The cost of the monitor will depend on the size of its diagonal and resolution. Accordingly, the greater these two indicators, the higher the price. It is desirable that the diagonal be at least 17 inches. However, if you are purchasing a computer for work, then you should not chase too large a diagonal. Large screens more suitable for a multimedia computer. Resolution determines the clarity of the image. Decide how important it is for you and, based on this, choose a monitor model. And lastly, when purchasing a monitor, pay attention to which port(s) is used to connect to the motherboard. The sockets must match each other. Although there are various adapters on sale, it is still better to initially select components that suit each other.

Why start building a computer with your own hands? Of course, to assemble a PC system unit yourself, you will need to pick up everything necessary components for computer and tools.

Computer assembly kit

What do we need when assembling a computer ourselves?

Computer assembly kit includes:

  • Motherboard (MB)
  • Processor (CPU)
  • Random Access Memory (RAM)
  • Hard drive (HDD/SSD)
  • Power supply (PSU)
  • Video card (GPU)
  • PC system case (CASE)
  • Optical drive ( DVD drive, optional)
  • CPU cooling system (cooler)

Tools that will be useful when assembling a computer:

  • Screwdriver (phillips and flathead)
  • Plastic clamps (cable ties)

It is best to place the prepared parts and tools in an easily accessible place, so that everything is at hand. In the photo below you can see our set.

Assembling a computer at home from customer components

In this case it was carried out assembling a computer at home from customer components, the work was done at home. The advantage of this is that the user can see the entire assembly process, ask questions and receive detailed answers to them. And in the future already carry out the modernization yourself own PC or build a new, more powerful computer.

A gaming computer can be considered a computer that is capable of reproducing everything. modern games, providing an acceptable level of comfort from this entertainment. But user requirements differ, so very many people fall into the category of gaming PCs. different devices. For many users, it is enough that games play smoothly, game world is displayed correctly and there are no control problems. Professional gamers (who make money from gaming) and those who spend a significant portion of their leisure time playing games have more stringent requirements for PC performance.

This material will tell you how to assemble a gaming PC with your own hands, both for users who just need a smooth rendering of the picture on the screen, and for gamers for whom the quality of graphics is paramount. Of course, for these two categories of buyers, both the performance of the components and their cost will differ significantly (up to ten times). But general recommendations How to build a gaming PC with your own hands will be similar for everyone.

Assembling a PC on your own is, first of all, a solution that allows you to select the optimal configuration for the needs of a particular user. Also, setting up your own computer is a way to save money. The question of how to build a cheap gaming PC interests many users. Unfortunately, the performance of a computer largely depends on its cost. Therefore, it is now impossible to assemble a completely cheap (for example, for 10-15 thousand rubles) gaming PC.

Where to begin

The budget is key factor when choosing components. Therefore, first of all, you should decide how much money will be allocated for the purchase. It also matters whether the system unit itself is needed, or peripherals(monitor, acoustics, keyboard, mouse).

IN model range Each manufacturer has several sockets ( processor sockets). Each of them requires a motherboard with its own connector. If the CPU is equipped with Socket 1155, then the motherboard must have the same. In addition, you should consider the compatibility of the board with specific models processors. As a rule, board manufacturers publish lists of supported CPUs on their official websites.

The requirements for the board itself are determined based on the number and capacity of RAM sticks that will be installed, the number of connected drives (HDD, SSD), their interfaces (SATA, PCI-Express or M.2) and overclocking capabilities. The future upgrade also matters: if one is planned in a couple of months or years, you need to choose a motherboard with big amount interfaces and a fresh chipset (for example, MSI H61M-P31/W8 for Intel, ASUS M5A78L-M LX for AMD). If the computer is taken to long term, and “pumping” of its components is not provided, you can save a little on the system board.

An advanced motherboard is needed if an upgrade is planned

Video card

GPU in gaming computer no less (if not more) important than the CPU. It is the video card that is responsible for processing three-dimensional images and its output to the display. However, you can’t just pick up and install a powerful video card and save on other hardware. Information for subsequent processing GPU prepares the “CPU + RAM” combination, which, in turn, receives data from the drive (HDD and SSD).

A weak processor will not allow you to unleash the potential of a gaming video card

The “weak link” (regardless of whether it is the processor, video card or hard drive) will drag the system down, becoming bottleneck. An analogy can be drawn with a logistics terminal: no matter how high its throughput is, no matter how many cars are loaded, if there is a lack of loading equipment and labor, expanding the capabilities of the terminal itself will not help speed up its work.

Tandems of the “inexpensive” type Intel Core i3 (or similar AMD FX 4xxx series) + Geforce GTX Titan X” are thus extremely inefficient and a waste of money. The “ceiling” of such processors is video cards of the Geforce GTX 750 Ti class. Such a chip will not reveal the potential of a more productive GPU.

To assess whether the combination of the selected processor and video card will have optimal ratio possibilities, you can compare their prices. The cost of the GPU should exceed the price of the CPU. In the budget category (Intel Core i3, AMD FX 4xxx and 6xxx series) the difference is 10-30%, and in the niche of more expensive devices it can reach 100%. That is, if you plan to buy a processor for 8,000 rubles, then there is no point in installing a video card for 15,000 or more. But the GeForce GTX 980, costing up to 50 thousand, will be optimally combined with an Intel Core i7 CPU for 25-30 thousand.

You can install 2 video cards if the motherboard supports SLI technology(For Nvidia GeForce) or CrossFire ( AMD Radeon). In the budget segment, such a solution looks pointless (1 GPU for 15 thousand will be more productive than 2 for 8 thousand). In the top class, connecting two video cards allows you to achieve an increase in performance that cannot be realized in other ways.

Two video cards in SLI will increase the performance of your gaming PC

If you plan to upgrade your PC, you can purchase a motherboard that supports two video cards and get a GeForce GTX 960-level GPU. For now, the capabilities of this video card are enough to play all games, and in a year you can pair it with another one of the same kind to improve performance.

It should be remembered that to work in SLI/CrossFire, video cards must be, if not identical, then built on the same version of the graphics processor.

RAM

When choosing RAM, the main thing is to take into account the compatibility of generations and operating frequencies. Eg, Intel processors The sixth generation Core i7 (and motherboards compatible with them) work with DDR4 RAM sticks, and AMD FX 8xxx - DDR3.

DDR4 memory is faster, but not supported by all processors

The amount of RAM is limited by the wallet and the number of slots on the motherboard. RAM is a resource that can never be enough (thanks to software developers who, after switching to 64-bit Windows, do not bother themselves with excessive efforts to optimize memory consumption). Therefore, whether to install 8 GB of RAM or 32 is up to users to decide.

When selecting RAM sticks, it is recommended to install them in pairs or triplets. In this case, the chips operate in two or three-channel (depending on the CPU model and motherboard) mode. In this case, the speed of data exchange theoretically increases, respectively, by two or three times. Two 4 GB modules will work faster than 1 8 GB module.

Drives

Hard drives are gradually losing ground under the pressure of rapidly reducing prices, gaining capacity and becoming more reliable SSDs. So how to build a powerful gaming PC without high-speed storage It’s impossible; a gaming computer cannot do without a solid-state drive. Capacity of 256 or 512 GB is enough for Windows installations and games, and for multimedia content (music, movies) you can simultaneously install a capacious HDD of 2, 3 or more terabytes.

Capacity modern HDDs has already reached 10 TB