Gaming PCs, who doesn’t love them? And one of the best ways you can save money on one is by building it yourself. It doesn’t take a ton of time, it’s surprisingly fun, AND it’s good for your wallet?!
Well, It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, because today, we’ll be going over the things people don’t tell you when it’s time to turn that parts list into a PC.
1. Cooling
Many first time builders forget this, or underspend on their cooling solution, but make no mistake; cooling is not something you want to neglect. Not spending enough on your cooling can result in loud fans, high temps, slow load times and even a loss of performance. That doesn’t mean you need to go spending €40 on a CPU cooler or €20 on a new set of fans, but please, think twice before pairing that stock cooler with an overclocked CPU (don’t be like me, I promise I’ve changed!).
2. Windows Licence
Now this trips up a lot of people, because Windows does actually cost money, and it costs quite a pretty penny at that. At the time of writing, Windows currently costs €145 (about 170 USD) on Microsoft’s official site, which can really dig through your budget.
However, there are alternatives.
Firstly, some people choose to buy very cheap OEM windows keys online. These can cost far less than an official licence, but because they often come from unauthorised sellers, they carry risks, which is why I can’t recommend them.
Secondly, you can select the option “I don’t have a product key” when setting up windows, which will give you basic functionality, but you’ll lose the ability to:
- Customise the appearance of windows
- Get the latest security updates when they come out
- Access customer support
Plus, you’ll be stuck with the infamous “activate windows” watermark.
So, there’s pros and cons to every option, the choice is yours.
3. Adapters
While PC part compatibility is better than ever, there still are times when you may find yourself reaching into the depths of amazon to buy yourself a fan header splitter (should your motherboard not have enough) or an ARGB controller for those shiny RGB fans. No matter how sure you are, I still recommend entering your parts list into pcpartpicker, it’s a free online tool that’s well loved by the PC building community. So save yourself the headache (and the ten bucks) and buy a board with the connectors you need.
4. WiFi Adapters
Ah yes, the not-so-humble WiFi adapter, the last minute thing you chucked in your basket, the straw that breaks the camel’s back of a tight budget. This is another thing that’ll make first time builders roll their eyes and say “really?”, but it’s true, you do need to pay for one- most of the time. Your motherboard may include WiFi built right into the rear ports, but it’s always best to check before assuming your board includes WiFi. These adapters can go from as little as €5, or as much as €40, and vary WILDLY in quality, so definitely read some reviews!
5. Cable Management
Phew! At least this one’s optional!
If you plan on upgrading your PC, or maybe you just want things nice and organised, zip ties are a must. Good cable management can make your PC easier to sell when you’re done with it, make fixing problems easier, and best of all; it gives you an even greater sense of smugness when you go to show off your shiny new rig to friends and family.
Conclusion
PC building on a budget is hard, but I hope that with today’s information and advice, you’ll have some more peace of mind, without the “last minute budget increase” stress, and a gaming PC you’ll be proud of for years to come.