Building your own gaming PC is a rewarding experience and gives yous far more than control over the pieces and parts that wind up in your PC tower. Those without any familiarity of the internal workings of a PC may think that the procedure is too daunting and and opt for a pre-congenital PC. But if you're in that camp, you lot'll probably exist surprised to larn that building your ain PC isn't nearly every bit colossal of an endeavor as it used to be. If you're interested, nosotros've created this handy guide to teach you how to build your own gaming PC. We've too included a couple of sample builds beneath that yous could follow in guild to build a high-end or upkeep gaming PC.

Before we dive in, we should note that this guide just covers the bodily PC. You'll accept to pair it with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse (at the bare minimum). For suggestions on which peripherals to pick up, check out our roundups of the best gaming keyboards, best gaming mouse, best PC gaming headsets, best PC controllers, and best cheap gaming monitors.

Table of Contents [hibernate]

  • A look at some gaming PC builds
    • High-end gaming PC build
    • $1,000 gaming PC build
  • Tools
  • Terms to know
  • How to build a gaming PC
    • Footstep 1: Prepare your motherboard
    • Pace ii: Install the CPU
    • Step 3: Install M.2 SSD(south)
    • Step four: Install the RAM
    • Stride 5: Become your case set for your motherboard
    • Pace 6: Install your motherboard into your example
    • Step 7: Install your ability supply (PSU)
    • Pace 8: Connect any SATA hard drives/SSDs
    • Step 9: Plug your case and ability cables into the motherboard
    • Stride 10: Install your CPU cooling arrangement
    • Step 11: Start cablevision direction
    • Pace 12: Install your graphics carte du jour
    • Footstep thirteen: Install your Os
    • If your PC doesn't plough on

A expect at some gaming PC builds

Before we become to the actual building portion, nosotros need to talk most finding and buying the parts for your PC. Finding the right parts tin exist confusing -- and expensive. Gaming PCs tin can cost as piffling as $500, or as much equally several thousand dollars to build. Manifestly, more expensive parts commonly hateful more than ability, but shopping for a build that fits your budget is often the biggest obstacle for commencement-time builders. There are several components that you need, each with a plethora of models, specs, and compatibility requirements to consider.

Nosotros know this can exist overwhelming, so we created example builds from hardware available at the time of writing. The first is a high-stop rig powerful enough for bleeding-border gaming performance, and the other is a more than affordable $yard build that volition run about games at decent settings.

That said, accept our case desktops every bit suggestions rather than strict loadouts, since many online stores are experiencing product shortages and aircraft delays due to the global chip shortage. We can't guarantee every office in our lists will be available, or even the same price, at a given fourth dimension. In that example, refer to resources like PC Part Picker or Newb Estimator Build'southward case builds to find suitable replacements.

Last notation: Our example builds include all the necessary parts for modern PC gaming, but they merely comprehend the PC itself. Optional parts, like optical drives, aren't included, but you need one to play games or media off discs. We also skipped accessories, but our ownership guides for the best gaming mice, best gaming headset, best capture card for streaming, best gaming keyboard, and all-time budget gaming monitors can help round out your build.

High-stop gaming PC build

Exact price: $3,400

  • MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 -- $1,290
  • Intel i9-9900K processor -- $750
  • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra gaming motherboard -- $316
  • 2x Crucial 1TB NVMe PCIe Thou.ii SSD -- $130 each
  • Thousand.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB RAM -- $134
  • MSI Million CoreLiquid S280 cooling organisation -- $243
  • EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G3 PSU -- $168
  • Fractal Pattern Meshify C case -- $99
  • Windows 10 Abode -- $139

$ane,000 gaming PC build

Exact price: $1,053

  • MSI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ventus XS -- $359
  • Intel Core i5-12400Fprocessor -- $185
  • MSI B560M-A PRO ProSeries Motherboard -- $98
  • Crucial P1 500GB NVMe Thousand.2 SSD -- $63
  • Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB RAM -- $69
  • Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo CPU cooler -- $35
  • EVGA 500-watt ATX power supply -- $50
  • Zalman S4 ATX Mid Tower case -- $55
  • Windows 10 Home -- $139

Note: Prices above were accurate at the time of writing, only they are discipline to change.

For the vast bulk of your build, y'all'll be using a No. 2 Phillips screwdriver, just if you're installing K.2 SSDs into your motherboard, so you'll want to use a smaller No. ane Phillips screwdriver for that.

Flashlight:

Thankfully, well-nigh every smartphone on the market place can exist used as a flashlight, and you'll probable need information technology when installing certain cables and components into your case.

Thermal paste:

You'll want a tube of thermal paste to keep your CPU'due south temperature low during utilise. Most CPU coolers come with thermal paste already applied, which means you won't need whatever extra. However, if yous exercise stop up ownership a tube of thermal paste, you lot can make clean the cooler'due south paste off and apply your own.

Terms to know

We've attempted to simplify the process of edifice a gaming PC as much as possible hither, but if you're non familiar with PC hardware, some of the terms in this guide may demand some clarification. We've briefly explained some of the parts and terminology nosotros'll be using below. Experience free to reference this section every bit you work on your build.

GPU: GPU stands for graphics processing unit of measurement; another name for a graphics card. This volition handle displaying images on your PC. The more elaborate and circuitous these images are, the more power you'll demand from your graphics card. The ii large names in the graphics carte du jour game are Nvidia and AMD.

CPU: The CPU (key processing unit of measurement, also known as a processor) handles all of the processes and calculations on your PC. For your PC, you'll choose a CPU from either Intel or AMD.

Motherboard: The motherboard is where all of the components are installed, allowing them to work together and perform their functions properly.

SATA: SATA is a blazon of connection, like USB, that is used for hard drives and SSDs to transfer data

PCIe: PCIe is another blazon of connexion, though it'due south well-nigh commonly used for graphics cards and M.two SSDs

NVMe: NVMe is a blazon of connectedness protocol that can exist supported by Yard.ii SSDs. This provides much faster admission to saving and accessing data.

M.two SSD: An One thousand.2 SSD is a small stick that provides your PC with storage infinite. You tin become a SATA-based M.two SSD or a PCIe-based M.ii SSD, the latter of which tin can support NVMe.

RAM: The RAM (or random access memory) is used to shop data and information that is being processed by the CPU. The more RAM yous have--paired with a good-quality processor--the faster your PC can perform its various functions.

Cooling system: The cooling arrangement is used to protect the CPU from overheating.

PSU: The PSU (or power supply) supplies your PC and its various components with power.

Bone: OS stands for operating system. Most gaming PCs will utilize Windows ten--it's what we advise--though some people may want to install Linux.

How to build a gaming PC

Step 1: Prepare your motherboard

Parts used: Motherboard

No Caption Provided

Assembling the motherboard outside of the instance will brand your whole experience much easier to bargain with. Our general dominion of thumb is to install as many parts as possible before screwing it into your case. An of import thing to annotation before starting on your motherboard is that you should refer to its manual as often every bit possible, equally your specific motherboard may suggest specific ways or places to install your components. Also, keep in heed that certain parts volition require some forcefulness when plugging them in, while others simply simply need to be placed into their respective spots. Delight pay shut attention to the post-obit instructions before installing your components.

The outset thing you'll desire to practice is make certain you're assembling your PC on a flat surface. Don't build information technology on a carpet--the mixture of static electricity and your PC's parts is a dangerous combination and could cause damage to your components. It's unlikely to happen, just we still advise touching your metal case from time to time to aid ground yourself and avoid this from happening.

Instead, build your rig in a room with hardwood or laminate floors similar a dining room or kitchen--nosotros even went the actress mile and took our socks off. Accept your motherboard out of its packaging and then place it on a flat surface. Y'all can lay it straight on your table, but nosotros personally placed information technology on top of its box to avert scratching our desk-bound. At this point, you're fix to offset.

Stride two: Install the CPU

Parts used: CPU, motherboard

No Caption Provided

The easiest function of your entire build is likewise the beginning: installing our AMD Ryzen CPU. Your motherboard's CPU socket will be protected by a piece of plastic, which you'll be able to remove when y'all open the tray. All you demand to practise is gently push down on the tray's metal arm and pull information technology out. Once it'due south costless of the tray, lift it upwards to open the socket and the protective plastic will fall out. Be sure to continue this plastic piece in example of any bug with your motherboard, equally you'll need to reinsert information technology before sending it dorsum to the manufacturer.

At this indicate, your CPU socket tray should exist open, allowing you to install your CPU on to your motherboard. Your CPU should have some minor half-circle indents in its board. The CPU socket is designed to fill these indents, making it like shooting fish in a barrel to line upwardly your CPU and install information technology properly. Once you've figured out how to place your CPU into its socket, do and so gently. Practise not apply force per unit area directly on the CPU--just close the tray and brand sure the metal arm is locked into its original position, which may require a bit of strength.

Footstep three: Install Thou.2 SSD(s)

Parts used: M.ii SSD(s), motherboard

No Caption Provided

M.2 SSDs are another easy pace in the procedure, but don't forget to reference your manual to detect out which Yard.2 slots you should use beginning. Your motherboard may have protective thermal guards on your M.ii slots, and so remove those first. Once yous've taken any guards off the motherboard, you tin slot in your One thousand.2 SSDs. These require a piffling bit of force to slot into their respective slots, but don't button as well hard--they should slide in quite easily. Once the Grand.2 SSDs are in their slots, the opposite terminate should be pointing upward at a diagonal angle. At this indicate, you accept the respective screw (that is often included with your motherboard), push button each M.two SSD downwardly, and screw them into the appropriate spots. At this point, you lot can have the thermal guard and place information technology on superlative of each M.2 SSD, screwing it back into place.

Step 4: Install the RAM

Parts used: RAM, motherboard

No Caption Provided

This is another pace where you lot'll desire to reference your motherboard'south manual, which should exist able to tell you which social club to place the RAM in. If you lot have 4 slots and only 2 sticks of RAM, then you should make sure the 2 sticks are spaced apart in either the showtime and tertiary slot or 2nd and fourth--your motherboard manual tin can propose you here. Placing your RAM apart similar this will assist y'all become the most out of your CPU. First off, be sure to flip down the plastic clips on both sides of each slot you plan on using. Inserting the RAM requires more forcefulness, but make sure you start minor and and then ramp up your pressure gradually. When you hear a click, your RAM is in its slot. This should cause the plastic clips to flip upwards, gripping your RAM. If yous detect your clips oasis't flipped upward, then your RAM may not be seated properly.

Step 5: Get your case gear up for your motherboard

Parts used: Instance

No Caption Provided

Information technology's almost time to throw your motherboard into your instance, but first you'll need to screw in some collision screws that you lot'll place your motherboard onto earlier screwing it in. These standoffs will come with your motherboard, and once y'all've located them, you can commencement screwing them into your example. There should be about a dozen holes for the standoffs to fit into. Refer to your instance'south manual if you're having trouble finding them. In one case the standoffs are screwed in, y'all're ready to insert your motherboard.

Pace vi: Install your motherboard into your case

Parts used: Motherboard, case

No Caption Provided

The standoffs make it easy to identify your motherboard into your case, only don't first screwing it in straight away. There should be a space on the back of your case for your motherboard's I/O ports to fit into. It'll be a rectangle, and you'll want your motherboard to exist inserted comfortably into this infinite so that you lot can access all of the ports. Once everything fits, you can start screwing your motherboard onto the standoffs with the appropriate screws. Don't forget that yous don't want to screw annihilation too tightly. Only turn your screwdriver until everything is securely tightened, then y'all're ready to move on.

Step 7: Install your power supply (PSU)

Parts used: Power supply, example, motherboard

No Caption Provided

Installing the power supply into your example is frequently quite easy. You'll desire to refer to your specific example's transmission for this, only information technology's pretty straightforward. First, nosotros took our case'south mounting bracket and screwed it onto the back of our power supply. You lot'll observe your power supply also sports a fan, which is used to circulate air. If you're planning on placing your finished gaming PC on a hardwood flooring or desk, so feel free to aim this fan downward; if you're placing your gaming PC on a carpeted floor, then y'all'll want to aim the fan upward.

In one case you've figured out which fashion your PSU needs to be oriented, and screwed on the mounting bracket, you can easily slide it into your case and tighten the bracket's screws. Depending on how much room you have for your PSU, you may want to agree off on screwing information technology in until you've plugged in all of its diverse power cables.

Step 8: Connect any SATA hard drives/SSDs

Parts used: SATA drives, case, ability supply

No Caption Provided

Now that the power supply is installed, you can start connecting whatsoever SATA hard drives or SSDs. Your case should take a specific bay area dedicated to holding these kinds of drives. Locate this expanse, then look for two metal clasps on the left and correct side of each bay. Squeeze these clasps and and then pull the bay out. Hither is where you'll be able to spiral in your SATA bulldoze and keep it stable inside your case. Once this is done, y'all'll desire to reinsert the bay into its place, and then plug a SATA and PSU cablevision into your difficult bulldoze. Discover the SATA slot on your motherboard and plug the other side of the appropriate cablevision into information technology, then plug the other side of the PSU cable into your ability supply. Your drive is now installed, though you volition need to format information technology once your PC is upwards and running.

Step nine: Plug your case and power cables into the motherboard

Parts used: Example, power supply, motherboard

No Caption Provided

Now, you're ready to start plugging cables into your motherboard. This role requires some patience, every bit your case cables are extremely tiny and tin can exist hard to orient. You'll want to reference both your case and motherboard manuals during this step. Some motherboards, similar our Aorus Ultra, come with a bus that you lot tin can plug the case cables into earlier inserting them into the motherboard. This makes this stride much easier.

Your case cables make it so you can use the diverse ports on the front of your PC in improver to the power button itself. Of class, zip is going to happen when you press that push if you don't plug your PSU into your motherboard. Yous'll want to plug the 24-pivot ATX and EPS12V cables into their corresponding spots on both the motherboard and PSU. You'll exist plugging in all of your ability cables into the PSU, including fans, SATA drives, and your cooling system.

Step 10: Install your CPU cooling system

Parts used: Cooling organization, CPU, motherboard

No Caption Provided

Installing your cooling organisation can be a somewhat nerve-wracking experience, peculiarly when applying the thermal paste, but it's a lot easier than information technology sounds. The first affair y'all need to do is mountain the system'south bracket to the motherboard. You'll need access to the back of the motherboard tray, as you'll exist screwing part of it to the dorsum of the tray. This'll give you the spots you need to set the cooler'southward pump onto your CPU and motherboard. Before you exercise this, even so, in that location are a few other steps.

Liquid-based CPU cooling systems come up with a radiator equipped with fans, which you'll desire to spiral into your case. Of course, y'all'll need to effigy out where you desire to install it. We recommend screwing it into your case's top grill, as it'll allow for more airflow, merely some cases may not have a top grill, and you'll demand to install information technology on the back of the case. Once you figure out what position you're going to go with, y'all'll screw the radiator into the grill itself. One time you're done this, yous're gear up to adhere the pump.

First, yous'll want to apply some thermal paste. Some coolers come with thermal paste already applied; if that's the example, your cooler'southward thermal paste is well-nigh likely capable of handling the job, and you may exist able to skip this next step. You tin also easily remove the cooler's paste with a dry fabric if you lot bought thermal paste you'd rather go with. You lot'll want to employ a pea-sized glob of thermal paste into the eye of your CPU. During this step, always get smaller than bigger. Once applied, you can press the cooler into its position on the CPU and thermal paste. If you feel like you've accidentally practical too much thermal paste, don't worry: It's as like shooting fish in a barrel every bit wiping the CPU off with a dry material and rubbing alcohol and trying once again.

Once the pump is installed, you'll want to make certain all of your cooling system's wires are plugged into the right spots. Our particular libation required usa to plug a micro-USB cable into our pump and the other side into our motherboard.

Pace 11: Start cable management

Parts used: Example

Before we move on to the final step of physically building your PC, you may want to do some cable management to make clean up. This'll create some room for air circulation and accessing your components if you e'er want to upgrade later. Most cases come with Velcro straps or zip ties, but I always keep a bag of Velcros on hand just in case. The case we went with, Fractal'southward Meshify C, includes an awesome area for cable management that's equipped with a series of Velcro straps. Information technology's located on the dorsum of the motherboard tray. We were able to slide all of our cables into this infinite and keep it all fastened upward nicely.

The only zilch ties we used were for our CPU cooling arrangement's wires, which were thin and plentiful. This fabricated it easier for us to orient them through the holes in our example to reach our desired spot. Merely brand certain you don't over-tighten your zip ties as doing and so could damage your cables.

Footstep 12: Install your graphics card

Parts used: Graphics card, motherboard

No Caption Provided

Finally, information technology's fourth dimension to discuss the component you're probably the almost excited virtually. The graphics card is easy to install. First, you'll demand to remove an advisable number of expansion slot inserts from the back of your instance to fit your graphics carte du jour. This will vary depending on which GPU you lot go with, but two is normally the safe number--our MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti takes upwards two. Once y'all unscrew and remove them, figure out which PCIe Express slot yous'll need to insert your bill of fare into, then flip its plastic notch at the far end of the slot downward to prepare for installation. At this point, all yous demand to practice is line up the graphics card with the PCIe Express slot then push down until the plastic notch flips up and clicks. Again, you lot don't demand a lot of force to push information technology in, only y'all volition need to push button the graphics carte du jour into its slot until you go that click. Once you hear that, you can screw your graphics carte du jour's mounting brackets into the case using the expansion slot's screws and holes.

At this point, you demand to plug your graphics bill of fare into your power supply to give information technology ability. (Depression-end graphics cards don't typically require extra ability, then if that's what you're working with, yous're skillful to skip this step.) Take the advisable cables included with your power supply and plug i stop into the graphics card; then, plug the other into the PSU. It's okay if at that place are parts of the cables that go unused--merely brand sure every port on the graphics card has role of the cablevision plugged in.

Step thirteen: Install your Bone

Parts used: USB thumb drive, case

No Caption Provided

One time you've ensured a tidy PC with all of your cables managed, you lot should connect an HDMI cable to your PC and plug the other end into a monitor. Plug the power cablevision into your PSU and the other end into an outlet; and so, flip the ability switch on the back of your PC to its "On" position. Press the power button on your PC, and if it turns on, you're almost good to go.

At this signal, you lot'll demand another PC and a fast USB drive of at least 8GB--we suggest the SanDisk Extreme Pro. You'll then want to head over to Microsoft and follow the steps provided in that location. This will aid you create an installation device out of your USB drive, which you lot tin can plug into your PC before booting it upward. Upon starting your PC, it should get straight into the Windows 10 installation procedure. Follow the steps here and wait for information technology to install. Once y'all're washed, you should exist good to go, though you volition need to buy a proper license for Windows 10 from Microsoft. If you do this from your new PC, it'll actuate automatically. On this is all setup, yous're skilful to go, disallowment the installation of an optical drive, if you chose to get one.

If your PC doesn't plow on

If your PC doesn't boot, don't worry: It's certainly not the stop of the globe. There are a number of things that can cause a PC to not kicking upwards on your get-go try, and save for any production malfunctions, they're easily solvable. Hither are a few things you can exercise to troubleshoot your powerless PC.

Is the ability supply plugged into an outlet?

This is a unproblematic ready. Only plug your PC into an outlet, and you should be good to go.

Is the power supply'south switch turned on?

Make certain you've flipped your PSU'due south switch into the 'On' position before powering on. This is an hands overlooked result with a solution that's just as easy.

Are your power supply cables seated in the motherboard properly?

This is the next affair y'all should double-check. Reconnecting the cables could exist what you need to finally evangelize power to your PC.

Are your example's cables plugged into your motherboard properly?

It's important to get this stride right because if you push your case'due south power button and its specific cable isn't plugged in correctly, it won't be able to get-go your PC. Some motherboards come with a series jitney that you tin can plug your instance's cables into before connecting to your motherboard.

Are your parts installed correctly?

This is the last matter to cheque every bit it can exist the most time-consuming. Reconnecting your RAM and CPU or simply switching the RAM sticks into unlike slots could be the solution you lot're looking for.

If all this fails, then your components may be defective.

Unfortunately, this tin happen. Sometimes when edifice a PC, you realize that i of your components isn't working correctly. At this point, you'll need to contact the manufacturer of your function and ask them virtually their render policy. The vast majority of big PC component manufacturers take return policies that will cover defective parts, and then y'all don't have to worry. It just might have a lilliputian longer to savour your brand-new gaming computer.

  • All-time 4K TVs For Gaming
  • Best Monitor For PS5, Xbox Series X
  • All-time Gaming Chairs
  • + Evidence More More Tech Picks From GameSpot Links (5)
  • Best Cheap Gaming Monitors In 2022
  • The All-time PC Gaming Headsets For 2021
  • The All-time Nintendo Switch Controllers Y'all Can Buy
  • The Best VR Headsets In 2020
  • The All-time Webcam For 2021: Top Picks For Streaming On Twitch And YouTube

Got a news tip or want to contact united states directly? Email news@gamespot.com