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So You Want to Build Your Own PC? Tips for the Beginner

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ERP Selection & Management SAP Business One

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By Ryan Howe

In this post, we invited a guest blogger, Jackie Edwards to write about the idea of building your own PC.  This is a surprisingly popular past time.  It’s a great way for you or your children to learn much more about what makes that PC on their desk actually tick and is a way to build a much more powerful ‘rig’ at lower cost than the pre-built machines often sold by Dell, or at retail stores which have alot of the purchase price in marketing and shelf space versus premium components.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of powering up your new PC after you assembled it with your very own two hands. Building a home PC will not only give you an extreme sense of pride and a can-do attitude towards technology, but it is also a great way to save money on buying an expensive pre-built model.

Whether you are building your PC for business or pleasure, there are a number of techy tips that can prevent you from committing common mistakes and costing yourself money, time, and stress. Whether you are a first-time builder or an experienced computer maker, you can always learn more about your budding machine to make the process unfold evermore seamlessly.

Foolproof Tips As You Begin

Sometimes, we trust too much in the power of Google and our devices and forget that you should return to the basics as you begin the build. Though this might seem trivial, it is crucial that you have cleared a large enough space to actually build the PC. If your space is cramped and wires from other speakers or lamps are getting in the way, you are more likely to mess up the PC’s cables and cause yourself a lot of confusion.

Also, if you have purchased a variety of new components for your PC, you will probably have a mass of those ancient-seeming white manuals lying around your construction site. Tip: read them. Oftentimes, manuals will include simple tips that you might miss on your own, such as listening for a ‘click’ when you connect your RAM. It is also helpful to keep a list of all of your steps in the building process, so you can easily retrace each action you took along the way if you run into problems down the line.

Now That You’re Ready…Pay Attention

Again, something that might seem basic, but you should be extremely aware of every step you take in your entire PC-building undertaking. Buying incompatible components is a common mistake, as you may have purchased all of the cheapest options to save money. Compatibility is obviously essential to your PC running correctly, so you should consult an online compatibility check before you go ahead and confirm an order.

Once all of your components are in order, you are well on your way to success if you manage to bypass the ambiguities of installation. Jamming cables into parts that seem to fit will most likely lead to you damaging needed wires. Consult your manuals, or Google, before you go on forcing things into places at random. Many of your cables and components are equipped with a nice clicking sound if you have plugged something in correctly, so be aware of that as you build.

It is also important that you treat each installation as its own project. Though it may seem simple to install RAM, your motherboard’s standoffs, memory, and even the outside fans, these are steps that can go terribly wrong. As stated, pay careful attention to the task at hand and make note of it on your step-by-step list before continuing onto the next phase.

Once you have your PC built and start using it, make sure you have a premium disaster recovery solution to address the disasters that can happen like fire, flood, or even Ransomware.  One such solution, EverSafe will ensure you can fail over to an almost identical clone of your server or desktop within 5 minutes.

Keeping in mind all of these pointers as you tackle the nitty-gritty process of PC-building will ensure that your machine functions like it was assembled by a pro. Before you know it, you’ll be your very own tech-support with your working PC and new best friend.

Ryan Howe

Ryan Howe

Partner, Clients First Business Solutions New Jersey

Ryan Howe is a Certified Public Accountant turned SAP Business One consultant. Leading the SAP Business One practice at Clients First, Ryan has over 23 years’ experience in the financial management and ERP industry, specializing in business analysis, relationship building, and business process optimization. When he’s not helping customers leverage SAP Business One to meet their short and long-term needs, you can find him at any Michigan State sporting event with his family – go Spartans!