first pc build I'm Building My First PC in a Few Weeks - Any Advice?

[thegadgetlad]

So I've spent around £850 on some decent parts including a GTX 1060 6GB and Ryzen 5 1600, for my first ever PC, but I'm a little scared in case something goes wrong and my money is somehow wasted.

 

I generally have a good idea of what I'm doing, and have watched many build videos on YouTube; I'm just concerned that I might mess something up (especially when it comes to the minor things).

 

I'm basically asking if anyone has any tips or advice for a first time builder, that I may not already be aware of?

 

I'm very grateful for all responses. Thank you.

[Zando_]

Don't rush. 

Double check all plugs, and remember, if it doesn't slide in with a little effort, it doesn't plug in there. 

Don't freak out if your build doesn't POST (Power On Self Test, AFAIK). You ports forgot to plug something in.

[danielcook1999]

Use pcpartpicker.com to help pick out your parts, stay within your budget and most importantly it helps make sure all the parts you pick out are compatible. now, simple tips, make sure you buy an AM4 motherboard for that ryzen. To my knowledge all AM4 motherboards take DDR4 ram so make sure not to buy DDR3. Motherboard wise, if you're not into overclocking or RGB or lots of PCIe slots and just need the motherboard to run the pc and have a decent IO it doesn't matter which AM4 motherboard you choose so you could save a lot of money there. ----> Budget Motherboards <---- Good options for budget motherboards. Whatever motherboard you get make sure you get a case that will fit it, e.g. ATX motherboard wont fit in a MicroATX case (obvious when stated but it's easy to fall in love with a small case only to find out your motherboard wont fit). PSU wise a well priced bronze rated 450 or 500 watt will suffice, if you want to go higher for future upgrades its up to you.

[danielcook1999]

7 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

Don't rush. 

Double check all plugs, and remember, if it doesn't slide in with a little effort, it doesn't plug in there. 

Don't freak out if your build doesn't POST (Power On Self Test, AFAIK). You ports forgot to plug something in.

^^^ never force any connections, everything in your build will somewhat easily click or slide into where it's supposed to go

 

[danielcook1999]

Oh another thing, when you insert your grapics card into your PCIe slot make sure you screw the metal brace above the display ports to your case so your GPU doesnt sag and ruin your PCIe slot.

 

[MadModder]

@thegadgetlad Take Zando's advice. Take your time. Don't rush it, which is easy to do when your excited. Double check everything, and start up with a minimal amount of components. This will help with troubleshooting if there is a problem.

[thegadgetlad]

2 minutes ago, danielcook1999 said:

Use pcpartpicker.com to help pick out your parts, stay within your budget and most importantly it helps make sure all the parts you pick out are compatible. now, simple tips, make sure you buy an AM4 motherboard for that ryzen. To my knowledge all AM4 motherboards take DDR4 ram so make sure not to buy DDR3. Motherboard wise, if you're not into overclocking or RGB or lots of PCIe slots and just need the motherboard to run the pc and have a decent IO it doesn't matter which AM4 motherboard you choose so you could save a lot of money there. ----> Budget Motherboards <---- Good options for budget motherboards. Whatever motherboard you get make sure you get a case that will fit it, e.g. ATX motherboard wont fit in a MicroATX case (obvious when stated but it's easy to fall in love with a small case only to find out your motherboard wont fit). PSU wise a well priced bronze rated 450 or 500 watt will suffice, if you want to go higher for future upgrades its up to you.

Thanks for the response. To clarify though, I already have my parts (except for PSU and RAM) and I did a compatibility check. The area I'm more concerned about is the build process itself. Hope that helps.

[danielcook1999]

For build process tips these videos should cover pretty much all you need to know.

 

Linus has a great three part series on avoiding common PC build mistakes.

They're about 5 minutes each and i recommend watching them. they'll cover anything we forgot to mention.

 

Part 1

 

Part 2

 

Part 3

[Zando_]

1 minute ago, MadModder said:

@thegadgetlad Take Zando's advice. Take your time. Don't rush it, which is easy to do when your excited. Double check everything, and start up with a minimal amount of components. This will help with troubleshooting if there is a problem.

Trust me, I'm the king of rushing something and ending up not being satisfied with what I did. 

 

Also, make sure and tidy your cables (even if your case doesn't have a window, it makes it easier to work with your PC). Get a modular or semi-modular PSU if you can. 

[thegadgetlad]

Just now, danielcook1999 said:

Linus has a great three part series on avoiding common PC build mistakes.

They're about 5 minutes easy and i recommend watching them. they'll cover anything we forgot to mention.

 

Part 1

 

Part 2

 

Part 3

Thanks I'll definitely take a look...

[Zando_]

1 minute ago, thegadgetlad said:

 (except for PSU and RAM)

Make sure the RAM is on your mobo QVL list, so it doesn't give you a headache trying to get it to the rated speed. And like I said above, get a modular/semi-modular PSU, so you don't have cables hanging out that you don't need. 

[thegadgetlad]

OK thanks I'll check those RAM details. As for the PSU I was thinking Corsair CX550M which is a semi modular with black cables already fitted.

[danielcook1999]

1 minute ago, thegadgetlad said:

OK thanks I'll check those RAM details. As for the PSU I was thinking Corsair CX550M which is a semi modular with black cables already fitted.

Good PSU choice, it will serve you well.