Custom PC building has become very popular in
the past years, allowing technology enthusiasts to have more freedom in
their system’s capabilities. Assembling a PC also creates an
exhilarating experience, and many take pride in their final build. This
article will explore three basic level PC builds: an office build, an
entry-level build, and a gaming build.
Note
that each of these builds does not include peripherals, like a mouse or
a keyboard, or an operating system. Different vendors sell peripherals
for different prices, and it is recommended to find suitable peripherals
depending on the computer’s purpose. Many sources also offer Windows 10
for relatively cheap prices, and Microsoft has allowed users to
transfer Windows licenses to new computers. The Microsoft support
website can be accessed for further questions regarding Windows options.
If you enjoyed this special article, make sure to comment below if you’re interested in more articles on specific types of PCs.
Office Build
This
PC was built with a $500 CAD price tag in mind. It is designed for
simple home office work, optimized for light workloads like internet
browsing, movie streaming, and Microsoft Office.
The
CPU, the Intel Pentium G4560, is certainly powerful enough to handle
most office workloads, and for a cheap price. The G4560 is also well
built with integrated graphics, which means that graphics cards aren’t
necessary, which would otherwise add over $300 to the build. The chosen
B250M motherboard includes 2 DIMM slots which allow for future
upgradability.
A
parametric filter is being used for the memory to choose the best 8GB
kit with dual channel, at speeds above DDR4-2800. This works well with
upgradability since many new PCs are looking at faster memory speeds. A
filter is also applied to storage, where an SSD is recommended due to
how it makes office work much faster compared to a traditional HDD. Once
again, this can be upgraded to increase capacity.
A
MicroATX Mid Tower case by Thermaltake is also included, which includes
great cable routing options and a number of hard drive bays for a
relatively low cost. The EVGA 500W 80+ certified also shares similar
features, low cost for decent power efficiency. The power supply allows
for up to 500 watts of power, which is more than enough to allow for a
smooth working environment. To finish the build, an optical drive and a
Wi-Fi adapter is needed to allow for increased functionality and
flexibility needed in office work.
Entry-Level Build
This
PC was built with a $1100 CAD price tag in mind. It is designed for a
decent gaming performance as well as simple office work. As the build
name suggests, it is a great option for people who are just beginning
their PC building adventure and are looking for opportunities to expand
and upgrade their system.
The
CPU and motherboard, a Ryzen 5 2600 and B450 AORUS, offer a great
gaming performance considering its low price compared to similar Intel
counterparts. At 3.4 GHz, the Ryzen 5 can easily be overclocked using
Gigabyte’s UEFI systems. Ryzen’s stock Wraith Stealth cooler also works
great and is quiet compared to other coolers on the market.
Storage
and memory are once again on a parametric filter, for 16 GB of
DDR4-3000 RAM, ensuring that this PC will last for many years. A 256GB
SSD will allow for Windows 10 and other common software such as the
Microsoft Office Suite, and a 1TB HDD allows the storage of large games.
The
graphics card is an MSI Radeon RX 580 8GB. The RX 580 is a “bang for
the buck” (good value for its performance) kind of part, where it
performs very well for its low price of $290 CAD. The software that AMD
includes with its GPUs is also decent for recording gameplay.
Lastly,
a Phanteks ATX Mid case and a 550W 80+ Bronze semi-modular power supply
finish off the build. Both of these items are at a great price for
their value.
High End Build
This
PC was built with some of the best parts in mind, and a $2250 CAD
budget. It is designed for a great gaming experience for a reasonable
price. In addition, it has many features which can be upgraded in the
future.
The
build starts out with an Intel Core i7-9700K, a Corsair H100i liquid
cooler, and an ASUS Prime Z390. Each of these parts is designed for high
end gaming and streaming. The 9700K’s 8 cores allow for seamless video
rendering and streaming, which is powerful enough for both recording
game footage or just simple video editing. The silent but powerful
functionality of an AIO liquid cooler keeps CPU temperatures low, and
the ASUS motherboard allows for quick and easy overclocking and RGB sync
using ASUS’ Aura Sync software.
The
memory remains the same as the previous build, with a 16GB kit of
DDR4-3000. The motherboard’s DIMM slots allow for a memory upgrade down
the road, where additional memory can be added. 16 GB is also enough to
provide exceptional streaming and gaming performance.
The
Samsung 970 Pro M.2 SSD, one of the fastest and popular SSDs currently
available, is also added. It also makes use of the motherboard’s M.2
slot. Similar to the last build, a 1.5 to 2 TB HDD is added, which is
able to store games and video footage for streaming and recording.
The powerhouse of this build, a Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 features Nvidia’s raytracing features (check out this article
to learn about raytracing!) and offers some of the best performance
available. The RTX 2070 is well suited for video rendering and
streaming, as well as smooth and quick gameplay.
Finishing
off this build is the Cooler Master MasterBox Pro 5 RGB ATX Mid which
sports some very useful cable management routes and RGB strips. When
paired up with the Aura Sync software and external RGB strips, allow for
full customizability of RGB LEDs. There is also an 850 W 8+ gold EVGA
power supply, which is more than enough to handle the parts and any
overclocking features.
Image Credit: ASUStek Computer Inc.
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