Building a PC is the best option if you want a future-potent system. This is because you can always upgrade the individual components if the need arises. In this article, we have shared all the essential components you will need to get started.

Case and Motherboard

The case is the component that will house all the other parts while the motherboard is the platform where the hardware will be mounted. There are three types of cases: full tower, mid-tower, and mini-ITX. On the other hand, motherboards are available in different form factors, the common one being ATX motherboards.

CPU & GPU

The CPU and GPU are instrumental in the performance of your rig and will determine whether you can take on the heavy AAA games and power-hungry software or not. Here, you will have the option of going the Intel way or AMD. Just make sure that the processor and graphics card you choose matches your needs. For basic operations, you can go for any processor and GPU, but for handling heavy tasks, you will need the high-end models.

Memory and Storage

When it comes to RAM, anything above 4GB is a sweet spot for the basic operations but to run the heavy games and software, go for 8GB RAM and above. Storage is also important regardless of whether you are building a simple rig for your home media center setup or running heavy applications. The thing is, you will need enough storage space to store files.

Power Supply and Cooling

All your components require sufficient power for optimal performance. Match your power supply with the GPU and CPU. You will also need to find out what cooling system is best for you. The common cooling systems are fan-based but for advanced systems, go for liquid coolers.

The above are the major hardware components you will need to build your rig. Remember, you will also need an equally powerful monitor and the essential accessories.

You will agree with me that finding the best computer in a market flooded with different brands and models is not a walk in the park. In this article, we have discussed some of the critical aspects that should inform your decision when buying a computer.

Is it a Trusted Brand?

There are hundreds of PC brands. Experts recommend buying from renowned brands as they guarantee value for money. Here, the household names include HP, Dell, Acer, ASUS, Apple and Toshiba, among others. While the top brands are expensive, they are worth every penny in terms of performance, reliability and durability. Avoid the little known brands, even if they have attractive price tags.

What are Your Needs?

The next consideration is performance, and here, your needs matter. There are computers for business, graphic design, gaming, entertainment, and so on. If you are looking for a basic PC, go for those with entry-level hardware. However, for the demanding tasks such as PC gaming and running heavy software, settle for nothing but the high-performance models with high-end hardware (processor, RAM, storage, power supply, etc.).

What’s Your Budget?

As you may be aware, there are low-end PCs as well as the high-end models. The low-end PCs retail at around £200 to £500 while the high-end models will set you back anything from £1000 all the way to £3000. If you want high performance, you will have to spend more. Try to find something that is within your budget, without compromising on the performance.

There you have it, folks, three essential aspects to consider when choosing the best computer. Remember, you will also have to decide on whether to buy a desktop PC or a laptop. The former is for those who have stationary workstations while the latter is best if you want portability.

Keeping your computer and data safe from viruses is very important. Hackers try to access all sorts of data from all over the world, and they can be impossible to trace.

Luckily, email hosting platforms and social media have become more vigilant and do have safeguards in place, but there are a few things you should always keep in mind. Invest in good and trusted anti-virus software. There are plenty of products around, so you should read up on independent reviews that can be found on line. When purchasing a home computer, the shop that you buy it from will normally try to sell you an anti-virus package.

Shops do try to oversell, so do your homework before you buy. See how much it would cost to buy the software independently, first. You don’t even have to buy a physical package, you can just order it on the internet and it will download and install straight to your computer. Again, see what suits you best. You might want to even download a trial version first to see how it performs. It is important to run the software at least once a week if you want to make sure that you are safe. You should also regularly update your software to protect against new threats.

You should also pick good solid passwords. Random is best, with capital letters, symbols and numbers being part of the build. You should never use spouse’s, children’s or pet’s names, because hackers can easily look on your social media profiles and make an educated guess. Most importantly, never ever give your password to anyone. Reputable companies will never ask you for any password and if you give it away, you can be sure that you will be hacked.

Another good tip is to look at your internet browser security settings. You can tweak these as you find necessary in order to prevent popup spams.