Hardware Components (Building a PC)
Hey there! Loons here!
So you want to create a monster....erm....a computer! Well, what a wonderful thing to do! I have great news about your endeavor...it's easier than you think! Today, we will go over a computer system's hardware components. After reading this blog, you can easily identify what parts are needed when building a computer. The hardware components of a computer system are much like the fundamentals of information technology. They involve certain building blocks that rely on each other to create a system that borders on modern magic. I’ve been familiar with computer components since I was 16, but even in a short 16 additional years, things have advanced tremendously. Since the invention of the world's first general-purpose computer in 1946, we've come a long way. At the time, a computer with a fraction of the power of my laptop required an entire room to contain. (Brockmeier 20021) That computer was an absolute monster known as ENIAC. It contained over 17,000 vacuum tubes, used some 500 miles of wiring, and occupied 15,000 square feet of floor space. (Thurber 1995)
When building a computer, the first thing you will likely search for is a motherboard. Think of the motherboard of your computer as the nervous system. This piece of hardware is going to connect all the different organs of your monster…erm…. computer together. Not only is it likely that you will search for this piece of hardware first, but it’s actually necessary. Your motherboard is going to determine many factors that your build can handle. There are many factors to consider. Your motherboard will determine the following:
- The size and type of case that will be needed.
- The size and type of RAM that can be added.
- The size and type of graphics card that can be installed.
- The CPU that will be needed.
- The size of the SSD you will need.
With all of this in mind, you can imagine how important this piece of hardware is. The motherboard is what allows all of these things to connect to one another and communicate using a basic programming language. If you’re looking to get the most out of your computer, you’re going to want to choose a motherboard that has the capacity to handle everything you need, and if you plan to continue to upgrade, you’ll want to keep that in mind when choosing a motherboard as well.
The Case
Now, we will need a nice body to fit all the components. Many, myself included, may think at first that a case is something chosen simply for cosmetic reasons, but in reality, a case is an extremely important part of a computer setup. Not only do you need to determine if the case can hold all the components you need, but you also need to determine how much space will be needed within that case to ensure proper airflow. It’s also important to choose a case that has proper ventilation along with fans or a cooling system powerful enough to keep the computer from overheating. It doesn’t matter how powerful your computer is, if it bursts into flames it’s not going to be processing or computing anything except smoke and disappointment.
SIDE NOTE: Don’t make the same mistake I did when choosing a case. I thought having a giant blue light on the front of the case would be the coolest thing in the world. It turns out it’s just something you’ll have to deal with if you need to have your computer on while sleeping. Consider where your computer will be used and what factors may affect the perfect case. Including, but not limited to, size, the sound your fans will produce the lighting from the computer, and its ability to fit into the space you’ll need to work in.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Now that you’ve decided your computer's future and how it will look, you can determine how powerful it will be. If you’ve been following this guide, you’ve likely already made this consideration because of that super awesome tip I provided about choosing the case based on what components you may have. ;) Luckily, the CPU doesn’t take up a lot of space, and the motherboard already has its own specialized slot to take the CPU. This CPU will act as the brain, using the nervous system (motherboard) to communicate with the pieces of hardware within. This piece of hardware will serve as the ultimate bottleneck. If you don’t have a powerful CPU, it won’t matter what else you put into the computer because it won’t be able to process things fast enough to matter. The faster the processor, the better. This speed is measured in (GHz) or gigahertz. One important thing to note about processor speed when determining your build is that the higher your speed, the higher the temperature your computer will run at. It’s essential to consider this when choosing your preferred cooling system or case design. It won’t matter if you have the fastest CPU on the planet if it bursts into flames.
Apps!: Application software will play a critical role in what you see daily as you use your computer. The days of computing extremely basic programming languages to get things done are long gone. Running software is essentially the purpose of piecing together these hardware components. Basic program languages are simplified into more high-level programming languages, and programmers use these high-level programming languages to create the smooth experience you see as an end user. There are even applications that can monitor the hardware itself. Allowing you to easily see details such as the speed of your CPU or RAM, the internal temperature of your computer, or the power output you’re getting from your GPU in terms of graphics measured by frames per second or other benchmarks.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
The next component of a computer system is the RAM. Still working with the monster analogy: If the motherboard is the nervous system, and the CPU is the brain, RAM could be considered the synapses that fire within the brain. Your short-term memory, if you will. Again, your motherboard will determine how much RAM you can install on your system. RAM is what allows the computer to process multiple actions at once. Think of it in terms of how many tabs you can open on a web browser. If you have a lot of RAM and your motherboard knows how to use it, you can open tons of tabs without noticing any sort of slowdown. It’s the same for system processes. With enough RAM, you could be watching a movie, writing a blog, downloading music, drawing a picture, and doing your taxes simultaneously. With insufficient RAM, you’re going to have issues opening a web page and playing solitaire at the same time.
Storage
The amount of storage you want for your computer depends entirely on what you’re using your computer for. If you save most things in the cloud, or better yet, don’t save much of anything because it is a workstation, then a bunch of storage isn’t going to be worthwhile for you. However, if you download games, movies, and music, you might want to consider a larger storage option. This storage is also the foundation of keeping a database. A database can easily access all the information stored on whatever storage device you choose and organize it in a way that’s accessible to the end user rather than having the equivalent of a 3-mile-long scroll of paper. Unless you’re attempting to create your own database, this will likely not be a factor you must consider when building a computer. Storage comes in different forms. Internal storage is on a hard disk, which was more popular when I built my first computer. At the time, solid-state drives or SSDs were newer and more expensive, so they weren’t always the most viable option. These days, prices on SSDs have dropped and are much more easily accessible. In either case, you can get quite a bit of storage. In fact, you can find internal drives with more than 10TB available for under 300, which was completely unheard of when I built my first computer. Alternatively, you could go with a smaller internal drive and a larger external drive if you like to keep their storage separate from their computer or bring your drive with you places. In any case, this is all preference, but the way you use your computer should be considered.
Power Supply (PSU)
Last but certainly not least, you will want to choose a power supply that is more than enough for everything your system needs. When searching for a power supply, you will need to consider its size, location, amount of power, and how easy it is to cool. My first build was with a normal power supply; it was a pain. Learn from my mistake and use a modular power supply. A modular power supply will allow you to provide power everywhere it’s needed without having a bunch of extra wires if you find that you don’t need all of them. Not only is the extra wire annoying to deal with, but every extra piece within the case is less space for air to travel and thus something that can increase temperature.
Graphics
You gamers out there may wonder why I haven’t covered a graphics card in detail, so I’ll note that here. Choosing a graphics card will factor in every other piece of hardware, so be sure that if you’re building a computer, even if you don’t want a better graphics card at first, you allow for enough space. Some graphics cards these days are absolutely massive. That said, your motherboard will have integrated graphics, so they are already included. The purpose of a GPU is to provide extra power specifically for graphics calculations, as they are much more intense than the normal processes your computer will handle.
Final Thoughts
I know that all this can seem a bit overwhelming, but the reality is that it’s never been easier to build your own computer. Plenty of websites offer parts, and several will even help you pick parts and determine if things are compatible to set yourself up for success. There is also YouTube and a wealth of information on the internet.
When budgeting to build a computer, also consider the following:
Monitor- This category's sky is the limit, so choose something comfortable for you. There's no need to make your monitor half your computer's budget.
Speakers- Some are comfortable with a good set of headphones, but if you're looking for a bit more, or your computer will be an entertainment centerpiece, you'll want a good sound system.
Keyboard & Mouse: If you're building your own computer, you likely spend a decent amount of time using computers. For that reason, I suggest getting an ergonomic keyboard and mouse.
Software: You'll want to ensure you've acquired an operating system and any specific programs needed. One piece of software that is often overlooked when building a computer is antivirus. Antivirus is important for the security of your system. The hardware components will be meaningless if someone takes over your computer. Antivirus works by detecting, quarantining, and or deleting malicious software that would seek to harm your computer. Once installed, modern antivirus updates itself to keep a step ahead of nefarious entities. (NCSC 2019) Make sure you keep yourself and your information protected with a good antivirus.
Network: Building a computer isn't just about the information contained within, but how you can access and transmit information. It's essential to manage your network properly to ensure any traffic going in and out is something you've chosen to allow. I suggest a good router that goes beyond what your internet provider may supply. If you're proficient in using a network to manage your information, consider a server in the future to connect your devices.
I wish you the best of luck on your journey. It's an incredibly rewarding feeling to press that power button for the first time after building your computer. If you're ever unsure about something you're doing, stand on the shoulders of the giants before you and use the internet.
References:
Thurber Jr., K. T. (1995). Buried bytes: A history of the personal computer. Popular Electronics, 12(4), 36
Comments
Post a Comment