Windows 7: Need advice for building a new PC

Hi all,

I'd like to build my very first custom built PC, but need a little guidance on where to start. I'm pretty tech savvy and have watched a few tutorials on YouTube, so it looks fairly easy. I just need to know what to buy as far as parts in order to build the latest and very best.

I'd be using my PC for high-end stuff (photo / video editing; gaming; music; etc), so if you can recommend what to buy, I'd definitely look into it.

I hear it is cheaper to build your own, but not sure if that's true when building something top notch. I'm guessing I'll spend around $1K, but that's where y'all come in to tell me otherwise :P

Please only recommend the best manufacturers to buy from; I know parts go bad, but I don't want something burning out a year from now (seems to happen a lot with the last two HP PCs I've bought).



Thanks for any help

The list could be endless. You could start by looking at Tigerdirect.com

I have used newegg, Toms hardware also microcenter, tiger direct. Take a look at PC World magazine, they have a step by step on building your first PC and will give you several options regarding specs and price.

Is this in every issue of theirs? I've heard about this but wasn't sure if they only did this one time or not.

When you go to PC Worlds website register for free and then select the how to section.. you will find the article there also some videos

For buying, Usually I'd say just do a search for components that meet your critera (cost, performance, noise, appearance when relevant), then do a thorough look through the reviews. If the part is important (such as motherboard or case), then try to avoid anything where there is less than three or so full reviews, and that the overall average doesn't have more than 70% 4/5 or 5/5.

Depending on your budget, stick with the minimal components for the first build (case, mobo, cpu, ram, psu, OS, HDD, DVD/BD drive). Don't skimp on these parts, because once you start upgrading you'll feel the need to put all of your own components into a second system, then find a use for it. later on you can add more RAM, A SSD, additional fans, and a graphics card, if you figured you could last with Intel graphics for a while. It depends on what games you play, but my Pentium's HD 1000 graphics handles almost everything i throw at it, and the HD 3000 series does a whole lot more.

Cost isn't really that bad, everything mentioned in my system specs (minus internet and the TV) cost me just under $700. That will go up a tad when I get a IB processor and a second HDD.


After that, unless you really want a specific product at the best price possible, I'd recommend getting everything from the same place. Newegg has always been awesome for me.