Learn How To Build Your Own Computer

Building your own computer isn’t that hard of a feat. There are more benefits to building your own computer than you can count on your fingers. The first of them is that you’re able to choose the right amount of specifications as per your need. Plus, you save a lot of money by removing the middle-man and the market product.

The task becomes simplified, provided you have the correct guidance from someone, but don’t worry we’ve got your back! All you need is to get your hands on the components, combine them, and work the bugs out of the project in addition to installing an operating system.

Buying the components

A motherboard, RAM, CPU, case, PSU, monitor, a hard drive and a graphics card are some of the essential components required for putting together a computer. However, it all depends on how you want the computer. Is it that you require a laptop for general purposes or one that you can use for playing hardcore games? Depending upon the type of computer, you can decide what kind of parts you are going to put into use. For example, a gaming laptop requires lots of RAM considering the quality of games you play. Also, a lot of processing power of CPU is required and the monitor quality decides the resolution so it’s something that requires attention.

If you just require a computer for general purposes, then you can actually save up a lot on the other aspects and opt for a cheaper alternative. Building your own computer gives you the privilege to choose for yourself and in accordance with your requirements. Nothing can be blown out of proportion and you’ll be left with none of the extra features that are unnecessary.

Starting with the processor, you would have to choose between two choices, Intel and AMD. As far as performance is concerned, Intel is the best choice. However, if you wish to get the value for your money, then the suggestion is to choose AMD. Many generations of i7, i5, and i3 processors are seen in Intel and the price range is on an ascending scale. In the case of AMD, the Ryzen second generation of processors is the latest one in the market. Much like Intel, it encompasses Ryzen 7, 5 and 3 and the price range hikes up along with every generation.

1TB hard drive storage is an ideal size for a well-working PC. It is recommended to use this unless the computer will be used for serious gaming.

More About Computer Components

Forums such as Tom’s Hardware and Overclockers can be helpful after you are done shopping for the components. There are also various threads on the internet that can prove to be helpful to you in your building process.
Sites such as Micro Center, OutletPC and NewEgg are also great for your search as they are easier to navigate and you can find all of the components classified accordingly. Bonus guides are also available at a couple of these sites for your convenience. In addition to this, NewEgg gives you the option to check for compatibility of the components before you put them together.

Putting the Pieces Together

After you are done with those steps, all you are left with is building the computer. Now here’s where the tricky part starts! It can be accomplished within a couple of hours, but you have to pay attention to detail through the process. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends that are well-versed in these matters.

Handle all of the components with care and avoid using carpets as they may produce static electricity. For the assembly, put the PSU in the case followed by screwing the motherboard in. Next up is the CPU, then the RAM, the hard drive and then the graphics card (if you require one for your product).

Now that you have pieced all the components together, connecting the power plug through the PSU or case is the next step. After plugging in the power cord, you should be able to hear the sound from the motherboard as well as the storage drive while starting. In case you are experiencing problems with it, you should try to restart and switch it on again. Make sure that all of the connections are connected properly.

Install the operating system

There is a need for an operating system once the hardware warms up. It can be either one of two- Linux or Windows. Linux is a free alternative while Windows is not. You have to dish out additional money for the download before transferring it to your fresh PC through the USB.

After you’re done with installing the operating system you’re good to go! Assembling your own computer is as much fun as it is challenging! Next you can attempt to build your own website.

The Best Internet Routers 

A reliable wireless internet router is one of the most essential technological elements needed, whether one just wants to make their home smarter or if one wishes to have the best experience while streaming videos and music at home.

Many different types of internet routers are available for different purposes. Choosing the right type of router is very important. For example, in a big house where there are a lot of dead spots with low throughput, mesh networks are highly recommended which consists of a Wi-Fi router along with a few satellite nodes that are placed around the house to provide more coverage. Mesh routers are useful to provide full home coverage. A conventional and less expensive wireless router is adequate for small houses and apartments.

  • One of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers available is the Netgear Orbi RBK50 which has a 3-port built-in ethernet switch and a dedicated 1733 Mbps 4×4 radio utilized for backhaul between the satellites and the router. It comes with speeds of around 2.2 GHz and has coverage of around 6000 square feet.
  • The best in budget would be the TP-Link Deco M5 which has a dual band Wi-Fi network, which operates on a 2.4 GHz band on one network and a 5GHz band on another network and relies on the same for backhaul of data.
  • Most people, though consider the Samsung Connect Home as the best mesh Wi-Fi for smart houses due to its integrated smart home hub, which is easy to use and convenient for the user but has less power and flexibility when compared to other mesh routers.
  • One of the best routers for large homes is the Linksys AC1900 which is extremely affordable and is capable of handling a lot of devices and can reach speeds of up to 1.9 Gbps.
  • The best in-budget router is considered to be TP-Link AC1200 which is a small router with a great performance at a reasonable price. It comes with a speed of around 1.2 Gbps with a 2 year warranty and detachable antennas along with a handy USB port.
  • The best internet router for gaming would be the Netgear Nighthawk XR500 which has an amazing bandwidth allocation along with many ports for consoles and PCs. It can achieve high speeds of around 2.6 Gbps with the help of its 1.7 GHz processor and high performance antennas.
  • One of the best performers as an internet router built specifically for streaming is the ASUS AC5300 which comes with 8 LAN ports for many smart devices and has built-in award winning security. Though it comes with a high price tag, it provides speeds of 5.3 Gbps and 512 MB of memory along with a coverage of 5000 square feet.
  • The best internet router in terms of speed would be the Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 which has three band speeds of a whopping 7.2 Gbps and is extremely durable and versatile along with being easy for installation and usage. It features two USB 3.0 external ports with 6 Ethernet Gigabit ports which can handle VR gaming, downloads and even 4K streaming without any lags.
  • The best internet router for busy homes would be the Asus Blue Cave AC2600 which comes with voice controlling for Amazon Echo and Alexa and has a sleek and futuristic design to appeal to the user. It is a dual band internet router which also comes with advanced scheduling and parent controls with a good user interface and great security features. It also offers speeds up to 2.6 Gbps and 4 LAN ports which can be used to set up home theatres or multiple gaming consoles.
  • The best router with the most advanced technology specifications would be the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 which can reach up to 6 Gbps of wireless speed and can be paired with around 50 devices. It also supports 8K streaming and has a full RAM of 1 GB. It has a quad core processor of 1.8 GHz and 512 MB of flash memory and also supports the backward compatibility of all existing devices connected to the Wi-Fi. This router does anything from streaming to downloading and playing various video games too.
  • The best internet router with a combination of everything is the Google Wi-Fi, which with its simple and attractive design covers around 4500 square feet and has easy set up and installation. It also comes with satellites with each unit having a speed of around 500 Mbps. It has 4GB of flash memory and a RAM of 512 MB and can cover a huge area with the help of its quad core CPU. It can be easily controlled through its app which is downloadable for iOS and Android.

Choose the right router for yourself by understanding your needs and requirements and also consider the performance and budget of the router before choosing one.

Understanding the Basics of Computer Hardware

Introduction to hardware

Hardware constitutes all the physical components of the computer. Not all the hardware is visible or external. Some of the hardware is inside the computer’s casing that protects them from getting damaged. The external hardware is comprised of a monitor, mouse, keyboard and the central processing unit (CPU) and the internal ones are the motherboard, hard drive, RAM, power supply unit, etc. Out of all the parts, the motherboard is one of the most essential parts of the hardware. Every part of the hardware performs certain tasks that work together for the computer functions.

Components of hardware

The following are the main components of hardware that affects the working of a computer:

  • Motherboard: The motherboard is inside the PC that connects the various parts of the computer together. It doesn’t necessarily affect the performance of the computer directly, but it affects the parts of the PC. The motherboard also decides on the input and output of the computer that is the keyboard, mouse, USB ports, video, and audio outputs. Every motherboard needs to be compatible with the device to which it is installed.
  • Central Processing Unit (CPU): CPU is the brain of the computer; it gives the required instructions to the other parts of the computer. The CPU has the capability to affect the working and performance of the computer. With a high-tech CPU the computer will work faster and is capable of performing difficult tasks. As the brain of the computer, the CPU is one of the major components of the computer.
  • Hard Disk Drive (HDD): The major task performed by the HDD is that it stores information or data permanently in its disk. The drive uses magnets and a disk to imprint the data into the disk. The newer version of HDD is a Solid State Drive (SDD) that is built in a different way but does the same functions as HDD. SDD uses flash memory instead of any moving parts. The data is stored electronically and is also read faster.
  • Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is where the computer stores the temporary memory while using a particular program. Once the program is removed the temporary data related to it also goes away. This is the reason why a computer requires RAM in order to store the data while the program is running. An upgraded RAM means one can run any programs at the same time and they will also run faster which results in an efficient computer.
  • Power Supply Unit (PSU): As the term describes, it is the hardware that supplies power to all the parts of the computer. It converts the energy received from the wall socket into energy in which the computer runs. A higher watt does not specifically mean better working of the computer. Watts usually depends on the power consumption of the other components of the computer. PSU does not exactly affect the performance of the computer, but it is needed in order to run the computer.
  • Computer Monitor: A computer monitor is the display screen which provides video output and some of the monitors also come with sound output. Monitors come in different sizes and have some different features. Some recognize video inputs such as VGA or HDMI and for some, the screen needs to be compatible with the graphics card.
  • Speakers: Some of the motherboard or monitors come with an inbuilt sound system but for more effective sound output, one can add speakers to their PC.
  • Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): Graphics Processing Unit is responsible for the output of every visual of the PC and video playbacks. Most motherboards come with the video card that recognizes and plays back videos and lets one do some basic video editing. But for advanced editing, a graphics card will need to be installed on their motherboard.
  • Optical drive: An optical drive is required to read CDs/DVDs, but most importantly, it is required to install an operating system on the computer. Without an operating system, the hardware and software of the computer will not work. There is also Blu-ray Drive that reads Blu-ray disks along with other DVDs/CDs, but is unable to write CDs or DVDs.
  • Computer case or Tower: Computer cases keep the various electronic components safe and in place. The case or tower also provides proper ventilation in order to avoid overheating. Many cases come with USB ports in the front and also protect the hardware from dust. A tower is very important to keep all the fragile components properly protected.

Importance of hardware

In today’s fast-paced world, computers play a vital role in everyone’s day-to-day lives. And without hardware a computer cannot work which is the reason why one takes extra care of the hardware of the computer. Every component that constitutes hardware needs to be in its best condition so that the computer can work efficiently.