If this is the case, building your own computer is a great way to get started. Not only do you end up with a machine that’s exactly to your specifications, you’ll also gain a lot of insight into how they work. Below, we’ll not only outline what you’ll need, but also put together a list of parts for a very capable PC for $500 or less. But your main concern should be which type(s) of processor you can install. Motherboards are categorized by the type of socket they contain, which support a particular family of processors. For this build, lets go with the ASUS Prime H310I-PLUS, but check our overview of the best motherboards for some options in other form factors.
64-bit processor: Make sure you’re buying a 64-bit processor. Almost all are nowadays, but it’s still worth your attention. If you mess up and buy a 32-bit processor you can’t return, you’ll likely be undertaking two of these projects just to get your money’s worth. Speed: Look at the main indicator of speed, measured in gigahertz (GHz), which is the number of cycles the processor can complete in a second. Each cycle represents how fast the processor can deal with a certain number of bits, as determined by whether it’s a 32- or 64-bit processor. So the higher the processor’s speed in GHz, the more bits it’s pushing around the PC to perform work for you. Threads: Also consider the number of threads it can support. Threads represent simultaneous operations, and so a processor with a higher speed and less threads can actually be slower than one with a lower speed but more threads.
We’ll grab an 8th Generation Intel i5-8600K for this machine, much like the one rated “Best for Gaming” in our best processors round-up. While it’s usually a good idea to go with the latest generation if you can, most 9th Gen processors are out of our price range. So it follows that the more RAM you have, the less you’ll have to deal with the drive, and the faster things will be. A good rule of thumb when buying or building a computer is to include as much RAM as you can afford. Our machine will do very well with 16 GB of DDR4 Corsair Vengeance RAM. But solid state drives (SSDs) are the new standard for storage. They’re faster, use less power, and are more durable than the mechanical hard drive. However, they’re more expensive, with most affordable drives landing in the 128 to 512 GB range. This is plenty for casual users’ operating system and applications, but if you have lots of games, a large media library, or work with big files like raw video footage, you might find yourself short on space. The Western Digital SN750 500 GB NVMe drive gives us a great option for storage, especially this model using the M.2 socket. You could save some money by going with a SATA SSD drive, which will still provide great performance, but we’ve got the budget for it, which will also leave all of our SATA ports open. The first of these is a power supply. At a high level, you’ll need to make sure you have a power supply that can handle all the main components discussed above, as well as some peripherals. But don’t buy too much either. For example, if your goal is an energy efficient box to attach to your TV, you won’t need a big 650-Watt monster. The second element is cooling. Everything in a PC generates heat, to varying degrees. Cases can have built-in cooling systems ranging from something as simple as a fan, to something as complex as water-filled tubes that whisk the heat away. But buying these as part of a case ensures that a smart engineer somewhere has selected parts and assembled them in such a way that they’ll work together. In fact, that’s what a case manufacturer’s warranty will provide for you. And in some cases, the case will include not only four walls, a power supply, and some cooling, but the motherboard too! These are a good option as they save you from some of the finer connections you’ll need to make. The Rosewill Mini-ITX Tower with a 250-Watt power supply is a good choice, and not just because it aligns with our motherboard form factor. Despite the name, this is a good-looking case that would be as at home on a desktop as it would be as a home theater PC. If you’re looking to play the latest game titles, the only missing component that could be important is a separate graphics card. But if you’re just interested in some light/casual gaming (maybe some retro titles), that shouldn’t be a problem. Overall, in terms of your everyday computing tasks, the above setup’s i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and super-fast NVMe drive should handle it with ease. This includes everything from normal browsing and document work to watching streaming video at good resolution (at least 1080p).
