Hub 01 · PC Lab
Three illustrative component shortlists and practical setup guidance. Check current prices, compatibility and official specifications before buying.
An illustrative 1080p parts shortlist. Verify current prices, component fit and motherboard support before buying.
Check whether your boxed CPU includes a cooler and whether that cooler fits your workload and case. Confirm memory support against the motherboard documentation.
An illustrative 1440p parts shortlist. Performance depends on the game and settings; GTA VI PC requirements have not been announced.
Compare CPU performance in the games you use, then confirm BIOS compatibility and supported memory. Price-to-performance depends on current local prices.
An illustrative high-end shortlist for demanding workloads. No guaranteed 4K frame rate or measured benchmark is claimed.
Start with manufacturer defaults. NVIDIA’s full RTX 5090 specifications list 1000 W system power with configuration-dependent guidance; exact partner cards can differ. Optional voltage or memory tuning requires stability checks and may affect warranty coverage.
Ten steps from a box of parts to a booting machine. Do them in this order and nothing fights you. Your first build takes an afternoon; your third takes an hour.
Clear a big table, not a carpet. Open the case, drop both side panels, and lay the motherboard on its box. Static is rare but free to avoid: touch the metal case before you touch a chip.
Lift the socket arm, line the gold triangle on the chip to the triangle on the socket, and set it down. Zero force. If it does not drop flat, it is misaligned, never pushed.
Use the memory slots specified by the motherboard manual; A2/B2 is common but not universal. Align the notch and follow its retention mechanism. Do not force a module that is misaligned.
Angle the SSD into its slot, press flat, and secure the tiny screw or latch. Peel the thermal pad film if the board has a heatsink. This is your OS drive; do it now while the board is bare.
Follow the CPU and cooler manufacturer’s paste, mounting pressure and header instructions. Air-cooler fans, liquid-cooler pumps and monitoring connectors can use different headers. Remove protective films where specified.
Fit the I/O shield, set the brass standoffs to match your board size, then lower the board onto them and screw down in a star pattern. Snug, not gorilla-tight.
Pull the top PCIe x16 slot latch, line the card to the rear bracket, and press until it clicks. Screw the bracket down so the card does not sag over time.
Connect motherboard, CPU and GPU power using the motherboard, card and PSU manuals. CPU EPS and PCIe cables are not interchangeable. Use only cables approved for that PSU, fully seat connectors and follow GPU cable bend guidance.
The tiny power, reset and LED leads go on the front-panel header per the manual diagram. Fans to their headers or a hub. Take the two minutes to read the legend.
Confirm the supported CPU/BIOS combination and follow the motherboard’s update procedure. Begin with default memory settings, check cooling and stability, then install the OS and official drivers. Optional XMP/EXPO profiles are overclocking; verify support and warranty terms first.
Every spec sheet acronym that scares off first-timers, in one plain sentence each.
Use the application pattern and quantity recommended for the specific cooler and CPU. Pre-applied paste may not need additional material; follow mounting instructions.
Route the 24-pin, EPS and front-panel leads through the grommets while the tray is empty. Ten minutes here saves forty later.
DDR5 default speeds vary. XMP or EXPO profiles can exceed standard settings; treat them as optional overclocking, confirm support and test stability.
Three well-curved intakes beat six screamers. Set a flat quiet curve to 60 C, then ramp. Your ears own the last 5 percent.
Finished builds live on the floor: visit the Rig Lab · what to play on it: the Playbook · argue about parts in the Lounge
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