How to choose a good computer for games. Inexpensive gaming system unit: description, tips for choosing

Hello dear readers of my blog. Marat Nauruzbaev is in touch. In this article I will tell and show which computer is better to buy for home use and which one I bought myself the other day. Or rather, what system unit for a computer I assembled from components. I'll tell you how to choose the right computer and why I chose these components for the system unit, and not others.

The system unit turned out to be of an average price category, with a reserve for future modernization. Also in the article I will show the configuration of the system unit of a small price category, but quite productive.

I bought my home computer a long time ago (in my opinion in 2008). At that time it was a good powerful computer for work and games. Now, according to modern requirements, it is already considered obsolete and requires modernization for a long time.

Why is it better to assemble a system unit from components, and not to purchase ready-made assemblies?

Because you “collect” exactly what you want, and not what the store in a ready-made system unit imposes on you.

At first I wanted to assemble a system unit based on a processor Intel, on socket LGA 1151, but then after talking a little on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, I came to the conclusion to assemble a computer based on a new processor from the company AMD, codenamed Ryzen.

Why did I change my mind? No, not because Intel processors are worse, it's just that Intel plans to release new eighth generation processors, codenamed coffee lake and they will already be on a new platform (new socket) and I don’t think it’s worth buying Intel processors on the LGA 1151 socket. Although processors from Intel will be relevant on this socket, I think for another two or three years.

Therefore, I decided to “transfer” again 🙂 to an AMD processor (my old computer also has an AMD processor). Moreover, AMD has released a new processor Ryzen.

My system unit configuration

I use my computer not for games, but for work: the Internet (a browser with a bunch of tabs), I test programs, write articles, and the computer also performs automatic scheduled backups (in the background), and sometimes editing and converting video.

In general, after weighing all the pros and cons, I ordered myself such an optimal configuration (middle price range).

Prices are fact. in rubles at the time of purchase / fact in dollars at the time of purchase / estimated price in rubles for now

• maternalpayASRock AB350 Pro4- 6 290 rubles. / 108 USD / 6 701 RUB
• CPUAMD Ryzen 5 1400- 10 290 rubles. / 180 USD / 11 169 RUB
• coolerForprocessorDeepcool Gammaxx 200T- 810 rubles. / 14 USD / 869 RUB
• OperationalmemorySamsung 8 GB- 4 150 rubles. / 72 USD / 4 467 RUB
• SSD128 GBTranscend 370s- 5 190 rubles. / 91 USD / 5 646 RUB
• - 4 390 rubles. / 77 USD / 4 778 RUB
• FrameCaseCom CP-686 (black) - 1 990 rubles. / 35 USD / 2 172 RUB
• BlockfoodZalman TX 500W- 3 550 rubles. / 62 USD / 3 847 RUB

All components cost me a total of: 36 660 rubles / 643USD(September 2017)

There is no video card in this configuration, I have it available, old and cheap 🙂, but I don’t need an expensive video card, since I don’t play games.

If you play games, you can take a video card, for example GeForce GTX 1050 Ti(10,000 rubles) or higher. This video card will pull the games of 2017 in FullHD resolution on this configuration.

“Disassembly” of components

Now I'll tell you a little about the components I purchased and show them a photo.

ASRock AB350 Pro4 Motherboard

This motherboard is based on socket AM4 for AMD processors and B350 chipset that supports overclocking. I opted for it, since the B350 chipset supports overclocking of the processor and memory, and also because it has 6 SATA ports, which makes it possible to connect up to 6 hard drives.

In my case, this is relevant, because. I plan to move 2 or 3 hard drives from my old computer to the new computer in addition to my two purchased drives.

Processor AMD Ryzen 5 1400

This is the so-called motor for your computer.

This processor is 4-core, 8 threads, frequency 3200-3400 MHz, L3 cache size: 8 MB.

In terms of performance, it is approximately comparable to the Intel Core I5-7400 processor (4 cores, 4 threads, frequency 3000-3500 MHz).

All Ryzen are overclockable and Ryzen 5 1400 not an exception. It can be overclocked to 3.8-4.0 MHz, which I will try to do on this motherboard in the future.

Deepcool CPU coolerGammaxx 200T

Tower cooler from Deepcool.
Power dissipation: 100W
Fan size: 120×120mm
Maximum noise level: 26.1 dB

It is a more powerful cooler than the one that usually comes with a BOX processor. Required when overclocking the processor. I hope it's quiet, let's see and listen...

Samsung RAM 8 GB

Memory of 8 GB and a frequency of 2400 MHz. Samsung's B-Die chips are said to overclock well. And I don’t know this memory ... 🙂 . Let's see.

128 GB SSDTranscend 370s[TS128GSSD370S]

Reliable SSD for the price. Capacity: 128 GB with MLC memory.
Maximum write speed: 170MB/s
Maximum read speed: 550MB/s
Supplied with an adapter for a 3.5″ HDD slot.

2TB Seagate BarraCuda ST2000DM006 hard drive

HDD capacity: 2 TB
Cache size: 64 MB
Maximum data transfer rate: 210 MB/s
Judging by the many positive reviews - a good HDD. Wait and see…

FrameCaseComCP-686 (black)

A good value case with a Midi-Tower size and bottom placement of the power supply (power supply sold separately).

I liked the fact that this case has 4 internal 3.5″ bays and 3 2.5″ bays with a transverse arrangement for drives. As well as the presence of a window on the side wall and blue illumination on the front fan.

The case comes with two 120mm fans included.

There is a removable mesh on the bottom of the case.

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This is a photo of the case after installing the power supply and drives into it

Among the shortcomings, I note the fans in the case that are not speed-controlled (they are connected via the Molex connector to the power supply), although they work relatively quietly.

power unitZalmanTX500W[ZM500-TX]

If the processor is a motor, then the power supply is the fuel for your motor and other components, so saving on it is not advisable.

Power: 500W
Main power connector: 20+4 pin
Processor (CPU) power connectors: 1 x 4+4 pin
Video card power connectors (PCI-E): 2 x 6+2 pin
Number of 15-pin SATA connectors: 5
Number of 4-pin Molex connectors: 3
Number of 4-pin Floppy connectors: 1
Main power cable length: 50cm
CPU power cable length: 65 cm
Fan size: 140×140mm
There is a blue backlight and braided wires.

Assembly of the system unit

The assembly of the system unit is nothing complicated. It's like a constructor, you just need to be more careful.

The most difficult thing when assembling a computer is choosing the right components at the time of ordering. All components must be compatible with each other.

Well, for example, processors are produced by two companies: Intel and AMD. Each processor has its own socket. Motherboards are produced only for a specific socket and cannot combine two different sockets on one board. Moreover, the boards can be of different sizes: ATX, MiniATX, MicroATX, etc., which, accordingly, must be taken into account when selecting a case for the system unit ...

This is the basis for selecting components, you also need to have an idea about the various chipsets on the motherboard, types and frequencies of RAM, etc.

Well, I took all the ordered components from the store, photographed for this article and safely assembled them. Once again I say, there is nothing complicated in this.

I will not describe here in detail how to assemble a system unit from components, the article is not much about that.

In general terms, the assembly should be done in this way:

1. The processor is inserted into the motherboard socket and closed with a special clip

1. We apply a thin layer of thermal paste on the processor (to remove heat from the processor to the cooler)

1. We install a cooler on the processor using special latches (if the cooler is large, then thermal paste and cooler can be installed after installing the motherboard in the system unit case)

1. RAM is installed in a special slot on the motherboard

1. We install the power supply into the case of the system unit and fasten it with several screws. We lay the cables from it approximately to the future connection points (power supply for the motherboard, processor, drives, video card) and fasten with ties

1. Installing the backplate from the motherboard

We install the motherboard in the case of the system unit and fasten it to the racks for the motherboard. We connect power to it and power to the processor (from the power supply)

1. We connect the wires from the front panel of the case to the connectors on the motherboard

The main difficulty of the assembly is to connect the wires from the front panel of the case to the connectors on the motherboard 🙂. It is not always easy to figure out which wire is connected to which connector on the motherboard. In this case, the manual from the mat will help you. fees.

In general, everything went smoothly, I assembled the system unit, it remains to connect it to the monitor, keyboard, mouse and apply power to it.

System unit at a budget price

Friends, if a configuration based on an AMD Ryzen processor is expensive for you, then you can buy an inexpensive but good system unit based on an Intel processor. Its performance will certainly be inferior, but it will be decent (at the level of the Intel Core I3-6100 processor).

This configuration is perfect for work and even for non-demanding games.

Prices are indicative at the moment.

• maternalpayGigabyte GA-B250M-DS3H– 83 USD / 5 150 RUB
• CPUIntel Pentium G4600 BOX– 99 USD / 6 143 RUB
• OperationalmemoryGoodram 8 GB– 68 USD / 4 219 RUB
• Harddisk1 TBToshiba– 46 USD / 2 854 RUB
• Casing CaseCom CP-686– 35 USD / 2 172 RUB
• Zalman TX 500W power supply– 62 USD / 3 847 RUB

Total: 392 USD / 24 323 RUB

The Intel Pentium G4600 processor is similar in performance to the Core I3-6100, but cheaper by a third and with a more powerful video core.

The Pentium G4600 comes with a built-in HD Graphics 630 video core, so if you use your computer for light games, you can do without a discrete graphics card.

If you want to play serious games, then additionally purchase a video card, for example GeForce GTX 1050 Ti(10,000 rubles) or higher.

Well, that's all I wanted to tell in this article. I am very glad that I finally updated my system unit. Moreover, I chose a modern platform, in which its further modernization cannot be forced to change all components, I hope so 🙂.

For example, in the future it will be possible to change the Ryzen processor to a more powerful one, especially since AMD promises to release them with an integrated video core ...

Well, I will use my good old computer as a second additional workstation.

Also watch the video about the new Ryzen processors

I will tell you about the test of a new computer, as well as about trying to overclock it, so

To choose a computer in our time, you do not need special knowledge in this area. There are several ways to get your own electronic friend. The most common way is to come to a computer showroom and buy a complete computer. In modern electronics stores, salespeople will help you, who can also choose the configuration that is best for you. And the best way for experienced users is to choose a configuration on our website without leaving home, using detailed descriptions.

Now we will help experienced users and offer configurations already selected by our specialists that will help you with your choice. You can get acquainted with all ready-made configurations in the computers section.

Now monoblocks from well-known electronics manufacturers are gaining great popularity. You do not need to think about the compatibility of nodes and assembly. Moreover, as a rule, the warranty period is 2-3 years and is carried out by branded service centers.

The following types of ready-made computers are presented on our website:

• • Universal PC
  • PC for engineers
  • PC for players
  • PC for schoolchildren
  • Office PCs

So that you do not make a mistake in choosing, we will help you figure out what a computer consists of:

1. Case fans
2. Memory modules
3. Hard drive basket
4. video card
5. DVD drive
6. CPU cooler
7. card reader
8. Buttons and indicators
9. sound insulation layer

2. Power supply and case.

- one of the most important components of a personal computer. It is used to supply computer nodes with electrical energy, as well as to convert the mains voltage to the required values.

Main purposes:
1. Formation of the voltage received from the network to the required indicators.
2. Providing computer nodes with DC voltage.


Additional functions

1. Provides voltage stabilization and protection against small interference present in the external AC network.
2. Since the device has a fan, in the process of its operation, it participates in the cooling of the nodes that make up the system unit of your personal computer.

The power output of operating PSUs is highly dependent on the structure of the computer and ranges from fifty watts (platforms with small form factors) to 1800 watts (a large number of active stations, gaming devices or entry-level servers).

High quality power supplies are usually made
well-known companies, but there are pleasant exceptions. Like most high-quality products, they have a fairly high cost, sometimes commensurate with the cost of the case due to the fact that they contain only high-quality elements, and as for their circuits, they are very well configured and thought out by manufacturers.

Prerequisites for selecting the required power supply

Consumer power

The power of the PSU is a parameter, which, as a rule, is determined individually for each individual computer, and the unit of measurement for this parameter is Watt. The total power depends on the amount of electricity consumed by each element of the operating system. To calculate the total power consumed by the computer, you will need to sum up the values ​​​​consumed by all operating devices and add to the result some estimated amount of reserve, approximately 10 to 20 percent of the amount of total power consumed. This operation will be required so that the power supply you have chosen does not function constantly at peak load. In order to correctly calculate the consumed electricity, special calculators are used.

Power supply connectors

The device must have the required number of connectors to connect all existing consumers in the system unit of your computer.
Of course, their number will be limited by the ability of the power supply to deliver sufficient power. In addition, the length of the cables to be laid from the installed power supply must be commensurate with the size of the case you have chosen.

Power supply weight

Before you purchase the power supply you are interested in, it is advisable to determine its weight, in extreme cases, hold the device in your hands. This action will allow you to somehow evaluate its internal elements without opening the block. The large mass of the power supply indicates a lack of savings on internal components, including oversized heatsinks and transformers. The weight of the power supply depends on the dimensions, the thickness of the case walls, as well as on the number of chokes, the material used for the installed fans and radiators of the unit. As a rule, if some radiators or coils are missing in a given device, that is, when the electrical circuit is simplified in its design, then the weight of such a unit will vary from 700 to 900 grams. Medium quality products have a weight of 900 to 1200 grams, there are also heavier models.

Active power factor correction PFC (Power Factor Correction) / PFC

In BP, active and passive PFC are found. In the form of a passive PFC, a simple elementary coil acts, that is, a choke that spoils the parameters of the working circuit. For the consumer, passive-type PFC does not provide any benefit. The active type PFC is a boost converter built between the capacitor and the diode bridge (rectifier) ​​that produces a stabilized voltage of approximately 400 V across the capacitor inside the device. in circuits, thereby forming a current diagram close to linear.

Efficiency

The efficiency of the device should not, according to the objective reasoning of experts in this field, be less than 80 percent. In addition, there is a specialized certification according to the efficiency plan: 85 PLUS.

Installed fans in the PSU

Fans are installed at the bottom of the unit, but can also be located on the side wall of the product. As a rule, 120/120 mm and 80/80 mm fans are used. Larger fans are less noisy and more efficient, which naturally determines the quality of the cooling obtained.

Popular brands

Having analyzed all the technical characteristics, you should proceed to the choice of a worthy brand. In theory, a guarantee against the purchase of fakes and low-quality products will be the purchase and operation of the Brand Name PSU (otherwise as a branded one). Of course, the Brand Name PSU is priced higher than the No Name products, but the existing difference in cost is the price for effective security. You can choose a PSU for your computer in the power supplies section.

Case of the system unit

The most important conditions that you should pay attention to when choosing a case / are ease of installation, the material of the purchased case, form factor, cooling. These characteristics in most cases are able to determine the right choice and save you from replacing the case in the future or be limited in the selection of components. In this regard, it makes sense to analyze the listed conditions in more detail.

Form factors

When choosing a case, you must take into account the size you need, because there is no need for a large case if you have any restrictions associated with the size of the room or workplace, and vice versa, minimalism can be reflected in the limitation of the mounted equipment.

Note: Most purchased cases are equipped with a PSU, but there are models for hobbyists that are sold without power supplies. Thanks to this, the consumer is able to independently select a power supply with the required parameters.

bigtower
This form factor is intended for computers with high power and also powerful servers with high performance. These system units contain a large number of components that provide a variety of uses. They tend to generate a large amount of heat, and the large dimensions of the case can increase the cooling effect.
In this type of case, a full-size ATX system board can freely fit. Such cases are large in size and have the ability to accommodate different hardware, but this will already depend on which motherboard is installed. The number of connected hard drives and expansion cards also depends on this board.

moddletower
This case can be safely defined as the most popular and widespread on the globe. Naturally, the product deserves to be called the best. An additional hard drive, a couple of video cards, a high-quality air ventilation system can easily fit in the Moddletower case. At the same time, there is room for standard parts. This case is really a good choice for office or home. It remains to choose between compactness and performance. But it should be noted that among the advantages of this type of case there is an opportunity to turn the PC into a gaming monster.

minitower
The most widespread among computers designed for the office. Having a small size, they make it possible to install devices within the average performance. This is due to the level of heating and the minimum dimensions of the installed devices. The space in such cases is limited, in connection with this, the temperature requirements are quite high - the devices must not overheat, and there is no unpleasant noise of the fans running. But in such case models it is possible to place only those components that will ensure work in the office with spreadsheets, presentations, texts, etc.

Microtower
Characterizing this form factor, we can say that its dimensions are even smaller in comparison with the Minitower, which implies more restrictions.

At the end of the review, after getting acquainted with the various form factors of the offered cases, it can be argued that in the product range there will always be a case that meets your requirements.

Housing material

The main points to pay attention to when choosing a case:

• Soundproofing materials. The noise level is certainly affected by the material used to make the case walls, which keeps the noise from the hard drives and fans within the case. The Sileo500 (Cooler Master) case, for example, proved to be excellent. You can order this case both with a power supply or separately, and this will allow, in case of a shortage of power, to purchase a power supply with a higher power.
• Noise isolation and vibration isolation premium class. Such cases are equipped with noise and vibration damping side panels, as well as vibration damping gaskets for HDD mounting. The fans are of high quality and are equipped with the ability to switch speeds, operating silently in any mode.
• Rigidity. Everything is quite simple here - the thicker and stiffer the material used, the better. Steel is recognized as the most durable material, and its thickness must be over 0.8 mm. We recommend using InWin cases, although the declared thickness of the material is 0.55-0.8 mm. well-thought-out design of power elements compensates for this inconsistency with the above condition.

The choice of case is also based on the required size, because limited space will not allow you to use massive cases. Pay attention to the picture below, which clearly demonstrates the difference in size with the name of the form factor of the assembled cases.

Remember! The smaller the case, the more intense the fans must run, which deprives the computer of either performance or low noise.

Remember! When choosing a processor cooling system, one should not forget that not only the processor, but also other elements of the system unit are exposed to heat. All the heat generated in the system unit, in the absence of a fan, remains in the case, which leads to excessive heating of the computer components. It is in order to avoid this that it is also necessary to install fans on the case. You can find out the number and size of fans from the descriptions of cases.

CPU Cooling

The larger the fan, the less revolutions it needs to make to cool the same volume of air, respectively, the noise level will be lower. In addition, the noise level also depends on the type of bearings. Our specialists are repeatedly convinced of the quality of hydrodynamic bearings. In the production of fans, durable, but noisy rolling bearings, as well as rather quiet, but not sufficiently reliable plain bearings, can be used.

To cool the processor, it is advisable to use a cooler with PMW (pulse width modulation) support. PMW technology allows you to change the fan speed depending on the load on the processor, and in the ideal case, the fan stops.

Fan blades can be designed to operate with minimal noise, for maximum static pressure, or for maximum airflow. As a rule, at the moment there are models that try to combine all three parameters with varying degrees of success. But, unfortunately, models with non-profiled blades continue to be produced, which emit a high level of noise and poorly pump air.

Increases the noise level and vibration of an unbalanced rotor. To avoid this, you can use rotor balancing, however, this is not a cheap pleasure. The so-called fan suspension on rubber supports is much more often used.

A convenient product filter will help you easily select a cooling system in the appropriate section of the cooling device.

RAM models are conditionally divided into two groups:

• • Memory created according to all the requirements of the JEDEC organization
  • Memory for enthusiasts

The first group is the best option for those computers whose stable operation is a priority. Similar models are used in our standard system blocks.

The second group is suitable for users who want to get the most out of their computers. But if you choose such memory, be prepared for higher rejection rates and compatibility issues. These memory modules will give no more than 3-4% performance increase, and the risk of getting defective products increases significantly.

We recommend using RAM from manufacturers such as Kingston, OCZ, Corsair, Hynix as the most reliable and compatible memory modules. The volume is determined according to your needs, however, there are recommendations that are given below:

* The above RAM capacities are based on Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. It will allow you to choose a 32 or 64-bit system during installation without changing the key.

Remember! Most modern processors / chipsets have a dual-channel memory controller, i.e. For maximum performance, you must install memory modules in pairs. The exception is Intel Core i7 9xx processors, which are equipped with a three-channel controller, therefore the number of modules must be a multiple of three (3 or 6). Attention! 32-bit operating systems of the Windows family do not work with more than 4 GB of RAM. and Intel LGA 2011 Core i7 3xxx processors now have 4 channels and require 4 or 8 DIMM slots respectively.

Attention! 32-bit operating systems of the Windows family cannot address more than 4 GB of RAM.

Many modern manufacturers produce memory in kits (2, 3, 4 or 6 modules per pack). However, this has a significant disadvantage - in the event of failure of even one module, you will have to carry all the modules to the warranty department at once, as a result of which you get a temporarily non-working system unit.

6. Video card.

A device that takes care of displaying images on a monitor, calculating 3D scenes in graphic applications and games, as well as recently calculating non-graphic tasks using DirectCompute 12, Open CL, nVidia CUDA, ATI Stream technologies. The last two technologies mentioned are closed and can only be found on video cards from the respective manufacturers.

The types of memory used in the manufacture of graphics cards are listed in order of increasing performance:

GDDR 3, GDDR 4, GDDR 5, HBM2

Now let's talk about video chips, the choice of which confuses even experienced users. There are over 30 chip types to choose from, with manufacturers adding something different to every design, from chip cooling to PCB design.

The choice depends on the type of computer that meets your requirements:

1. Office PC (Internet, office applications). The graphics system is not important, so you can use the integrated graphics, and in case of its absence, you can use the simplest discrete graphics cards.

2. Multimedia computer - these are the most common home computers. Graphics requirements are quite important here, so you need to choose from mid-range graphics cards.

3. Gaming computers are the choice for those who cannot imagine their computer without games. It is for you, dear gamers, that nVidia and AMD are trying to make video cards that are faster than their counterparts on the market. For gaming computers, you need a video card on high-performance chips, and if this is not enough, then 2 or 3 video cards.

4. Professional graphics stations are computers with high performance, which are intended primarily for successful work in three-dimensional graphics. It makes no difference whether it is the development of a project for various installations or parts, the creation of projects for structures and buildings, as well as the visualization of the results obtained after the calculations have been made. This indicates the high performance of these stations and characterizes them, respectively, on the positive side for the consumer. Such solutions require professional graphics cards.

In addition to the fact that professional-class solutions are available both in AMD (ATI FirePro or ATI FireGL) and NVIDIA (Quadro FX, Tesla). We tend to give credence to NVIDIA graphics cards a lot. As shown by the results of our tests, including data from some vendors for complex solutions, AMD solutions are inferior in terms of performance in many well-known applications related to CAD.

It should also be taken into account that the older lines of NVIDIA models do not have direct analogues in the AMD line, and have high advantages over them, incredible performance of double precision operations, a volume that defines on-board memory as the largest, and surpass other distinguishing characteristics.

If the budget still has limits, then to build a gaming computer it is recommended to save on some components, but purchase a fast video card. You can choose a suitable video card from the whole variety in the video card section.

7. Optical drive.

There are two types of optical drives:

1. DVD±RW (writes and reads DVDs and CDs)

2. BD-ROM (reads all types of modern optical media - CD, DVD and Blu-Ray. As a rule, it does not write anything, but there are still models with the ability to record CD and DVD)

The most common today - DVD±RW. Its capabilities are enough for all modern needs, and the price difference with the outdated DVD-ROM is very small. You should pay attention to the Blu-Ray drive if you are going to work with high-definition video materials (Blu-Ray video). Choose the right DVD ±RW / BD –ROM can be found in the drives section.

The motherboard is one of the most valuable devices in a computer, on which all the necessary components are installed. The operation of the entire system as a whole depends on the reliability of this element.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a motherboard?

1. The form factor of the board must match the form factor of the selected case. In most cases, you can fit a smaller board into a larger case, but it's not economically viable because larger cases tend to cost more.

2. Compatibility with other components. The processor must be in the compatibility list on the manufacturer's website. The type of memory must correspond to the selected memory and the central processor, in other cases the board may either not work, or the module will not physically fit into the slot.

Remember! DDR 3, DDR 4 are incompatible with each other.

Modern video cards have different versions of the PCI-Express interface and they are all compatible with each other, so do not focus on this. It is worth considering in advance whether you will add additional equipment to the system unit (sound card, network card, analog modem, TV tuner, PCI-E M.2, etc.). If yes, then select a board with the required number of slots, PCI-E and M.2. To increase reliability, the use of solid polymer capacitors is excellent. As a result of their use, the fault tolerance of boards and other equipment connected to them is significantly increased.

We recommend Gigabyte boards and often use them in our standard computers. They are reliable due to the use of the latest developments (capacitors with a solid polymer, coils with a ferrite core). All these technologies are combined under the Ultra Durable 3 brand. The above motherboards support energy saving technologies (for example, Easy Energy Saver), thanks to which the computer will make less noise and consume less energy. Modern boards have a built-in Q-Flash utility to facilitate assembly. It is designed to flash the latest BIOS versions, and in case of an error, modern DualBIOS technology is supported, which saves in case of failure of an incorrectly flashed motherboard.

Do not forget about the functionality of the board. One of the criteria is the need, for example, to overwrite data from your digital video camera. If yes, then choose a board with an integrated IEEE 1394 controller. Also decide whether you plan to increase the speed of the graphics system by building Crossfire or SLI and whether you want to build RAID. It is better to think about a motherboard that supports these technologies from the start than to spend money on a replacement motherboard in the future.

In the catalog of motherboards, you will find a wide selection of motherboards that can satisfy a variety of requests and requirements.

Of the well-known manufacturers, it is also worth highlighting MSI, ASUS and ASRock boards, which have a wide functional and price range, even in the low price range they embody an acceptable level of comfort during assembly, configuration and operation of the computer.

9. Auxiliary table when choosing a PC

So, when you have decided on the manufacturer of the motherboard, let's move on to matching the board and the selected components. Let's try to bring the necessary information into a table that will help you choose a board that meets your requirements.

Accessories

Features related to motherboard selection

Find out how to choose the right computer for your home

Almost every person who knows how to use a computer and the Internet at least a little has a computer. Yes, not everyone still has personal computers. Most often it happens that the first computer is purchased for the whole family: for both adults and children. After a little time, households begin to understand that everyone should have their own personal computer. And it's time to go to the store for a new purchase - the family decided to buy another computer. The question immediately arises: how to choose a computer for home?

Despite the fact that some time ago, someone already told us that we need to choose, valuable information is forgotten, and time does not stand still, and at this moment the help of the Internet in this matter is simply invaluable: by asking the search engine the question “How to choose home computer”, we can easily combine all the information into a kind of memo and then go shopping.

Tech stuff will help you make the right choice and wisely invest the money you have set aside to buy a computer. Since in the store you will most likely get a headache from the abundance of a rich assortment and boasting of sales assistants, but at home, in a calm home environment, Techno-Things will help you navigate and figure out what exactly you want to buy.

How to choose the right computer for your home

Let's start from the beginning and determine for whom we buy a computer? Who is the future owner of the miracle technology? Adult, elderly, young person, man or woman, child - what age?

The second thing is to clearly indicate to ourselves for what purposes the computer will be used. Maybe it's a little play, sit in social networks, find reference and useful information? Or maybe you like to play toys for which you need to choose a far from weak computer?

If it is still difficult to decide on the main questions, see the tips:

First. If you need a computer mainly for work, then some office or budget option will do, designed for bookkeeping, working with texts and tables, as well as for working on the Internet and with e-mail, which will include the most low-power 2-core processor (single-core, unfortunately or not, it's getting harder and harder to find every day), 80-160 GB hard drive and 1-2 GB RAM. The video is quite good and built into the motherboard. A 300 W power supply will be enough for such a configuration. The price of such a computer (with a monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard) will be from 10,000 to 15,000 rubles.

Second. You intend to use your home computer both for working with multimedia files, i.e. for processing photos or images, for editing and recording music files, for video editing, and for non-resource-intensive computer games, for watching movies, for conquering the depths of the Internet. Such a computer is already more demanding in terms of processor resources, RAM, free space on the hard drive, and besides, it cannot cope with such tasks without an external video card. Here you already need to choose a two- or better four-core processor, from 2 to 4 GB of RAM and from 500 to 1000 GB hard drive (multimedia files take up a lot of space, so, for example, a DVD movie in licensed quality can take 4-9 GB). You need an optical drive to read and write CD-DVDs. Accordingly, the power supply is needed more powerful - from 400 watts. Such a kit will cost about 15-25 thousand rubles.

Third. If you are a fan of video games, then you have no choice but to buy a powerful computer. And here the price will depend entirely on the games that you want to install. We must not forget that gaming computers are very demanding on computing resources, and the higher the level of games, the more performance it should have. A gaming PC must meet the highest demands of modern games with high-quality graphics and surround sound. This is at least a quad-core processor with a clock speed of more than 3 GHz, at least 4 gigabytes of RAM, and at least 1 terabyte of hard disk space. When choosing a gaming computer, you should not save on a video card, since it is almost completely responsible for the quality of graphics and video. It should be noted that the main indicator for a video card is the video core, it is on it that the performance of the video card in toys depends. You also need to take care of high-quality sound, i.e. a good sound card and a set of acoustics should be in your package. We cannot do without an optical DVD drive, and even better if it is a Blu-Ray drive. And, accordingly, in order to feed all this economy, it is better to take the power supply with a margin - from 500 W or more. Again, a good spacious case and high-quality cooling are simply necessary for your system unit, because you don’t want to listen to the rattle and rumble of an “airplane taking off”. Yes, and frequent shutdowns of the computer due to overloads are also useless to you! Well, the price of such a configuration is less than 25,000 rubles.

Yes, the work ahead is difficult, because unfamiliar words are so far from reality that they frighten everyone who hears them for the first time with their uncertainty. But you need to get used to these words, since you will have to constantly encounter them in the process of working at a computer. This is the slang that will now need to be learned. Even in order to calmly navigate with knowledge of the matter when choosing a computer.

We remind you once again: before you go to buy a computer, you need to clearly formulate the requirements for all parameters of the future computer - from the color of the system unit to the size of the hard drive.

After you have mentally determined for yourself the main parameters of the future computer, you can safely go to the store in search of a suitable option. As a rule, in stores, buyers are offered two options - to buy a ready-made computer and to assemble a computer based on your requirements. The main disadvantage of buying a ready-made system unit is that during the time that the computer is on the store counter, it could become obsolete. Of course, choosing the best option among ready-made computers is much more difficult - one computer has a video card that you wanted to purchase, but at the same time a small hard drive is installed here. If you're willing to wait a few weeks, it's best to stick with the last option. by assembling a computer to order, you get more "fresh" computer hardware. In this case, you yourself determine all the parameters of the computer based on your wishes, the planned budget and the advice of the store manager.

Recommended: When buying a computer, choose a motherboard with several slots for RAM - this will allow you to install additional memory strips if necessary in the future. Also, do not buy a computer in which there is not enough space for installing hard drives.

• If you have a very limited budget for buying a computer for your home, we recommend that you visit several stores at once, determine for yourself the computer you plan to purchase, and then compare prices. The situation is similar if you plan to buy a computer to order, select the required computer configuration in several stores at once and compare the pricing policy in each of them.
• Many computer stores hold various promotions and provide discounts. If you want to save money when buying a computer, buy a computer during the pre-holiday promotions.

Ideal computer for home

In order for you to be able to navigate the technical specifications, we have selected for you the most ideal model of a home computer that is suitable for both entertainment and work:

System unit: Minitower INWIN Z589 MicroATX 400W

Winchester: HDD 500 Gb SATA-II 300 Seagate/Maxtor Barracuda 7200 2 pcs.

RAM: Samsung DDR-II DIMM 1Gb 2 pcs.

Video card: PCI-E DDR-3 Zotac GeForce GT240 1Gb

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93 GHz.

Motherboard: GigaByte GA-G31M-ES2L rev2.0 (OEM) LGA775

At a cost, such a system unit will cost approximately at 17,000 -19,500 rubles. The cost depends on the store where you will buy the system unit, as well as on the availability of the operating system in the kit.

We cannot imagine our lives without computers, and yet many do not know what the “stuffing” of a PC is. Therefore, the question "how to choose a computer?" confuses a lot of people. What parameters to pay attention to when choosing a computer for home or office - about this in an accessible language in our article.

Which computer is suitable for home

First you need to decide what type of computer you need for your home - stationary (desktop) or miniature (laptop, monoblock, nettop). They differ not only in size. Of course, a laptop, monoblock or nettop is much more compact, and this is important if you live in a very small apartment or studio. In addition, the laptop is mobile, you can take it with you anywhere - this is a plus if you travel often and do not want to part with it.

However, there are other fundamental differences. Laptops are usually much less powerful than desktops (the exception is laptops designed specifically for gaming), the ability to upgrade laptops is very limited - if you can replace almost any component in a stationary PC, then upgrading a laptop is more difficult. You can only replace the RAM and hard drive, as well as purchase an external video card, but even this is not possible for every model.

In desktop models, the choice of components allows you to design the perfect PC that will meet your needs. Another important point - a computer monitor can be of almost any size and quality, the choice is now huge. But a laptop monitor is almost never larger than 18 inches diagonally, and you cannot replace it.

In general, if mobility is not a priority for you, then you need a stationary PC, and in the future we will talk about it.

So, a home computer - how do you intend to use it? Usually people buy PCs for study, games and entertainment, such as watching movies, and surfing the Internet. How to choose a computer for each of these tasks and what to look for?

Computer for games

• Microprocessor. Games require a balanced processor. Pay attention to 4-core 8-thread models with a frequency of 3 GHz (at least). For example, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or Intel Core i7-7700 will do.
• RAM. 8 GB is the minimum for a gaming computer. But it's better not to waste time on trifles and purchase 16 GB of RAM - this is enough for most tasks. For gaming computers, special gaming memory has been developed, for example, from the Kingston HyperX line.
• video card. Gamers can't do without a good graphics card. Games require at least 3 GB of VRAM. The best choice would be a GeForce GPU, since most games are optimized for it. Look out for GeForce GTX 9 and 10 series based graphics cards, as well as Radeon RX 500 and Vega cards.
• HDD. The required hard disk space for a gaming computer is 2 TB for storing media files and video content.
• SSD- a disk of small volume, but high speed. An SSD is needed to install the operating system and quickly load and run programs. For games, an SSD is essential as they tend to be very "heavy". Gamers should pay attention to the SSD with a capacity of 240 GB. A Samsung 840 Pro or a smaller and more affordable 240 GB Intel 730 Series is perfect.
• Motherboard. This is the "foundation" of the computer. The most important indicator is the chipset of the board. For games, Z370 (for Intel) or B350 (for AMD) are suitable.
• power unit. You will have to spend money on a powerful power supply (from 600 W).
• Monitor. For games, monitors with a diagonal of at least 20 inches are well suited, preferably Full HD. Such a monitor will allow you to appreciate the beauty of the graphics. Pay attention to such an indicator as response time. Look for a monitor with a response time of no more than 5ms, otherwise fast-moving objects on the screen will look somewhat blurry.

It is important!
Particular attention when choosing any computer should be given to the processor. After all, it is the "brain" of the computer. Over the past decade, technology has stepped far forward, processors have become more powerful, productive and intelligent. Modern processors such as 6-core AMD Ryzen™ 5 CPUs with up to 12 threads and up to 16MB cache or 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs with 16 processing threads and up to 20MB cache provide high-end performance for gaming, creating content and perform several resource-intensive tasks. Moreover, thanks to the AMD Ryzen Master program, you can independently adjust the performance of the processor depending on your needs. And powerful AMD Ryzen PRO series processors are suitable for premium graphics workstations and desktop PCs. They are equipped with built-in security to meet the high demands of professionals and provide reliable protection of corporate data.

entertainment computer

• Microprocessor. Choose machines with a 2-core processor and a frequency of about 2-3 GHz. Such processors can be either 2- or 4-thread, but if you use your computer to watch movies, listen to music and explore the Internet, this indicator is not important, a 2-thread processor will be enough for you. We advise you to take a closer look at the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 and Intel Core i5-7400 processors.
• RAM. The necessary and sufficient capacity of "RAM" in this case is 8 GB or less.
• video card. Most likely, you will not need a video card at all, since integrated video on the motherboard is enough to surf the Internet and watch videos.
• HDD. For entertainment, a 1 TB disk is enough. This is enough to store movies and music, but if you have a very large collection, look for something more voluminous.
• SSD. If you are using a computer for multimedia, a 120 GB SSD will suffice.
• Motherboard. For a multimedia computer, B250/H270 (for Intel) and A320 (for AMD) are suitable.
• power unit. 400 W is quite sufficient power for a home computer. If you are planning an upgrade, you can take the power supply "with a margin" - 500 watts.
• Monitor. If you are going to use your computer as a home cinema, you will need a Full HD monitor with a diagonal of 23 inches or more. For watching movies, it is better to choose a widescreen matrix (16:9). If you will use it mainly for Internet access, then 18-20 inches will suffice. Like gaming, watching movies requires a monitor with a fast response time of 8ms or less.

Which computer to choose for office and work

Computer for solving basic office tasks

• Microprocessor. An office computer needs the same processor as a home entertainment PC, i.e. 2-core, 2-thread, 2-3 GHz. For example, AMD A8, A10 series, Intel Pentium G4620.
• RAM. For office work, 4 GB will be enough.
• video card. A separate video card is not required for an ordinary office computer; a motherboard with integrated video is enough for such machines.
• HDD. You won't need a disk larger than 1TB.
• SSD. For an office computer, a 240 GB SSD, for example Silicon Power S60, is suitable.
• Motherboard. A simple motherboard is enough - B250 / H270 (for Intel) and A320 (for AMD).
• power unit. A 400W power supply will suffice for an office computer.
• Monitor. Since such a computer will be used mainly for office programs like Word and Excel, there is no need to spend money on a large monitor - an inexpensive matte monitor with a diagonal of 20 inches will be more than enough.

On a note
When looking for a good computer for your home or office, you need to pay attention to factory-assembled models. Their components are selected by engineers according to basic needs and compatibility. Assembling a computer on your own makes sense only if you are an enthusiast and like to see how it works. If you have special requirements for the machine - as a rule, it is necessary for gamers, professional designers, videographers, editors, etc. - then you need to use the "assembly to order" service, where the seller will take into account all your wishes, but taking into account the quality of components, their compatibility and price. But for study and office work, it is easier and more reliable to buy a ready-made solution. If you still want to assemble the car yourself, you can use configurators to select components: there are a lot of them on the Internet, but one of the most convenient is the configurator on the company's website.

Workstation for specific tasks

• Microprocessor. The processor requirements for running graphics and video editors are similar to those for a gaming computer - you need a 4-core 8-thread processor with a frequency of 3 GHz. In the event that you need the most powerful processor (for example, for serious work with 3D), you can pay attention to 6-core and 8-core processors, but they already belong to the hi-end category and are much more expensive. For example, an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 processor with 16 processing threads and 20 MB of cache.
• RAM. Look for "RAM" with a capacity of 8-16 GB. Graphic programs require large amounts of memory and are processed precisely on the "RAM".
• video card. A powerful video card with at least 3 GB of memory is required to work with 3D and video. If you work in programs like Photoshop, then in some cases you can get by with integrated video.
• HDD. To work with graphics, you will need a disk of 2 TB or more.
• SSD with a speed of 550 Mb / s and a capacity of 240 GB - a must for a professional computer.
• Motherboard. The main requirement for the "motherboard" for professional machines is reliability. Take a closer look at the Asus Prime X370-PRO or GIGABYTE-G1.Sniper-Z97.
• power unit. You will need a good supply of power, so choose a power supply of about 600W or higher.
• Monitor. If you work with graphics, you can't save on a monitor. The best fit is a Full HD monitor with a diagonal of 23 inches and a good IPS or PLS-matrix, always matte.

As you can see, the package and, consequently, the price depend on the purposes for which you are going to use the computer. That is why it is worth trying to delve into the intricacies so as not to overpay for extra functionality - or, even worse, not to buy a computer that does not meet the tasks.

Computer for basic tasks

If we are talking about the basic model - a computer for a child or a machine for working on the Internet and office applications, focus on affordable and at the same time reliable models. In addition to surfing the net and basic software applications, the system unit of the basic configuration will support simple games, allow you to listen to music, watch movies, store and process photos.

When choosing a system unit, first decide on the range of tasks planned for the new PC, because each computer is an optimal set of components for its segment. Base-level system blocks costing up to 15,000 rubles are designed for simple applications: text editors, spreadsheets, databases, documents and presentations. Their arsenal also includes music and video, access to e-mail and the Internet, games that are not demanding on resources. Personal computers of this category are based on single- and dual-core processors with a frequency of 1.2-2.7 GHz (Celeron, Pentium Dual Core, Sempron, Athlon) with 1-3 GB of RAM. For the described range of tasks, the capabilities of an integrated video adapter or an inexpensive video card are quite enough. Modern integrated graphics accelerators are much more powerful than their predecessors and will suit most home and work PC users in terms of their capabilities.

If you plan to store a library of movies, music and photos on your computer, take care of a capacious hard drive up to 320 GB. Don't forget about additional components: a DVD±RW optical drive for burning/copying discs, a card reader for copying photos from a camera or mobile phone. An important detail is the ability to improve the PC over time, to make it more powerful, adjusting it to the increased needs. This can be achieved by changing the processor, adding additional RAM or a second hard drive. This approach will allow over time to get a more powerful system at a reasonable cost. But the prospects for such an upgrade should be asked in advance.

Home multimedia center

A universal multimedia computer, in addition to basic tasks, will also take on the functions of a home entertainment center. It will be based on modern AMD or Intel processors, high-performance ATI or nVidia video cards, increased hard drives with a high-speed SATA interface. In addition to playing high-definition video in HD and Full HD formats, a system unit in this category will allow you to run modern games, although not in maximum quality.

Dual-core or triple-core processor AMD Athlon II, Phenom X3 or Intel iCore3 and iCore5, high-performance discrete graphics card with 512 MB of internal memory, support for the latest video and audio formats - multimedia computers cope with a wide range of tasks, including modern games. They are also distinguished from the basic configuration by the amount of RAM increased to 3-4 GB, which is critical for running multimedia applications. Convenient options are a TV and FM tuner with support for recording programs, but in this case, do not forget to get the most capacious built-in hard drive with a disk rotation speed of up to 7200 rpm or take care of additional purchase of an external hard drive.

Integral components of a modern multimedia computer are multi-channel surround sound and HDMI interface support for high-definition video signal output to a widescreen monitor. Make sure your multimedia computer's graphics card has modern DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort outputs. Don't forget about an integrated or separate network card and LAN support if you plan to connect a modern flat-panel TV or other network devices to your computer via a wired or wireless network.

At a price of up to 25,000 rubles, multimedia equipment is an excellent option not only for entertainment, but also for hobbies. Compatibility with resource-intensive tasks, including basic 3D graphics, digital photo and image editing, video and audio processing, does not prevent system units in this category from remaining affordable. Thanks to its flexibility and relatively high performance, multimedia PCs offer the best value for money.

Gaming system unit

Gaming computers are traditionally equipped with the most modern components and technologies, so they occupy the top positions in the price range. Powerful system blocks based on quad-core processors and latest generation graphics cards provide access to the latest achievements in the gaming industry, including support for realistic special effects and three-dimensional images.

Fans of 3D computer worlds, video editing and musical arrangement enthusiasts are addressed to the most productive solutions with the widest possibilities. Quad-core Intel Core QUAD, Intel CORE i5 and i7 or AMD Athlon II X4 and Phenom X4 processors are combined with the best nVidia and ATI graphics processors with memory capacity from 4 MB. If a video card supports SLI (nVidia) or CrossFire (ATI) modes, you can later add another one to it, thus increasing system performance. The recommended amount of RAM is 4 GB.

With the explosion in popularity of 3D movies and games, some gaming configurations are offered with innovative nVidia 3D Vision software and wireless 3D glasses for a fully immersive virtual reality experience and amazing movie and game special effects.

The range of prices among gaming computers is quite wide, but the principle of choice is the same - the more resources, the better, since gaming applications remain the same catalyst for the rapid progress of the PC. So, for example, gaming-class computers are actively equipped with Blu-ray optical drives - it is on Blu-ray discs that the latest three-dimensional games and movies are now being released. Given the solid power consumption and a fairly high noise level, system units of this class, the cost of which can exceed 60,000 rubles, should be purchased only by those who intend to use their computing power to the maximum. Along with modern gaming applications, these applications include video encoding and complex graphics processing.

Additional points

The main advantage of buying a ready-made system unit is that the user does not need to delve into the variety of processors, video cards, motherboards on the market ... Ready-made configurations offered by manufacturers ensure optimal and reliable operation of all components without exception. To choose a computer for your tasks, it is not necessary to have an exact classification of processors in your head or remember all generations of video cards: the basic concepts and parameters of a computer, together with the price, clearly characterize the area of ​​application for which it is designed.

If earlier computer performance was estimated by the processor clock frequency, with the advent of multi-core technologies this method turned out to be frankly outdated - you should not add the frequencies of two processors in order to get an accurate picture of the PC's power. Instead of specifying frequency, cache, and bus, Intel and AMD processors are labeled with specific model numbers. The higher the number and the more cores the processor has, the better its characteristics, the faster, more powerful and, of course, more expensive it is.

You can easily figure out the conventions of video cards if you remember the principle of their marking, which is largely similar for the leading manufacturers - ATI and nVidia. The first number indicates the generation of the card, the next - its performance. As in the case of processors, the higher the number (excluding the first digit), the more productive and powerful the card: for example, the nVidia 8800 GT is more productive than the 9300 GT model. *700, *800, *850, *900 video cards are suitable for modern games and 3D graphics. Mid-range graphics for multimedia computers - *300, *350, *400, *450, *470. Entry-level graphics systems for working with the Internet, e-mail, office applications. - *000, *100, *150, *200, *250.