Upgrading your PC can provide a multitude of significant benefits that go beyond mere cosmetic enhancements. You have the opportunity to substantially improve your PC’s overall performance, enhance its capabilities, and ensure compatibility with the latest features and technologies. Whether you’re a dedicated gamer seeking smoother gameplay and higher frame rates, a content creator striving for faster rendering and multitasking, or a general user in pursuit of a more responsive and efficient computing experience, upgrading your PC empowers you to unlock its full potential and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Choosing the Right Parts

Choosing the right components for your PC upgrades is crucial to meet your specific needs and budget. Here’s an explanation of different types of components and some advice on selecting the right ones:

Types of PC Parts

  • CPU (Central Processing Unit): The CPU is the brain of your PC, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. Consider factors like the number of cores, clock speed, and compatibility with your motherboard’s socket type. Determine your usage requirements, such as gaming, content creation, or everyday tasks, and choose a CPU that strikes a balance between performance and cost.
  • GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): The GPU handles graphics rendering and is crucial for gaming and visual-intensive tasks. Consider factors like VRAM capacity, clock speed, and CUDA cores (for Nvidia GPUs). Look for benchmarks and reviews to gauge performance in your desired games or applications and choose a GPU that meets your resolution and graphics settings requirements.
  • RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM affects your PC’s multitasking capabilities. Consider the capacity (measured in gigabytes) and speed (measured in MHz) of the RAM modules. Higher capacity allows for smoother multitasking, while faster speed improves overall system responsiveness. Ensure compatibility with your motherboard and choose a capacity and speed that suits your usage patterns.
  • Storage Devices: SSDs (Solid State Drives) offer faster boot times and application loading, while HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) provide larger storage capacities at a lower cost per gigabyte. Consider the size (measured in gigabytes or terabytes) and the type (SSD or HDD) based on your storage requirements and budget. Consider a combination of both SSD and HDD to balance speed and storage capacity.
  • Power Supply: The power supply unit (PSU) provides electrical power to all components. Consider the wattage required by your components, and choose a PSU that provides sufficient power overhead for stable operation. To calculate how much wattage you need, you can go to either Newegg’s Power Supply Calculator or OuterVision Power Supply Calculator. Look for reputable brands and consider efficiency ratings, such as 80 Plus Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum, to minimize power wastage.
  • Motherboard: The motherboard serves as the foundation for your PC, connecting all components. Consider factors such as socket type compatibility with your chosen CPU, the number of expansion slots, support for RAM capacity and speed, and additional features like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Choose a motherboard that meets your current and potential future needs.

Your Specific Needs and Compatibility

It’s best to determine your budget and allocate it based on your priorities. Identify the components that will have the most significant impact on your specific use cases, such as gaming or content creation, and allocate a larger portion of your budget to those components. Consider finding a balance between performance and cost to get the best value for your money.

Reading reviews, benchmarks, and recommendations from reputable sources or trusted PC enthusiasts’ communities will help you get an idea of what kind of performance you’ll receive from that component. They can provide insights into the performance, reliability, and compatibility of different components, helping you make informed decisions.

Remember; however, not every PC part is compatible with each other. For instance, an AMD CPU can’t fit into an Intel-based motherboard or DDR4 RAM won’t work in a DDR5 motherboard. It’s important to check whether a part will fit into a specific motherboard correctly. That’s why we’d recommend checking and using PC Part Picker for this specific reason.

By considering your specific needs, usage patterns, and budget, you can select the right components for your PC upgrades. Remember to prioritize the components that will have the most significant impact on your desired use cases while finding a balance between performance and cost.

Preparing for Installation

Now that you’ve received the part, it’s time to install it! But there are a few things you may need:

Tools required

  • Phillips Screwdriver: Most screws within a PC will have Phillips/Cross shaped screws. Bonus points if your screwdriver has a magnetized head!
  • Thermal Paste (for CPU): If you’re replacing or reseating the CPU, you might need thermal paste to ensure proper heat transfer between the CPU and its cooler.
  • (Optional) Cable Ties or Velcro Straps: These can be handy for organizing cables.
  • (Optional) Compressed Air or Anti-static Cloth/Brush: Use these tools to remove dust and debris from components and ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Best Practices

  • Power Down and Disconnect: Shut down your PC completely and disconnect the power cable from the wall outlet. Unplug any other peripherals connected to the PC.
  • Ground Yourself: Before handling any components, ground yourself to discharge any static electricity that could damage sensitive components. You can do this by touching a grounded metal surface or using an anti-static wrist strap. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can harm sensitive PC components. Avoid working on a carpeted surface, wear an anti-static wrist strap, and/or handle components by their edges or designated handles.
  • Refer to Component-Specific Guides: Consult the manuals or online guides provided by the component manufacturers for detailed instructions on removing and installing specific components.
  • Remove Old Components Carefully: Gently disconnect cables, connectors, and screws holding the old components in place. Avoid excessive force or bending of cables. Take note of the cables’ connections or take pictures beforehand to ensure correct reinstallation later.
  • Clean the PC Case: Use compressed air or an anti-static cleaning brush to remove dust and debris from the PC case, fans, and heat sinks. This improves airflow and prevents overheating.
  • Apply Thermal Paste Properly (for CPU): If you’re installing or reseating the CPU, as a guide, use a pea-sized amount/the size of a small capacitor on your motherboard, or use a card/thermal paste spreader to spread the paste across evenly.

Testing the New Parts

After installing new components in your PC, it’s important to test them for proper functioning and performance to ensure everything is working as intended. Here’s how to test the new components:

  • Power On and BIOS Check: Start by powering on your PC and entering the BIOS setup. Verify that the new components are recognized and properly detected by the system. Ensure that all settings are correctly configured, such as memory frequency or CPU clock speeds, if applicable. On the motherboard, there may be a set of 4 different LED lights. These are called Debug LEDs. They can appear when booting, but if it’s not booting at all or they’re staying on after booting, there may be an issue.
  • Operating System Check: Once your PC boots into the operating system, check the Device Manager or System Information to ensure that the new components are listed correctly without any error indicators (e.g., yellow exclamation marks).
  • Driver Updates: It’s important to remember to uninstall any drivers; CPU, GPU, or otherwise, before installing new components. Then, after installed, download the drivers you need. Visit the manufacturers’ websites or use driver update software to download the latest drivers. Drivers can improve compatibility and performance.
  • Temperature Monitoring: Keep an eye on component temperatures during stress tests and normal usage. Use monitoring software like HWinfo or MSI Afterburner to check the CPU and GPU temperatures. Ensure that the new components are operating within safe temperature limits to prevent overheating issues.
  • Stability Testing: To test the stability and reliability of the new components, you can use stress testing software. Programs like Prime95, AIDA64, or IntelBurnTest can stress the CPU and RAM, while FurMark can stress the GPU. Or, if possible, run high-intense graphical/computational games to test if they’ll run as expected. Run these tests for an extended period to verify that the new components can handle heavy workloads without crashing or overheating.
  • Benchmarking: Benchmarking tools help measure the performance of your new components and compare them to similar setups. Popular benchmarking tools include 3DMark for GPU performance, PCMark for overall system performance, and Cinebench for CPU performance. Run these benchmarks and compare the results with similar systems to ensure your components are performing as expected.

By performing these tests, you can ensure that the new components are functioning correctly, stable under heavy workloads, and providing the expected performance boost. Monitoring temperatures and updating drivers regularly also contribute to a smooth and optimized system operation.

In Conclusion

Upgrading a PC offers numerous benefits, including improved performance, enhanced capabilities, and compatibility with the latest technologies. By investing in the right components and following compatibility guidelines, you can unleash the full potential of your PC and cater to your specific needs, whether it’s gaming, content creation, or everyday computing tasks.

Take a look at our Maintenance Guide for how to take care of your PC for the long term!

If you have any questions or issues, reach out to us at support [at] seattlebuilt.com.

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