Build a Budget PC - #6

Choosing a Case

What is a case?

This one is fairly simple because it is the least technical piece of hardware on the parts list and is also the most easily seen! InCASE you didn't know the case is the external box that all hardware fits into. They usually come with some front panel I/O and a power/reset button.

So does it matter which one I get?

Do not let the simplicity of the case fool you. It is still deadly important that you purchase one that is compatible with your current and future parts. Quite handily the names for a PC case size correspond with motherboard sizings. This is the most important compatibility point you must get right. Cases are either ATX, MicroATX or Mini-ITX. This corresponds with motherboard sizings. It is likely that a larger case will have support for smaller boards as well as the largest size. This can be checked on the Case manufacturers website.

What else matters?

There are many features available on different cases. For example, some come with power supplies, extra fans, dust filters, LED's, glass windows and USB 3.0 front panel support. When buying a PC Case it is a good idea to think about what you want out of the case before even looking on any website for one. I would recommend not getting a case with a built-in PSU because they are not usually up to normal standards. In this day and age, I would recommend front panel USB 3.0 because it has faster data transfer speeds and it also helps to future-proof your case. I would also look for a case with at least two fans because this should ensure an airflow that is fast enough. Furthermore, dust filters are a must need for any case. If a case you are looking at does not have them then look for a different one. The lack of dust filters will mean your PC will become clogged with dust which can lead to overheating and even fires. Both LED's and windows are aesthetic choices and it is up to you.

Which one did I get?

I chose the Phanteks eclipse p400. This is a case that comes with two fans, dust filters all around, front panel USB 3.0, RGB lighting and a side panel window. The case is also an ATX size so I could upgrade in the future. This case looks very nice as well so overall I am extremely happy. I did not pay an extra £15 for the s (silent) version because I do not believe that a small amount of padding will make my system silent... Furthermore, I do not care that much about the noise my computer makes. 

Build a Budget PC - #5

Choosing the GPU/Graphics Card

What is a GPU?

A GPU is the silicone based chip found on the graphics card in your computer. Like a CPU it is a unit that does sums to provide information for your computer. A CPU is like a utility knife, It has a wide range of capabilities and can do many different tasks. This is needed in a modern PC because the tasks we undertake on them are very varied. A GPU is more like a surgeon's scalpel. It has one specific task, and for a GPU this is doing a huge amount of maths calculations to normally post pixels onto your screen. A GPU has thousands of almost identical cores that do almost identical tasks during their use. A GPU can also be used for other intensive maths tasks (like video editing) but we will mainly be talking about how they are used to calculate the positions of pixels on thew computers monitor. 

What are Graphics Cards?

A graphics card is the place where the GPU is housed. The graphics card contains; the GPU, VRAM and a cooling solution. The data that is about to be used by the GPU is stored on the VRAM (VideoRAM). This is much like how the standard RAM stores quick access data for the computers CPU. These components are mounted on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and connect to the MOBO usually via a PCI-e x16 connection. This gives it very close access to the CPU so it can be controlled easily. All parts of the graphics card give off heat which needs to be dissipated to ensure components do not overheat and therefore break. This means that heat sinks usually with fans attached are used to help the cooling process.

Who makes GPU's and Graphics Cards?

There are only two main companies that are currently manufacturing high-end GPU's. These are Nvidia and AMD. In my opinion (and also most computer enthusiasts) Nvidia is the superior brand. This is because they manufacture better chips for the same price as AMD. Although I say that I prefer Nvidia chips this is a massive generalisation and there are many Radeon (AMD) cards that are very competitive with GeForce (Nvidia) cards.

This is just the start of the story. There are many companies that then take these GPU's and put them onto different cards with different VRAM, cooling, aesthetics and also special add-ons (linked to games for example). There is a minimal performance difference between the different card manufacturers but it is always good to look out for different manufacturers of cards.

Which GPU/Graphics Card did I get?

What I decided to do is a very common PC building tactic. I planned all of my components with costs and then put the rest of it towards buying a GPU. I had £145 left over so this meant I didn't have quite enough for an AMD Rx470 but I had plenty for a GTX 1050ti. After I had selected my GPU I started to look at Video Cards as well. I decided that I wanted a card with 4Gb of VRAM with a small one fan cooling solution. This led me to purchase a Zotac GTX 1050ti. This is a small form factor card so it could be used in a smaller case in the future. It is also well known to be very quiet and also Zotac is a well known Video Card producer so I know it should last a long time.