Common PC mistakes to avoid!

I know I already built my computer almost last year at this point, but I always watch these videos regardless because I'm super paranoid that I messed something up

After building my first PC this past summer, the best advise I have for beginners is to TAKE YOUR TIME. I know it's exciting to see all your parts sprawled out on the table, and you can't wait to play those AAA titles at Ultra settings. However, going slow and doing it right the first time will save a lot of headaches down the road if you need to troubleshoot. If you get stuck, watch youtube vids, read the manuals, ask a friend that's built a PC before, and if you're still frustrated, take a break and come back. My first build took me 8 hours. Nothing worse than rushing through the build and potentially messing up components and ruining your day. The build is the fun part, enjoy it!

SSDs and HDDs both have their place. HDDs for the storage size - so long as they're internal and they're powered up occasionally to avoid bit rot, old style HDDs are great. NOT good for a windows drive - anyone using an HDD for windows at this point NEEDS to try it on even a standard SS, because they don't know what they's missing.

First step. Visual inspection before you even start the build. This allows you to spot any glaring defects and or damage from shipping before you even start building. Also to reiterate the importance of the brass standoffs. Don't just use the ones on the corners. Boards will flex if there's not enough support. Components (ie heavy GPU card) can cause the board to flex and possibly short out on the case. If there's a hole in the motherboard, and corresponding spot on the backplate in the case, use it!!

A friend of mine asked me to look at his PC as he was getting idle temps of around 60c which even for a Ryzen 9 5950x is hot. I took the CPU cooler off and he'd forgotten to take the plastic cover off the cooler. I laughed, called him a noob in my head, cleaned the thermal paste, put the cooler back on and booted up the system. 62c idle... wtf... Done the same again to see what the problem was. I'd forgotten to take the plastic cover off the cooler. I never told him but it happens to the best of us :face-blue-smiling:

One beginner mistake I've seen made at times is that sometimes people will assume if a power supply is modular that they can simply mix and match cables from any PSU, and this can easily lead to fried components and a really really bad day. Always ensure that the cables you're using are for 100% sure compatible with your specific PSU (not even just the manufacturer, I mean the specific model).

Jay does not need a proper outro, because he knows he is one of the best sources on YouTube and nobody is going to be leaving him! xD

don't forget to cover the importance of stand-outs. Very first build i ever did, years ago onw. I had no idea what those little brass posty things were for, and nothing explained them to me, so... I left them off, which meant that as soon as I powered up, I shorted out the ENTIRE motherboard (much blue smoke) in one easy lesson. DEM LITTLE BRASS THINGIES ARE IMPORTANT!!!

Hot tip: If you are using an air cooler, in most cases it is better to fully assemble the mainboard with the cooler outside of the case. This is especially important with double tower coolers, where you put a fan in the middle and have those stupid wires to mound the fan to the finstack. Bonus: If you have a modular power supply, also connect the CPU power cable(s) before finally putting the board in. Thank me later.

For the beginner builders out there make sure you put your IO shield in before the motherboard. It's not so much of a problem nowadays since some motherboards have it preinstalled but the budget motherboards won't and there's nothing worse than finishing your build to realise you've forgotten the IO shield. Also check your case measurements with your component measurements so you don't run into an AIO radiator not fitting or GPU not fitting because the case doesn't support certain clearances and then having to delay your build waiting for different components or case.

One major building mistake to make is ram clearance with a cpu cooler. I recently built a computer for a coworker and the radiator barely allows the clearance for the memory modules. We got lucky that things could be built easy enough but there were only a couple millimeters of clearance after everything was installed. Make sure to check the heights of ram clearance when you're looking for a cpu cooler, especially for air coolers and top mounted radiators.

Like you I've been repairing and building computers for around 35 years. I've come to the conclusion that every time I think I know what I'm doing everything gets changed. It does keep my mind going.

Honorable mention is make sure your case has room to work in if you're a beginner. Not having some cable slots in certain spots or the inner area being too cramped can be a bastard to deal with. Also wire up your fans LAST. Fans should almost always be the last thing you put into your computer so that you can easily access the EPS cable port on the motherboard for your CPU as well as managing the unholy amount of cables you have with fans, especially if they're the non-direct daisy chain RGB fans.

Two years ago it was videos like this that allowed me to build my first system. I honest to god went from not even knowing what the current parts were called to having two full builds under my belt. I'm grateful for Jay and a few other tech-tubers for being so good at putting together videos like this that teach so well.

I remember when I was building my first PC, it took me about two hours to figure out where everything was supposed to go. Then it didn't run and I spent a whole night figuring out what was wrong with it. Furious, tilted, almost ready to ship it to some professional builder. Started at around 2PM, PC started working at 6AM. That was 13 years ago and it is still one of the best memories I have. To anyone on the fence about whether or not to build your PC by yourself or not. Yes, do it. You might feel lost and on the verge of madness at some point, but you will look back at those memories with fondness.

I used to watch your videos around 2015 when I was building my first gaming computer, before I went to study at university, when the debate was around the GTX 970 vs R9 390. That computer lasted me 7 years until a month ago. I have long since graduated/started working now, and I don't play games any more, but I still come back and watch your videos just because your content is great to keep up to date with the latest in tech hardware. Thanks for your content!

I have done 3 builds since august, one for my father in law, one for my 16 year old, and one for me. I still watch Jay’s videos because I love his content.

Always keep your motherboard manual handy. It will be a life line your first few times building.

-- TIP: ALWAYS CHECK THE LOCATION/COUNT OF YOUR MOTHERBOARD RISERS. Make sure those risers (for the screws that mount your motherboard to the case) are in the CORRECT position, and they're the correct number of them. You risk grounding your motherboard if just one is out of place, or you have, example: a board that needs 9 risers, but there's 10 installed on the case. That 10th one doesn't belong, and could ground the board. Do a test install of the board only, don't hook anything up. Make sure you have all and only the risers lining up with the mobo holes perfectly. This happened to me with an old PIII rig decades ago. Ended up shipping the mobo back to Thompsons Computer Warehouse in FLA twice before I realized it the mobo tray had one extra riser installed.

Hands down most humiliating mistake I've made is springing for ram without double checking the QVL. I had to down clock and boot train until I could afford the time and money to fix it. Always check if your parts will match, especially if you are on a budget!