Hardware?

[ShreksSwamp]

So just for the future of my gaming life, what are the most important hardware components to a gaming pc?

 

[DoctorMudkipz]

So just for the future of my gaming life, what are the most important hardware components to a gaming pc?

Haha i find the question amusing(all components are important). I know youre pointing towards performance-wise: for performance: RAM, GPU, CPU maybe the HDD or SSD

 

[pillar]

No offense, but you left out 1 crucial component: the power supply. No system can run w/o 1. Never hinder your gaming performance with a weak power supply. The list should go as follows tho:
1. cpu/processor
2. ram/memory
3. gpu/video card
4. psu/power supply

Optional:
1. ssd/solid state
2. liquid cooling heatsink

 

[ShreksSwamp]

So RAM comes before GPU?

 

[Cloakedsphere]

So RAM comes before GPU?

No. Definitely not. Its CPU then Motherboard. Then you can figure everything else out pretty easily. Find the socket of the CPU you want to use and pick your motherboard. Choosing something before a CPU/Motherboard is stupid because your part might not be compatible.

 

[ShreksSwamp]

Ok so something like this?
1. CPU/mobo
2. PSU
3. RAM
4. GPU

Then the rest after that?

 

[Cloakedsphere]

Ok so something like this?
1. CPU/mobo
2. PSU
3. RAM
4. GPU

Then the rest after that?

No. Power supply is ALWAYS last with the case.

Your going to start by looking for your CPU. Then finding your motherboard. Later finding RAM, Hard drive, CD/DVD drive, Graphics card, Power supply, Case.

 

[ShreksSwamp]

Sounds good. Thanks guys!!!!

 

[Snipeye]

I disagree with Cloaked's priorities just a lil bit. Here's how I structure my build:

1) Motherboard
2) CPU
3) RAM
4) GPU
5) PSU
6) HDD/SSD
7) 3rd Party Heatsink (if any)
8) DVD or Blu-Ray
9) Case

I view the motherboard as the skeletal structure that supports EVERYTHING else (ignoring the case of course). Everything you pick MUST be compatible with the motherboard, not with the CPU. Every other part you pick can be compatible with the CPU, whether it's AMD or Intel, but the motherboard is the only part that each hardware component must be compatible with.

CPU priority: Only need to make the mobo compatible (AMD mobo for AMD CPU)
Mobo priority: Must pick compatible sockets-CPU, make sure you don't use all the SATA connections for your SSD/HDDs, 20+4 or 24-pin connector vs 20-pin, IDE vs SATA, PCI 2.0 number of PCI-E 1.1 slots for peripheral cards, etc. etc...

Granted it's not a big deviation, but still does exist. But I agree that the RAM has a higher priority than the PSU, but I do put the PSU higher outside the Big Four (CPU, Mobo, RAM, and GPU).

 

[Cloakedsphere]

I disagree with Cloaked's priorities just a lil bit. Here's how I structure my build:

1) Motherboard
2) CPU
3) RAM
4) GPU
5) PSU
6) HDD/SSD
7) 3rd Party Heatsink (if any)
8) DVD or Blu-Ray
9) Case

I view the motherboard as the skeletal structure that supports EVERYTHING else (ignoring the case of course). Everything you pick MUST be compatible with the motherboard, not with the CPU. Every other part you pick can be compatible with the CPU, whether it's AMD or Intel, but the motherboard is the only part that each hardware component must be compatible with.

CPU priority: Only need to make the mobo compatible (AMD mobo for AMD CPU)
Mobo priority: Must pick compatible sockets-CPU, make sure you don't use all the SATA connections for your SSD/HDDs, 20+4 or 24-pin connector vs 20-pin, IDE vs SATA, PCI 2.0 number of PCI-E 1.1 slots for peripheral cards, etc. etc...

Granted it's not a big deviation, but still does exist. But I agree that the RAM has a higher priority than the PSU, but I do put the PSU higher outside the Big Four (CPU, Mobo, RAM, and GPU).

I find it much easier to pick your CPU first then to find the best fit motherboard and go from there. I never really have a set list I roll down. I just kinda go all over the place and when I am finished I figure out how much power im going to need for the entire PC and I make my guesstiments off that for the wattage I would need for the PC. Thats why I would always go with PSU last. And of course - RAM is obviously an important component for any PC. lol

 

[pillar]

Lets be honest here, we all have our own way to setup how we will order parts. The main thing here is that we have someone new who is wanting to learn a simple process of ordering computer parts for himself.

I will agree that the power supply should be ordered near the end of the process (even tho it is just as important a part of the setup as all the other items). Overall, the beginner order process should be:
1. cpu
2. motherboard
3. memory
4. hard drive
5. video card
6. power supply
7. case

Now mind you that the power supply and case are usually the last to be ordered so they can really go either way. Most important items are of course the top 3.