The Ultimate Heist: Building A High Rolling PC
Look at all that loot.
When building my PC, I came across hundreds of articles and videos about the same things, over and over. They were bland and they didn’t get to the point very quickly. They were also inundated with popup ads and weren’t easy to skim to get the information I needed. This article intends to fix all of that. Just looking for the critical pieces in a PC rig? Click here to scroll to the bottom for a list and recommended build, as well as a list of other necessary hardware. Interested in some mildly obscure film references, the recipe to your next rig, and my personal recommendations? Read on. New to PC building? Keep reading for the basics.
Building a computer is hard, but you know what’s easy? Robbing a casino. Just ask George Clooney (or Sinatra if you happen to be a septuagenarian). We’re going to cover the 9 things you’ll need to build a computer in the most exciting grand theft terms…a heist. And with that, let’s blow the bloody doors off this thing, shall we?
First thing’s first: you’ll need a leader. This is the guy that brings the whole team together. He knows everyone, what they do, and why they do it. Don’t worry about them, they’re with him. Meet your Motherboard. He gets along with everyone, and if he doesn’t, they’re gone.
Your motherboard is the base of operations or hub of your computer. Everything plugs in to it to function, and it is very important to get a motherboard that is compatible with the rest of your tech. Need specifics? That’s what sites like PC Part Picker and Newegg are for.
Here’s what you really need to know:
Several companies make Motherboards, and those companies’ parts are ultra compatible with first-party motherboards; this is not necessarily true of third-party parts. Do your research. Secondly, motherboards are currently undergoing a generational change. Make sure if you’re getting the latest and greatest, you go with the newest generation of motherboard, such as x570.
Motherboard recommendation: ASUS TUF GAMING x570 PLUS (WI-FI).
Next, we’ll need the brains of the operation. Think Brad Pitt’s character in Ocean’s 11, or Mark Wahlberg in the 2003 remake of The Italian Job. This is the guy that plans every detail, works with the crew to ensure they’re doing their jobs, and generally eats a lot (of power). This is your CPU.
What a charmer.
The CPU, or Computer Processing Unit, drives all critical processes in your computer, multi-tasking better than Danny Ocean himself. CPUs are made by two companies that matter: AMD and Intel. Chances are, you’ve heard of at least one. The contrast between the two companies in terms of performance is mild at best, these days. If you want specifics, watch some videos on YouTube.
Here is what you really need to know:
AMD Chips run hotter, Intel chips are slightly more optimized for gaming, and most importantly: AMD is the better choice for your money i.e. AMD is cheaper. I personally splurged for three things and tried to keep a tight budget for the rest. Those three things are CPU, GPU, and Power Supply.
CPU recommendation: AMD RYZEN 9 3900x.
With the plan all laid out, it’s time to call some folks in. There’s some brothers who are the best in the business at securing any supplies we’ll need, they’re also expert safe crackers. Let’s get them in on this. They go by the name RAM.
RAM is what your computer uses to access stored data. Later you’ll be picking out a hard drive or solid state drive. That drive will store the data you save, but in order to use the memory you choose, you need RAM to provide the metaphorical tools.
Here’s what you need to know:
RAM is standard abbreviation for Random Access Memory. It comes in sets of two long bars that plug directly into slots in your motherboard. You don’t need a ton of RAM to be happy, most people would be fine with 2x8 GBs or 16GB total. Between you and I, RAM is cheap, so do what you feel. I went for 32GB.
RAM recommendation: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB (2x16GB).
Now, we need to get our tech girl in here. She’ll help with all the 3D modeling, blueprints, traffic light coordination, camera hacking, the works. Meet your new GF…as in GeForce RTX.
GPU time already? Yep. They’re flashy, they’re large, and they come in a variety of letters and numbers. I’m still talking about the GPU, eyes up here. This is the part where your wallet starts making uncomfortable noises at you as it cringes in fear. Graphics cards, or Graphic Processing Units, are most likely the priciest part of your build.
Here’s what you really need to know:
The brand of your motherboard should be the same as your GPU if you have any notion of common sense. NVIDIA or EVO make the actual cards and software, but they’re pre-packaged with fans and other hardware/software from other companies. Confused? Me too. So, ASUS motherboard? ASUS GPU. Simple right? Now, get ready for this mouthful of incomprehensible psychobabble.
GPU recommendation: ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super 8GB GDDR6
It’s time we tell you the plan. We’re robbing a safe in the heart of a Las Vegas casino. Or perhaps, an armored truck filled to its limits with Venetian gold. Maybe we’ll dress up as nuns! The point is, we need something to break into with our trusty safe crackers, the RAM bros. Meet the safe: a Solid State Memory Drive.
SSD’s are expensive, and also far faster than their Hard Disk Drive (HDD) brethren. However, HDD’s are way cheaper, less…expedient, and get the job done. Most people recommend you get an SSD as a “boot drive” and an HDD as your main storage unit. I think that’s some malarkey. I have a single 2TB NVMe SSD, and my computer runs like Tom Cruise in all the heist movies I haven’t referenced. 2TB is a ridiculous amount of space. NVMe is an acronym that stands for, “this plugs directly into your motherboard.” It’s the fastest possible memory, and it would make Usain Bolt’s and Jesse Owen’s love child look slow.
Here’s what you need to know:
NVMe PCIe M.2 is the newest plug interface on motherboards, ensure compatibility. The recommended motherboard has two of these slots. You can use an NVMe SSD to boot, or for general use. They run very hot, be careful about airflow. SSD and HDD are acceptable for everything from booting to general use, but take up more space in your rig. Manage accordingly. They use general SATA plugs for the most part, which come on every motherboard. This is all preference. If you plan on doing crazy overclocking with your computer, go with the SSD/HDD combo, with an NVMe to boot (literally). You’re welcome, now you have more memory than the Pentagon.
Memory recommendation: Sabrent Rocket Q 2TB NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 Internal SSD
Paired with the SSD / HDD of your choice.
Here’s where things get dicey. We’ll be able to get in, sure, but what about the security? Who’s going to protect us while we run the job? I got it covered, meet my friend Liquid.
To be clear, we’re talking about a CPU Cooler now. If you bought the CPU I told you about, it comes with a first-party AMD CPU fan, it even has RGB! But, frankly, it’s massive, ugly, and makes my rig look like it has an ulcerous growth on it. Now, don’t get me wrong, fan coolers are 100% viable; plus, they’re cheaper than Arthur Shaw. That was a deep cut for all you comedy heist fans.
We’ll opt for a liquid cooler, however, because they look cool. Mine isn’t too flashy and doesn’t have RGB. But, a recent YouTube video (by people who actually test things) confirmed it is arguably the best liquid cooler for your money, so I’ll take the vote of confidence. RGB, for you newcomers, means Red Green Blue, and is commonly used to describe whether components have multi-colored LED lights.
Here is what you need to know:
I recommend Noctua if you’re opting for a CPU fan. They are cheaper than dirt, and unbeatable in temperature control. They’re also brown.
Now, for the good stuff. Liquid coolers come with a plate that attaches to the CPU, which is connected to a radiator by input and output tubing channels. The radiator has fans that attach to make it work. It is not as complex as it sounds, and you’ll most likely have to put it together. Mine was only $100 since I opted for no RGB, and it works like a charm. You can probably get it cheaper now. Note: Liquid coolers run the risk of leaking liquid into your rig if something on them breaks.
CPU Cooler recommendation: Corsair H100x V2
We’re almost there, gang. We have the Heat on our tail, though, and we need to shake them. Luckily for us, we brought a getaway driver. Hey Baby, step on it!
My personal “killer track” is Tom Sawyer by Rush.
This is where our heat removal technique comes in. If you’re really fancy, your entire rig is liquid cooled. I’m not that fancy, so we’re going to have to make do with fans. Fans and air flow are essential to a computer; heat will bring a swift death to any component that is overexposed. And if you’re really unlucky, something will blow up. Make sure you walk away in slow motion.
Here is what you need to know:
Fans come in all kinds of sizes, make sure you get the ones that fit your case, which you’ll choose later on in the article. If you’re building a normal sized PC, 120mm should be just fine. Fans have directional flow, make sure you pay attention to the direction they are facing while installing. You ideally want an intake flow on the front, and an exhaust on top and rear. My rig has 2 fans in the front, one in the back, and 2 on top connected to my CPU Cooler’s radiator. There are also 3 smaller fans built in to my GPU, which help regulate its temperature, as well as keep heat off the NVMe SSD below it. See how everything serves a purpose? Plan it out before-hand.
Fan recommendation: Corsair ML120 PRO RGB 3-pack.
Many cases will come with decent fans, so if you’re on a budget, do your research. I selected mine because of the RGB, despite having good case fans.
Hang on a minute, we fit all those people into a getaway van and still outran the police?! What gives? This isn’t realistic. Relax kid, we outfitted the van with a killer engine.
Mini’s were all the rage in the early 2000’s.
Almost done, but how is it going to work? Well, you need a power supply. I had a hell of a time finding a PSU (Power Supply Unit) when I built my PC in June of 2020, as the stock was sold out everywhere. Hopefully, you’ll have an easier time of it. This is one of those rare occasions I will recommend something I don’t actually own. I bought a power supply when I had the opportunity to do so, after weeks of waiting, and it was a bit more than I needed. However, no regrets here. To this very day, I have never heard my Power Supply’s fan.
What you really need to know:
You should buy a good power supply, from a reliable brand, that has enough juice to fuel your rig with no problem. A bad power supply can fry your whole setup, so this isn’t the time to be gun-shy with the cash. You get what you pay for in terms of power wattage, noise level, and size. PSUs have ratings like Gold, Platinum, etc. that make finding a reliable one relatively easy.
PSU recommendation: Corsair RM 750x.
Mine is a Corsair HX850 if you were wondering.
Last and certainly not least, we have our secret hideout. It is the base of our illicit operations. This is where the magic happens. This is where we bring all the info to case the joint… I’ll see myself out.
Mr. Pink, why didn’t you throw in?
Pick your case. There are long ones, short ones, tall ones, clear ones. We have cases that light up, cases that move, cases that hang, cases that mount. Whatever your little heart desires. But make absolutely sure…
Here’s what you need to know:
…that it is the RIGHT SIZE. Full stop.
Case recommendation: For this build, you’ll need a standard mid-size case.
Mine is a “be quiet! Pure Bass 500DX.”
“That means you do everything I say.”
Found It!
As promised, here is a list of parts you will need for a standard computer rig, and recommendations from my own build, without needing to read the rest of the article.
Motherboard
Recommendation: ASUS TUF GAMING x570 PLUS (WI-FI).
CPU
Recommendation: AMD RYZEN 9 3900x.
RAM
Recommendation: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB (2x16GB).
GPU
Recommendation: ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super
Memory
Recommendation: Sabrent Rocket Q 2TB NVMe PCIe M.2 2280
CPU Cooler
Recommendation: Corsair H100x Liquid Cooler
Fans
Recommendation: Corsair ML120mm RGB 3-pack.
PSU
Recommendation: Corsair RM 750x.
Case
Recommendation: For this build, you’ll need a standard mid-size case.
Are you willing to walk away…before reaching the end of this article?
To conclude, I’d like to point out that you will also need:
A monitor
An operating system
A security software
A keyboard
A mouse
A mousepad
A headset/speakers
A desk.
These things never seem to be mentioned and can run you a pretty penny. Here is my recommendation for these “accessories” that are 100% necessary.
Monitor:
ASUS TUF GAMING VG27WQ 27” WQHD Curved Monitor, 165 Hz, 2560 x 1440 (2K) 1 ms (MPRT)
This is what I use, and will get you the most out of the recommended rig. Don’t bother with a 4K screen unless you’re a graphic designer.
Operating System and Security Software:
Windows 10 and Malwarebytes
Keyboard:
Rosewill Neon K75 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Keyboards are all about preference. Mine is very clicky, for instance. It is also on the cheaper side, but it gets the job done. I didn’t feel like spending the same amount of money on a keyboard as I did on my PSU. Do some research on the types of noise that keyboards make before deciding.
Mouse:
Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed
I have a wireless mouse so I can use it with my MacBook Pro when I travel. Many people will recommend wired mice for their speed, consistency, etc. This is also preference.
Mousepad:
All Personal Preference
I prefer soft mousepads, as they make no noise vs. their hard pad competitors. I use a Corsair mousepad, but this is very much preference. Just ensure you have a surface that your mouse will perform well on.
Headset/Speakers:
Razer Kraken Ultimate w/ THX Surround Sound
I don’t use speakers because I have a headset. Any time I’m not using the headset, my monitor’s speakers get the job done.
Finally, you need somewhere to put everything. I have an older IKEA desk that I’ve used since college. It isn’t fancy, but it works. Don’t feel like you need to splurge on new furniture if your rig will fit on what’s available. Do not, however, put your computer on carpeted floor.
That’s all she wrote, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for reading, and I hope this helped.
