Background information

What is it like to assemble a PC for the first time?

Kevin Hofer
8.7.2020
Translation: machine translated
Cutter: Armin Tobler

Passionate gamer Jessica Valloncini is responsible for purchasing gaming components at digitec. Until now, however, she has only played on the Playstation. This is now set to change with the first brand of PC she has built herself.

Jessica, who prefers to go by Jessi, takes care of PC components as well as Playstation and games. "I now know my way around the components, but I rarely get my hands on the parts." Assembling a PC is no child's play. Nevertheless, every PC enthusiast should do it once in their life to familiarise themselves with the subject matter. Jessi thinks so too.

The woman is herself

I still remember exactly how I built my first PC with my father in the mid-nineties. Fortunately, he had a good understanding of the subject and was there to help and advise me. I couldn't have done it without him.

Jessi is more independent and wants to take on the challenge on her own - in front of the camera in our studio. Her colleague Jan Heidenreich helps her choose the components and she uses YouTube and the like to get smart beforehand.

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (AM4, 3.80 GHz, 12 -Core)
Processors
−31%
Used
CHF193.– currently CHF279.– new

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

AM4, 3.80 GHz, 12 -Core

ASUS Rog Crosshair VIII Hero WI-FI (AM4, AMD X570, ATX)
Motherboards

ASUS Rog Crosshair VIII Hero WI-FI

AM4, AMD X570, ATX

ASUS GeForce RTX 2080 Ti ROG Strix O11G White Gaming (11 GB)
Graphics card

ASUS GeForce RTX 2080 Ti ROG Strix O11G White Gaming

11 GB

Corsair Vengeance Pro (4 x 16GB, 3200 MHz, DDR4-RAM, DIMM)
RAM

Corsair Vengeance Pro

4 x 16GB, 3200 MHz, DDR4-RAM, DIMM

Corsair MP600 (1000 GB, M.2 2280)
SSD

Corsair MP600

1000 GB, M.2 2280

Corsair Force MP510 (960 GB, M.2 2280)
SSD

Corsair Force MP510

960 GB, M.2 2280

Corsair iCUE 465X RGB (mATX, Mini-ITX, ATX)
PC case
CHF196.–

Corsair iCUE 465X RGB

mATX, Mini-ITX, ATX

LG 34GK950G-B (3440 x 1440 pixels, 34")
Monitor
Energy Label C

LG 34GK950G-B

3440 x 1440 pixels, 34"

Corsair M55 Pro (Cable)
Mouse

Corsair M55 Pro

Cable

Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 Red (CH, Cable)
Keyboard

Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 Red

CH, Cable

Every beginning is hard

Jessi is visibly nervous before filming. "I don't know whether the whole thing is a good idea," she says, close to despair. I can understand that very well. I'm always nervous before a shoot too. Nevertheless, she sits down and starts assembling.

Mindful as I am, I take a seat behind the camera and leave Jessi to her own devices. What I see over the next three hours reminds me a lot of my first PC building project. Where does this belong? Am I really doing it right? Have I forgotten something? In a word: despair. At some point, Jessi can't take any more. I can't blame her.

This is how most people feel when they do something new for the first time. Assembling a PC takes time and patience. The most important thing is to keep at it and not give up. But sometimes it's good to take a break. Jessi will definitely come back and finish her work.

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