The first thing you need to do to prepare is gather the tools you need to complete the build. Preparing the materials ahead of time goes a long way to ...

Before you start picking out components, you should have a case — or, at least, a case size — in mind. The main thing to keep in mind when picking a case is where you're going to put the computer. Your PC's final location will dictate how big you can (or cannot) go, and it will also help determine whether various premium case features are worth splurging on. You probably don't want to pay for a tempered glass side panel if the computer will be hidden under your desk, for example. Cases typically come in three sizes: Full-tower, mid-tower, and mini-tower. These are very general categories ...

Now it's time to get your components together. This step can be as hands-on or as hands-off as you like; you can thoroughly research each individual ...