It’s been a while since I was last among the PC ranks. Like, elementary school a while. For the time being, I’ve been a pretty solid fan of Apple products and my MacBook has been more than enough to do the jobs I need it to–accessing my maths textbook, using GoogleDocs, and spending enough time on GarageBand to come to the understanding that I will never have a career in music (There are other things too, don’t get me wrong; that just seems to have been the bulk of it). I have been hitting somewhat of a wall recently as far as gaming and designing go, the least of which being that my laptop sounds like it’s trying to take flight every time I so much as think of opening up Steam or Photoshop. So all said and done, it’s time to finally listen to the advice I’ve been getting for years and get a desktop PC.
Let me just put this out there: I am a total noob when it comes to computers. I’d say my engagement with upcoming tech and software has dwindled since the days of Limewire, and as far as dogged pursuit of digital things outside my financial allowance since… I will neither confirm nor deny, but if I were to say anything about it, I’d allude to an overall decreasing trend. I’ve been pretty complacent with my tech. So now that you know that I have no idea what I’m doing, let’s talk computer parts as if you also have no idea what I’m doing (who does, really?).
There’s a lot of jargon that gets thrown around in relation to computers, and for good reason: there are a lot of parts to control specific aspects of your computer’s functions. You can’t just say “shiny helicraft looking thing that makes things look pretty” and expect everyone to know you’re talking about a GPU. I mean, you might, but there’d be some charades going on and it would be highly inefficient. Personally, I was never any good at history in school because there were too many names and numbers to memorise. Which is why trying to pick up computerspeak was kind of like running into a brick wall for me. But, if there’s anything I might enjoy as much as I do playing games, it’s researching things and making lists (weird, I know, but just roll with it). So here’s the fruition of that work:
Necessary parts
CPU
Also known as the central processing unit, this part is often analogised as “the brain of the computer” because it does all the processing, or “thinking.” Having a faster CPU means faster compiling and rendering times—instead of waiting hours for a big project to load, you could crunch that time into a matter of minutes.
GPU
The graphics processing unit of your computer is the remote control- or helipad-looking thing, and basically improves the graphics on your display. Having a card specifically managing your graphics helps things run more smoothly in both playing and developing. Nvidia cards are the unofficial leaders in graphics card production, so using one of these for development means you’re most likely working with what gamers will be using to play your content.
Motherboard
The motherboard is the lynchpin that connects connects all the different parts together. Trying to do things on a computer without a motherboard would be like trying to move your arms and legs without a spine. (Spoiler: you can’t).
RAM
Random Access Memory, or RAM, helps your computer with multitasking, i.e. running multiple programmes at once. You probably don’t need more than 8GB of RAM; Windows has a tendency to try and use up as much space as possible, like a dudebro manspreading on your couch. (Seriously, I know I’m a smaller guy, but you could calm down with that demonstration of manliness. Geez.) RAM is different from storage in that, when your computer is off, your RAM is ’empty’ because there are no programmes running. Storage on the other hand…
Storage
This place where you keep or save all the digital things. There are two kinds of storage units: solid state drives (SSDs) and hard drive disks (HDDs). Each have their own pros and cons, though SSDs are generally better recommended for game development. SSDs are more expensive than HDDs and subsequently more memory will likely cost you an arm and a leg, but they run faster and won’t accidentally get wiped from proximity to magnets; HDDs are typically less expensive, making the acquisition of more memory much more affordable, but at the cost of slower boot up times.
Parts that are also necessary
Power supply
I don’t really know what to say here except duh. However, in choosing your model of PSU, make sure you’re not lowballing how much energy your rig is going to need. The last thing you need is for your demand to outweigh your supply.
Display
I am a serious believer in multiple screens. Instead of trying to manage all your elements on one screen, two or more monitors let you enjoy the full interface of the programmes you’re using without compromise. I like things that maximise efficiency.
Cooling system
You may remember my mentioning something about my laptop sounding like it’s trying to take flight whenever I open up a program that requires more graphics power. The last thing you want would be your computer to fry itself or burn the skin off your thighs, so a good cooling system is necessary, especially if you’re working with a demand for high graphics.
At the end of this though, I’m thinking that I’ll always be just a filthy console peasant sitting behind a shiny new computer, and I am okay with that. If you’ve got any notes, or information you’d like me to update, leave a comment!
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