Building a Gaming PC Part 1 - I love it when a plan comes together

This is a story that started it's journey, like many do, some time ago. In February this year my youngest boy turned 7, and like many children his age has in interest in many things both outdoor and in. He does however have a keen interest in computers, technology and YouTube. Specifically YouTube gaming channels fascinate him, and the latest indie games often to be found on Steam he is always keen to try out himself. Most of his gaming is on the iPad or PS4 - so for steam games it means using one of my MacBooks using either OSX or Windows 10 via Bootcamp. It works OK but he isn't keen on trackpads and much as I love my MacBooks they are not made for gaming...or kids trying to touch the screen all the time.

Throughout the year he has mentioned now and again about playing modded version of games - MineCraft Mods, Gary's Mod a whole first person gaming platform he became fascinated by after watching the VenturianTale YouTube channel. And he wants to get into creating his own gaming content, in the same way the channels he enjoys watching do. A few weekends back while we were relaxing and hanging out in the way most geeky father and sons do (MacBook for me, iPad for him and YouTube subs flowing via the Apple TV) Christmas conversation came up and he expressed again his interest in a gaming pc to play modded games and start doing YouTube videos. While he might still be a bit young for YouTube creating, EthanGamer TV has done very well out of it and I can handle the channel and video encoding - all he has to do is present some footage to work with. Plus a powerful computer isn't a toy that would be in the house for just him to play with ;-)

So rolling with the idea we did some google image searches on gaming set ups - which quickly involved me dispelling the idea of multi display set ups (lovely as they are, it was already turning into an expensive idea) so we scanned through the pictures and videos and the concept developed, he saw a few green and black set ups and as green is his favourite colour this was a definite winner. He found a gaming chair in Black and Green that was perfect and so the journey began.

Working on the black and green theme I had a few options to look at, buy an off the peg rig with the convenience of being pre-built, buy a used rig but finding something with black and green led would be tricky or post mod it - or just go all out and build something from scratch. Some 12 years ago I built a media server PC tower for home out of used parts picked up on eBay - it ran well for 6 years then I replaced it with a Mac Mini just because it took up a fraction of the space at home and I reworked the media centre for the living room and their was not space for it. That PC is still doing a fine job at my work instead, so it did not go to waste!

For reference the MacMini is visible in the home media shelf I built in the living room - a tower was not going to fit in that gap!

Returning to the puzzle, exactly how I was going to end up with a gaming PC presented many issues. Off the peg was quick and easy - but even using a service like Overclockers they are building to profit and with no idea what specs really make a good rig other then paying a large amount for something it was hard to judge what would handle future games - I did not want to need to upgrade all the time. Buying a used system off eBay was appealing - but again the worry was I would buy something that was already outdated and not able to handle current games let alone future ones - this was to be a gaming PC and if I was going to do it - then building something that really did kick the pants off consoles and would handle future titles and possibly VR was really essential. In the end I found a current guide with gaming pc build ideas with specs and links to relevant parts ideas - and used this for the basis of building my own custom rig from scratch. With Black Friday around the corner I set about keeping an eye on the various components I would need to get the best price on them, the PC tower itself has specific requirements - black and green LED. I found the perfect tower on eBay new, ordered it only to be refunded by the seller as he had no stock! Bit of of hunting and I found the same one on Amazon for £10 less - so grabbed it quick.

The twin green LED fans at the front were the main appeal, looking for a gaming tower of course it has to have a clear side panel so you can see the hardware inside.

No hardware yet though, that still has to arrive. I did pick up a higher then advised 850watt EVGA PSU which is modular - so you can plug in only the cables you need to save clutter. That's powering the fans right now, using the good old paper clip trick I am now well used to from my ASIC miner fun (PSU suppliers have made some money out of me these last few months).

The tower came with 3 green LED fans, the two at the front and the one at the top back. These two I added myself and are mounted at the very top of the case - so front two fans suck air in, the back and these two top two pull it out. I also have some green LED strips to highlight the motherboard and graphics card - once they are installed.

The only Black Friday deals I got were an RGB Keyboard and RGB Mouse - if you are going LED you might as well go LED all the things.

Both the Keyboard and Mouse have multiple settings, obviously if we are going to match everything it has got to be green

The gaming monitor I picked up prior to Black Friday, it's an ASUS 27" curved gaming monitor with very good reviews - and it dropped to half price so I took the opportunity. I'm very impressed, we use it for the PS4 and hooked upto my MacBook Pro Windows 10 Bootcamp while I finish the PC build.

The computing desk dates back some 15 years, I needed stands for an exhibition to display stock and these were a value way of doing it. Since then they have been stored at work gathering dust in their boxes - works perfect for this job except - the gaming tower is too tall to fit underneath the desk - it does just but all the easy access ports and the power button are on top of the tower - and so would be unusable under the desk.

In part two we will have the actual components to install in the tower, Motherboard, CPU, Graphics Card, RAM and SSD - did I make the right choice? I don't know - but I'm sure someone will have an opinion.

As this build is for my boy, and he will not be unwrapping it on Christmas Day - kind of impractical to keep this sort of thing hidden - I'm trying my best to get him involved in the build and selection process for parts.

It's not easy, he is just eager to get playing - but building it up from bits rather then opening a ready made box on Christmas Day will hopefully teach him a little more about what makes the technology we use and take for granted every day work.

So look out for part two, when I reveal the parts I selected to make this gaming pc run - will it be a savage beast or a damp squib?

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