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Global Personal Computer Market Overview 2020

According to the latest market report from Gartner, the global PC shipments totalled 261.2 million units in 2019, a 0.6% increase from 2018. This was the first time since 2011 that the global PC market shipment experienced growth. Garter reports that the recent PC market growth is mainly driven by vibrant business demand for Windows 10 upgrades, particularly in the U.S., EMEA and Japan. the top 3 largest computer companies, namely Lenovo, HP, and Dell, increased their combined market share through 2019 to the highest level. Together, Lenovo, HP, and Dell accounted for nearly 65% of PC shipments in the fourth quarter of 2019, up from just more than 61% in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Although personal computer has become one of the most essential equipment used in people's daily life, the global personal computer market remains flat mainly due to the market saturation in most of the developed markets. As a result, the global personal computer shipment is expected decrease from 261.2 million units in 2019 to 221.8 million in 2025, representing a CAGR of -2.8% during the forecast period.

Over the recent years, several main driving factors are facilitating the global personal computer market, including growing Internet usage, rising incomes, growing computer education, and increasing urbanization with the evolution of consumers' lifestyles. However, the consumers' usage of applications such as e-mail, social media, and online shopping and online education have been increasingly shifting away from personal computers to other smart devices such as tablets and smartphones, which has formed some major challenges for the PC market growth.

Top 10 Largest Computer Companies in the World 2020
Source: Gartner Other top 10 largest computer companies with market share less than 3%: Microsoft, Sharp, Samsung and MSI
1. Lenovo

Lenovo is the largest computer company in the world by market share. The Beijing-based company manufactures and sells Laptops, tablets, PCs, smart devices and solutions for data centre around the world. Business-oriented PCs are some of Lenovo's most popular offerings, including its ThinkCentre desktops and ThinkPad notebooks, with a newer, sleeker ThinkBook line geared at small businesses. Desktop PCs and laptop series such as ThinkPad, ThinkBook, IdeaPad, Yoga, and Legion contributed to Lenovo's record 62.97 million shipments in 2019, putting Lenovo at the very top of the industry.

2. HP

The Hewlett-Packard, known as HP, is an American multinational IT and electronics company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. HP's sales are mostly generated from printers and popular personal computer models like Envy, Elitebook, Pavilion, Omen, and Pavilion Gaming. United States is HP's largest regional market, where it holds almost 30% market share, HP is also the most popular laptop brand in North America.

3. Dell

Dell is a global leader in Laptops, Touch Screen PCs, Desktops, Servers, Storage, Monitors, Gaming equipment. Dell recorded its own record high for shipments and led the top OEMs with 10.7% year-over-year growth in 2020. The growth is mainly attributed to government contracts for notebooks in the United States and Canada mixed with strong commercial activity throughout North America and a few other important markets. Series like Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, and XPS are some of Dell's best-selling computer products around the world.

4. Apple

Apple Inc. is a world-leading technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. The innovative design and superior computing power have always made Apple one of the world's most popular computer brands. Its iMac, iMac Pro, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are some of the best-selling personal computer products and are widely favoured by video and audio professionals around the world.

5. Acer

Acer Inc. is a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation, specialized in manufacturing and selling laptop and desktop PCs, tablets, smartphones, monitors, projectors and cloud solutions for home users, business and government customers. North America and Japan are two of the largest regional markets for Acer's personal computer products. In 2019, Acer shipped total 14.76 million computers around the world, making it one of the top 10 largest computer companies in the world.

6. ASUS

ASUS Inc. is a Taiwan-based multinational computer and phone hardware and electronics company that specialises in providing personal computers, monitors, graphics cards, routers and other technology solutions. ASUS' laptop sales with series like Chromebook Flip, ZenBook, Vivo, Republic of Gamers, and TUF Gaming are help ASUS ranking as one of the world's largest computer manufacturers in 2020

7. Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It is one of the global leaders in software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related IT services industries. Despite being one of the world's top tech and software companies, Microsoft is also an important player in the global laptop market with its line of Surface devices. Some of Microsoft's most popular PC products include Surface Pro 6, Surface Go, Surface Book 2, Surface Laptop 2, and its only desktop PC Surface Studio 2.

8. Toshiba

Toshiba is a world's leading electronics manufacturer based in Tokyo, Japan. Its core business includes manufacturing and selling information technology and communications equipment and systems, electronic components and materials, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems, consumer electronics, home appliances, medical equipment, office equipment, etc. The company's Toshiba Dynabook computer range has a long history to be one of the most popular PC products in the market. In 2018, Toshiba sold its PC business to Sharp.

9. Samsung

Samsung is a South Korean multinational conglomerate that is well-known for offering wide range of home electronics with cutting-edge technologies including TVs, smartphones, tablets, home appliances. With its innovative wireless and QLED screen technologies, Samsung's Galaxy Laptops as well as its Windows and Chrome PC products account for a fair amount of share in the global personal computer market.

10. MSI

Micro-Star International Co., Ltd (MSI) is a multinational electronics and technology company based in Taiwan. It is one of the world's leading manufacturers for laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphics cards, All-in-One PCs, servers, industrial computers, PC peripherals, and car infotainment products. Over the recent years, MSI has established its reputation in computer gaming and eSports industries as its gaming PC series such as GT Titan, GS Stealth, GE Raider and GP Leopard etc are favoured by gamers around the world.

Global Personal Computer Market Trends for Future

The constant launch of the new PC products powered by increasing technological innovations has become one of the major PC market trends that has been observed over the recent years. For example, the introduction of new ultraportable thin laptops and all-in-one PCs with touchscreen that save space and enable users to manage their workloads and information more efficiently are becoming some of the best selling products in the global personal computer market. Meanwhile, many world's largest computer companies are also increasingly shifting their business focus towards software and gaming industry. For example, Dell is moving its business focus to enterprise software and cloud solutions; HP is focusing on developing its premium devices for gaming ecosystems; Lenovo's shifting its PC hardware business towards corporate solutions and VR technologies.
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Top 10 Largest Computer Companies in the World 2020 | Top PC Brands

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According to the latest market report from Gartner, the global PC shipments totalled 261.2 million units in 2019, a 0.6% increase from 2018. This was the first time since 2011 that the global PC market shipment experienced growth.

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ComputerGuide: Deals by vendor, recommendations, and common questions

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Shop PC parts for building your own computer or upgrading your current system. Whether you need a CPU, GPU or Motherboard, Micro Center is your trusted source of computer parts and accessories to take your build to the next level.

Shop PC parts for building your own computer or upgrading your current system. Whether you need a CPU, GPU or Motherboard, Micro Center is your trusted source of computer parts and accessories to take your build to the next level.

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Shop PC parts for building your own computer or upgrading your current system. Whether you need a CPU, GPU or Motherboard, Micro Center is your trusted source of computer parts and accessories to take your build to the next level. Shop PC parts for building your own computer or upgrading your current system.

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A step-by-step guide on how to build your own PC for gaming

Building your own computer may seem like a daunting project, especially for a first timer. You might be worried it's too complex, too expensive, or too time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be.

In this guide, we'll explain how to build a PC step by step, starting with clarifying your PC needs, understanding the different parts of a computer, and finally guiding you through the PC build process.

For visual instructions, click on the videos below as our Crucial team members walk you through the process.

What to know before building a PC

Step 1 - What do you want to build?

As with anything you build, understanding what you want to create is usually the best place to start. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the variables and options in a PC build - knowing what you want helps to streamline these choices.

Your PC can be built for different needs. Whether you're a die-hard gamer looking for a custom gaming PC, a student doing research and editing, or someone who uses their computer for day-to-day tasks, building a PC can help personalize your computer to suit your needs. Once you know what kind of PC you want, you will understand what kind of hardware you need - these are the components that make up your computer and determine its performance.

You can get the most out of your computer's performance for less overall cost by investing in the right components from the start.

Step 2 - What parts you'll need

Once you've decided what kind of PC you want to build, you can begin to research and purchase the hardware.

The essential components for your PC are:

the motherboard

a processor (CPU)

storage (hard drive or SSD)

memory (RAM)

These are the "guts" of the computer and they have the most impact on your system's overall performance. In comparison, the other components - such as the case, operating system (OS), monitor, mouse, power supply, and keyboard - have less of an impact on performance.

The motherboard is the circuit board that connects everything together - your hardware, the power supply and the graphics cards - so it's the first component you'll want to choose.

The motherboard dictates the physical form factor and size of your PC build, but it also determines what other pieces of hardware the computer can use. For example, the motherboard establishes the power of the processor your PC can handle, the memory technology ( DDR5, DDR4, DDR3, etc), the storage form factor (2.5-inch, mSATA, or m.2) and the storage interface (SATA or PCIe). (If these terms all sound confusing to you, check out our explainers on memory technology generations and storage form factors).

Even though you'll want to choose your motherboard based on other compatible components - like which RAM it's compatible with - the motherboard should be your starting point.

Processor/Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the engine of your computer and sets the performance expectations for the entire build. The CPU provides the processing power and instructions behind all your computer's operations.

When determining which CPU to install, pay attention to the gigahertz (GHz) - the higher the GHz, the faster the processor. However, more GHz also means the CPU consumes more energy, leading to higher system temperatures that require better airflow or heat dissipation with the computer. This will likely mean you need to add a cooling system to your build as well.

Adding memory (RAM) is one of the fastest, easiest, and most affordable ways to amplify the performance of the computer you're building. RAM gives your system more available space to temporarily store data that's being used, so it helps you carry out simultaneous tasks, such as having several tabs open while surfing the web without long load times.

Even background services and processes, like system updates, can draw from your RAM, and that's why it's crucial to have as much memory as possible. The more things your computer needs to think about, the more memory it'll need.

Choosing the best RAM for your system involves two things: compatibility and how much RAM your system can support. First, identify the kind of module your system uses by the form factor (the physical form of the module - generally, desktops use UDIMMs, laptops use SODIMMs), then figure out the memory technology ( DDR5, DDR4, DDR3, etc.) your system supports.

Second, your system can only handle so many GBs of memory. If you buy 64GB of RAM and your computer can only handle 16GB, that's 48GB of wasted memory you can't take advantage of. And not everyone needs the same amount of RAM - think realistically about how much RAM you need for your computer usage.

There's an easy way to find compatible upgrades: download the Crucial® System Scanner and let it do the work for you. It displays how much memory you currently have, the maximum memory capacity of your computer, and available upgrades for your specific system. Using the System Scanner is safe, doesn't cost a thing, and guarantees product compatibility when you order on Crucial.com.

Your files and data are saved on your storage drive - either a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD). Although hard drives have traditionally given you more storage for a higher value, SSDs have essentially made them outdated - performing 6x faster on average and 90x more energy-efficient than hard drives. The speed discrepancy comes from how the different types of storage devices load data (read) and save or transfer data (write). Hard drives use small mechanical moving parts and spinning platters;, SSDs use NAND flash technology. The difference results in better speed, efficiency, and durability because small mechanical parts and spinning platters are much more susceptible to physical damage than NAND.

Case, fans, and power supply

The kind of PC you're building will also influence the kind of case, fan, and power supply you'll need to use. If you're creating a high-powered performance workhorse, you'll need a robust power supply to make it all run. You'll also require a case with optimal internal airflow and fans to expel hot air that could potentially damage the system. Zip ties are a massive help with managing all the cables inside your rig, and consolidating the cables helps improve airflow.

Step 3 - PC building on your budget

The amount of money you spend on computer parts can vary greatly, so it's a good idea to have a realistic budget in mind ahead of time. Most builders want to get better (or at least match) the performance of pre-built PCs, but all those customized upgrades can lead to a slightly more expensive final cost. Expect to pay more if you're going for the best possible performance in all of your PC components. Faster processors cost more than slower ones, and memory and SSDs with more GB cost more than those with fewer GB.

Since memory and storage take a large chunk of the cost of a new computer, building your own PC gives you the flexibility to save on these components if you wish. While RAM and SSD costs rise with the amount of GB they offer, they are less expensive than buying pre-installed components that are often inadequate and need to be upgraded quickly.

Step 4 - How to build your PC

The build is where it really starts to get exciting! Before we get into the build process, we've pulled together our three top tips.

Top Tips for building a PC:

Prepare a large workspace to keep your build organized - nothing gets more frustrating than when you can't find what you're looking for.

Wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap or ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface to prevent static electricity, and work on solid floors rather than carpeting, if possible. Static energy is one of the few ways the hardware can be damaged.

Keep a can of compressed air handy to remove any dust or fine debris from the interface, especially while you install the processor, memory and SSD.

1. Adding the hardware

It's a little difficult to provide clear written step-by-step instructions on installing the processor and power supply on the motherboard, and then putting the motherboard in the case. Installation and assembly of parts isn't complicated, but there is potential for errors to occur. We recommend you consult each component's manual for precise instructions.

2. Installing the memory

RAM is the most straightforward hardware to install when building a PC. We've broken it down into four stages:

Locate the memory slots on the motherboard.

Hold your memory modules on the side to avoid touching the chips and gold pins.

Align the notches on the module with the ridge in the slot, then firmly press the module in place until it clicks.

As you're pressing, note that it takes about 30 pounds of pressure to install a module fully.

For more details on installing RAM, explore how to install memory on a laptop or on a desktop.

3. Installing the HDD or SSD

Depending on the form factor of the SSD you've purchased (2.5-inch, mSATA, or M.2), installation requires attaching the drive to the storage interface, then fitting it into the drive bay (if it's a 2.5-inch SSD). If you're looking for the largest capacity possible and have an extremely tight budget, a hard drive may be an attractive option.

For instructions on installing your hard drive, consult its owner's manual. Find out more about SSD installation with our guides and videos.

Time to boot up your new computer!

Once your system is assembled, it's time for the big moment - hit the power button!

Make sure your monitor and keyboard are connected to the PC, and if everything works correctly, a screen will appear where you can enter the system BIOS.

If you have a disc or flash drive with an OS, put it into the appropriate drive, boot up, and you can install the OS. At this point, the assembly is over - congratulations, you've now built your own PC!

The price of building a PC depends on the specification of the components you're buying. Generally speaking, building a PC will initially be more expensive. In the long run, however, you'll save money because it's less likely you'll need to replace components, and, if you do need to, they're easier to fix.

You'll need various components to build your own PC. The main parts that you'll need are:

With a little guidance, anyone can build their own PC. Building your own PC allows you to create a perfect PC for your needs.

Building a computer is surprisingly easy. You'll only need a few tools, a good level of understanding of the parts, and the ability to follow some simple instructions. If you can build ready-to-assemble furniture, you'll be able to build your own PC!

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How To Build Your Own PC | Parts, Budget, Step-by-Step | Crucial

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A step-by-step guide on how to build your own PC for gaming Building your own computer may seem like a daunting project, especially for a first timer. You might be worried it's too complex, too expensive, or too time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be.

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Assembling a computer yourself is a good way to learn how they work.

If you've been beating yourself up about doing nothing productive during our never-ending pandemic, stop. Sometimes doing nothing is exactly what you need. Other times, it's nice to make something with your own hands. That's what this guide is about: how to build a PC from scratch.

It can be daunting for a lot of reasons-it's expensive, it's complex, it can get messy. But I want to be clear: If you can build an Ikea table, bookshelf, bed, or anything that comes in more than one of those deceivingly heavy flat packs, you can build a PC. The tricky part? I can't tell you how to build your PC. Not really. Not unless I know exactly which hardware you're using. I can, however, explain what each component does and what my recommendations are for each category.

Once you've built your shiny new PC, it might be time to check out some other stuff to further accessorize your new partner in crime. Be sure to have a look at our guides for the best gaming keyboards, best gaming mice, best gaming headsets, and best gaming controllers.

Updated April 2022: We've removed some picks that are hard to find, added a section on buying advice, and added more information to each product most affected by shortages.

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First, Let's Talk Shortages

For several years now we've been in the midst of a PC hardware shortage. First, cryptocurrency miners bought up all the GPUs to farm crypto, then we got hit by a worldwide silicon shortage, and then there was that whole pandemic thing. Point is, it's tough to get all the parts you need to build a PC, it has been for years, and it's likely to continue being tough for the foreseeable future. I can't fix a global logistics crisis, but I can give you some pointers on shopping during one.

When you're shopping for components, make sure you're buying from a reputable vendor. You may think you're buying from a large online store like Amazon, Walmart, or Newegg, but they allow third-party sellers to list products as well. There's usually a little notice that will tell you as much, right underneath the buy button.

If it's shipped and sold from someone who isn't Amazon, Walmart, or Newegg, you're probably going to pay more for the component than its retail price. For instance, our top motherboard pick retails for $130, but as of this writing its listed on Newegg for $205. It's shipped and sold from a third-party retailer, hence the markup. First-party sales (when the product is shipped and sold by the store whose site you're visiting) tend to have better prices that hew closer to the actual manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of the item.

We've tried to stick to first-party sales, but sometimes components are just not available through anyone but a third party. In that case, my advice is don't spend more than 50 percent over the MSRP on any of these components. Give yourself a hard budget and please don't pay double or triple what any of these components are worth.

We've added buying advice to each category most affected by the shortage to speak more specifically to each component's scarcity, but in general just know that building a PC right now is probably going to cost you more than you'd expect.

What Do You Need?

In order to get a list of components together, no matter what your experience level is, you should use PCPartPicker. Not only does it have everything you need to buy, it also lets you build your PC piece by piece right on the website and makes sure all your hardware will play nicely together. It even has a few example builds you can tweak to your liking.

Regardless of what kind of PC you're building ( home office or gaming), the components you need are going to be the same. You'll need a motherboard, a central processing unit (CPU), storage, memory, a power supply, a case, and a monitor. The only thing you might not need if you're mostly using this PC for home-office tasks is a GPU (graphics processing unit), but it's necessary for photo or video editing and gaming. That's a lot of stuff! Here's a little breakdown of what each component does, along with some hardware recommendations.

Every other component plugs into this circuit board. It's the highway they use to communicate and collaborate. They come in different sizes and configurations, and each one looks a little different, but they all fill the same function. Make sure you know which processor you want before you buy a motherboard.

Motherboards come in a couple of flavors, but the most important thing to know is what kind of socket it has. There are basically two: LGA and AM. You'll always see them listed with a number after them, like "LGA1150" or "AM3." The exact numbers after the LGA and AM portions of these socket names will change over time, to indicate which generation of Intel or AMD chips they support, but the current standards as of 2022 (which will work with the latest chips from either maker) are LGA1200 for Intel and AM4 for AMD.

Motherboards also come in a couple of sizes, the most common being ATX (or "full size"). That's what I generally recommend, especially if this is your first build. Your PC case will list which size motherboard it supports, so make sure they match up.

Buying advice: Motherboards are less scarce than the other components on this list. We try to keep this list updated regularly with prices that aren't too much higher than MSRP, but if any of the prices here skyrockets between updates, shop around. Your chances of finding a reasonably priced motherboard are much better than your chances of finding a good price on a GPU.

This is the brain of your computer. It sockets directly into the motherboard, and it's the single most important component of your PC. That doesn't mean it has to be the most expensive (we'll get to that later). If the CPU doesn't mention including thermal paste, get some. Don't eat your CPU. I know it looks tasty, but it's not actually food.

Buying advice: You're going to see the highest markups on your CPU and GPU. But these prices will move around quite a bit, so keep checking back if you can't afford the component you want at the moment.

If you'll be playing games on this PC, you'll need a graphics processing unit (also called a graphics card). This is a specialized processor that's designed and optimized for handling visual data like the graphics in games. It's also used in video and photo editing and other graphics-intensive tasks.

Buying advice: These cards are tough to find in stock (or at a reasonable price) at the moment, so you may have to wait a while. Graphics cards are among the most in-demand PC components right now, and their prices are way higher than they should be. That's why the picks on this list are generally mid- to high-end. If you're going to pay through the nose for a graphics card, make sure it's a good one.

Radeon RX 6800 XT: If you're going all-out, the RX 6800 XT is my top choice right now. It's a beast of a GPU that can handle anything you throw at it. Even Cyberpunk 2077 at full 4K resolution.

This is your PC's walk-in closet. This is where you store all your files, your games, your movies, your documents, your photos, your everything. You can always add more storage later.

Western Digital Black 1TB PCIe Internal SSD: This lightning-fast NVMe drive is a good option for nearly any gaming system. It has incredible read and write speeds of up to 7,000 and 5,300 megabytes per second respectively, making it fast enough to not only store all of your games, but possibly your operating system as well. It's also available in M.2 varieties.

You'll see a lot of the same terms when you're looking at memory and storage, but they're very different. Memory is more like that one table you toss things on to deal with later. It's scratch paper; it's short-term. It's very important, though, because software uses memory to cache (temporarily store) data in a place where it can be retrieved quickly.

Your power supply unit is a little box that keeps the electricity running to every component. It determines how quick and powerful your PC can be. The faster it is, the more power it needs, and you always want to have a little more than you need, just in case. Just like GPUs, PSUs are also in and out of stock right now.

Your case is just what it sounds like. It's a metal box. It might be covered in glass panels and etched aluminum, but inside it's just a big metal box that holds everything together. Make sure you match it up with your motherboard size. For example, if you have an ATX motherboard, you need an ATX (or "full-size") case.

Corsair Obsidian Series ATX Full Tower: There are lots of kinds of cases. Some are super small, others are enormous. And your decision will ultimately come down to the design you like as much as anything else. If you're unsure what to get, this one is great for your first build. Other case manufacturers we like are NZXT, Fractal, Phanteks, Cooler Master, and Lian Li.

MSI Gungnir 100 ATX Mid-Tower Case: This budget-friendly case is a solid option for most people. Be aware that it'll be a tight fit-there's almost no wiggle room for bulky cables or hyperspecific configurations. It looks nicer than you'd think for the money, and the RGB button syncs up your lights with very little effort. The smokey tempered glass allows them to shine through without turning your office into an EDM show.

When you build a PC, you don't automatically have Windows included. You'll have to buy a license from Microsoft or another vendor and make a USB key to install it. Or you can check out the newly released Windows 11. Here's a little more information about what all you get out of the newest version of Windows.

Putting It All Together

The internal layout of every gaming PC is a little different, so we're not going to get too far into the weeds here. Your best bet for specific instructions for your hardware will be referencing your manuals and searching for your components on YouTube. It can be super helpful to actually see a person handle and install your exact hardware, especially when you're stuck and can't quite figure out what the hell your manual is talking about. But here are some general tips for putting all these components together.

First, prep yourself a clean workspace. This can be a dining room table, a cleared-off desk-just any surface big enough for your case to lay flat on its side, with ample room around it for the rest of your components. You'll also need a Phillips-head screwdriver that will fit the screws on your case. When you put these parts together, be sure to discharge any static buildup and work on a nonmetallic surface like a wooden table. Or you could just assemble the motherboard on top of the cardboard box it comes in.

Most of the components you bought are going to come with instruction manuals; keep them handy. We're going to start with the motherboard, so open up the instruction manual to the installation page. It can be pretty intimidating-there's a lot to look at-but think of all this as a big Lego set. Each piece fits into each other piece. For the motherboard, your first job is going to be seating your CPU.

Depending on what kind of CPU you purchased (Intel or AMD), the chip will have either little prongs on one side (don't touch them) or little golden contacts on one side (don't touch them). Seriously, don't touch that side of your chip. Oils from your fingertips can damage the contacts, or you might bend a pin. Do either one and your processor becomes nothing more than an expensive hunk of silicon.

Seating your processor is pretty easy. First, double-check your motherboard's instructions and make sure you've unlocked the processor socket. It'll be a big square with a bunch of little holes (or contacts), with a lever or button beside it. Your motherboard's instructions will say explicitly how to unlock the socket so you can put your processor in without any issues.

Once you've confirmed that it's unlocked and ready, just find which corner of your processor has a little golden triangle and line it up with the same symbol on your motherboard's processor socket. Gently lower the processor into the socket, then gently flip the latch or locking mechanism. You shouldn't have to fight it. If you have to press really hard, double-check that the processor is socketed correctly.

Next, you're going to need your thermal paste. That little tiny plastic syringe of silvery goo is very important for this next step. Now that your processor is seated, take a look at the shiny square of silicon in the center of it. That's where your heat sink is going to sit. Your processor came with a heat sink, and on one side of it, you'll see a copper circle. You're going to be putting the heat sink directly on top of the processor after we apply the thermal paste, with the silicone square and the copper circle lining up perfectly.

Go ahead and carefully squeeze a tiny ball (no bigger than a pea) of thermal paste onto the silicon square on your processor. You'll want it as close to the center as you can get.

Now line up your heat sink with the screws surrounding your processor, and gently lower it into place. You're gonna squish the thermal paste, and the goal here is to create a thin layer covering the back of your processor. It's OK if it oozes a little bit, but if it oozes out and over the edge of the processor, you used too much. Get some isopropyl alcohol, dab it on a lint-free wipe, and wipe the processor and heat sink. Wait till they're thoroughly dry and try again.

If it looks all right, screw your heat sink into place. Flip back to your motherboard instruction book and find the right place near the processor socket to plug in your heat sink's cooling fan. It should be very close to your processor socket. Once you've found it, plug it in-congratulations, you just installed a CPU. This was the hardest part, and it's over. Good job!

Installing Your Storage and Memory

Memory is maybe the easiest thing to install. See those vertical little sockets beside the CPU? Line up your sticks of RAM and slot them in, starting from the left-hand slot. They'll lock into place once you've seated them properly. If you have two sticks of RAM, make sure to skip a slot between them. Your motherboard manual should say which slots to use.

For your hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD), find an empty bay in the front-facing part of your case. Slide your drive in and screw it into place. If you have an M.2 drive (a tiny SSD about the size of a stick of gum), there should be a place on the motherboard where you slot it in directly. Check out your motherboard's manual to see where the M.2 slot is if you can't find it.

Installing Your Motherboard and Power Supply

The rest of this is formulaic. Start by putting your motherboard into your case. Consult your motherboard's instructions, line up the screw holes in the case with the ones on your motherboard, and get to work.

Next, you'll want to install your power supply. There should be a spot for it near the top or bottom of the case, a big square spot that will fit your supply perfectly. If you're having trouble finding it, look at the back of your case: There'll be a big empty square. That's where the power supply goes (and where you'll plug in your PC when you're all done). Once you've found its home, slot it in and screw it into place.

Make sure all the snaky cables coming out of the power supply will reach your motherboard with room to spare. Don't plug in anything yet; we're going to come back to the power supply in a bit.

Installing Your Graphics Card

Your GPU is going to be pretty big. Even a modestly powerful GPU like the GTX 1060 is large compared to your other components. That means how it fits into your case is important. Once you put your GPU in there, space is going to start getting tight.

Flip open your motherboard's instruction book again and look for a PCIe slot. It's going to be a horizontal slot with a little plastic latch beside it, near the middle or bottom of your motherboard. That's where the GPU plugs in. All you need to do is identify the back of your GPU (the side with the HDMI and DisplayPorts), line that up with the back of your case, and push the GPU into the horizontal slot. It should lock into place easily enough; if it doesn't, make sure you're inserting it correctly.

Find another one of those tiny little screws and fasten your GPU to the case. There's a little spot for that on the same piece of metal with the HDMI ports. It should be easy to find.

Now, take a look at the cables coming out of your power supply. There should be a few that look like they could fit into the square (or rectangular) socket on the side of your GPU. It should look like six or eight little holes in a rectangle shape. If you're having trouble, take a look at this video from hardware manufacturer Asus. Some of the specifics will be different, but it's a great look at how to install a GPU.

The motherboard needs to be hooked into all your devices. The power supply unit I used in this build is what's called fully modular, which means that you can select the cables you need and leave the rest off to eliminate clutter. Otherwise, power supplies have a ton of cables, and you'll have to deal with the unused power connections dangling inside your case. You'll need to connect the PSU to the SSD and the motherboard.

You also need to plug the motherboard into your case-the power buttons, audio plugs, and USB ports on the front of your case. There are special headers for each kind of plug scattered around the board, so you'll want to check your manual for the location and function of each grouping of pins. These tiny pins need to be plugged in a certain way, and they're unbelievably minuscule. There's also a hookup for the case's fan-in the case I used there was one header on the motherboard but three fans installed. Then there's the SATA cable for your SSD, which plugs into the motherboard.

This part of your build really depends on the hardware you purchased, so consult the manuals for each component to ensure you've correctly plugged it into your motherboard and the power supply.

Boot It Up and Install Windows

The final stage of your build is a simple one: Hit your power button. If the PC whirs to life, you probably put it together perfectly! If it doesn't, don't despair. There are a lot of potential problems that could cause a PC to fail to boot up for the first time. This video from Kingston goes over some pitfalls that might cause you some headaches, so if you're not able to boot your PC, give it a watch and retrace your steps.

There's also a chance you could have received faulty components. This video goes over some tips on how to check your parts. In general, if you're having trouble with a specific component, YouTube is your friend. There are tons of helpful PC-building tutorials.

If it started up just fine, the next step is super easy: Turn it off. Remember that Windows flash drive you made earlier? Plug it into the PC and boot it up again. If you set it up right, your computer should just do its thing and get started installing Windows. If not, you might need to open your BIOS (check your motherboard's manual for how to do that) and set the USB drive to be a "boot device" first. Here's a brief rundown of that process (start at step 3).

You Did It!

Congratulations on building your first PC. It's a bit of a pain, but it's a great way to spend an afternoon. Or a couple of days, depending on how many unforeseen headaches you run into. Seeing as the pandemic hasn't totally gone away, you can use your new PC to help you spend all those extra indoor hours productively (or just grinding out loot in Warframe).

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Assembling a computer yourself is a good way to learn how they work. If you've been beating yourself up about doing nothing productive during our never-ending pandemic, stop. Sometimes doing nothing is exactly what you need. Other times, it's nice to make something with your own hands.

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Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. Whether it's to pass that big test, qualify for that big promotion or even master that cooking technique; people who rely on dummies, rely on it to learn the critical skills and relevant information necessary for success.

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Checklist for Buying a Computer - dummies

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When you're purchasing your computer consider what type of computer model would work best for you and take into account the features that you find most important. Choose from these styles: Tower: A form of computer that has been around for quite a while is a tower.

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Finding your next computer doesn't have to be a chore.

If you're looking for something you can easily carry to and from work, or bring with you on vacation, then a lightweight laptop could be in order. These weigh just a couple of pounds, have batteries that can now last several workdays before needing to be charged, and have more than enough power to tackle common productivity tasks like browsing the web and editing office documents. Some models, known as convertibles, can be used as a tablet of sorts by bending the keyboard backward and behind the screen using a 360-degree hinge.

A desktop may be a smarter and more ergonomic pick, however, if you're setting up a home office and aren't worried as much about mobility. Staring into a monitor puts less strain on your neck than staring down into a laptop. You also generally get more power per dollar spent with a desktop than you do with a laptop.

Some models come with a built-in display, while others require you to supply your own. Luckily, you can find good computer monitors for reasonable prices. In fact, while all-in-one models with a screen tend to be aesthetically pleasing and take up less desk space, they can cost a lot more than buying a desktop computer and monitor separately.

Mac or PC? It's really up to you. You'll find models on both platforms that score well in our labs. They'll support the most popular software options, too, from Adobe Photoshop to Chrome, Slack to Zoom. But there are benefits to pairing a Mac with an iPhone or an Android phone with a PC. You may be able to answer a text message with your keyboard, for example, or share copy-paste data between a computer and a smartphone.

For more, check out the full computer ratings based on our latest tests results, available to Consumer Reports members.

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Finding your next computer doesn't have to be a chore. If you're looking for something you can easily carry to and from work, or bring with you on vacation, then a lightweight laptop could be in order.