How to avoid the PC building mistakes The Verge made

We’ve discussed at length The Verge’s sloppy PC build as well as the dishonesty surrounding their reaction to it. Worst of all, it’s things like this that scare off beginner builders from taking the plunge. PC gaming is a great hobby and it would be a shame if people steered clear out of fear of making mistakes. So I thought we’d go over just what exactly the Verge did wrong, and how you can avoid these follies in your own builds. 

Installing the power supply backwards

The power supply (PSU) is the heart of your computer. It’s what converts the AC power from the wall to the different DC voltages needed by various components. It is arguably the most important part of any build, and definitely something you should never skimp on.

The power supply in a gaming PC can deliver several hundred watts of energy, and thus needs to be kept cool. Installing one backwards can block the unit’s intake fan, which will cause it to overheat. This will result in sudden shutdowns or damage to your expensive hardware. 

Fortunately, it’s a pretty difficult mistake to make. The intake fan on gaming grade units is usually on the bottom of the PSU, covered by a large metal grill. You’ll want to mount it in such a way that nothing is obstructing the grill and that it has lots of room to breath. So if it’s pushed up against the metal top of the case, you’re doing it wrong.

Some cases do have a separate cage for the power supply. These usually mount towards lower part of the chassis, which may have an intake hole cut in the bottom to draw in fresh air from the outside. You’ll want to mount it so the fan grill lines up with this hole. If you’re ever in doubt, consult the instructions that came with your case for correct mounting procedure.

Too much thermal paste on the CPU

Thermal paste helps fill in any imperfections between your CPU and cooler, helping to provide better contact and better cooling performance. Using no paste is a bad idea all around. Using too much probably won’t damage any components, but it makes a horrible mess and is completely unnecessary.

For most processors, a drop about the size of a grain of rice will do. Apply it to the centre of the CPU’s metal heat spreader. You can then either bolt the cooler on right there, or as I like to do, spread out a thin coat with a credit card so the entire metal heat spreader is covered evenly. Then you can bolt on your cooler. Never apply thermal paste to the bottom of the processor, or the CPU socket, as this will gum up the electrical contacts. Clean up any spills with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab. 

Many AIO and stock coolers (the ones that came in box with the processor) will have thermal paste pre-applied. So you may not even need to follow the above process. And no, you don’t need to add “extra”. Personally I like to wipe this off with some rubbing alcohol and apply a higher quality paste like Arctic Silver, but it’s up to you. It’s becoming a theme with this guide, but when in doubt, follow the instructions.

As a side note, beginners should avoid using “liquid metal” thermal interface material, as it’s difficult to apply and best left to more seasoned builders. 

Mounting the cooler with only three out of four screws

Coolers have a certain mounting pressure that needs to be applied in order to make good thermal contact with the processor. Not using all the provided screws can cause a couple issues. Since you don’t have even pressure across the entire processor, it could develop hot spots that could shorten its lifespan. Uneven pressure could also physically warp the processor over time. 

Follow the cooler’s mounting instructions and use all the appropriate hardware provided for your specific CPU socket. This will be included in the box with your cooler. When screwing it down, tighten the screws in an X pattern, just like you do when changing a tire on a car. This helps alleviate stress on the chip.

Installing the motherboard in the case before installing the CPU

This is not really a bad thing to do, but it can make your life easier if you need to make adjustments or have bad components. Many builders will connect all the parts and power them up first before installing them in the case, to check if everything works. Just remember to turn everything back off before putting them in the case.

Discarding the CPU socket cover

Intel systems have the CPU pins mounted on the motherboard, rather than on the processor itself. These pins have a plastic cover them to protect them during shipping. If you ever need to send in the board for warranty repairs, you’ll need to remove the CPU and put the cover back. You’ll want to hang on to it to ensure any warranty claims aren’t rejected.

Installing pairs of RAM sticks in the wrong slots

This is an easy mistake to make, and won’t do any damage, but you’re not going to be getting the full performance out of your system.

Modern DDR memory sticks can work in what’s called a “dual channel” mode when installed in pairs. This effectively doubles data throughput for increased performance. Thus for gaming systems, it’s always a best practice to install RAM in like pairs.

It’s a bit counter intuitive, but you don’t mount RAM sticks side by side to run in dual channel. They’re usually spaced one slot apart, assuming your board has four or more total slots. Fortunately, slots are normally colour coded. So just put your memory in matching colour slots and you should be golden. You can also consult your motherboard manual for the correct placement.

The exception is mini-ITX boards which typically only have two slots. In that case, then yes you can install them side by side while still getting that sweet dual channel performance.

Installing the graphics card in any old PCI-express slot

Most motherboards will have multiple PCIe slots for graphics cards and other add-on components. While they all look pretty similar, it actually does matter where you mount your GPU if you want to get the best performance. 

Boards with multiple slots usually have “master” and “slave” ones used for multi-GPU setups. You’ll want to make sure it’s installed in the master slot that runs at the full “16x” speed. It’s usually the large slot closest to the CPU, but you should consult your motherboard manual for the correct placement 

Sloppy cable management

This is another one of those things that won’t damage your computer, but it is a bad habit to get into. It’s ugly too if you have a windowed case. Good cable management promotes better airflow and just looks neater overall. Many modern cases will have tie off points and areas to hide cables out of the way. It’s the most tedious part of any build, but you’ll end up with a better looking, and cooler (literally) battlestation in the end.

Using a Swiss Army Knife instead of a screw driver

A pocket knife sure is handy, but sometimes you just can’t beat a purpose built tool. A proper screwdriver is just easier to work with and will help you tighten everything to the correct tension. A basic set of Phillips screwdrivers is all you need. In fact you probably already have them. If not, they’re a cheap investment. Not sponsored, but iFixit’s Essential Electronics Tool Kit or 64-bit driver set is a great way to get started. Though there’s plenty of good options for little money at places like Home Depot and Canadian Tire. 

Using a LiveStrong bracelet as an anti-static wrist band

Electronics are sensitive to static electricity. A spark can damage sensitive components on circuit boards. Most pros recommend investing in an anti-static wrist band when working on your rig. It has a wire that connects to a grounded object, safely discharging your body to protect your parts. 

I’ve personally never used one of these. Touching a grounded object such as a water pipe before working is usually enough. Plus you don’t want to work on your new baby wearing wool on a carpeted floor. However, anti-static bracelets are pretty cheap and not a bad piece of insurance. 

It goes without saying that one of those rubber charity bracelets will do precisely diddlysquat when it comes to protecting from static. 

Not asking the PC building community for help

A smart person can admit they lack knowledge, and asks for help. A fool will double down on their mistakes and remains willfully ignorant. Don’t be a fool when building your first PC.

There are lots of great resources out there to help you build your PC. Reddit’s r/buildapc community for example can help you pick out the right parts and answer any questions you may have about building. Over on YouTube, Paul’s Hardware has an entire building playlist tailored for beginners. Other popular channels like Linus Tech Tips, JayzTwoCents, and Gamers Nexus also offer their own build guides. 

Just remember, the PC Master Race loves new ascending console peasants. They’re always ready to help first time builders. Plus if you do make a mistake, guaranteed its something we’ve all done at some point. So don’t feel bad. Learn, absorb, and have fun.