Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Constructing your own gaming PC from scratch is cheaper than buying prebuilt, and teaches you helpful rig-wrangling skills you can use for future upgrades. But how does one build a PC? Allow James and the disembodied voice of Liam guide you through it, step by step and in basic – sometimes even downright regional – English.
To build a PC you will need the following components:
- PC case
- Motherboard
- CPU
- CPU cooler
- RAM
- Graphics card
- SSD (and/or HDD)
- PSU (i.e. the power supply)
- Windows 10/11 installation media, ideally a USB stick
- Windows 10/11 license or activation key
- Medium crosshead screwdriver
- Small crosshead screwdriver
- Thermal paste
For more information check out our in-depth guide to building a PC here - rockpapershotgun.com/how-to-build-a-pc
🎥: Want more juicy video content? James bought Liam a bunch of unusual Steam Deck accessories from Etsy: youtu.be/M0nKUKiTK-Q
🔴: Subscribe and ring that bell to never miss a video: youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1
💬: Chat to Rock Paper Shotgun on Discord: discord.gg/rockpapershotgun
🍾: Support RPS by becoming a YouTube channel member: youtube.com/channel/UC5bKSAZBvV9AKlBJPG0Py-A/join
🛒 Buy some RPS merch: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun
🐦: Follow Liam on Twitter: twitter.com/meevil
#rockpapershotgun #pcgaming
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - Component list
01:16 - Step One: How to install a CPU into a motherboard
02:20 - Step Two: How to install a CPU cooler
03:03 - Step Two (Part One): How to install a CPU air cooler
09:26 - Step Two (Part Two): How to install a CPU water cooler
12:33 - Step Three: How to install RAM into a motherboard
13:25 - Step Four: How to install a PSU into a PC case
14:58 - Step Five: How to install a motherboard into a PC case
20:38 - Step Six: How to connect a CPU cooler to a PC case
22:22 - Step Seven: How to install a graphics card
24:26 - Step Eight: How to install storage
25:00 - Step Eight (Part One): How to install an M.2 SSD into a motherboard
25:27 - Step Eight (Part Two): How to install a mechanical hard drive into a motherboard
26:26 - Step Nine: How to tidy up loose cables
29:43 - Step Ten: How to install Windows
35:31 - Outro
Constructing your own gaming PC from scratch is cheaper than buying prebuilt, and teaches you helpful rig-wrangling skills you can use for future upgrades. But how does one build a PC? Allow James and the disembodied voice of Liam guide you through it, step by step and in basic – sometimes even downright regional – English.
To build a PC you will need the following components:
- PC case
- Motherboard
- CPU
- CPU cooler
- RAM
- Graphics card
- SSD (and/or HDD)
- PSU (i.e. the power supply)
- Windows 10/11 installation media, ideally a USB stick
- Windows 10/11 license or activation key
- Medium crosshead screwdriver
- Small crosshead screwdriver
- Thermal paste
For more information check out our in-depth guide to building a PC here - rockpapershotgun.com/how-to-build-a-pc
🎥: Want more juicy video content? James bought Liam a bunch of unusual Steam Deck accessories from Etsy: youtu.be/M0nKUKiTK-Q
🔴: Subscribe and ring that bell to never miss a video: youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1
💬: Chat to Rock Paper Shotgun on Discord: discord.gg/rockpapershotgun
🍾: Support RPS by becoming a YouTube channel member: youtube.com/channel/UC5bKSAZBvV9AKlBJPG0Py-A/join
🛒 Buy some RPS merch: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun
🐦: Follow Liam on Twitter: twitter.com/meevil
#rockpapershotgun #pcgaming
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - Component list
01:16 - Step One: How to install a CPU into a motherboard
02:20 - Step Two: How to install a CPU cooler
03:03 - Step Two (Part One): How to install a CPU air cooler
09:26 - Step Two (Part Two): How to install a CPU water cooler
12:33 - Step Three: How to install RAM into a motherboard
13:25 - Step Four: How to install a PSU into a PC case
14:58 - Step Five: How to install a motherboard into a PC case
20:38 - Step Six: How to connect a CPU cooler to a PC case
22:22 - Step Seven: How to install a graphics card
24:26 - Step Eight: How to install storage
25:00 - Step Eight (Part One): How to install an M.2 SSD into a motherboard
25:27 - Step Eight (Part Two): How to install a mechanical hard drive into a motherboard
26:26 - Step Nine: How to tidy up loose cables
29:43 - Step Ten: How to install Windows
35:31 - Outro
