I Built My First PC: A Journey with AI Assistance
I am a PC builder. There, I said it. I don’t feel like one yet — but the facts are undeniable. I built a PC.
Okay, so I had some help along the way, but now that I’ve crafted my own gaming rig for the latest season of TechRadar’s AI Planned It video series, I can hold my head high among the experienced builders on the team.
And make no mistake, building your first PC can be incredibly overwhelming; for me, a clutzy, anxious, and miserly gamer, the stress of it was tantamount to open-heart surgery.
The secret sauce in the equation to help me overcome my fears was ChatGPT, which, alongside Google’s Gemini, assisted me in selecting components — as demonstrated in our previous video. The more risky (and potentially costly) stage of the experiment, of course, was actually putting the thing together — and that process taught me a lot about both PCs and optimizing LLM usage.
Assistance from AI: Setting the Stage
Here’s an outline of how I approached my PC build, including the specific instructions ChatGPT provided me, plus my reflections on what worked and what didn’t. I hope these insights will be helpful to others — and please share your thoughts in the comments below.
As far as the building stage went, my principal concern with using ChatGPT was that it might hallucinate different parts or present outdated configurations, which I encountered in earlier stages of the setup. So, at the very start, I confirmed my configuration with the following prompt:
The prompt: “Ok, I’ve ordered my parts, and they’re on their way. To confirm these are the products I purchased:
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (6-Core)
- Radeon RX 9070 XT (16GB)
- ASUS Prime B650M-A WiFi II
- 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO
- 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black
- be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W
- Fractal Design North Charcoal (mesh side panels)
Can you now provide me with detailed, step-by-step building instructions as well as any tools I will need to do so?”
Initial Challenges: The First Signs of Trouble
Initially, ChatGPT’s response was overwhelming, presenting extensive jargon-heavy instructions that felt daunting for a novice like me. I quickly reminded the AI that I was a beginner, and it subsequently provided me with clearer, step-by-step directions. Here’s a brief overview of those instructions, remembering that if you decide to follow them, ensure to check them thoroughly:
Step 1: Open the case – Remove both side panels of the Fractal North case and locate the screws.
Step 2: Place the motherboard on its box – This gives you a safe working surface.
Step 3: Install the CPU – Follow specific guidelines to ensure proper installation, being careful to handle it correctly.
Step 4: Install the SSD – Find the slot, remove any covers, and carefully secure it.
Step 5: Install the RAM – Place them into the designated slots.
Step 6: Install the cooler – Follow the manual carefully, as this can be a tricky part.
Step 7: Insert the motherboard into the case – Line it up with metal screw posts and secure it.
Step 8: Fit the power supply – Position it correctly and connect the necessary cables.
Step 9: Connect power to the motherboard – Ensure both the 24-pin and 8-pin cables are properly attached.
Step 10: Connect the case cables – This part can be fiddly, especially for the power button.
Step 11: Insert the graphics card – Follow the steps to secure it properly in place.
Step 12: Power connection to the graphics card – Ensure the correct cables are in place.
Step 13: Tidy the cables – Cluttered cables can lead to airflow issues.
Step 14: First startup – Connect monitor, keyboard, and power cables, then boot up.
Step 15: Access the BIOS – Check if all components are recognized correctly.
Step 16: Enable EXPO – This allows your RAM to operate at expected speeds.
Step 17: Install Windows – Follow the prompts on screen to set up your OS.
Step 18: Install drivers – Important for ensuring all components function efficiently.
Final Thoughts: Lessons Learned From the Experience
For the full, unfiltered narrative of my journey, you can catch the episode on TechRadar’s YouTube channel. In summary, aside from a few missteps where ChatGPT encouraged premature steps or lacked clarity, the general instructions were largely correct. However, I often found myself referring back to component manuals.
One significant takeaway was realizing the importance of engaging with both AI and traditional resources. Don’t solely rely on AI for support; instead, balance it with other instructional mediums like videos and manuals. Through this process, I confirmed that hands-on experience paired with expert guidance is invaluable in navigating complex builds.
Typically, I’m not fond of using AI conversationally, but the intricacies of PC building made for a different experience.(Image credit: Future / OpenAI)
Watch the full episode of TechRadar’s AI Planned It here for a complete rundown of the good and bad throughout the process.
Image Credit: www.techradar.com
