rating the setup

A look at students' different

self-built gaming PCs and how they use them

by richie jiang bedroom staff debating

With a press of the power button, RGB lights blink on, and fans whirl to life. Senior Raymond Hu puts on his headset and joins a voice call with several friends, including fellow senior Brendan Raskin, ready to test the new additions to his gaming setup.

Both Hu and Raskin saved up to pay for and build their own gaming PCs in their sophomore year, each spending over $1000 in total.

"I decided to get one because many of my friends were also building and buying computers at the time," Raskin said. "It was over quarantine, so I thought that it would be a fun project that I could do, as well as use it as a way to play games with friends and waste some time."

However, building a PC is no easy task. Research must be done on the compatibility of different parts and the proper techniques for putting them together without causing damage.

"I didn't just buy pieces of the PC and put it together," Raskin said. "It took a lot of research and prep to even start buying things for it. I probably planned what to buy for about two months and then started to buy components."

When deciding on the look of their PCs, Hu and Raskin had to consider factors such as available space, power demands and their budgets. Eventually, both settled on an RGB-heavy look.

"I'm most proud of just the entire setup and how it's super interconnected and everything is vital to each other," Hu said.

Neither Hu nor Raskin have significantly upgraded their PC since building them. However, they have added small additions such as a second monitor, or lighting for a graphics card. Hu, in particular, has made a few "unorthodox" upgrades, including a homemade lag switch, a device used to temporarily cut one's internet connection.

"It's so janky," Hu said. "I soldered wires to the kill switch. It's literally just two wires that come out of an Ethernet cord."

Hu enjoys playing more sandbox games such as "Minecraft", while Raskin plays more competitive games. Despite different preferences, both have emphasized the fun that gaming with friends can bring.

"I would say that the most fun part about gaming is being able to do it with friends," Raskin said. "It's really nice to be able to hop on for a little while with a friend and get a game in. As someone who is really busy, it makes the experience more enjoyable."

Hu and Raskin's new setups allowed them to stay connected with friends during the pandemic. Even more, they were able to form new friendships through gaming.

"I've connected with people, like even at school that I would not normally have," Hu said. "And I've just fostered great friendships with a bunch of people that I normally wouldn't have."