Design your own Intel Mid-range Gaming PC

Cases are often a personal choice with many different styles available to suit all tastes. If you are after a gaming PC to make an impact we would recommend a model with a side window, however if you are using the PC in an office and looking for the lowest noise possible then a noise dampened model is a great choice.

The motherboard is the heart of the PC, all the other components, hard drives and peripherals plug into it. A high performance motherboard can offer more ports or more upgrade potential than a standard model.

The processor or CPU is one of the most important components in a PC. A high speed dual, quad or eight core processor can improve performance in games, in office programs, editing videos and photos and speed up multi-tasking.

The memory or RAM has a huge impact on the performance of your PC. This is where the computer stores all the programs and files you currently have open, the more memory you have the more you can do with your PC before it starts to slow down.

A high speed graphics card improves gaming performance, the quality of media playback, professional applications such as Adobe Suites or AutoCAD and is highly recommended in most situations.

A Solid State Hard Drive (SSD) is a super-fast hard drive. Because there are no moving parts they are ultra-reliable and offer speeds 10x+ that are available from even the fastest standard hard drives. They cost more per GB than a traditional drive but the performance on offer makes it a highly recommended choice.

All of your files (music, video, documents, spreadsheets, etc.) are typically stored on your computer's Hard Drive. For reference, a single GB (Gigabyte) is roughly equivalent to 18 hours of MP3 music, or about 600 high-quality photos from a typical digital camera.

A DVD-RW drive is now considered standard on PCs fitted with a drive, however not all PCs now include a drive as standard as many applications are now downloaded over the internet through Application Stores. A Blu-Ray drive is recommended for video enthusiasts to enjoy the latest HD content.

PCs are getting more and more efficient, requiring less power almost every year for the same level of performance. CCL would always recommend you get the most efficient PSU possible – look out for 80+ Silver, Gold and Platinum certified units for the best quality and lowest running costs available.

Upgrading the cooler from the standard model will allow your CPU to run cooler and also thanks to higher quality fans quieter. This will ensure great performance and lower noise even during the most intensive workloads.

A wireless card is an essential part of a modern computer. This allows you to connect to the internet using a wireless router with ease, without the need for an external adapter. The faster the transfer speed the faster your internet and network can transfer files.

The operating system is the heart of the way you interact with your computer; it provides the bridge between the physical components in your computer and the programs you use to complete tasks on your computer. The operating system allows all software compatible with it to interface and uses the components in the computer.

Office software is an often overlooked addition to a new PC. You will need an office suite if you wish to use a word processor, work on spreadsheets, make presentations or use a more feature rich Email client.

Enhance the standard warranty by adding a CCL Carepack to your order. In the unlikely event of a hardware failure, our carepacks aim to provide you with an efficient service to diagonse and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Modern versions of Microsoft Windows include basic security features, however an Internet Security Suite can be a useful addition for anyone looking to add more robust virus detection, protect their credit card details online, reduce email spam or improve parental controls.