The holiday season is upon us, and the world bustles with gift shopping and decorating. Yet most of us are looking for something more than new presents and festive rooms. We’re looking for time spent together with the people who matter to us most. The best gifts do more than create excitement when they’re unwrapped: they create shared memories that last a lifetime.
Odds are, there’s a person on your shopping list who could use a new PC this year. Maybe they need an upgrade to support their efforts in school, to break down the obstacles between them and their creative ambitions, or to boost their competitive edge in gaming. Whatever their reason, you could get them rolling with a new laptop or prebuilt computer. But you also have the opportunity to do something truly special: you could build a custom PC with them instead.
Beyond the tangible result of a powerful machine, the experience offers a chance to share skills, bond over a collaborative project, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Here’s why this could be the most rewarding activity you take on this holiday season — and how ASUS products can help you craft the ultimate build.
- Holiday Gift Guide 2024: the best gifts from ROG for someone who has it all
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- Holiday Gift Guide 2024: the best gifts for gamers from ROG and TUF Gaming
Passing along skills that will last a lifetime
Building a PC isn’t just about assembling hardware. It’s a hands-on lesson in problem-solving, technology, and creativity that teaches invaluable skills for the modern world.
The step-by-step knowledge is just the start. Certainly, it’s important: at some point in their lives, every PC builder has had someone walk them through the basics of installing components, establishing an effective cooling system, connecting it all together, and selecting the right optimizations in BIOS.
Learning how to build a PC helps people save money, not just on future builds but by enabling them to avoid trips to a PC repair shop. It gives them more value out of their investment, too, by empowering them to extend the lifespan of their PC with key performance upgrades down the road.
Building a PC also teaches important life skills. From understanding compatibility between parts to troubleshooting during the build process, each step sharpens analytical skills. It helps people develop a broader knowledge of technology trends as learning about the latest CPUs, GPUs, motherboards, and storage options gives insight into the tech shaping our world. Assembling a PC hones attention to detail and offers the satisfaction of creating something functional and beautiful.
By passing on these skills, you’re not just helping someone build a computer — you’re empowering them with knowledge they’ll carry into the future.
Bonding over a shared project
The modern world often pulls us in different directions, making it challenging to find quality time to connect. Building a PC together creates a shared mission that encourages teamwork, communication, and laughter.
With the right mindset, the process can be incredibly rewarding. As you work through challenges, like figuring out the best way to route cables and the optimal configuration for the case fans, you’ll feel a rewarding sense of accomplishment. You’ll experience the excitement of celebrating milestones together, like the all-important moment when you first hit the power button. Long after the PC is completed, you’ll cherish the memories of those moments.
Tips and tricks for a successful shared build
As you’re getting ready to build a PC with a loved one, it’s worth taking a moment to get yourself into the right mindset. While your friend or family member has a lot to gain from the experience, you should know that coaxing them into this PC building project with you might take a little effort. Keeping them involved throughout the process will take some patience. And making sure that they leave the experience with a sense of ownership over their new PC will involve giving them the reins at key moments.
Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind:
- Bring them into the planning process. Don’t just show up on Christmas morning with a stack of components and expect them to drop everything and build a PC with you. Plan it. Schedule it. Make it a conversation.
- Get inspired together. Part of the fun of PC building is the opportunity to dream about possibilities. Watch some YouTube builds together. Browse out the latest posts on a PC building forum. Check out the latest hardware trends together, and see what concepts get them excited.
- Give them opportunities to make this PC their own. As the more experienced PC builder, you’ll have invaluable guidance to offer about component selection. But your loved one should have final say about certain parts of the process — especially as it relates to aesthetics. Help them discover their options, but leave room for them to make decisions.
- Keep them involved. At times, you’ll be tempted to take over during the build process. But as much as possible, you should let your loved one do the physical work of putting the PC together. Don’t let them try to clamp down an improperly aligned CPU, of course. But try to keep the screwdriver in their hands, not yours.
- Plan for an entire PC setup. As you’re planning this build, think about the full setup. When your loved one sits down with their new PC, their desk, monitor, peripherals, and headset will all play a key role in the experience. This project will have much more of an impact if you’ve planned for a complete package from the start.
Find inspiration through ASUS PC DIY day
On December 3rd, 2024, we’re running a special event to celebrate all things PC building — and it might be the perfect moment to get your friend or family member excited about the process.
For ASUS PC DIY Day 2024, we’re hosting a livestream jam-packed with activities, including expert panels with professional PC builders, a modding competition, and insights from your favorite tech influencers. Be sure to stick around to watch our tournament stream afterward for a chance to win some prizes to upgrade your PC.
Get connected with the ASUS PC DIY community
As you’re planning out a PC build with a friend or family member, you might find it useful to chat with other builders, check out their current projects, and have a place to post any questions that you might have about the process. For you, the ASUS PC DIY Community might be the perfect place to find the conversation you need.
This moderated community gives you a friendly, supportive place to talk about everything related to the process of building a PC. Behind-the-scenes posts from master builders, conversations with other PC enthusiasts, a place to ask questions to a knowledgeable community, news about the latest ASUS hardware — you’ll find it all here and more.
Even more resources for getting started
Here on Edge Up, we post a wide range of resources for helping PC builders stay updated with the latest hardware news, find the right gear, and optimize their completed setups. If you’d like quick email notifications when we share new content, use the “Subscribe” tool in the upper-right-hand corner of this page.
Here are a few recent articles that you might find helpful as you’re planning out different aspects of your build:
- What to look for as you choose a motherboard in 2024. If it’s been a year or two since you last checked in on the motherboard market, this article will get you up to speed so that you know what to look for as you’re comparing your options.
- The best gaming monitors of 2024 from ROG and TUF Gaming. In 2024, you have a stunning array of options as you’re looking for a gaming monitor. This guide will help you find the best option for your needs and budget.
- The best motherboards for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU from ROG and TUF Gaming. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D might be the most exciting gaming CPU to hit the market recently. Find the perfect motherboard to unleash its potential.
- ASUS Z890 motherboard guide: Break all limits with ROG, TUF Gaming, ProArt, and Prime. For every motherboard series we offer, we give PC builders a wide range of options when it comes to style, features, and budget. This guide will give you an easy, comprehensive overview of the entire ASUS Z890 motherboard family.
- ASUS X870E/X870 motherboard guide: ROG, TUF Gaming, ProArt and Prime usher in the era of the custom-built AI PC. AMD’s latest Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs are turning heads across the industry. This guide will help you find the perfect option for your build.
- Award-winning ZenWiFi mesh WiFi systems provide worry-free home networking — and so much more. If you have friends and family visiting your home over the holiday season, you might be thinking about a router upgrade to make sure that everyone can stay connected. ZenWiFi mesh routers are perfect for connecting a full home of devices — and they’re even better with WiFi 7. Come find the best model for your home.