While PC components like the CPU, GPU, Motherboard, RAM, etc., are crucial, you cannot finish a PC build without the right tool kit. Pliers, screwdrivers, zip ties, and everything else are necessary.
These PC-building tools help you open, enclose, and secure all necessary parts. Without them, you won’t be able to even open your computer case, let alone unscrew the motherboard sockets, drive bays, and more.
So, in this article, I shall list and discuss different tools, their use cases, where to get them, and things to consider before buying them.
Contents
A Complete List of Tools Needed for Building a PC
Tool | Use |
---|---|
Philips screwdriver | Meant for screw attachments specific to the ‘+’ shaped slots. |
Flathead screwdriver | Useful for attaching screws with line-shaped slots |
Anti-static straps | Helps prevent electrostatic discharge and damage to components |
Hex screwdriver | Meant for screws that go into slots with hexagonal shapes |
Torx screwdriver | Meant for screws into star-shaped slots |
Pliers | Meant for gripping cables, wires, and components |
Needle-nose pliers | Useful for gripping wires and components in tight spaces |
Side cutters | Meant for cutting cable and wires, if needed |
Cable combs | Useful for organizing cables and prepping them for the zip ties |
Power supply tester | Meant for testing the power supply |
Drill | Can be used to create holes on mounting components |
Multimeter | Useful for checking voltage, resistance, and component-specific electric current |
Tweezers | Meant for manipulating thermal paste and small components |
Thermal paste | Meant for improving the thermal conductivity between the CPU and the fan |
Zip ties | Meant for securing cables and wires to and from the components |
Flashlight | Can help with visibility across dark and tight spaces |
Thermal pad | Can be used as an alternative to thermal paste |
Anti-static mat | Meant for preventing electrostatic discharge while working on a flat table or surface |
Cable ties | Meant for bundling cables together |
Magnetic parts tray or mat | Useful for keep the screws in place while you focus on other aspects of PC building |
Nut driver | Meant for attaching nuts to bolts |
Note that this extensive list is more or less every tool you might need. Going forward, I will detail only the most crucial tools. You can always use other components in relation to the crucial ones.
Essential Tools for PC Building
Here are some of the most important things you need to build a computer, with each explained, keeping their individual roles and types in mind.
1. Screwdrivers
There is nothing called a right screwdriver for PC building. Instead, here are the options you need to consider, especially to get a wholesome toolkit in place:
Phillips Head Screwdriver
If you want to work with screws that fit into the ‘+’ shaped slots, you must have a Phillips head screwdriver handy. This resource is useful for securing hard drives, optical drives, and power supplies.
Coming to the types, you can choose between #0, #1, and #2 variants, depending on the size you are looking at.
While buying, you need to check for size-specific appropriateness, as smaller screwdriver heads can lead to stripping, and the larger ones might not fit too well. Do note that the numbered variants fall in the standard screwdriver category.
Apart from these, you can even pick the Stubby head screwdriver, which comes with a short handle and is meant for tighter spaces and parts like case fans.
Then you have the insulated head screwdriver — featuring built-in electricity insulation. And finally, the magnetic Phillips head screwdriver for the M.2 drives.
Flathead Screwdriver
Some screw heads have straight lines for slots instead of the +s, hexes, or stars. A flathead screwdriver is meant for tightening or loosening screws relevant to those slots. Flatheads are meant for standoffs and even case fans.
Coming to the types, there is the cabinet-type version for accessing tight spaces and the keystone-tip flathead version for securing case panels and drive bays.
Electricians’ flathead screwdrivers are meant for heavy lifting, connecting power supplies, and storage drives. And finally, there is the precision flathead for installing small screws and the M.2 drives.
In addition to Phillips head and flathead screwdrivers, you can even consider getting the Hex and Torx screwdrivers for hexagonal and star-shaped heads, respectively.
Hex screwdrivers are primarily used for fitting in motherboard-case standoffs, whereas Torx screwdrivers are primarily used for securing the ends of power cables or for fitting hard drives into the predefined case slots.
Depending on the head size, the Trox variants are further segregated as T5, T6, and even T8.
2. Pliers
There might be some PC components, cables, or parts you want to bend, twist, grip, and cut. For all those things, there are pliers.
Coming to the types, you can pick either a needle-nose plier for added control and precision for installing jumpers and small wires or a diagonal plier for trimming excess wire.
If you have a lot of PC building experience, you might even want to get a locking plier (Vise-grip plier) for holding parts in place while you screw or unscrew.
There is also something called a slip joint plier, capable of adjusting bolts and screws — acting as an extension to a standard screwdriver.
3. Anti-Static Components
I am not exaggerating, but your PC building success depends greatly on the anti-static components.
Anti-static entities like wrist straps, bands, and even mats can help keep the electrostatic discharge out, avoiding damage to the more sensitive PC components — CPU, motherboard, GPU, and RAM.
You might consider getting an anti-static wrist strap to start with, as it helps ground your body and eventually prevents the buildup of static electricity.
The strap is connected to a grounded surface like a metal case to help relay the static charge from your body to the ground without them reaching the components.
You can choose from metal and fabric straps, with the former being more durable and the latter more comfortable.
Anti-strap mats are meant to cover the working surface and dissipate static electricity. They are typically made of vinyl or rubber. As for the types, you can pick from floor and table mats, with the former being bigger in size.
4. Tweezers
You can use Tweezers across PC building verticals like gripping small objects, inserting and even removing the smallest of screws, and handling connector pins while working with a CPU.
Regarding the types, you can choose between flat, pointed, and angled tweezers. While flat tweezers are good for holding connectors and are large, pointed tweezers are primarily used for handling smaller screws.
The angled versions are more about offering better grip, more so while adjusting connectors and jumpers. With Tweezers, you can work on the entire build without worrying about damaging the delicate components.
While these are some of the essential tools, you can consider using them alongside the likes of a flashlight, multimeter, and even the nut driver (to work alongside the screwdriver).
Plus, while screwing and unscrewing, you might even need to use a Power supply tester to check if the important components receive the right amount of power from the PSU.
Optional Tools That You Can Consider
Besides the essentials, you can consider the following optional tools to take your PC-building experience to a whole new level.
1. Thermal Paste
While thermal pastes require a lot of detailing, their primary task is to increase the thermal conductivity between the processors and the heat sink.
If you plan on building a full-fledged gaming machine, applying the thermal paste on the processor before connecting a fan to it is advisable.
Applying the thermal paste to the processor fills the imperfections and gaps between the heat sink and the processor. This lowers the chances of encountering air gaps and pockets, issues capable of lowering the heat-transferring capabilities of the machine.
Coming to the types, you can opt for silicone-based pastes that are affordable and easy to use. You can even use metal-based thermal pastes with silver and copper as components.
These variants are more expansive and suitable for more premium builds. And finally, you also have ceramic-based pastes to purchase, best known for easy application, quick removal features, and low viscosity — making them extremely useful for premium gaming stations.
Some of the more popular thermal pastes include IC Diamond 24 Carat, Corsair TM30, and Arctic MX-4.
2. Zip or Cable Ties
Cable and zip ties are meant to keep the internal aesthetics of your computer case intact. Using them, you can bundle and secure cables right, helping you manage and handle them better.
Also, if you have plans to swap PC components in the future, you should already be getting those ties ready. These small plastic ties come in different shapes and sizes.
The big ones even take the form of large holding cables. Coming to the types, you can pick a standard nylon version for basic cable clamping or heavy-duty ties for securing thicker power and data cables.
Some machines might also allow you to use velcro ties for that added strength. And finally, if you plan on upgrading some components in the future, even the releasable cable ties work like magic.
Also, if you have a lot of components and cables in sight, there are color-coded ties to help you label the cables seamlessly.
3. Cable Management Sleeves
While zip ties can help you bundle cables together, you can use cable management sleeves to conceal them and give them a more streamlined appearance. Having them helps increase the airflow and lower interference with other components.
As for the types, there are braided, heat-shrink, split, and spiral sleeves to choose from. The braided ones feature polyester and are most of the appearance boosters.
Heat-shrink sleeves help with heat management and lend a layer of protection to cables in case you expect the PC to overheat. Split and spiral sleeves are used to organize multiple cables and wraparound effects, respectively.
4. Compressed Air Can
Finally, if you want a specialized tool for cleaning the internals of your PC in a non-invasive way, compressed air cans can work really well. You can blow or spray air onto the components to easily push out dust and debris.
The types with narrow nozzles are the best around for pushing out dust from the smaller and harder-to-access areas. The general purpose Air Cans are usually meant for spraying across a wider field. Yet, when you pick one, it is advisable to check for environmental friendliness over everything else.
As far as the usage is concerned, you can use them to clean inside the case and across the motherboard before and after installing the components.
Where To Purchase These Tools From?
Now that you know which tools to get, here are the buying options, followed by the pros and cons of each option:
Online Retailers
You can purchase almost every tool on this list from online retailers like Micro Center, Walmart, and more.
Here are the pros and cons of purchasing tools online:
What I Like
- The widest selection of tools
- Competitive pricing
- Expedited shipping options available
What I Dislike
- Forego the physical inspection option.
- Standard shipping, at no additional cost, can become slow and unpredictable.
- Placing returns can get time-consuming for faulty products
Local Computer Stores
You can purchase the tools at local computer stores if you do not wish to depend on shipments.
Here are the associated pros and cons:
What I Like
- Physically inspect every tool
- Personalized assistance and advice.
What I Dislike
- Limited Product Selection
Things To Consider While Purchasing Tools for Building a PC
You can now go and start purchasing the tools to build a PC. However, there are a few little factors that you must keep in mind while making the purchase (s):
1. Budget
It is important to set the budget aspect straight before heading over to the purchase section. For that, you first need to zero in on the type of case and components your PC might need.
Once that is out of the way, you can select the tools accordingly. For example, if you know the computer case doesn’t have screws with hexagonal heads, you might choose not to get the Hex screwdriver.
2. Quality
If you plan on purchasing PC-building tools from online or even offline stores, you might want to go through the catalog and pick a tool kit based on the quality of the offerings. For instance, if you plan to get tools to assemble a high-end gaming PC, a metal or ceramic-based thermal paste is needed over a standard silicone-based one.
3. Compatibility
The tools you seek should be compatible with the build. For example, even if you prefer picking something as basic as a cable management sleeve for a high-performance workstation, a heat-shrink version for insulating the cables can be the most compatible. Therefore, you should know about the tool types before proceeding.
4. Reviews
If you usually make purchases after seeing product reviews, I urge you to head to online retailers and check the tool or toolkit-specific reviews. For instance, if you have plans of getting the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit, locate all the organic reviews (ones that are detailed and have images even) and pick only if you are satisfied.
5. Brand Reputation
Like PC components, even toolkits from good brands can help you better, especially if you want to replace or claim a warranty on a certain part. The likes of Thermaltake, iFixit, and Belkin are popular PC toolkit brands.
6. Warranty
In case you plan on picking tools individually, check the warranty obligations beforehand. This makes it easier for you to place claims.
In addition to these factors, you should also look for comfort while picking a PC-building toolkit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you need pliers, thermal paste, cable ties, screwdrivers, and more. But most importantly, you might need to get a toolkit with all these tools and more enshrined in one location for preparing builds seamlessly.
While there are several screw and nut drivers that you can consider for a PC build, the more relatable ones include flathead screwdrivers and Phillips head screwdrivers. Some PCs might even need you to keep Torx and Hex screwdrivers handy.
While a PC builder would need a slew of tools, the most prior ones include anti-static straps, screwdrivers, pliers, cable ties, and thermal paste.
You can expect a typical technician to have almost every important PC-building tool. However, if only one guess is allowed, I would say that a precision screwdriver tops the chart courtesy of its compactness and versatility.
Conclusion
While tools are important, you need two additional traits to succeed in PC building: attention to detail and patience. It is advisable to never rush through the process or overlook steps that might damage the components.
And finally, if you plan to assemble a powerful PC, do some additional research on the type of thermal pastes in play to keep overheating.
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