How to build a PC in Lebanon: the complete beginner's guide

Building your own PC is one of the best ways to get more performance for your money, and in Lebanon it has a second advantage: you choose exactly which store each part comes from, so you can chase the best price and the best warranty part by part. This guide takes you from "I want a PC" to a working machine on your desk. No experience needed.

Why build instead of buying a ready-made PC?

Prebuilt desktops sold in Lebanon are often balanced for a price tag rather than for you. A common pattern is a strong-sounding processor paired with a weak graphics card, a no-name power supply, or a single stick of RAM. When you build it yourself:

• You decide where the money goes. For gaming that usually means the graphics card. For video editing it means the processor and RAM.
• You know every part. That makes upgrades and warranty claims easy, because you know the exact model and where you bought it.
• You can buy across stores. One store might have the best price on the CPU, another on the GPU. Our PC builder shows each store's price side by side.

Step 1: Decide what the PC is for, and set a budget

Everything follows from two questions: what will you do on it, and how much can you spend in total? Write both down before you look at a single part.

As a rough rule for a gaming PC, expect the graphics card to take about 35–45% of the budget. If it is much less, the GPU is probably holding the build back.

Step 2: Choose parts in the right order

The order matters, because each choice limits the next one. Pick parts in this sequence and compatibility mostly takes care of itself:

1. Processor (CPU). This decides the socket, the physical connector on the motherboard. AMD Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 chips use AM5. Older Ryzen chips use AM4. Intel 12th–14th gen use LGA1700, and Core Ultra 200 chips use LGA1851. Our socket guide explains each one.
2. Motherboard. It must match the CPU socket, and it decides the memory type (DDR4 or DDR5) and the size (ATX, Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX).
3. Memory (RAM). It must match the board's DDR type. Two sticks are better than one, because of dual channel. See DDR4 vs DDR5.
4. Graphics card (GPU). Choose it by the resolution of your monitor. Check that it fits the case and that your PSU can feed it. See choosing a graphics card.
5. Storage. An M.2 NVMe SSD as the boot drive, plus extra drives if you need space. See NVMe vs SATA vs HDD.
6. CPU cooler. Some boxed CPUs include one. Tray CPUs never do. Lebanese summers make this choice matter more than you might think. See air vs liquid cooling.
7. Case. It must support the motherboard size, the GPU length and the cooler height. See form factors.
8. Power supply (PSU). Size it last, once you know the load. Add about 30% headroom, and never buy a no-name unit. See how many watts you need.

The builder follows exactly this order and flags conflicts as you go: a socket mismatch, DDR4 RAM on a DDR5 board, a board that won't fit the case, or a PSU that is too small.

Step 3: Compare prices across Lebanese stores

The same part can differ by tens of dollars between stores. A few things to check before you pay:

• Exact model. "B760M-A" can be sold in a DDR4 and a DDR5 version, and "RTX 5060 Ti" comes in 8GB and 16GB. Match the full model code, not just the name.
• Tray or boxed. A tray CPU is cheaper but has no cooler and often a shorter, store-only warranty.
• VAT and warranty. Some stores list prices with VAT included, others don't. Ask how long the warranty is and who handles it.
• Stock and "ask store" prices. If a price isn't listed, call or message before you go.

Our buying checklist covers all of this in detail.

Step 4: Prepare your tools and workspace

• A Phillips #2 screwdriver, ideally magnetic. It covers almost every screw in a PC.
• A large, clear table, not carpet. Touch a metal part of the case now and then to discharge static.
• Good light, a small bowl for screws, and the motherboard manual. Most boards also have a PDF version online.
• A USB stick of 8GB or more for the Windows installer.
• Thermal paste, only if your cooler doesn't come with paste already applied.

Step 5: Assemble the PC step by step

Outside the case

1. Install the CPU. Lift the socket lever, line up the triangle mark on the CPU with the mark on the socket, and lower it in without pressing. Close the lever. On AM5 and Intel sockets the plastic cover pops off when you close it.
2. Install the RAM. With two sticks, use the slots the manual recommends, usually A2 and B2 (the second and fourth from the CPU). Press until both clips click.
3. Install the M.2 SSD. Remove the slot's heatsink if there is one, insert the drive at an angle, press it flat and secure it.
4. Mount the cooler. Follow its manual for your socket. Remove the plastic film from the cold plate. Plug the fan into the CPU_FAN header.

Inside the case

1. Check the motherboard standoffs match your board's holes, then fit the I/O shield if your board doesn't have one built in.
2. Lower the motherboard in, align it with the I/O shield, and screw it down. Don't overtighten.
3. Install the PSU, fan facing down if the case has a bottom vent with a dust filter.
4. Remove the slot covers and insert the graphics card into the top long PCIe slot until it clicks. Screw it to the case.
5. Connect the power cables: the 24-pin to the motherboard, the 8-pin (or 8+4) CPU cable at the top left of the board, and the PCIe power cables to the GPU, all the way in.
6. Connect the front-panel cables (power switch, USB, audio) using the manual's diagram, and plug in the case fans.

Step 6: First boot, BIOS and Windows

1. Turn the PC on and press Del or F2 to enter the BIOS. Check that the CPU, all RAM and the SSD are detected.
2. Turn on XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) so your RAM runs at its rated speed. Without it, DDR5-6000 may run at 4800.
3. Update the BIOS if the motherboard maker lists a newer version. That's important on Intel 13th/14th gen and on new CPUs in older boards.
4. Install Windows from the USB stick, then install the chipset and graphics drivers from the manufacturers' websites.
5. Check temperatures under load with a free monitoring tool. If the CPU runs very hot right away, re-check the cooler mounting and the film on the cold plate.

Finally, plan for Lebanon's power situation before you rely on the PC daily. Generator switchovers and voltage swings are hard on hardware. Our power protection guide explains which UPS to get.