Skip to main content

Test your PC building skills with the new PC Building Simulator

pc building simulator pcbuilder02
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Building a PC is something that becomes far easier with practice, but if you make mistakes they can be expensive ones. That’s why something like PC Building Simulator could be great for those who want to try their hand at it, or for old pros who want to test their skills without breaking open their prized PC.

Currently under development by independent programmer “Claudiu,” PC Building Simulator is undergoing pre-alpha testing, which is why he’s released a build of the game to the public. He hopes that the game will be useful for people wanting to learn about putting together a gaming PC, or those who simply want to try out different hardware configurations in a 3D, digital setting.

As it stands the game is in a pretty bare-bones state, with very limited components to choose from, a single, rather drab environment to do it in, and no advanced cooling options like water or phase change. However, the basics are there and for anyone who hasn’t built a PC before, seeing that everything slots in easily can go a long way to assuaging any concerns you may have.

It’s nice to see cabling included, too. One of the most daunting aspects for new PC builders can be installing power cables, due to the fear that should you use the wrong one, you could blow something up. While that isn’t as big of a scare as people might expect, the tutorial in PC Building Simulator shows a list of all of the most important cables and makes you pick the correct one before allowing you to continue.

In the future, Claudiu plans to add a career mode, which will let people pick their own hardware and let them practice budgeting for specific goals and try out lighting and cooling configurations. There’s even the potential for puzzle-like gameplay in the form of damaged components and PC repair (thanks RPS).

One important step that isn’t taken in this demo though is for users to ground themselves. While not strictly necessary, making sure that any static you have built up in your own body doesn’t short out components is an important step for new PC builders to take. If you’re planning on building a PC yourself, make sure to check out our handy guide, no experience required.

And if you’d like to try your hand at building a virtual gaming system, you can download PC Building Simulator using various links found on the official blog.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…
Common mistakes to avoid when building a mini-ITX PC
Product image of the Fractal Meshify 2 Nano mini-ITX case in white on top of a desk.

Building a mini-ITX PC can be an exciting challenge offering the promise of a compact, yet powerful computing solution. However, amid the excitement of assembling your system, it's crucial to tread carefully and avoid common pitfalls that can derail your build.

From compatibility issues to space constraints, navigating the intricacies of building a mini-ITX PC requires attention to detail and a keen eye for potential stumbling blocks. In this guide, we'll explore the most common mistakes to avoid while building a compact PC.
Poor component compatibility
This Gigabyte RTX 4060 graphics card comes with a low-profile design that makes it suitable for small form factor builds. Gigabyte

Read more
PC compatibility for the PlayStation VR2 is being tested by Sony
Playstation VR2 headset on a PlayStation-themed wallpaper.

To celebrate the first anniversary of the PlayStation VR2, Sony revealed a new batch of games coming to its virtual reality headset and confirmed that it's testing a feature that would let people play PC VR games on their PSVR2.

"We’re pleased to share that we are currently testing the ability for PS VR2 players to access additional games on PC to offer even more game variety in addition to the PSVR2 titles available through PS5," the PlayStation Blog post about PSVR2's first anniversary teases. "We hope to make this support available in 2024, so stay tuned for more updates."

Read more
This puzzling PC game needs to be on your radar this February
A stone ring sits on a pedestal in Islands of Insight.

Islands of Insight, an open-world puzzle game by Behvaiour Interactive and Lunarch Studios, will launch on February 13. It's coming exclusively to PC and will retail for $30. A public demo for it will be available from February 5 to February 12 on Steam.

Ahead of its release date reveal, I went hands-on with a build of the upcoming game. I'd be dropped into its sprawling sky islands and given free rein to solve puzzles around a walled-off space. Based on the 90 minutes I've spent with it so far, it's looking like a creative approach to the genre with some surprising inspirations.

Read more