EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

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Best tools for building PC

The 6 Best Tools for Building a PC (and Extras)

So you’ve finally got your parts selected…

You’re ready to plunge into the world of PC building…

Well, just one more step before you order your build: checking you have the right tools!

Today’s feature goes over what tools/extras you may need for your next PC (and the best variant of them with cost in mind).

Note: You do not need every item on this list to build a PC. Many of these are optional but will help certain builders (we’ll make it clear in each section).

Main Picks

Extras

 

Best Tool for Building a PC: LENOX 6-in-1 Screwdriver

If there’s one item to add to your basket before your PC purchase, it’s this fantastically cheap multi-purpose screwdriver.

While I know there’s a lot of people out there looking for the best screwdriver set for computers and PC build, the truth is buying a full toolkit is overkill.

What kind of screwdriver do you need for PC building?

A no 2 Philips screwdriver will cover 90% of what most builds need.

That said, it’s helpful to have a no 1 (smaller head) variant for the occasional screws that are a little tighter.

I like the LENOX because it is (surprisingly) in the same price bracket as a single-type screwdriver, yet comes with 6 different heads (without a reduction in quality).

Overall, this one is a bit of a no-brainer.

Not only is it great to have the 2 Philips head types when setting up your PC, but getting the other 4 screwdriver types is a nice addition for future DIY projects given they come at no cost.

At its low price-point, this is without a doubt the best tool for PC building.

Purchase

Best Anti-Static Wristband for PC Building: Rosewill Anti Static Wrist Strap

An anti-static wrist strap is a cheap, easy way to ground yourself and remove the risk of static interference when handling your pricey PC parts.

I recommend the Rosewill band – > The cheapest on the market that has widespread usage. There’s no need to overcomplicate a simple product, this is all you need.

Do you need an anti-static wristband to build a PC?

The short answer is no, but it’s recommended.

This is a popular product amongst tech builders for a reason: for a tiny price, you are avoiding the risk of static damage to items you spend big money on.

You’ll then have the band for all future upgrades/builds.

Alternatively, you can ground yourself manually every few minutes; which will cover most of the risk if you’re careful.

(There’s already good resources on how to ground yourself when PC building).

But as far as I’m concerned, the tiny spend is worth the ease of building and peace of mind.

Purchase

Best Cable Ties for PC Building: Hmrope 100pcs Cable Zip Ties

Many PC parts come with cable ties (most often the PSU or PC case).

If you know for sure that some will be included for you, this may be unnecessary.

That said, you can never have too many cable ties for organization.

The various SATA/Power/Misc cables you’ll be working with will quickly disorganize your build if you don’t have these handy.

The Hmrope ties are the cheapest available online and still do the job as effectively as its pricier competitors for PC builds

Purchase

Best Thermal Paste for PC Building: Noctua NT-H1

Thermal paste is an important part of the PC building process.

It is what allows the smooth transition of heat from the CPU to the accompanying CPU cooler. Do not start your PC without first having applied thermal paste.

Most CPUs or stock coolers usually come with enough paste for at least one application.

It’s worth checking what with the one you’re purchasing. If it is included then it will likely do the job just as well as Noctua so this is completely optional.

I (and many other builders) like to pick up some paste just in case:

  1. Thermal paste isn’t included with your CPU
  2. You need to re-apply the paste after a sub-par first attempt

You do not need to buy an expensive/high-volume tube of paste. 

The Noctua NT-H1 paste ticks the boxes perfectly and is, in our opinion, the best thermal paste for PC building today (being one of the cheapest on the market, with enough volume for a few applications and widely used/available).

Purchase

Extras

The above 4 items are the best tools for building a PC. We’ve just included a couple of extra optional small items that we think may be valid for some of your setups.

Best USB Hub for PC: Anker 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub

I recommend a USB hub for two types of people:

  • Those with limited USB hubs on their PC (particularly likely for smaller form factor PC cases)
  • Those (like myself) who like to have more easily available ports on their desk – as it can be a pain to reach behind the PC if your front I/O ports are out.

This Anker offering is one of the best USB hubs for a PC setup.

It ticks all the right boxes: low in price, sturdy/attractive design, wide usage, and USB 3.0.

You can get a product with more ports if preferred, but we will need to fork out more for a good product (and larger numbers of USB ports demand more power, so are more often accompanied by a mains power requirement to allow you to use for charging also).

Purchase

Best Headphone Stand for PC Users: NZXT Puck

Last but not least is a unique product from one of the best PC Case brands in the game.

The NZXT Puck is essentially a magnetic stand to stick to the side/front of your PC case (or another magnetic surface if your PC isn’t).

It sounds simple, but it’s a surprisingly effective/aesthetically pleasing way of storing your headphones.

And the puck is actually in two parts, so you can choose to separate them and use the other piece for say, a game controller.

The slight crevice around the side of the puck also allows you to have some neat cable management for your accessories on the front side of your PC (something that is usually lacking in setups).

It’s by no means required for your build, but neatly storing your expensive PC headphones is something that is often overlooked, so a product to do it stylishly is one we’d recommend.

Purchase

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About the author

Picture of Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross, BSc is the Lead Writer at What in Tech and a leading authority in PC hardware and software. With a career as a senior IT professional, Kaelum has led multi-million dollar projects covering everything from bespoke software development to complex Windows hardware upgrades. Today, Kaelum uses his expertise to serve What in Tech's readers and has been featured in numerous global publications including New York Magazine and Lifewire.

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