Building a Web Development PC3 min read

It’s no secret that web developers have to meet certain computer specifications if they want to do their work efficiently. For example, the Digital Hacker’s guide suggests a RAM that’s at least 8GB, an i5 CPU, and 256GB of built-in storage. After all, you’re going to need all the processing power and memory that you can get to run apps simultaneously.

However, these specs aren’t cheap, which is why plenty of web developers opt to build their own PCs instead. If this too, is your goal, then here’s what you’re going to need:

CPU

You don’t need the latest-gen CPU (like i7 or i9) to run your programs. You need one with multiple cores. A single-core processor can only handle one to two threads at a time. Most CPUs in the market will come in quad-core, which, while good for basic uses, won’t be enough for web developers. After all, besides needing to open multiple programs simultaneously (which all use at least one thread), a lot of JavaScript editors and website builders use multiple threads.

An i5 Intel CPU with six cores will get you faster performance than an i7 CPU with four. Just remember that the more cores a CPU has, the more expensive they’ll be. But between all your PC components, the biggest cut of your budget should go to the CPU.

RAM

RAM may not be as important as your CPU, but a big RAM can help make your processes go a lot faster. Normally, 4GB RAM is more than enough for what you need. However, if you need to run emulators, virtual machines, and IDEs, then you’re looking at an 8GB build. Anything more than that is excessive. Of course, if you plan to use your PC for gaming, video editing, and other graphic-intensive programs, then you can get a 16GB one.

OS

Finally, there’s the OS. And for web developers, you won’t find a more useful one than Linux. Linux is open-source, so it lets its users customize the system to their preferences. It also has Strong Unix paths for files and multiple copyright-free directories. Plus, it’s 100% free.

And while you can build your OS from scratch, it’s more convenient to get a distr that already has what you need. For example, Elive has over 2,500 packages that you can install, including those for web development (like Seamonkey). Despite its lightweight build, it’s also very fast, enabling it to run Linux PCB design software and other CAD apps with no lag. After all, CAD can be CPU intensive, just like running multiple development programs, but Elive frees up a lot of RAM, so that is not a problem. You can also go for more general options like Ubuntu and Linux Mint.

Other components

According to Red Stapler’s post, here are some other components you need to complete your PC.

– A GPU (only get an expensive one for the same reason you’re getting a good RAM)
– A CPU cooler
– A dedicated power supply
– A motherboard
– An SSD hard drive (you can get external ones if you run out of space)

All in all, web developers need to focus on three components in their PC: CPU, RAM, and OS. All other parts are purely for aesthetics (like an RGB CPU cooler) or are only necessary for running other programs (like a high-end GPU for gaming). You can go as cheap as you want for them.