How To Assemble A Desktop PC/Choosing the parts

The first step to building a computer is acquiring the parts. This guide will start with a quick explanation of essential parts and elaborate on them further on.

These are the parts that a standard PC will use. You might want to make a check list (perhaps using a spreadsheet) of parts to use as you go about your process of research and selection. That way you won’t find yourself sitting down with a pile of brand new hardware only to find that you forgot an essential component.

The primary parts

Key Parts

• Case - The case houses and protects rest of the parts, and contains additional functions like button, front IO ports, and other features.

• Power Supply Unit/PSU – Power Supply Unit, converts outlet power, which is alternating current (AC), to direct current (DC) which is required by internal components, as well as providing appropriate voltages and currents for these internal components.

• Motherboard/mainboard – A board that facilitates communications between components and offers ports to connect them together.

• CPU – central processing unit, the main processor of the computer. The CPU handles general and mathematically complicated tasks.

• RAM – random access memory, the "short-term memory" of a computer, used by the CPU to store program instructions and data upon which it is currently operating. Data in RAM is lost when the computer is powered off, thus necessitating a storage drive.

• Storage - either HDD (Hard disk drive - noisy and slower of the two but less expensive) and/or SSD (solid state drive. Quiet, very fast but not as cheap) – the "long-term memory" of the computer, used for persistent storage – i.e. the things stored on it remain even when the computer is powered down. The operating system, and all your programs and data are stored here, so if you choose SSD then the system will be faster. These days, SSDs have replaced HDDs for almost everything but the lowest-end laptops and desktops, but if you only need to surf the web, HDDs are the best option. OSes can be booted and use storage from inexpensive USB Drives, although this is only with extremely lightweight systems.

Optional Components

Optional components follow: (Components that depend on the function that will be given to the machine)

• GPU/Graphics Card – does processing relating to video output. If you want to build a gaming PC, a good GPU is almost mandatory. Some processors have an integrated GPU built in so you don’t need (but may add) a separate video card. Otherwise, you will need a video card. These plug into a slot on the motherboard and provide ports to connect a monitor to your computer.

• Optical Drive – device for handling optical disks. May read CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays or other optical media. Some drives are able to write optical media as well as read it.

• Sound hardware - Now integrated into motherboards, higher end sound hardware may be a good option for some users.

External Components

On top of the internal components listed above, you will also need these external components:

• Keyboard – for typing on. A good keyboard will increase your comfort, as well as make you a more productive typist.

• Mouse – for pointing and clicking. A comfortable mouse can significantly improve your experience.

• Monitor – Displays graphics from your computer. They come in many forms, the most common being LCD displays.

Planning the Build

Before you go on a shopping spree and start spending lots of money on expensive computer parts, there are some important questions you should answer which will guide your purchases:

• What will be the main function of the computer?
• What useful parts do you have on hand, from an old computer or otherwise?
• How much can you afford to spend on the system?
• Some functions benefit from certain components more then others. What components, if any, should you skimp on to afford better components elsewhere?
• Do you want to upgrade your computer later, or will you be content with your build?

What operating system am I going to use?

Before you buy components, be sure that they are supported by the operating system you plan to use. Almost all commonly available PC devices have drivers (small programs that allow the operating system to recognize and work with a hardware device) available for current versions of Windows. If you want to run an alternative operating system, you'll have to do some research to make sure your hardware choice will be compatible. Many alternatives have extensive 'Hardware Compatibility Lists' (HCLs) as well as software compatibility.

Main operating systems available

• Microsoft Windows - Windows 10/11 (Home/Pro).
• Popular Linux Distros - Ubuntu, Linux Mint, OpenSUSE, Fedora, Debian, and others
• Popular BSD Variants - FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and others
• Android - A variety of Android based operating systems exist for x86 Personal computers. While not ideal for the desktop form factor, they are free and offer compatibility with Android's software library.
• MacOS - You can install MacOS on non-Apple hardware which is called "Hackintosh" in which an end user installs MacOS on a non-Apple computer. Be warned that this is risky and takes more knowledge than other operating systems.

Windows information and hardware support lists

Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems made by the Microsoft corporation. Thanks to its popularity and widespread support Windows is ideal for most personal computing and fits the needs or wants of just about anyone: gamers, video/graphics editors, office workers, or the average user who wants to surf the web and play a bit of solitaire.

In general Windows supports most available consumer processors from AMD or Intel, as well as most internal and external devices, including Graphics Cards, Wi-Fi adapters, and specialty hardware.

For general consumers, Windows comes in a few flavors:

• Windows 11 Home is the basic version of Windows 11 and costs about $140, but purchases from bulk retailers can be as cheap as $50.
• Windows 11 Pro is the more advanced version of Windows 11 and costs about $200. This version includes business-oriented features like drive encryption, better virtual machine support and a built-in remote desktop function.
• Windows 11 Pro for Workstations provides support for workstation-class hardware such as motherboards with multiple processor sockets and costs $310.

If you are a student you may be able to get a free version of Windows 11 through your school using Azure Dev Teaching (formerly Imagine Premium).

Any Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 product key can be used to activate a copy of Windows 11. This essentially gives you a free upgrade from an older version of Windows to the latest.

Microsoft maintains a list of hardware compatible with Windows.

Linux information and hardware support lists

As one of the most popular open-source (free) operating systems, GNU/Linux is a good alternative. Linux is a UNIX-like series of operating systems and comes in many different distributions, called "distros" for short. Popular distros of Linux intended for the desktop include Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE, MX Linux, Elementary OS, Fedora, KDE Neon, Linux Mint, and Arch Linux.

Linux has applications that can match most of the functionality of their proprietary alternatives. It should be noted, however, that many popular programs are not available for Linux, and the only way to run them is with special compatibility layers like Wine, which may or may not work with a specific program, or could only run with significant issues.

Unlike Windows, drivers in Linux are usually included in the distro. This means different distributions will support different hardware (generally more 'bleeding-edge' distributions will support newer hardware – look at Fedora, SUSE or Ubuntu, compared to the latest stable release of Debian). A search online will normally establish compatibility, otherwise a good rule of thumb to figure out compatibility is to buy hardware that is 12 to 18 months old, as it most likely has Linux support with most distributions, but won't be too old.

Graphics Drivers on Linux are interesting. AMD GPUs typically work fine out of the box thanks to the manufacturer backed open source AMDGPU driver project, where the community open source nouveau project generally works well, but not to the same level as Nvidia's Proprietary drivers, which many distros do not include out of the box due to the licensing used by the driver. Intel Integrated Graphics typically works very well in Linux.

BSDs information and hardware support lists

BSD, or the Berkeley Software Distribution, is also a UNIX-Like series of operating systems and could be considered the alternative to Linux. BSD is an open-source (free) operating system and has its own descendants, such as FreeBSD and OpenBSD. Unlike Linux, BSD tends not to support "new" hardware but can handle a lot of both older and modern components. BSD and Linux share a variety of applications supported on both operating systems.

• DesktopBSD, see FreeBSD 5.4/i386 and FreeBSD 5.4/amd64
• Dragonfly BSD
• FreeBSD
• NetBSD
• OpenBSD
• PC-BSD, see FreeBSD 6.0/i386

Hackintosh

A Hackintosh

A Hackintosh is a computer based on commodity hardware which runs macOS. This is extremely risky and could end in utter failure if it is not done properly. macOS is designed with Apple computers in mind and trying to port them to a PC is risky and difficult. If you still want to attempt the same, read this.

1. You'll be violating the Apple EULA.
2. You should be using a comparable Intel CPU which should've been used by Apple in one of their computers. Although 14th gen Intel CPUs and 700-series motherboards are available, 10th gen Intel CPUs and 400-series motherboards are the last components fully supported by macOS.
3. Apple is moving away from X86 CPUs, and your configuration may not work in the future. Updating between releases could be difficult even before this transition.
4. CPU choice and graphics also matter. Look up your CPU/GPU combination to see if it works.
5. You'll need to (mostly) get modified installers, as the official installers may block installation.
6. You'll need patience and tinkering up with things if something goes wrong. An unsupported motherboard could even be destroyed by macOS.

List of supported GPUs (as of macOS Sequoia)

GPU	Supported?
HD 500 (6th gen Intel) or earlier	Not supported
HD 600 (7th gen Intel)	Supported
UHD 600 (8-10th gen Intel)	Supported
Intel G1-G7 (10th gen Intel)	Supported
11th gen Intel iGPUs and later	Not supported
Any Nvidia GPUs	Not supported
AMD Vega iGPUs (Zen 1-3)	Supported with patches
GCN GPUs (RX 200/300 series) and earlier	Not supported
Polaris GPUs (RX 400/500 series)	Supported
Vega GPUs	Supported
RDNA 1 GPUs (RX 5000 series)	Supported
RDNA 2 GPUs (RX 6000 series)	Most GPUs supported
RDNA 3 GPUs (RX 7000 series)	Not supported

Other Operating Systems

These options are not recommended for the average user, but are included for the sake of completeness.

Haiku

Haiku is an operating system based on BeOS. Its main benefits are its specific focus on personal computing, and its cohesive interface. The main drawback is that its still somewhat "Beta", and can be unstable. Hardware support is iffy, too. If you really want to try Haiku, it's best to use a virtual machine or live USB, instead of installing directly onto your hardware.

What will be the main function of the computer?

If you're going to build a computer from scratch for a specific purpose, you'll want to select each component with your use case in mind. Consider what you want to use the computer for, you may be able to save money by specifying expensive, premium parts only where needed.

Any reasonably configured computer built from current components will offer adequate Internet browsing and word-processing capabilities. For an office computer, this is often all that is needed. As long as you provide enough RAM for your chosen operating system (4 GB at least), any processor you can buy new will provide acceptable performance. If the computer is for gaming, a fast processor and the addition of a high-end graphics card and extra RAM will provide a more satisfactory gaming experience. Besides gaming, computers intended for video editing, serious audio work, CAD/CAM, or animation will benefit from beefier components which are specifically designed for that purpose.

Here are some general system categories. Your own needs will probably not fit neatly into one of these, but they are a good way to start thinking about what you are going to use your computer for. With each we’ve indicated the components you should emphasize when building the system and we've also included sample builds for each configuration, which you're free to modify it to fit your needs and budget.

Simple web surfer

To provide basic functionality to a user who just needs web surfing, a little word processing, and the occasional game of solitaire or Wordle, it’s best not to go overboard. Such a user has no need for a top of the line processor or 3D graphics card. A modestly configured system with an adequate Internet connection (DSL (5 Mbps) or better) will suit this user best and can be assembled quite cheaply.

This usage pattern is not going to stress any particular component; you should be looking at a mid- to low-level processor (historically, and currently, at about the $150 price point or less) such as Core i3 or Ryzen 5, enough RAM for the OS and number of browser tabs (4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended, 16 GB for lots of tabs), and a motherboard with built in Ethernet, video and audio. You can use a mid-level case/power supply combo (these components are often sold as a pair).

If you have a little extra money, spend it on a better monitor, mouse/keyboard, and case/power supply in that order.

Typical PC build by budget

PC level	Budget	PC case	Motherboard	CPU	CPU cooler	RAM	Graphics	Storage	Power supply	Power consumption
										Idle	Peak
Ultra budget	~$250	Basic mini ITX case ($40)	H610 DDR4 motherboard ($50)	Intel Processor 300 ($80)	Intel stock cooler (included)	8 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 (1 x 8 GB) ($20)	UHD Graphics 710 (integrated)	240 GB SATA SSD ($20)	500 W Tier D power supply ($40)	8 W	83 W
Extra budget	~$300	Basic mini ITX case ($40)	A520 DDR4 motherboard ($50)	AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT ($120)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	8 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 (1 x 8 GB) ($20)	AMD Radeon Vega 7 (integrated)	512 GB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($40)	500 W Tier D power supply ($40)	14 W	139 W
Entry-level	~$400	Basic micro ATX case ($60)	A520 DDR4 motherboard ($50)	AMD Ryzen 7 5700G ($180)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	8 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 (1 x 8 GB) ($20)	AMD Radeon Vega 8 (integrated)	512 GB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($40)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)	14 W	139 W
Upper entry-level	~$500	Premium micro ATX case ($110)	A520 DDR4 motherboard ($50)	AMD Ryzen 7 5700G ($180)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	16 GB DDR4-3600 CL18 (2 x 8 GB) ($40)	AMD Radeon Vega 8 (integrated)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)	14 W	138 W
Lower mid-range	~$600	Premium micro ATX case ($110)	A620 DDR5 motherboard ($80)	AMD Ryzen 5 8600G ($180)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	16 GB DDR5-5200 CL40 (2 x 8 GB) ($60)	AMD Radeon 760M (integrated)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)	14 W	140 W

Office computer

An office computer can be expected to do word processing, spreadsheet and database work, network access, e-mail and a little light development of spreadsheets, databases, and presentations. It might also be called on to do page layout work, some 2D graphic creation, and/or terminal emulation.

None of this stresses any particular component either, but since office workers often run several applications at the same time, and because time is money in this space, a strong mid-level processor is suggested. Typically this would be the processor one or two places from the top of the line. Plenty of RAM will also facilitate multitasking and save time.

You will not need much in the way of 3D graphics power so current generation integrated graphics solutions from both AMD and Intel are perfectly adequate for office tasks. You should be aware that they will appropriate a portion of the system RAM for video duties thus reducing the total amount of RAM available for the OS and other programs so play accordingly and increase the total system RAM amount to compensate. Choosing the fastest operating frequency RAM your motherboard and budget can support will positively improve the performance of integrated graphics. If you decide that you need a dedicated graphics card after all, opt for an inexpensive model. A sub $200 (for this and other prices in US dollars see www.xe.com/ucc or other currency converter of your choice for conversion into your local currency) video card with 4 GB of video RAM or more should be more than sufficient. However, do your research carefully because many inexpensive graphics cards actually have poorer performance than current generation integrated graphic solutions.

You should pick a case which looks professional and compliments the look of your office as well as your role in your work. Your case should also be sturdy, to withstand being kicked under a desk or knocked by cleaning staff. You'll also want a no frills but reliable power supply that meets your needs and won't let you down in the middle of a busy workday.

Any extra budget after the above should focus on a better monitor, better/more ergonomic mouse/keyboard and more RAM.

Typical PC build by budget

PC level	Budget	PC case	Motherboard	CPU	CPU cooler	RAM	Graphics	Storage	Power supply	Power consumption
										Idle	Peak
Entry-level	~$400	Basic micro ATX case ($60)	A520 DDR4 motherboard ($50)	AMD Ryzen 7 5700G ($180)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	8 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 (1 x 8 GB) ($20)	AMD Radeon Vega 8 (integrated)	512 GB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($40)	500 W Tier D power supply ($40)	14 W	144 W
Upper entry-level	~$500	Basic micro ATX case ($60)	A620 DDR5 motherboard ($70)	AMD Ryzen 5 8600G ($200)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	16 GB DDR5-5600 CL28 (2 x 8 GB) ($60)	AMD Radeon 760M (integrated)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)	15 W	146 W
Lower mid-range	~$600	Premium micro ATX case ($110)	A620 DDR5 motherboard ($70)	AMD Ryzen 5 8600G ($200)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	16 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 (2 x 8 GB) ($80)	AMD Radeon 760M (integrated)	1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($70)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)	15 W	146 W
Mid-range	~$800	Premium micro ATX case ($110)	B650 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	AMD Ryzen 7 8700G ($300)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	32 GB DDR5-7200 CL34 (2 x 16 GB) ($150)	AMD Radeon 780M (integrated)	1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($70)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)	15 W	150 W
Upper mid-range	~$1000	Premium micro ATX case ($110)	B650 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	AMD Ryzen 7 8700G ($300)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	32 GB DDR5-8400 CL40 (2 x 16 GB) ($230)	AMD Radeon 780M (integrated)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)	15 W	150 W
Lower high-end	~$1200	Premium micro ATX case ($110)	Z790 DDR5 motherboard ($240)	Intel Core i7-13700K ($330)	240mm AIO cooler ($80)	32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (2 x 16 GB) ($110)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 6 GB ($160)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)	44 W	443 W
High-end	~$1500	Premium ATX case ($160)	Z790 DDR5 motherboard ($240)	Intel Core i7-14700K ($380)	360mm AIO cooler ($160)	32 GB DDR5-7200 CL34 (2 x 16 GB) ($150)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB ($200)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	850 W Tier A power supply ($120)	47 W	465 W

Server

A server these days can be anything from a home unit that shares media files, documents, and printers over a local network, to a machine running a business-critical system for a small business, to a 3U rack mount unit serving up millions of hits a day on the Internet.

The thing that most servers have in common is that they are always on and therefore reliability is a key characteristic. Also they serve more than one user while storing and processing important information. For this reason servers are often equipped with redundant systems such as dual power supplies, RAID5/6 arrays of four or more hard disks, special server grade processors that require error-correcting memory, multiple high-speed Ethernet connections, etc.

All of this is a little beyond the scope of the current work, but, in general, servers need lots of RAM, fast redundant hard drives, and the most reliable components your budget will allow. The CPU choice should be made in accordance with the use of the server. A simple print/fax server will do fine with a CPU stolen from a museum, whereas a server running a database and a front end for that, will work much better with a top of the line CPU.

On the other end of the hardware list, since nobody is usually sitting at them, you can get away with the cheapest possible keyboard, mouse and monitor (in fact many servers run "headless" with no monitor at all). Graphics are also a very low priority on these machines, and a read only CD/DVD-ROM optical drive (used, infrequently, for installing software and updates) will do just fine.

Typical PC build by budget

PC level	Budget	PC case	Motherboard	CPU	CPU cooler	RAM	Graphics	Storage	Power supply
Upper mid-range	~$1000	Basic EATX case ($120)	Entry-level SP3 DDR4 motherboard ($400)	AMD Epyc 7252 ($250)	Mid-range cooler ($40)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	120 GB SATA SSD + 2 TB HDD (7200 rpm) ($60)	600 W Gold power supply ($140)
Lower high-end	~$1200	Basic EATX case ($120)	Entry-level SP3 DDR4 motherboard ($400)	AMD Epyc 7282 ($350)	Mid-range cooler ($40)	32 GB DDR4-3600 (2 x 16 GB) ($60)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	120 GB SATA SSD + 2 TB HDD (7200 rpm) ($60)	650 W Gold power supply ($150)
High-end	~$1500	Basic EATX case ($120)	Entry-level SP3 DDR4 motherboard ($400)	AMD Epyc 7302 ($420)	Mid-range cooler ($40)	32 GB DDR4-3600 (2 x 16 GB) ($60)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	240 GB SATA SSD + 6 TB HDD (7200 rpm) ($150)	750 W Gold power supply ($190)
Upper high-end	~$2000	Basic EATX case ($120)	Entry-level SP3 DDR4 motherboard ($400)	AMD Epyc 7313 ($680)	Mid-range cooler ($40)	64 GB DDR4-3600 (2 x 32 GB) ($100)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	240 GB SATA SSD + 3 x 4 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($300)	850 W Gold power supply ($230)
Flagship	~$2500	Premium EATX case ($220)	Entry-level SP5 DDR5 motherboard ($600)	AMD Epyc 9124 ($1000)	Mid-range cooler ($40)	64 GB DDR5-4800 (2 x 32 GB) ($150)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	240 GB SATA SSD + 3 x 4 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($300)	850 W Gold power supply ($230)
True flagship	~$3000	Premium EATX case ($220)	Mid-range SP5 DDR5 motherboard ($1000)	AMD Epyc 9124 ($1000)	Mid-range cooler ($40)	64 GB DDR5-5600 (2 x 32 GB) ($190)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	240 GB SATA SSD + 4 x 4 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($400)	850 W Gold power supply ($230)
Ultimate flagship	~$4000	Premium EATX case ($220)	Mid-range SP5 DDR5 motherboard ($1000)	AMD Epyc 9224 ($1800)	Premium liquid cooler ($180)	128 GB DDR5-5600 (4 x 32 GB) ($380)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	240 GB SATA SSD + 4 x 4 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($400)	1000 W Platinum power supply ($350)
Ultimate flagship v2	~$6000	Premium EATX case ($220)	Mid-range SP5 DDR5 motherboard ($1000)	AMD Epyc 9354 ($3200)	Premium liquid cooler ($180)	128 GB DDR5-6400 (4 x 32 GB) ($560)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	240 GB SATA SSD + 4 x 8 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($750)	1000 W Platinum power supply ($350)
Ultimate flagship v3	~$10000	Premium EATX case ($220)	High-end SP5 DDR5 motherboard ($2000)	AMD Epyc 9454 ($5000)	Premium liquid cooler ($180)	256 GB DDR5-6400 (8 x 32 GB) ($1120)	Nvidia GeForce GT 710 1 GB GDDR5 ($40)	240 GB SATA SSD + 4 x 8 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($750)	1000 W Platinum power supply ($350)
Ultimate flagship v4	~$20000	Premium EATX case ($220)	High-end SP5 DDR5 motherboard ($2000)	AMD Epyc 9754 ($11000)	Premium liquid cooler ($180)	512 GB DDR5-6400 (8 x 64 GB) ($2560)	Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 2 GB GDDR5 ($70)	240 GB SATA SSD + 4 x 16 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($1400)	1000 W Platinum power supply ($350)
Ultimate flagship v5	~$35000	Premium EATX case ($220)	Dual socket SP5 DDR5 motherboard ($3000)	Dual AMD Epyc 9754 CPUs ($22000)	Premium liquid cooler ($180)	768 GB DDR5-6400 (12 x 64 GB) ($3840)	Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 2 GB GDDR5 ($70)	240 GB SATA SSD + 6 x 22 TB HDD (7200 rpm) RAID5 array ($2800)	1500 W Platinum power supply ($650)

Gaming system

A gaming PC setup.

We’re not talking here about the occasional game of solitaire or a secret late night Zuma obsession. We’re talking about cutting edge 3D gaming – first-person shooters or real-time strategy games with thousands of troops on the screen at the same time, with anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing and mip-mapped specular reflections and a lot of other confusing terminology describing visual effects that will make anything less than a top-of-the-line system fall down on its knees and beg for mercy.

Gaming Processors

A top of the range processor is not critical to gaming performance (though it does help), but you will need at least a mid range one and plenty of RAM, as well as a motherboard to match, since the speed of the motherboard buses can limit high-end components. Please remember that if you plan on running the latest games in 4K, or even higher, on highest settings, or even with three monitors, you will need a high end processor. This will stop the chances of bottlenecking the GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) and not give you the gaming experience you want. The most important part will be the video card (or cards) with cutting edge GPUs. AMD, NVIDIA and Intel have been competing for "king of the graphics card" honors for years and the competition is so keen that new cards running on new GPUs are released quite frequently.

Note that increasing the resolution does not increase the CPU workload, only the GPU workload and VRAM usage will increase. Assume if you are running a game at 1080p High settings at 90fps with 80% CPU usage and 95% GPU usage, then increasing the resolution to 1440p decreases the fps to 60, but the CPU usage decreases to 60%.

As a general rule, always buy the fastest GPU you can get with the CPU that will not be bottlenecked.

Audio Hardware

Most motherboards have decent or good audio hardware already built in. For most gamers this is adequate, and saves money that can be spent on other components that impact gameplay experience more.

A good sound card or external DAC or sound card can help drive high end headphones and other audiophile equipment. The DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) provided by this hardware can provide a higher end and cleaner audio experience. Currently Creative Labs and ASUS Xonar are the leading brands, but again do your research (partly by reading on) and get the best audio solution for your needs.

Gaming PSUs

Finally all of these components are going to require a pretty hefty power supply. Generally a serious gaming rig will require at least a 750 watt supply; consumer units are available up to 2000 watts (2 Kilowatts) as anything higher on a single outlet is likely to trip a home circuit breaker.

VRAM usage

VRAM (short for video memory) is the memory in a GPU. Unlike system RAM, it cannot be upgraded by end users. The only way to add more VRAM is by buying a new GPU with more VRAM.

VRAM is important, because VRAM usage on AAA game releases since early 2023 like The Last of Us Part I, Forspoken and Hogwarts Legacy can exceed 8 GB when running Ultra settings even at 1080p. Having too little VRAM can cause stutters when running these games at higher settings. You probably do not want to buy a GPU with less than 8 GB VRAM, like RTX 3050 6 GB and RX 6500 XT 4 GB.

For example, in 2020 an user bought a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 for $900 at that time (typical pricing due to GPU cryptocurrency mining crisis in 2020-22, $500 MSRP). It was a great GPU for running era-appropriate games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p. Fast forward to 2023 and the RTX 3070, with only 8GB VRAM, struggles to run The Last of Us Part I properly at 1440p due to VRAM limitations, requiring to drop resolution or texture detail down to get a playable experience. This also applies to RTX 3060 Ti, 3070 Ti and even 3080 10GB.

Here are the recommendations:

Tier	1080p gaming	1440p gaming	240Hz 1440p gaming	4K gaming
VRAM	At least 8 GB	At least 12 GB	At least 12 GB	At least 16 GB
List of graphics cards	Used graphics cards that costs less than $200 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (used) ($80) Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Ti (used) ($190) Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 (used) ($100) Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (used) ($120) Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super (used) ($140) Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 (used) ($150) Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super (used) ($170) Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 (used) ($190) Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super (used) ($200) Nvidia GeForce Titan X (used) ($100) AMD Radeon RX 570 8 GB (used) ($60) AMD Radeon RX 580 8 GB (used) ($70) AMD Radeon RX 590 (used) ($70) AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (used) ($90) AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (used) ($100) AMD Radeon VII (used) ($170) AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB (used) ($90) AMD Radeon RX 5700 (used) ($110) AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (used) ($130) AMD Radeon RX 6700 (used) ($180) New graphics cards that costs less than $300 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB ($200) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB ($280) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ($290) AMD Radeon RX 6600 ($190) AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ($220) AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ($230) AMD Radeon RX 7600 ($250) Intel Arc A580 ($170) Intel Arc A750 ($190) Intel Arc A770 16 GB ($270)	Graphics cards that costs less than $450 and have performance rating over 100 (baseline of RTX 3060 12 GB) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB ($280) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB (used) ($390) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB ($430) Nvidia Titan X Pascal (used) ($180) Nvidia Titan Xp (used) ($200) Nvidia Titan V (used) ($350) AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT ($310) AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ($320) AMD Radeon RX 6800 used ($300) AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (used) ($350) AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (used) ($420) AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT (used) ($450) AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT ($310) AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ($360) AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ($450) Intel Arc A770 16 GB ($270)	Graphics cards that costs less than $700 and have performance rating over 160 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB (used) ($390) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (used) ($470) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 (used) ($690) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 ($500) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super ($580) Nvidia Titan RTX (used) ($530) AMD Radeon RX 6800 used ($300) AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (used) ($350) AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (used) ($420) AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT (used) ($450) AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ($360) AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ($450) AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE ($520) AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ($650)	Graphics cards that have performance rating over 200 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 (used) ($690) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti (used) ($820) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super ($780) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 (used) ($930) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super ($1000) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 ($1800) AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (used) ($420) AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT (used) ($450) AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE ($520) AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ($650) AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX ($870)

Tying the gaming rig together

As you may have noticed, pretty much every component inside the computer needs to be top of the line; the same is true outside the case. You’ll want a big, high refresh rate monitor (at least 27” 120Hz), and a high sensitivity mouse. There are even gaming keyboards with the keys specially arranged, as well as joysticks, throttle controllers, driving wheels, etc.

So, given that your budget is not bottomless, how do you prioritize? Well, the processor and video card are the components that will have the most effect on your gaming performance. Next comes the motherboard and RAM. One of the advantages to building your own computer is that you can get the components you can afford now and plan to upgrade them later.

A note on cases for gaming rigs – it is not necessary to get a case with a side window that reveals glowing RGB fans and revolving animated heat-sinks. A well-built plain case will do just as well and let you spend more money on the components that matter. But if you have the cash, and that’s your taste, there are lots of flashy add-ons available these days.

Typical PC build by budget

PC level	Budget	PC case	Motherboard	CPU	CPU cooler	RAM	Graphics	Storage	Power supply
Upper entry-level	~$500	Basic micro ATX case with RGB ($70)	B450 DDR4 motherboard ($60)	AMD Ryzen 5 5500 ($90)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	AMD Radeon RX 580 8 GB ($70)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)
Lower mid-range	~$600	Basic micro ATX case with RGB ($70)	B550 DDR4 motherboard ($90)	AMD Ryzen 5 5500 ($90)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	AMD Radeon RX 6600 8 GB ($190)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)
Mid-range	~$800	Basic micro ATX case with RGB ($70)	B550 DDR4 motherboard ($90)	AMD Ryzen 5 5600 ($110)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	32GB DDR4-3200 CL16 (2 x 16 GB) ($50)	AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT 12 GB ($360)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)
Upper mid-range	~$1000	Basic ATX case with RGB ($90)	B650 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	AMD Ryzen 5 7600 ($200)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (2 x 16 GB) ($90)	AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT 12 GB ($360)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)
Lower high-end	~$1200	Basic ATX case with RGB ($90)	B650 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	AMD Ryzen 5 7600 ($200)	AMD Wraith Stealth (included)	32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (2 x 16 GB) ($90)	AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB ($450)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)
High-end	~$1500	Premium ATX case with RGB ($180)	B650 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	AMD Ryzen 5 9600X ($250)	Air tower cooler ($40)	32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (2 x 16 GB) ($90)	AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE 16 GB ($520)	2 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($110)	850 W Tier A power supply ($120)
Upper high-end	~$2000	Premium ATX case with RGB ($180)	X670E DDR5 motherboard ($250)	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D ($450)	240mm AIO cooler ($80)	32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (2 x 16 GB) ($90)	AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB ($650)	2 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($110)	850 W Tier A power supply ($120)
Flagship	~$2500	Premium ATX case with RGB ($180)	X670E DDR5 motherboard ($250)	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D ($450)	240mm AIO cooler ($80)	32 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 (2 x 16 GB) ($110)	AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24 GB ($850)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	1000 W Tier A power supply ($150)
True flagship	~$3000	Premium ATX case with RGB ($180)	X670E DDR5 motherboard ($250)	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D ($450)	240mm AIO cooler ($80)	48 GB DDR5-6200 CL36 (2 x 24 GB) ($160)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB ($1800)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	1000 W Tier A power supply ($150)
Ultimate flagship	~$4000	Premium ATX case with RGB ($180)	X670E DDR5 motherboard ($250)	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D ($600)	360mm AIO cooler ($160)	64 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 (2 x 32 GB) ($210)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB ($1800)	4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($280)	1500 W Tier A power supply ($280)

Entertainment system/media center

This is a computer designed to sit in the living room with the rest of your A/V gear. The idea is that it will record and serve audio and video files for replay via your existing television and stereo. The current notion is that this computer should be built in a special case that makes it look more like a stereo component, the size of which can present a challenge when it comes to getting all the necessary parts fitted.

For this system a mid-range processor will be fine, along with a generous amount of RAM. A gigabit or better Ethernet connection will facilitate sharing large files. You’ll also want a TV tuner card (or two) to get video in and out of the machine. Many of these also provide DVR (digital video recorder) functionality, often without the monthly subscription fees and DRM (digital rights management) restrictions required by companies like Tivo. A wireless keyboard and mouse provide for couch-based use and a separate monitor may be unnecessary as your TV will fill that role.

All components should be as quiet as possible since you'll likely be watching/listening in the same room. For this application it makes sense to trade a little power for passively-cooled (without fans) parts. Following this logic, one may consider fan-less CPUs and mainboards.

You may also want an IR receiver to let you use your existing remote control as media buttons.

Typical PC build by budget

PC level	Budget	PC case	Motherboard	CPU	CPU cooler	RAM	Graphics / video card	Storage	Power supply	Power consumption
										Idle	Peak
Entry-level	~$400	Basic mini ITX case ($40)	H610 DDR4 motherboard ($50)	Intel Core i5-12400T ($150)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	UHD Graphics 730 (integrated) Entry-level TV tuner card ($50)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($50)	450 W Plus power supply ($40)	14 W	141 W
Upper entry-level	~$500	Basic mini ITX case ($40)	H610 DDR4 motherboard ($50)	Intel Core i5-13400T ($200)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3600 (2 x 8 GB) ($35)	UHD Graphics 730 (integrated) Entry-level TV tuner card ($50)	1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($80)	500 W Plus power supply ($50)	15 W	150 W
Lower mid-range	~$600	Basic mini ITX case ($40)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($90)	Intel Core i5-13500T ($250)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3600 (2 x 8 GB) ($35)	UHD Graphics 770 (integrated) Entry-level TV tuner card ($50)	1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($80)	500 W Bronze power supply ($70)	16 W	160 W
Mid-range	~$800	Premium mini ITX case ($80)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($90)	Intel Core i5-13500T ($250)	Intel stock cooler (included)	32 GB DDR4-3600 (2 x 16 GB) ($60)	UHD Graphics 770 (integrated) Mid-range TV tuner card ($100)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	500 W Bronze power supply ($70)	17 W	165 W
Upper mid-range	~$1000	Premium mini ITX case ($80)	B760 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	Intel Core i7-13700T ($380)	Intel stock cooler (included)	32 GB DDR5-4800 (2 x 16 GB) ($80)	UHD Graphics 770 (integrated) Mid-range TV tuner card ($100)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	500 W Bronze power supply ($70)	18 W	177 W
Lower high-end	~$1200	Premium mini ITX case ($80)	B760 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	Intel Core i7-13700T ($380)	Intel stock cooler (included)	32 GB DDR5-5600 (2 x 16 GB) ($100)	UHD Graphics 770 (integrated) High-end TV tuner card ($180)	4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($250)	500 W Bronze power supply ($70)	18 W	177 W
High-end	~$1500	Premium mini ITX case ($80)	B760 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	Intel Core i7-13700T ($380)	Intel stock cooler (included)	32 GB DDR5-6400 (2 x 16 GB) ($150)	UHD Graphics 770 (integrated) Dual high-end TV tuner cards ($360)	4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($250)	500 W Bronze power supply ($70)	20 W	197 W

Workstation

A workstation was originally a single-user computer with more muscle than a PC intended to support a demanding technical application, like CAD or complicated array-based simulations of real world phenomena. Once the domain of cutting edge computer companies, this category has experienced a rebirth as high performance and reliable PCs for professional use. Unlike a gaming PC, reliability becomes much more important - Time is money after all.

For any of the following uses, you will want

• A solid and reliable power supply
• A processor and motherboard platform that supports ECC memory.
• Lots of ECC memory more reliability.
• A 64 bit version of the OS to take full advantage of the extra ram and software features used by many workstation programs.
• A GPU that can run desired applications on multiple high resolution displays.

Typical PC build by budget

PC level	Budget	PC case	Motherboard	CPU	CPU cooler	RAM	Graphics	Storage	Power supply
Mid-range	~$800	Basic micro ATX case ($60)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Core i5-12600K ($160)	Air tower cooler ($40)	16 GB DDR4-3600 CL16 (2 x 8 GB) ($40)	Nvidia RTX A1000 8 GB ($300)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)
Upper mid-range	~$1000	Basic micro ATX case ($60)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Core i5-13600K ($250)	Air tower cooler ($40)	16 GB DDR4-3600 CL16 (2 x 8 GB) ($40)	Nvidia RTX A2000 6 GB ($400)	1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD ($60)	650 W Tier C power supply ($70)
Lower high-end	~$1200	Basic micro ATX case ($60)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Core i5-13600K ($250)	Air tower cooler ($40)	32 GB DDR4-3600 CL16 (2 x 16 GB) ($70)	Nvidia RTX A2000 12 GB ($500)	1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($70)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)
High-end	~$1500	Basic micro ATX case ($60)	B760 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	Intel Core i7-13700K ($330)	240mm AIO cooler ($80)	32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (2 x 16 GB) ($110)	Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada 16 GB ($650)	1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($70)	750 W Tier A power supply ($100)
Upper high-end	~$2000	Premium ATX case ($160)	Z790 DDR5 motherboard ($240)	Intel Core i7-14700K ($380)	240mm AIO cooler ($80)	32 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 (2 x 16 GB) ($120)	Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada 16 GB ($650)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	850 W Tier A power supply ($120)
Flagship	~$2500	Premium ATX case ($160)	Z790 DDR5 motherboard ($240)	Intel Core i7-14700K ($380)	240mm AIO cooler ($80)	48 GB DDR5-7200 CL34 (2 x 24 GB) ($200)	Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada 20 GB ($1200)	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($130)	850 W Tier A power supply ($120)
True flagship	~$3000	Premium ATX case ($160)	Z790 DDR5 motherboard ($240)	Intel Core i7-14700K ($380)	360mm AIO cooler ($160)	64 GB DDR5-7200 CL34 (2 x 32 GB) ($250)	Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada 20 GB ($1200)	4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($250)	1000 W Tier A power supply ($150)
Ultimate flagship	~$4000	Premium ATX case ($160)	X670E DDR5 motherboard ($250)	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X ($480)	360mm AIO cooler ($160)	96 GB DDR5-6400 CL36 (2 x 48 GB) ($350)	Nvidia RTX 4500 Ada 24 GB ($2200)	4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ($250)	1000 W Tier A power supply ($150)
Ultimate flagship v2	~$6000	Premium ATX case ($160)	TRX50 DDR5 motherboard ($900)	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X ($1200)	Workstation-specific cooler ($250)	192 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (4 x 48 GB) ($600)	Nvidia RTX 4500 Ada 24 GB ($2200)	2 x 4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD RAID0 array ($500)	1200 W Tier A power supply ($200)
Ultimate flagship v3	~$10000	Premium ATX case ($160)	TRX50 DDR5 motherboard ($900)	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X ($2400)	Workstation-specific cooler ($250)	384 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (8 x 48 GB) ($1200)	Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada 48 GB ($6500)	4 x 4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD RAID0 array ($1000)	1500 W Tier A power supply ($280)
Ultimate flagship v4	~$20000	Premium ATX case ($160)	TRX50 DDR5 motherboard ($900)	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X ($4700)	Workstation-specific cooler ($250)	512 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 (8 x 64 GB) ($2000)	Dual Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada 48 GB GPUs (96 GB total) ($13000)	4 x 4 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD RAID0 array ($1000)	2000 W Tier A power supply ($500)

Video editing

Big and fast storage drives are key. Solid State Drives in RAID0 as working space with multiple multi Terabyte or larger drives for storage is a good target. A large amount of memory would be beneficial, as would a fast CPU, with many cores/threads, especially if you intend to render effects or wish to quickly transcode video. Most editing and transcoding programs utilize some form of GPU acceleration (primarily OpenCL and/or CUDA), where the graphics processor is used, along with the CPU, to perform many calculations at the same time, greatly reducing processing time, compared to CPU-only processing.

Music production

Plenty of disk space and RAM is important, but a music production (recording and mixing) workstation is chiefly distinguished by specialized external components – studio reference monitors instead of normal speakers, mixing consoles, microphones, etc. Even the acoustics of the room your computer is in becomes an important factor. If you want to record external sources, like vocals or instruments, you'll need an audio interface which allows you to plug mics or instruments into your computer.

Computers meant to be installed near live recordings often use near or totally silent cooling solutions.

Audio interfaces allow anything from a single microphone or instrument on up to pro level systems that have 32 or more simultaneous inputs. These separate inputs will allow you to record each one as a separate track in your DAW. Most use Steinberg's ASIO interface (a software driver that connects your hardware to your DAW software). If you don't wish to invest in anything other than the onboard sound card your computer comes with, consider ASIO4All, a free driver that imitates the ASIO framework for almost any sound card.

One piece of advice, if you have extra money, get better microphones - even if you have to trade the Bluesmobile.

CAD/CAM

(Computer Assisted Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing)

A CAD/CAM workstation is usually a machine that runs a single, very intense, application. These machines often utilize specialized video hardware, like the Nvidia Quadro andAMD Radeon Pro series of GPUs, which are designed specifically for CAD/CAM rendering. Since these machines are usually devoted to a single, expensive, application it's especially important to pay close attention to the requirements of that application. Spec the hardware to support the software - always a good idea but especially important here.

Some examples of this specialized software are Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, AutoCAD, Cinema 4D and Maxwell Render amongst many others.

Mining rig

A mining rig is a computer designed to mine cryptocurrency with the use of multiple high-end GPUs. Graphics cards are the most important for mining. You should get a case and motherboard that are specifically designed for multiple graphics cards. To supply all of power to the components, you will need a Gold or better power supply capable of supplying lots of power. CPU, RAM and storage are the lowest priorities.

Typical PC build by budget

PC level	Budget	PC case	Motherboard	CPU	CPU cooler	RAM	Graphics	Storage	Power supply
Mid-range	~$800	Basic ATX case ($80)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Celeron G6900 ($50)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB ($400)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	600 W Gold power supply ($140)
Upper mid-range	~$1000	Basic ATX case ($80)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Celeron G6900 ($50)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB ($600)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	650 W Gold power supply ($150)
Lower high-end	~$1200	Basic ATX case ($80)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Celeron G6900 ($50)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB ($800)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	750 W Gold power supply ($190)
High-end	~$1500	Basic ATX case ($80)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Celeron G6900 ($50)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB ($1150)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	850 W Gold power supply ($230)
Upper high-end	~$2000	Basic ATX case ($80)	B660 DDR4 motherboard ($100)	Intel Celeron G6900 ($50)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB ($1600)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	1000 W Gold power supply ($280)
Flagship	~$2500	Premium ATX case ($160)	B760 DDR5 motherboard ($140)	Intel Celeron G6900 ($50)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR5-4800 (2 x 8 GB) ($55)	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB ($1600)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	1200 W Gold power supply ($340)
True flagship	~$3000	Mining case (6 GPUs) ($50)	Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 ($60)	Intel Core i3-8100 ($60)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	2 x Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB (32 GB total) ($2300)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	1200 W Gold power supply ($340)
Ultimate flagship	~$4000	Mining case (6 GPUs) ($50)	Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 ($60)	Intel Core i3-8100 ($60)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	2 x Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB (48 GB total) ($3200)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	1500 W Gold power supply ($420)
Ultimate flagship v2	~$6000	Mining case (6 GPUs) ($50)	Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 ($60)	Intel Core i3-8100 ($60)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	3 x Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB (72 GB total) ($4800)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	2300 W Platinum power supply ($800)
Ultimate flagship v3	~$10000	Mining case (6 GPUs) ($50)	Biostar TB360-BTC PRO 2.0 ($60)	Intel Core i3-8100 ($60)	Intel stock cooler (included)	16 GB DDR4-3200 (2 x 8 GB) ($30)	6 x Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB (144 GB total) ($9600)	240 GB SATA SSD ($15)	Dual 2300 W Platinum power supplies ($1600)

Do I plan on overclocking my computer?

An aftermarket CPU heatsink side by side with a stock heatsink. Larger heatsinks help keep components cool during overclocking, and larger fans often help either move much more air through a system for the same level of noise, or move the same amount of air for much less noise.

Overclocking consists of running components at faster internal speeds than they are rated for, gaining a bit of extra performance out of the part. If you are serious about overclocking your computer, you need to do extensive research into the components you select, as some parts respond to overclocking better than others. Overclocking usually voids your warranty and is risky as you can shorten the life of your components or even burn them out completely! You need to take cooling the computer more seriously as overclocking generates additional heat. Anything from a few extra fans to a liquid-cooled system may be necessary depending on the nature of your system.

Many parts that are the same model can overclock differently due to manufacturer binning, leading to a "Silicon Lottery" of sorts. For example, consider three different Raptor Lake 13700K CPUs that are installed in identical systems - a good chip can clock up to about 5.7 GHz, an excellent one may be able to hit 6.1 GHz, while a bad one may stop at 5.3 GHz. If you are willing to pay more, some vendors sell pre-binned CPUs which have been previously tested to overclock well.

Most AMD processors can be overclocked. For Intel processors, only the K series CPUs (which cost about $20-40 USD more than the normal version) and the Extreme Series generally allow full overclocking.

Do I plan on underclocking my computer?

This can be ideal for always-on entertainment systems. Underclocked parts run cooler, often enabling passive cooling options to be used, which leads to a much quieter system, and you'll also save on power.

However, you'll lose performance from the CPU. You may wish to undervolt the CPU instead; see the Silencing section to find out how.

Can I use any of the parts from my old computer?

A 2017 PC built in a case from the 1990's. While this decision sacrifices front IO and modern airflow designs, it does save money on the case. Some communities exist that build "Sleeper PCs", modern high performance computers built to look like under powered or obsolete computers.

This depends on your situation; if your computer is more than four years old, chances are that most of the parts will be too old, slow or incompatible for your new machine. On the other hand, if you are upgrading from a fairly new machine, you may be able to use many of the parts. All of this assumes the old computer will no longer be used. If you, or someone else, is going to continue using your old computer, it's probably best just to leave it intact.

One important point – if you are selling your old computer it's a good idea to erase the hard drive before giving it to its new owner. A simple 'delete' command does not actually erase the data on your hard drive,leaving things like financial documents, passwords, healthcare records, browser history, and personal photos potentially recoverable through easy to use recovery software. To avoid this, programs are available that will effectively 'shred' your data, making it unrecoverable. Driver software that comes with some hard drives may also have programs to do this, that write 0s or 1s (either way, "blankness") to the whole drive. Lower-tech approaches include drilling a few holes in the drive or taking a blowtorch to it. Obviously, either prevents it from being used again (Be planet friendly and try to avoid this).

Since monitor technology moves quite slowly, you can probably keep your current monitor and use it on the new computer if it's of sufficient size and clarity for your work. The same can go for keyboards, as well as mice, printers, scanners, and possibly speaker sets. On the inside, you may be able to take out the storage drive, and expansion cards. If your components are especially old, the features integrated into the motherboard may actually be superior to your old components, so testing with and without these your old devices is recommended. Sometimes so much is used from the old computer, that the line between an upgrade and a new computer can become blurred.

Reusing a hard drive is an easy way to keep data from your old computer. With most Windows operating systems moving a boot drive from one motherboard to another will entail a series of reboots and installation of new drivers. Back up your data before trying this, and note that Windows will usually ask you to reactivate. Keep the licence key ready.

Where do I find the parts?

Computer retailers can be a handy source for parts, and often offer easy returns.

Once you have decided what you’re going to use your computer for, and have reviewed which parts are available for reuse, you should make a list of what components you will need to buy. A few hours of research can save you years of regret, so make sure that the computer you build will do what you need it to do.

Computer terminology can be confusing, so if there are terms you don’t understand, be sure to look them up. Wikipedia is an excellent place to start if, for example, you’re not clear on the difference between, say, DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

There are several places to buy parts:

• Internet retailers generally offer the best price for new parts. If a part needs to be returned, you may be stuck for the shipping; check return policies before you purchase.
• Auction sites like eBay and several others offer very good prices for used parts. This is especially useful for parts which do not wear out, like RAM, and unlike HDD/SSDs. Returns can be problematic or impossible. Some auctions may not be legitimate. Always check the shipping cost before you bid.
• Local PC shops - Their prices are often higher, but they may make up for this by providing a lot of expertise. Get opinions from other sources, however, as they may be eager to sell you parts you don't need.
• Big box stores often lack technical expertise and charge higher prices, but can be useful because they usually handle returns quickly. Also good if you need something right away.
• Trade shows that occur from time to time also provide a good place to shop, as the prices are often significantly reduced, and the variety of prefabricated computers built towards specific computing needs tend to be higher.

Also, your local town dump may have a special section for computers and monitors that others have got rid of. These can be more or less brand new computers with trivial problems such as a busted power supply or faulty cables. Of course if the dump does have such a section, you should ask permission of those in charge. They're usually glad to let you go through it, but don't leave a mess. Taking advantage of this can yield incredible finds, with a price tag of nothing or very little.

OEM vs Retail

An OEM CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 4750G.

Many hardware manufacturers will sell the same components in both OEM and Retail versions. Retail hardware is intended to be sold to the end-user through retail channels, and will come fully packaged with manuals, accessories, software, etc. OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer"; items labeled as such are intended to be sold in bulk for use by firms which integrate the components into their own products.

However, many online stores will offer OEM hardware at (slightly) cheaper prices than the corresponding retail versions. You will usually receive such an item by itself in an anti-static bag. It may or may not come with a manual or a CD containing drivers. Warranties on OEM parts may often be shorter or nonexistent, and sometimes require you to obtain support through your vendor, rather than the manufacturer. OEM components are also sometimes specified differently than their retail counterparts, parts may be clocked slower, and ports or features may be missing. Some of the support may be less (as in the case of Microsoft). Again, do your research.

What should affect the choice of any part/peripheral?

Many things should be taken into account when deciding what parts to buy. Below are some things to consider.

Compatibility

You’ll want to make sure that all the parts you buy work together without problems. The CPU, the motherboard, and the RAM in particular must be compatible with each other. Check the motherboard manufacturer's web site; most will list compatible RAM and processors. Often quality RAM that is not on the approved list (but is of the proper type) will work anyway, but the manufacturers list of processors should be rigidly adhered to, as even when a processor is supported by the socket on the motherboard, the motherboard firmware may not support it.

You’ll also want to make sure that your operating system supports the hardware you choose. Windows is supported by almost everything, though watch out for older components if you're planning on using Windows 11. If you have any interest in running Linux, or another operating system now or in the future, buy parts that are supported by that OS (Operating System). Check online to make sure there is no history of your chosen components causing issues when used together, or with software you plan on running.

Ergonomics

This ergonomic mouse looks strange, but it is designed to reduce strain on your hands.

Ergonomics is the science of designing things so that they work with the human body. This is obviously important when choosing peripherals such as a keyboard or mouse but should also be considered when selecting a monitor, and especially when setting up the computer for your use. If your wrist hurts or you’re getting a crick in your neck, look at the physical setup of your computer, check your chair height and posture. An ounce of prevention here can avert troublesome repetitive strain injuries. Learning to type without looking down at the keyboard is very useful for avoiding neck strain.

Operating temperature

A computer chip that has burnt out. Preventing damage like this is much easier then repairing it.

Modern components, notably processors, GPUs, RAM, and some elements on the motherboard, are very small and draw a lot of power. A small area doing a lot of work with a lot of power leads to high temperatures. Various factors can cause electronic parts to break down over time and all of these factors are exacerbated by heat. Very high temperatures can burn out chips almost instantly, while running hot can shorten the useful life of a part, so the cooler we can make these parts, the better.

If you are not going to overclock your system, stock air cooling, when paired with a good case with adequate fans, should be enough to keep your system cool. If you want a quiet computer then components designed for passive (fan-less) cooling can be paired with very low noise case fans (or a well-vented case). In general, high-end parts will require more attention to cooling.

To keep your system at a proper operating temperature, you can monitor vital components with software (which usually comes with your motherboard). If you are seeing high temps, make sure the interior of your case is dust free, and remember that most cooling solutions can not reduce the temperature of your computer parts below room temperature. Of course, unless you happen to have your computer outdoors in a climate such as the Sahara, room temperature will be well within the thermal limits of any component on your computer.

Which brings us to overclocking. It's specialty cooling solutions that make overclocking possible, a processor that might run stable at a maximum of 4.4 GHz at 65 °C (149 °F) could hit speeds as high as 5.6 GHz with specialized cooling systems. A sensible person wanting a 20% overclock could add a special fan/heatsink to his CPU and some extra case fans. An enthusiast seeking a major overclock might go with a water-cooling solution for the CPU and GPU and sometimes other chips. The real fanatics have been known to use liquid nitrogen or total immersion in pure water or oil. You should not try any of the more extreme solutions unless you really know what you're doing.

Price

Today, there are a wide array of hardware components and peripherals tailored to fit every home computing need and budget. With all these options to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming if you've never bought computer parts before. Shop around and remember to factor in shipping and handling, and taxes. Some places may be priced a bit higher, but offer perks such as free shipping, limited warranties, or 24-hour tech support. Many websites, such as CNET and ZDNet offer comprehensive reviews, user ratings, and links to stores, including price comparisons.

Since prices for any given part are always falling, it’s tempting to just wait until the part you want goes down in price. Unfortunately the reason prices decline is that better/faster parts are coming out all the time, so the part you want this year that costs $500 may well be $300 next year, but by that time you won’t want it any more, you’ll want the new, better part that still costs $500. At some point you’ve got to get on the bus and ride, even if the prices are still falling.

Usually the best bet is to buy just behind the bleeding edge, where, typically, you can get 90% of the performance of the top of the line part for 50% or 60% of the price. That last 10% is very expensive and if you don’t need it, you can save a lot of money with the second-tier part.

It's a good idea to think about future upgradeability when selecting some components. While the computer that you're building today may be fine for your current needs you may want to upgrade it later. So look for components that support the newest standards and have room for future expansion, like a motherboard that will allow you to fit more memory than you are planning to use, or a case that has room for extra storage drives. If your current machine is maxed out the only possible upgrade is often a new machine.

You may also find that by over-specifying in some areas you can save money on others, e.g. if you don't currently need WiFi but you do need Bluetooth then you might want to purchase a WiFi card anyway as some of the higher end WiFi cards also support Bluetooth.

Performance

If money is no object just buy the most powerful components you can find. If, like most of us, there are limits to what you can/want to spend, then focus on those areas where more powerful parts will pay off for you and scrimp on others. Always look for that sweet spot on the price/performance curve where you get the most bang for your buck. When deciding where to cut back, remember that you have the option to upgrade in the future. Some components are easier to upgrade then others such as RAM, where an upgrade is as simple as popping more into a free slot. Other upgrades, such as replacing the CPU or GPU with a better model are more costly, as the original often serves no purpose following the upgrade (But may be resold online to recoup some of the cost).

Primary components

These are the components that will be the core of your new computer. It is impractical to put together a PC compatible computer without these components and a bare set of peripherals.

Exploded view of a personal computer:
1 Monitor
2 Motherboard
3 CPU (Microprocessor)
4 ATA sockets
5 Main memory (RAM)
6 Expansion cards
7 Power supply unit
8 Optical disc drive
9 Hard disk drive (HDD)
10 Keyboard
11 Mouse

Case

The case is one of the most practical straightforward parts of a computer. A case can also be aesthetically pleasing, and help improve your computing experience.

Form factor

Form factor is the specification that provides the physical measurements for the size of components supported. Your case should support one or more of the following common formfactors. It's a good idea to match the formfactor of a case with a motherboard.

Large Form Factors

• EATX or Extended ATX boards are 12 by 13 inches (30 × 33 cm). This format is almost exclusive to workstation and high end gaming computers.
• ATX is the most common form factor and is the de facto standard. Supports about 7 expansion slots.

These formfactors offer the most amount of flexibility in expansion. These spacious cases are often easy to work in, but hard to move around.

Small Form Factors

• microATX, or µATX, is smaller than standard ATX. Many cases that support ATX also allow micro-ATX. Supports about 4 expansion slots.
• Mini-ITX is even smaller at 6.75 inches (17.1 cm) square. Supports at most one expansion slot.

These form-factors let you build relatively small and even portable computers, ideal for taking to LAN parties or for people who frequently move.

Slim cases are offered in these form factors. These cases are significantly thinner then regular cases. However, you will be limited to using slim expansion cards as well. You may also need to use laptop components in some areas to save space depending on the case.

Particularly small cases can be hard to work in and offer limited expansion. They may have airflow problems, and cable management can be a challenge. You may need to find low profile cooling units, and the case may not support regular sized power supplies. You may also want to get angled cables or adapters if spacing between parts is tight, and you suspect it would make your work easier.

Drive Bays

Internal storage drives take up space in the case, so make sure you consider how many drives you will need and what size slot they require. Not all cases support every drive size.

There are several bay sizes, and each has a typical use.

• 5.25" bays typically hold optical drives, fan controllers, or other accessories, and are external facing.
• 3.5" external bays are typically used for smaller versions of accessories found in 5.25" bays (But not optical drives).
• 3.5" internal bays are used for holding desktop hard disks or an SSD.
• 2.5" bays are typically used for holding an SSD or laptop size hard disk.

Note that it's possible to buy adapters to fit items that go in small bays (usually hard drives) into large bays.

Many cases offer modular drive bays, which can be removed if they are not needed to make space for other components. This can be useful if a drive bay is getting in the way of another component, such as a long graphics card.

Some cases designed for minimalist aesthetics or gaming will not use external drive bays to make room for better airflow. If you use a case like this and need an optical drive, you will have to get an external drive.

If you are planning on using an M.2 SSD, your motherboard will provide a slot for your storage device. Some cases will have dedicated mounting points for 2.5" storage drives, which can free up space in other areas of the case.

Front IO

Almost all cases will feature a power on button on the front of the case. Other common IO featured on the front of cases includes audio jacks, USB ports, a reset button, status lights, and other features.

It's important to consider where the front IO is on the case you buy, and how it factors into your workspace. For example, if your case will just barely fit under your desk, IO located on the very top of your case could be hard to use.

In rare instances when you are not purchasing a new case you need new to get front IO separately from your case, (For example, when using an very old, nonstandard, or DIY case) there are simple kits available that give you a power button and a few IO ports. Alternatively you can manually use a jumper each time you want to turn the computer on, though this is somewhat tedious.

Computer Aesthetics

Cases are typically made of steel or more rarely aluminum, and usually have accents made out of plastic. More exotic case materials are sometimes used such as wood.

Some cases hide their 5.25" bays with a door for a cleaner look. This has a practical benefit of helping reduce drive noise.

A quality case will include features that make it easier to manage cables. Besides looking better, by keeping cables out of the way and orderly, maintenance and troubleshooting is made easier.

Cases typically mount the power supply in either the top of the case, or the bottom. Some higher end cases will have a separate chamber for the power supply, assisting cable management and giving it a degree separation from the hot components in the rest of the case.

Many cases will have windows installed. These provide a view into the system, and can highlight nice looking components. When moving a computer with a windowed case, keep in mind that an acrylic window will easily scratch, and a glass window may shatter. A solid sheet of metal is best when it comes to blocking noise and durability.

Many gamers use components with RGB lighting to give their computer flair. Keep in mind that there aren't really unified standards for RGB lighting, so if you want to mix and match between different manufacturers and coordinate the resulting lightshow you'll need to use multiple software products at the same time. RGB LED light strips, or their older counterpart cold cathode lights can be used to provide lighting if your components lack integrated lights.

Some cases feature integral noise reducing foam, offering a clean look while providing the benefits of noise reduction.

Many people like to mod their cases. There are many easy mods that can be done before your computer is built (And all electronics are removed from the case), such as painting the case a different color, or giving it a funky coat of paint through Hydro dipping

A case stand can be a good tool to use if you plan on placing your computer on the ground, as it creates additional clearance from things such as dirt, dust, and carpets.

You may want to use a dust cover for unused ports. This helps you avoid trying to plug in devices into the wrong ports when reaching behind a case, and helps make cleaning easier. Dust covers also exist for external peripherals such as monitors if you plan on storing them away for a while.

Cooling

Fans

Two fans of different sizes.

Most cases mount one or more case fans, distinct from the fans that may be attached to the power supply, video card and CPU. The purpose of a case mounted fan is to move air through the system and carry excess heat out. This is why some cases may have two or more fans mounted in a push-pull configuration (one fan pulls cool outside air in, the other pushes hot interior air out). The more air these fans can move, the cooler things will generally be.

Fans for case cooling currently come in two common sizes, 80 mm and 120 mm, and computer cases tend to support one size or the other. The larger 120 mm fans spin more slowly while moving a given volume of air, and slower fans are usually quieter fans, so the 120 mm fans are generally preferred, even though they cost a little more. Good 80 mm fans can still be fairly quiet, so while fan size is a factor, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker if the case has other features you like.

Make sure the power plug on the chosen case fan is supported by your motherboard; 3- and 4-pin connectors are common. Fans can also be powered directly by the PSU, but in that configuration, the motherboard can't control or report the fan's speed.

Variable speed fans with built-in temperature sensing are available. Variable speed fans tend to run quieter than constant speed fans, as they only move as much air as needed to maintain a set temperature within the case or the power supply box. Under typical operating conditions they may be barely audible.

Since fans run continuously when the computer is turned on, bearing selection may be important for long life.

• The least expensive fans use sleeve bearings. As the fan ages, the lubricant in the sleeve bearing dries out and eventually the bearing wears, allowing the fan blade to nutate or vibrate, making it very noisy. In severe cases the bearing may seize and the fan will stop turning entirely, possibly jeopardizing the computer when ventilation fails.
• The most expensive fans tend to be those that use ball bearings, but they also have very long service lives. It isn't uncommon for a ball bearing fan to run continuously for 7 to 10 years — possibly longer than the useful technological life of the computer within which it is mounted. Ball bearing fans tend to be slightly noisier than sleeve bearing fans.
• A fairly recent type of fan bearing is a magnetic or "maglev" bearing, which uses a magnetic field to suspend the fan rotor without physical contact. Such fans exhibit practically zero bearing wear and barring a failure in their motor drive components, have essentially an infinite service life. Maglev bearings also tend to be completely silent, and when used in a variable speed fan, can produce practically silent ventilation.

The orientation of fans inside your case can have a big impact on cooling, as well as how quickly dust builds up. Some cases will include dust traps to reduce the amount of dust entering a system. Aftermarket dust filters also exist, but can be harder to mount.

Water Cooling

An all in one cooler mounted on a CPU.

A water cooling system will cool parts by running water over a heatsink. a pump moves the water in a closed loop, which goes to a radiator for cooling. Additional parts, such as flow sensors and quick connects, can make maintaining a water cooling setup easier. Since the radiator can be placed anywhere, it can be much bigger then a typical heatsink, allowing for more efficient cooling. Typically water cooling is used for the CPU, but it can also be used for other components, such as graphics cards. Custom water cooling setups can either use hard tubing or soft tubing. Some manufacturers make All in One (AIO) watercooling units, which is basically a water cooling solution that's prebuilt.

Compared to air cooling, water cooling adds significant cost, complexity, and risk to a system build. However it can allow for quieter operation, and a well built water cooling setup can look great.

Minor component cooling

While shopping for coolers you may see passive, fan, or even water cooling solutions for RAM, chipsets, SSDs and other devices. These devices do not typically produce significant heat, and do not require additional cooling. These devices are mainly aimed at serious overclockers and those who want to improve the aesthetics of these components. However running components cooler to a point can be good for their lifespan, and adding these components typically only hurts your wallet.

Power Supply

A modular power supply on the left sits next to a non-modular power supply on the right. By allowing you to select only the cables you need, Modular power supplies make cable management much easier.

Power Supply Basics

The power supply unit (PSU) is a device that converts the electricity from the power grid into a form you can use. The power supply you choose needs to supply enough stable DC power to all the components and even to some of the peripherals. It needs also to be consistent, by complying with accurate standard voltages, i.e. the 12 volt rail needs to supply 12 volts (within normal tolerances of 10% or so) steadily under any foreseeable load, likewise the 3 and 5v rails at their respective voltages. Cheap power supplies tend to fall down in these areas. There are several tech-heavy websites that actually throw a multimeter on the PSU in the course of a review, seek these out and make sure you select a quality PSU.

PSU Specs

Power supplies typically use one of two ratings, one being the continuous rating and the other being the peak rating. The continuous rating is how much power can be delivered indefinitely, and the peak rating is how much power can be delivered for a limited period of time. You want to go by the continuous rating to be safe. There are several calculators that try to help you select an adequate PSU for your system, which are linked in the footer.

Your power supply should have the right number of connectors for your needs e.g. six-pin PCI power, ATX12VO vs. 24-pin motherboard connectors, etc. If you are planning on running two or more video cards in SLI (NVIDIA) or Crossfire (AMD) mode, make sure your power supply is certified for that use. Most power supplies will have cables long enough for most any case, but some larger cases will make good cable management difficult with power-supplies that have shorter cables.

Cheap power supplies often require you to select your mains voltage with a switch. Higher quality power supplies have circuitry that actively adjusts for incoming voltage, and thus do not need to be told what voltage to expect. It's always a good idea to check to make sure a power supply is compatible with the mains power used in your country prior to use.

Choose an efficient PSU. Efficient PSUs run cooler and more quietly and thus do not create as much noise which is important if you plan to sleep or think in the same room with it or use it as a media center PC. They also reduce energy usage, which in turn saves money on the electric bill.

If your budget allows, consider opting for a modular PSU. These have connectors that can be added or removed, which allows for more versatility and also reduces clutter. The power supply also has an exhaust fan that is responsible for cooling the power supply, as well as providing a hot air exhaust for the entire case. Some power supplies have two fans to promote this effect.

It is important to buy a power supply that can accommodate all of the components involved. A bad or inadequate power supply can fail and destroy not only itself, but potentially the rest of the computer, so it's important to get a decent one. Keep in mind that having a higher-rated power supply will not draw much more power than what your computer actually uses, but it may decrease the efficiency of the unit if significantly less power is being drawn then what the power supply is rated for.

PSU accessories

A surge protector is a good idea. Not only does this help protect your computer, it also can expand an outlet for more peripherals. Higher end surge protectors often include protection for network cables as well.

To supplement a PSU, consider getting an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). This is a device that provides a few minutes of temporary power to your computer and monitor during a brownout or blackout giving you enough time to safely shut down your computer. UPS units are typically external and look and function like big power strips. Many consumer UPS units have built in surge protectors. If you live in an area with poor power quality or frequent blackouts, a UPS can help save your PSU from significant wear.

CPU (processor)

We discuss choosing a CPU in the next chapter, How To Assemble A Desktop PC/Choosing the parts/CPU.

Motherboard

A PC motherboard: IDE connectors and the motherboard power connector (white with large holes) are on the left edge. Between them and the large quadratic CPU socket in the lower middle are the longish RAM sockets. The extension slots are above the CPU socket (two white, one black) and the ports for external devices are on the right edge.

The motherboard is a very important part of your computer. A good motherboard allows a modest CPU and RAM to run at maximum efficiency whereas a bad motherboard restricts high-end products to run only at modest levels. Higher end motherboards often offer additional features, such as faster built in networking, better built in audio, built in Wi-Fi, a small display that shows diagnostic codes, better power delivery to support overclocking and reliability, RGB LED controllers, built in IO Shield, or other features. The difference between a cheap and a quality motherboard is typically around $100.

There are many things one must consider in choosing a motherboard: CPU interface, Chipset, form factor, expansion slot interfaces, and other connectors.

CPU interface

The CPU interface is the "plug" that your processor goes into. For your processor to physically fit in the motherboard, the interface must be an exact match to your processor. Intel currently has two mainstream formats, the LGA 1851 for their current (200 series) Core processors (Core Ultra 9 285K or 5 245KF) or the LGA 1700 supporting their older 12th-14th gen processors. AMD currently uses a few sockets: AM5 for their current (7000 to 9000 series) Ryzen CPUs (Ryzen 9 7950X3D or Ryzen 5 9600X), AM4 for older (5000 series and older) Ryzen processors, and TR4 for their thread ripper processors.

Check with the motherboard manufacturer to ensure that the slot on the motherboard will support the CPU you want to use. It is important to know whether the motherboard's bus can support the exact CPU you plan on using.

If the motherboard, CPU, and heatsink/fan are not compatible and installed correctly, you can destroy the CPU and/or the motherboard in a matter of seconds. Most modern processors come with a stock cooling fan which will work well at stock speeds, stick with this if you have any doubts.

Chipset

The Chipset is a piece of hardware integrated into the motherboard and cannot be upgraded later. This often determines what processors are supported by the motherboard, as well as how many lanes and the generation of PCI Express, USB ports, and SATA ports/slots the motherboard supports. USB and SATA ports can be expanded by add on cards, but PCI express lanes are fixed. Cheaper motherboards tend to use cheaper chipsets with reduced features.

UEFI

Motherboards come with a piece of software that called UEFI or BIOS in older models. This software is responsible for preparing your computer for use by an operating system, as well as for configuring low level details of your system. Features offered by UEFI or BIOS vary quite a bit between manufactures and product lines. Some UEFI or BIOS can be updated, allowing for security fixes or new features to be added after purchase, and many of these systems will feature some form of redundancy to recover from a failed update (Which otherwise may turn the motherboard into a paperweight). Other motherboards allow BIOS control of overclocking of CPU, RAM and Graphics card which are much more stable and safer for overclocking. Newer BIOS have temperature controls, and functions that shut down the computer if the temperature gets too high.

Some motherboards are supported by open source firmware like coreboot which can offer a fast and secure booting environment.

M.2 and SATA interface

SATA (Serial ATA) connections for hard drives and optical drives. SATA data connections are simple - one plug, one cable, one device. SATA power connections follow the same principal.

The serial ATA (SATA) interface has a separate motherboard connection for each drive that allow independent access and can increase the speed at which drives work. The cables are also narrow, improving the flow of air inside the case.

An M.2 Slot can be found on some motherboards to add an SSD. Unlike a SATA Drive, M.2 drives are small enough to be mounted directly on the motherboard.

Expansion slot interfaces

PCI Express slots (from top to bottom: x4, x16, x1 and x16), compared to an old 32-bit PCI slot (bottom)

Due to the evolution of new graphics cards on the serial PCI-Express Technology, current newer motherboards have the following connections:

• PCI-Express(Gen 1/2/3/4/5) 16x/8x/4x for mainstream graphics cards (PCI Express Gen 1 x16 is 4 times speed of AGP 8x)
• PCI-Express(Gen 1/2/3/4/5) 1x for faster expansion cards (replacing older PCI)

Comparison of PCIe generations vs AGP 8x (improvement in times)

Size Generation	1x	4x	8x	16x
1	0.25x	1x	2x	4x
2	0.5x	2x	4x	8x
3	1x	4x	8x	16x
4	2x	8x	16x	32x
5	4x	16x	32x	64x

USB

Male USB "A" connector

In addition to the USB ports provided on the back panel, most motherboards will have connectors for additional ports, either on the front of the case or in a panel that fits where a PCI card might otherwise be connected. USB ports are used for connecting various peripherals such as printers, external drives, smartphones,cameras and an assortment of less serious devices like fans, and drink warmers. Given the growing popularity of USB devices, the more ports your motherboard supports, the better.

USB 3.0 ports are now available on the majority of motherboards and they are even faster than USB 2.0 — up to 5 Gbps. Although the majority of keyboards, mice and other such devices use USB2, almost all HDDs available now support the USB 3.0 standard as they are much faster under that. USB 3.0 ports are backwards compatible and can be used with USB 1 or 2 devices, although these will not receive the benefit of USB 3.0 speeds. USB 4 devices promise greater speed, and devices supporting it are slowly being released. USB-C ports are now available in nearly all new motherboards, and are even faster and versatile (with many doubling as a video output).

Note that, regardless of the motherboard's native support, additional ports of all kinds can be added via a PCI-E expansion card or USB device.

Memory

A DDR4 SDRAM module

RAM capacity plays an important role in the computer's operation speed, as it provides the operating system caching space that allows foregoing access to the local disk, typically the main bottleneck of computer speed.

The amount of random access memory (RAM) to use has become a fairly simple choice. Unless one is building on a very restricted budget, one just has to choose between installing 8 or 16 gigabytes. 8 gigabytes of RAM is plenty for most modern operating systems, but all of them will run a little faster with 16 gigabytes. While 32-bit operating systems can address 4 gigabytes, they can utilize little more than three gigabytes as system RAM (actually 4 gigabytes minus Video RAM minus overhead for other devices). If one wishes to utilize the full 4 (or more) gigabytes of RAM, one needs to install a 64-bit operating system. It really comes down to a financial decision. Some specialized applications may profit from more than 16 gigabytes of RAM. If one plans on using such, make sure to check that both the operating system and the motherboard will accommodate the amount of RAM one has in mind. One might also choose to get 8 gigabytes of high quality RAM over 16 gigabytes of lesser quality, especially if one plans to overclock, though that is quite rare now.

Another thing to consider when choosing the amount of RAM for one's system is the graphics card. Most motherboard-integrated graphics chips and PCI Express graphics cards marketed with the "Turbo Cache" feature will use system memory to store information related to rendering graphics; this system memory is generally not available at all to the operating system. On average, these graphics processors will use between 64 megabytes and 512 megabytes of system memory for rendering purposes.

The actual type of RAM one will need depends on the motherboard and chipset one gets. Old motherboards use DDR (Double Data Rate) RAM, DDR2 or DDR3. DDR5 is the current industry standard. Chip sets that use dual-channel memory require one to use two identical — in terms of size and speed — RAM modules.

If one is upgrading an existing computer, it is best to check if one's machine requires specific kinds of RAM. Many computer OEMs, such as Gateway and Hewlett-Packard, require custom RAM, and generic RAM available from most computer stores may cause compatibility problems in such systems.

Overclocking of RAM is possible, but you will have to keep the same precautions(actually more) for RAM. If your RAM temperatures get too high, they can get damaged. For this purpose, there are dedicated RAM coolers that can be used, but most will not find any need for them. The benefit of overclocking RAM, unlike overclocking your CPU, is limited to a few applications.

Labelling of RAM

RAM is labelled by its memory size in gigabytes (GB) and clock speed (or bandwidth).

For example,

1. DDR5-4800 16 GB is a 16 GB DDR5 stick running at 4800 MT/s (2400 MHz).
2. LPDDR5-6000 8 GB is a low-power DDR5 stick running at 6000 MT/s (3000 MHz). Commonly seen in laptops, but also seen in some desktops.

DDR RAM has 5 versions: DDR (also DDRI), DDR2 (or DDRII), DDR3, DDR4 and DDR5. DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 are currently obsolete.

1. DDR5 supports DDR5-4400 and higher.
   • DDR5-8400 is highest speed of DDR5 as of 2024.
   • DDR5-7000 to DDR5-8200 are higher end models.
   • DDR5-6000 to DDR5-6800 are mainstream models.
   • DDR5-4400 to DDR5-5600 are budget models. They were mainstream in 2021-22.
2. DDR4 supports DDR4-2133 to DDR4-5333 (generally overclocked).
   • DDR4-5333 is highest speed of DDR4 as of 2024.
   • DDR4-4000 to DDR4-5133 are higher end models.
   • DDR4-3000 to DDR4-3866 are mainstream models.
   • DDR4-2933 are budget models. Mainstream in 2018-20.
   • DDR4-2666 are budget models. Mainstream in 2016-19.
   • DDR4-2400 were older mainstream models from 2014-17.
   • DDR4-2133 were older mainstream models from 2014-15.
3. DDR3 supports DDR3-1066 to DDR3-3000 (generally overclocked).
4. DDR2 supports DDR2-533 to DDR2-1250 (generally overclocked).
5. DDR supports DDR-266 to DDR-533.

Hard drive and SSD

A hard drive. SATA data and power connectors can be seen on the edge of the drive.

Things to consider when shopping for a hard drive or SSD:

Interface

The interface of a drive is how the hard drive communicates with the rest of the computer. The following hard drive interfaces are available:

• Parallel IDE drives (PATA, also known as ATA or IDE) use cables that can be distinguished by their wide 40-pin connector, colored first-pin wire, and usually gray "ribbon" style cables. This technology is largely obsolete because SATA uses thinner cables, eliminates contention for the IDE bus that can occur when two PATA drives are attached to the same connector, and promises faster drive access. SSD's are generally not available for IDE, as they are too slow for a SSD (one notable exception is Transcand as of November 2014).
• SATA drives have the advantages outlined above. If you want Serial ATA, you will either need to purchase a motherboard that supports it (all newer motherboards do), or purchase a PCI card that will allow you to connect your hard drive. Note that some older motherboards will not allow you to install Windows XP to a Serial ATA hard drive. There are 3 types of SATA. SATA 1 provides up to about 150 MB/s, SATA 2 provides about 300MB/s, SATA3 provides up to about 600 MB/s. Most new computers and HDD's come in SATA 3, but older computers may use SATA 2/1. Although they are both backwards and forward comparable, SSD's should be used in SATA 3 since they are too fast for SATA 2 or 1.
• SCSI, although more expensive and less user friendly, is usually worthwile on high performance workstations and servers. Few consumer desktop motherboards built today support SCSI, and when building a new computer, the work needed to implement SCSI may be outweighed by the relative simplicity and performance of IDE and SATA. SCSI hard drives typically reach rotational speeds of up to 15,000 RPM, and are more expensive.
• USB can be used for connecting external drives. An external drive enclosure can convert an internal drive to an external drive.
• PCI-E uses the PCI lanes of your computer. These lanes can be used to connect premium SSD's, and they are much faster than SATA-based SSD's. NVM Express, or NVMe for short is a common standard for PCI-E based storage. M.2 slots are an increasingly common interface for SSDs.

SSD

An M.2 NVMe SSD

SSD is a hard storage system that use flash memory rather than rotational platters. Because of this, they make virtually no noise, have no latency (delays from spinning up and seeking the position), and generate far lesser heat than a HDD. If you plan to upgrade a computer, it is an excellent idea to replace an HDD with an SSD as the performance of the computer can be boosted by a wide margin. However, there are some important drawbacks. They are significantly more expensive per gigabyte (especially at larger capacities) compared to a hard drive, and typically come in smaller capacities. Furthermore SSD memory cells burn out over time due to wear caused by writing. However, this problem is mitigated by most modern SSD designs and software support that uses the SSD in such a way that all cells wear out at the same time. Whether or not you use an SSD, you should be backing up your data.

There are some important precautions to note if you do buy a SSD.

1. Do not defragment the drive! SSD, unlike HDD, does not need to get defragmented and will instead cause unnecessary writes and can wear out the drive faster. Windows 7 and above will identify the drive and makes necessary optimizations. Older operating systems may need tweaks to correctly use an SSD
2. Use SATA 3. Using SATA 2 or below reduces speed. If you can afford it, go for a PCI-E SSD card or NVME M.2 SSD as they are faster interfaces.

If your setup uses multiple storage devices, consider using a solid state drive as primary storage device by installing the operating system and incubating work on it, and a much larger hard drive as secondary storage.

Cache

The cache of a storage drive is a faster media than the drive itself and is normally 16MB (low end and laptop drives), 32MB (standard desktop drives), 64MB, 128MB, or 256MB (high end, high capacity desktop drives). Some very high capacity SSD designs will include several gigabytes of dram cache, which is used for performance and and some very cheap SSD designs will not have a DRAM cache at all, which can reduce performance. The existence of a cache increases the speeds of retrieving short bursts of information, and also allows pre-fetching of data. Larger cache sizes generally result in faster data access.

Form factor

• 3.5 inch drives are usually used in desktops.
• 2.5 inch drives are usually used in laptops and desktops with an adapter.
• M.2 drives are used in laptops and desktops with appropriate motherboards.

Capacity

The smallest desktop hard disk drives that are widely available hold about 250GB of data, although the largest drives available on the market can contain 24TB (24000GB). Note that the advertised capacity is usually more than the actual size due to the binary differences in calculation. Few people will need disks this large - for most people, somewhere in the range of 500GB-1TB will be sufficient. The amount of space you will need can depend on many factors, such as how many high-end games and programs you want to install, how many media files you wish to store, or how many high-quality videos you want to render. It is usually better to get a hard drive with a capacity larger than you anticipate using, in case you need more in the future. If you run out of space, you can always add an additional hard drive using any free Serial ATA connector, or through an external interface, such as USB.

SSD capacities are markedly smaller then hard drive capacities, especially for the cost. SSD capacities range from 128GB on the low end, to several terabytes on the high end.

Rotational Speed

The speed at which the hard drives platters spin. Most laptop (2.5 inch) drives spin at 5400 RPM, while common desktop drives come in at 7200. There are PATA and SATA drives that spin at 10,000 RPM and some SCSI drives hit 15,000. However drives above 7,200 RPM usually have limited capacity, and a much higher price than comparable 7,200 RPM drives, making such drives advisable only when the fastest possible speeds are required. SSD's do not have moving parts.

Noise and Heat

Modern hard drives are fairly quiet in operation though some people are sensitive to the faint hum and occasional buzz they do make. If your HDD is loud, it could be an early sign of failure, so it’s time to think about replacing it. Hard drives will also throw some heat and adequate air circulation should be provided, usually by case fans. Rubber mount points can help reduce drive vibration. There is software available that will allow you to monitor both the health and temperature of your hard drive(s), it’s a good idea to check from time to time and make sure the temperature does not rise above 50 C. SSD's do not generate noise like an HDD would because they have no moving parts, however they do generate a small amount of heat. This heat can be offset by a small heatsink, which are often included on M.2 SSDs.

Warranty

Many manufactures offer warranties ranging from 30 days (typically OEM) up to five years. It may be worth spending an extra few dollars to get the drive that carries a longer warranty. Good quality SSD's can provide up to 10 years warranty (like Samsung 850 Pro).

Secondary components

These components are important to your computer, but are not as central as the Core Components.

Video output

A video card.

GPU Basics

A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is what allows your computer to display images on a monitor. The majority of home and office computers use an 'onboard' or integrated graphic processor which is included on many processors, but workstations and gaming computers require the power of one or more dedicated graphics cards. Despite the name, modern GPU excel at processing large amounts of many different kinds of information, and are often used in physics simulations, audio processing, and even to run Artificial Intelligence models.

Currently, three companies dominate the 3D graphics accelerator market; nVIDIA, AMD and Intel, who build their own chips and license their technologies to other companies to integrate into video cards. These companies make a complete line of GPUs with entries at every price/performance level.

Do you need a Graphics Card?

If your tasks are non intensive such as web browsing or office work, or likely to be more dependent on the CPU then the GPU, you may be able to get away with an entry-level GPU, or even an integrated GPU. An integrated GPU uses the system's RAM, and relies heavily on your system's CPU. This will mean slow performance for graphic-intensive software, such as games. As long as your motherboard has slots for it, and your PSU has power for it, you can always add a GPU later should you find the integrated graphics inadequate.

If you have a CPU that does not have a graphics processor, as is common on some high end processor lines, then you will need to buy a discrete video card to use a monitor.

Graphics Card Specifications

Like a CPU, a GPU will have it's own clock speed and core count, though since GPU cores are simpler, many more can be fit onto a chip with high end GPUs having thousands of processors. Video cards have their own RAM which cannot be upgraded later, and many of the same rules that govern the motherboard RAM field apply here: to a point, the more RAM, and the faster it is, the better the performance will be. Most cards offer at least 8GB of VRAM, though many cards offer more. As a rule of thumb, if you want a high end video card, you need a minimum of 12GB of video memory or preferably 16GB.

It is generally better to choose your video card based on your own research, as everyone has slightly different needs. Many video card and chip makers are known to measure their products' performances in ways that you may not find practical. A good video card is often much more than a robust 3D renderer; be sure to examine what you want and need your card to do, such as digital (DVI) output, TV output, multiple-monitor support, built-in TV tuners and video input. Another reason you need to carefully research is that manufacturers will often use confusing model numbers designed to make a card sound better than it is to sell it better. For example, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX series claim to be part of the current line up (as of April 2023, the 4000-series of cards), however, they are inadequate for modern gaming, in many cases, and perform much closer to old, mid-end 2000 series cards than to the RTX 3000/4000 series cards.

API Support

Graphics cards provide various APIs to let software developers make programs that work for multiple GPU devices, without needing to make a specific version for each GPU. Games are very likely to require support for graphics APIs; multimedia or 3D graphics software also often uses graphics APIs. Most software that uses a GPU will require one or more APIs to be available and the API to be at a minimum version.

There are a few graphics APIs to look out for.

• Vulkan - A modern API for Windows and GNU/Linux.
• DirectX - The Windows-exclusive graphics API.
  • DirectX Raytracing - An extension to DirectX for raytracing.
• OpenGL - The old competitor to DirectX that works on Windows and GNU/Linux.

If you are using high-end productivity software that can leverage a GPU, you should also look out for GPGPU APIs. Your software will specify which it can use.

• OpenCL - A cross-platform API for GPGPU software.
• CUDA - NVIDIA's exclusive GPGPU API.

There are also a few APIs and pieces of Middleware that are generally focused on games. Unlike the above, software that supports these features will typically work fine on unsupported cards, just with reduced features.

• GPUOpen - A collection of open source game dev tools, made by AMD for all systems.
  • TressFX - Offers simulations of hair, grass, fur, and similar materials.
  • FireRays - Cross-platform raytracing.
• Nvidia GameWorks - NVIDIA's game dev tools for their own cards.
  • Nvidia RTX - NVIDIA's real-time ray tracing platform
  • OptiX - NVIDIA's productivity-focused ray tracing platform
  • PhysX - NVIDIA's physics library. PhysX can be run on the CPU if an NVIDIA card is not present.

Interface

The vast majority of graphic cards use the a 16x PCI-Express interface. This will typically provide the best performance and is what most Graphics Cards are designed to be used with.

If you need an extremely small case, or would like to easily swap your GPU to other devices that can't accept PCI express cards such as a laptop, it is possible to get an external GPU enclosure that connects to your system through a thunderbolt port. These enclosures are expensive and reduce performance somewhat, but provide unique flexibility.

Video Output

Graphics cards offer a variety of ports to display pictures. Each port type has versions associated with it.

• HDMI - A high end proprietary output standard that's common on consumer electronics.
• Displayport - A high end output standard that's common on computers.

Some GPU are compatible with variable refreshrate monitors.

• FreeSync - AMD and recent NVIDIA cards both support FreeSync.
• G-Sync - NVIDIA's proprietary adaptive sync solution.

Keep in mind that to provide best picture quality your graphics card must be capable of displaying the same resolution as your LCD display's native resolution.

Optical Drives

An internal 5.25" optical drive with a slot loading mechanism. This unit can read Blu-Ray, DVD, and CD media.

Optical drives offer an inexpensive and easy way to watch movies, listen to music, and make backups of important files.

When purchasing a DVD writer, you will want one that is capable of burning both the '+' and '-' standards, and it should also be Dual Layer compatible. This will ensure that you can burn to almost all recordable DVDs currently on the market.

Blu-Ray readers and writers are also available for computers, albeit at a greater cost then comparable DVD only drives. Blu-Ray disks store many times the amount that DVDs do. However software support for Blu-Ray movies is much worse then for DVDs, and it may not be worth the hassle and increased cost.

Optical drives primarily come in either 5.25" bay, slim, or external form factors. Your computer case will likely determine which form factor drive you choose, with 5.25" being most common, and some cases supporting slim drives. Some cases with minimalist designs or very small form factors may have no appropriate bays at all which would necessitate the use of an external drive. Most drives will use a tray loading mechanism, but some higher end or slim drives will instead use a slot loading mechanism instead.

Most applications are now being distributed over the Internet and even operating systems can be installed using a USB flash drive, so you may find that you do not need an optical drive. At the same time, an optical drive can be handy in some situations and are very cheap. You should think about your needs and decide if an optical drive makes sense for your build.

Cleaning optical disks

Dust can be removed from a CD's surface using compressed air or by very lightly wiping the information side with a very soft cloth (such as an eyeglass cleaning cloth) from the center of the disc in an outward direction. Wiping the information surface of any type of CD in a circular motion around the center, however, has been known to create scratches in the same direction as the information and potentially cause data loss. Fingerprints or stubborn dust can be removed from the information surface by wiping it with a cloth dampened with diluted dish detergent (then rinsing) or alcohol (methylated spirits or isopropyl alcohol) and again wiping from the center outwards, with a very soft cloth (non-linting : polyester, nylon, etc.). It is harmful, however, to use acetone, nail polish remover, kerosene, petrol/gasoline, or any other type of petroleum-based solvent to clean a CD-R; the use of petroleum based solvents will damage the polycarbonate surface and the CD-R will become unreadable.

Sound hardware

An external DAC.

Most motherboards have built-in sound features. These are often adequate for most users. However, you can purchase a good sound card and speakers at relatively low cost - a few dollars at the low end can make an enormous difference in the range and clarity of sound. Also, these onboard systems tend to use more system resources, so you are better off with a real sound card for gaming.

Sound card quality depends on a few factors. The digital-analog converter (DAC) is generally the most important stage for general clarity, but this is hard to measure. Reviews, especially those from audio file sources, are worth consulting for this; but don't go purely by specifications, as many different models with similar specifications can produce completely different results. Cards may offer digital (S/PDIF) output, in which case the DAC process is moved from your sound card either to a dedicated receiver or to one built into your speakers.

Sound cards made for gaming or professional music tend to do outstandingly well for their particular purpose. In games, various effects are often times applied to the sound in real-time, and a gaming sound card will be able to do this processing on-board, instead of using your CPU for the task. Professional music cards tend to be built both for maximum sound quality and low latency (transmission delay) input and output, and include more different kinds of inputs than those of consumer cards.

External DACs have gained popularity in recent years. These often include headphone amps and improved isolation from the rest of the computer, reducing potential interference such as hissing caused by close proximity to some components.

Modem

In many areas of the world, dedicated internet infrastructure is lacking or non existent. In such areas, those desiring an internet connection need to use a modem.

Wireless Modems

Many wireless modems are small and come in a USB stick form factor.

Mobile broadband modems are often used to connect computers wireless to cellular networks. Though often intended for travelers, some do use these for desktop computers when conventional connections are absolutely impractical. These are faster then traditional dial up modems, but often cost much more in both their initial price, as well as in ongoing data costs.

Dial Up Modems

A traditional modem is needed in order to connect to a dial up Internet connection. A modem can also be used for faxing. Modems can attach to the computer in different ways, and can have built-in processing or use the computer's CPU for processing.

Modems with built-in processing generally include all modems that connect via a standard serial port, as well as any modems that refer to themselves as "Hardware Modems". Software Modems, or modems that rely on the CPU generally include both Internal and USB modems, or have packaging that mentions drivers or requiring a specific CPU to work.

Modems that rely on the CPU are often designed specifically for the current version of Windows only, and will require drivers that are incompatible with future Windows versions, and may be difficult to upgrade. Software Modems are also very difficult to find drivers for non-Windows operating systems. The manufacturer is unlikely to support the hardware with new drivers after it is discontinued, forcing you to buy new hardware. Most such modems have internal or external USB, but this is not always the case.

Modems can be attached via USB, a traditional serial port, or an internal card slot. Internal modems and USB modems are more easily auto-detected by the operating system and less likely to have problems with setup. USB and serial port modems often require an extra power supply block.

Network interface card

A visual representation of typical network speeds, as well as the cabling required to support those speeds.

Wired NIC

A PCI Express 1x network interface card. The bracket at the top can be swapped with the included bracket for use in low profile cases.

A Network interface card (NIC for short), or Ethernet card, is required in order to connect to a local area network or a cable or DSL modem. These typically come in speeds of 10Mbps, 100Mbps, 1000Mbps (gigabit) or 2.5Gbps; these are designated as 10Mbps, 10/100Mbps, 10/100/1000Mbps or 2.5Gbps products. The 10/100/1000Mbps parts are most common in use today. In many cases, one or two Ethernet adapters will be built into a motherboard. If there are none, you will have to purchase an adapter. These typically cost less then $20 and are inserted into a expansion slot.

Most motherboards now feature either a 10/100/1000Mbps or a 2.5Gbps ethernet port and are adequate for most users.

Typically networks are only as fast as their slowest component. Speeds can be negatively affected by factors external to your computer such as old or improperly installed network cable, or an outdated router.

Wireless NIC

A wireless network interface card can be used to add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support to a computer. These cards are typically installed in a similar way to an Ethernet NIC, but have antennas or antenna mounts instead of an Ethernet jack. External USB versions are also available.

Many internal adapters will come with detachable antenna. Antenna come in a variety of form factors, and designs. A big factor in antenna choice is weather or not to get an omnidirectional antenna that does an decent job most of the time and reduces the need for optimal positioning, or a directional antenna that offers stronger signal but can only work well when positioned correctly.

Peripherals

Anything outside the case that connects to your computer is considered a peripheral. The keyboard, mouse and monitor are pretty much the bare minimum you can go with and still be able to interact with your computer. Your choice in peripherals depends on personal preference and what you intend to do with your computer.

Mouse

Mice can have a variety of perks on top of standard features. This mouse has additional buttons and adjustable weight.

Most modern mice are based on optical designs, using either an LED or laser to track the surface it's placed on. Mice of medium-to-high quality will track your movement almost flawlessly. Many higher end mice feature different DPI settings for different use cases. Some optical mice are unable to track on some surfaces. In such cases, a mouse pad may be needed. Some mice may offer adjustable weights to help make your experience more comfortable.

Most mice are designed to be ambidextrous or are explicitly designed for right handed use. Some manufacturers that make right handed oriented mice will also make a left handed version.

Mice come in wireless and wired varieties. Wired mice offer fast and reliable communication, with no batteries to worry about. Wireless mice usually require a battery or sometimes a special mousepad, and use either Bluetooth or a special USB device to communicate with the PC. Wireless mice can be nice to use if your desk setup causes cable snagging.

Although three buttons are generally enough for operating a computer in normal circumstances, extra buttons can come in handy, as you can add set actions to each button, and they can come in handy for playing various video games. One thing to note is that with some mice those extra buttons are not actually seen by the computer itself as extra buttons and will not work properly in games. These buttons use software provided by the manufacturer to function. However, it is sometimes possible to configure the software to map the button to act like a certain keyboard key so that it will be possible to use it in games in this manner.

If desk space is at a premium, you may want to consider using a trackball mouse. Instead of moving the mouse around to move the cursor, this type of mouse has you use a ball to position the cursor. While not the best for gaming, this style of mouse is perfectly fine for web browsing and productivity.

Keyboard

Keyboards are made in a variety of formfactors and styles.

Keyboard specifications

Keyboards most commonly come as membrane keyboards, but if you plan on typing for long periods of time a mechanical keyboard may help improve your typing experience. Stores will often have display model keyboards that you can test to find your preferred style.

Key rollover is the number of keys a keyboard can read simultaneously, and is an important factor for power users and gamers. Most keyboards support at least a few keys being pressed at one time. High end keyboards support N key rollover and can accept an arbitrary number of keys at the same time.

Keyboards sometimes come with extra non-standard features, such as multimedia controls, or small displays.

Keyboard formfactors

Ergonomic keyboards also exist that can help reduce repetitive strain injuries.

Keyboards come in a variety of sizes. Full size keyboards are the most common. Ten keyless keyboards eliminate the number pad for a smaller size. Some smaller keyboards are categorized by the percentage of keys removed compared to a full size keyboard, typically ranging from the mostly normal 75%, to the tiny 40%.

Keyboards come in either wired or wireless models. Wired keyboards are very straightforward, and since they do not need to be moved as a mouse does, they are often preferable for desktops. Wireless keyboards do not now display the sort of noticeable delay that they once did, and now also have considerably improved battery life. However, gamers may still want to avoid wireless input devices because the very slight delay may impact gaming activities, though some of the higher end models have less trouble with this. The occasional need to replace or charge batteries is also an inconvenience.

Keyboard accessories

Some keyboards allow for swapable keycaps, allowing you to customize the look of your keyboard. If your keyboard supports this, you will want an appropriate keycap removal tool to make the process easier.

If your keyboard does not come with a wrist rest, third party rests are commonly avalible.

Printer and scanner

Multi function printers such as this one can also scan documents.

For most purposes, a mid-range inkjet printer will work well for most people. If you plan on printing photos, you will want one that is capable of printing at around 4800dpi. Also, you will want to compare the speed of various printers, which is usually listed in ppm (pages per minute). When choosing a printer, always check how much new cartridges cost, as replacement cartridges can quickly outweigh the actual printer's cost. Be aware of other possible quirks as well. For example, Epson has protection measures that make refilling your own ink cartridges more difficult because an embedded microchip that keeps track of how much ink has been used keeps the printer from seeing the cartridge as full once it has been emptied.

For office users that plan to do quite a bit of black and white printing buying a black and white laser printer is now an affordable option, and the savings and speed can quickly add up for home office users printing more than 500 pages a month.

Scanners are useful, especially in office settings, they can function with your printer as a photocopier, and with software can also interact with your modem to send Faxes. When purchasing a Scanner, check to see how "accessible" it is (does it have one-touch buttons), and check how good the scanning quality is, before you leave the store if possible.

Finally, "Multi-Function Centres" (also called "Printer-Scanner-Copiers") are often a cost-effective solution to purchasing both, as they take up only one port on your computer, and one power point, but remember that they can be a liability, since if one component breaks down, both may need to be replaced.

Display

Computer monitors come in a variety of form factors and styles.

When choosing a display for your computer, you should look at a few factors that determine the quality of the display.

Resolution governs how detailed of a picture a display can show. The higher the resolution, the more detail can be shown at once. Keep in mind that higher resolutions are also harder to for your computer to draw, and very high resolution monitors may not be the best choice if your computer's GPU can not adequately drive them at their native resolution.

Refresh rate governs how often a new picture is drawn. 60 times a second is common, though some displays will go lower (Resulting in a choppier look) or higher (Resulting in a smoother look). Some monitors will work with video cards to use a variable refresh rate, which can produce a smoother picture, especially during games.

Aspect ratio is a way of expressing the horizontal size of the screen to the vertical size of the screen. 16:9 is the most common display ratio today due to it's use in cinema, though 4:3 monitors were once the most popular choice, and are still preferred by many writers and programmers for their use of vertical space. Some displays are much wider then they are tall; these displays are often called ultrawides, often 21:9 or 32:9.

Common resolutions by aspect ratio

4:3	16:10	16:9	Other
640×480	1280×800	1280×720	1280×1024
800×600	1440×900	1366×768	2560×1080
1024×768	1680×1050	1600×900	3440×1440
1152×864	1920×1200	1920×1080	2560×2048
1600×1200	2240×1400	2560×1440	5120×1440
2048×1536	2560×1600	3840×2160	5120×2160
3200×2400	3840×2400	7680×4320	7680×2160

Some displays handle colors better then others. Some monitors sport higher bit depths, high dynamic range, or techniques for showing deep blacks to improve the color experience. A monitor's color accuracy determines it's ability to show those colors accurately, though this is primarily of concern to those producing visual media as most monitors are fairly accurate.

Some content requires HDCP support to play. This requires support by the monitor, the cable, and the computer itself.

The bezel is the space between the end of the display, and the end of the monitor. If you plan on placing multiple monitors next to each-other (Ideally of the same make), a smaller bezel can help reduce the interruption between the two spaces

LCD panels

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) have the advantage of being a completely digital setup, when used with the DVI-D or HDMI digital connectors. When running at the screen's native resolution, this can result in the most stable and sharp image available on current monitors. Many LCD panel displays are sold with an analog 15-pin VGA connector or, rarely, with an analog DVI-I connector. Such displays will be a bit fuzzier than their digital counterparts, and are generally not preferred over a similarly-sized CRT. If you want an LCD display, be sure to choose a digital setup if you can; however, manufacturers have chosen to use this feature for price differentiation.

A big disadvantage for LCD displays are dead pixels and stuck pixels. These small, failed areas on the monitor can be very annoying, but generally aren't covered under warranty as most LCD panel manufacturers allow for a certain number of dead pixels in their product specification. This can make purchasing LCD displays a financial risk. This can be alleviated somewhat if you are able to look at the display before purchase, or if you shop at a merchant that allows returns for such conditions. Some media files exist that cycle through colors to highlight dead pixels, and it may be worth running such a test prior to your purchase if possible.

LCDs are acceptable for fast-paced gaming, but you should be sure that your screen has a fairly fast response time (of 4 ms or lower) if you want to play fast games. Many flat panels sold today meet this requirement, some by a factor of 3. Some gaming focused LCD monitors will offer higher refresh rates then the standard 60, which can aid those playing very fast paced games.

When picking an LCD, keep in mind that they are designed to display at one resolution only, so, to reap the benefits of your screen, your graphics card must be capable of displaying at that resolution. That in mind, they can display lower resolutions with a black frame around the outside (which means your entire screen isn't filled), or by stretching the image (which leads to much lower quality).

When choosing an LCD, make sure to get one which uses IPS technology, as that one provides for sharper colour reproduction and also has high viewing angles. The older TN (often found in very cheap displays) is only relevant for gamers who need fast response times; otherwise, it has weaker colours and has poor viewing angles and should be ignored.

OLED panels

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays are a fairly new display type. They have infinite contrast ratio due to each pixel being emitted light without a backlight, allowing for deep blacks. Traditional LCD panels have a backlight, so black isn't really true black. Instead, they emit a faint, dark gray color. But the OLED panels are true black when pixels are switched off.

OLED displays also potentially offer lower power consumption, especially when most pixels are switched off.

Other advantages are very high refresh times (usually 0.03ms) and rates, as well as vivid colors.

Downsides are high cost compared to LCDs, and burn-in issues.

For example, a typical 32" 4K 240Hz OLED monitor cost about $1000, but an equivalent VA or IPS model costs about $500-600.

Alternative Display types

A VR headset

Some games, educational software, and telepresence software can optionally use or may require a virtual reality headset. Though pricey, these headsets offer immersion that is hard to beat. Keep in mind that a large open area of a room is required for safely experiencing non sit down experiences, and that a VR headset is intended to be a secondary, not a primary monitor.

CRT monitors are now obsolete and only really available on the used market, but a high quality CRT monitor can be a good option in some specific use cases. Namely CRT monitors often allow the user to choose between higher resolution and higher refresh rates. The analog nature of CRT monitors also makes latency near zero - much lower then LCD panels. Downsides to CRT monitors include their large size, power consumption, availability issues, and outdated connectors.

Some monitors include touchscreens or support specialized drawing pens, often meant to serve as a secondary display. Monitors supporting pen input in particular are good for those wishing to try digital illustration or digital sculpting, and often boast high color accuracy due to their artist centric design.

Digital projectors are increasingly available on the consumer market. While not really good for everyday use, they are nice for home theater computers and other scenarios where a large screen is needed.

Monitor positioning

The default way of using most monitors it to just sit them on a desk. This works fine for most users, and avoids additional costs.

A cheap way to free up desk space or make your monitor stand taller is to get a monitor riser. This is a small table that sits on top of your desk, holding your monitor up and giving you space to stash small items beneath it.

Power users may want to invest in a VESA Mount setup. This mounts the monitor to movable arms or a nearby wall, and frees desk space for other uses. Alternatively, some very small case designs support being mounted on the back of a VESA Mount, letting your computer rest on the back of your monitor.

Speakers

Loudspeakers

A 2.1 speaker setup with subwoofer and remote.

Computer loudspeaker sets come in two general varieties; 2/2.1 sets (over a wide range of quality), and "surround", "theater", or "gaming" sets with four or more speakers, which tend to be somewhat more expensive. A 2-speaker set is adequate for basic stereophonic sound. A 2.1-speaker set adds a sub-woofer to handle low frequencies. Low-end speakers can suffer from low bass response or inadequate amplification, both of which compromise sound quality. Powered speakers with separate sub-woofers usually cost only a little more and can sound much better. At the higher end, one should start to see features like standard audio cables (instead of manufacturer-specific ones), built in DACs, and a separate control box.

The surround sets include a sub-woofer, and two or more sets of smaller speakers. These support 5.1 or 7.1 standards that allow sound to be mixed not only left and right, as with standard stereo speakers, but front and back and even behind the listener. Movies and video games make use of this technology to provide a full-immersion experience. Make sure your sound hardware will support 5.1 or 7.1 before buying such a speaker system. If your budget allows, you can avoid the computer speaker market entirely and look into piecing together a set of higher-end parts. If you are buying a speaker system designed for PCs, research the systems beforehand so you can be certain of getting one that promises clarity rather than just raw power. Speaker power is usually measured in RMS Watts. However, some cheap speakers use a different measure, Peak Music Power Output (PMPO), which appears much higher.

For home theater PCs, a soundbar can be a good option for a simple setup.

Headphones

Headphones can offer good sound much more cheaply than speakers, so if you are on a limited budget, but want maximum quality, they should be considered first. They should also be considered if you live in a apartment or dormitory where noise is a consideration. The advantage of headphones is that the acoustic environment between the audio driver is fully contained and controlled within the earcups and is not dependent on room acoustics. There are even headphones which promise surround-sound, though these can be hit or miss and should be tested prior to purchase. Some headphones may include a basic microphone as well.

A headphone stand can help keep your workplace organized if you plan on frequently using one.

Microphones

An external microphone can allow you to make high quality audio recordings at home.

Microphones can be added to allow for voice chat, dictation software, or for just making recordings. If you are using a webcam or a gaming headset, you likely already have a decent microphone.

Most low end to midrange office, gamer, and prosumer microphones plug in via USB or 3.5" audio jacks, or connect wirelessly via Bluetooth. For creators who need high end microphones, by using certain external DAC devices, it becomes possible to use professional microphones that use XLR connectors, greatly increasing sound quality, at the cost of increased setup complexity, as well as increasing the price of the setup overall.

Another factor to consider when purchasing a microphone for a desktop PC is where you want to mount it, and if you have the right acoustics in your room for the level of quality you want. Casual users may be fine simply placing a microphone on their desk, where gamers with loud keyboards may want to mount their microphone on a separate surface. A pop filter is a cheap way to improve quality in some cases. If the acoustics in your room are not good or there is significant background noise which can't be eliminated then no amount of expensive equipment will fix the underlying problems causing bad sound, and you're best off either fixing those problems, or using a cheap microphone.

Webcams

A webcam can be added to a desktop to aid in video conferencing or streaming. Quality of webcams can vary significantly, so it's a good idea to look at examples of footage produced by a particular model before committing to a purchase. Web cams offer a variety of resolutions and frame rates.

Some webcams can be used for security features such as Windows Hello in Windows 10.

Many webcams have a physical privacy shutter to prevent accidental use, and cheap aftermarket shutters can be added for webcams without one. Many webcams support tripod mounts, which can be used to offer alternative angles for those with multiple cameras, such as streamers. Most webcams have a microphone built in.

Other peripherals

Some peripherals serve more niche uses. Though they are not needed for all users, you may find such devices useful if they compliment your specific needs, work or hobbies.

Accessibility

A refreshable braile display used underneath a keyboard.

You may benefit from accessibility tools if you have an impediment, such as foot pedals, large button gadgets, or other devices.

Refreshable braile displays and screen reader software can help users with visual impairments

Security

Hardware 2FA keys are a good idea for those who value security. These keys typically plug into a USB port and can be used as an extra layer of security on top of a password. A special webcam that uses structured light or a finger print reader can be used for Windows Hello.

If you are using a disk encryption solution like Windows BitLocker, it may be worthwhile to get a Trusted Platform Module made after 2018. This is a small piece of dedicated hardware that handles security related tasks. This requires that both the module and the motherboard are compatible with each other, both on a hardware level and a software level.

A port blocker or case lock may be OK for stopping casual mischief if you have regular guests or roommates, but most commercially available products in this category will not stand up to either a modestly talented tinkerer, or simple brute force.

Gaming

Fans of specific game genres may benefit from a flight stick, a stearing wheel, fight pad, arcade deck, or console style controller. There are also more esoteric control devices available, based on EEG readings, gesture recognition, or other unconventional inputs.

A video capture card can be used to record or stream the output of a game console or even another PC without impacting framerates.

Streaming decks can help save time during livestreams.

Creating

Drawing tablets use special pens to offer more natural input methods for artists.

Creatives and hobbyists may find workflow benefits from adding specialized peripherals to their workspace such as drawing tablets, MIDI keyboards, mixers, microscopes, 3D Scanners, software defined radios, plotters, laser cutters, or 3D printers.

External links

• The outervision power supply calculator
• PCPartPicker can help check for compatibility issues before you buy.
• Logical Increments offers a variety of example builds that are focused on balance at a given price point.
• Silent PC Review of PSU units