Beginner's Guide to Building a PC

What actually matters when picking parts

CPU

Pick your platform first
Choose AM5 (AMD) or LGA1700 (Intel) before anything else — every other part depends on this decision. AM5 has a longer upgrade runway ahead, since AMD has committed to supporting the socket through more CPU generations. LGA1700 is nearing end-of-life, so treat it as a "buy and keep" platform rather than one you'll upgrade later

GPU

Usually the biggest line item
Spend 35–45% of your total budget here — it affects your actual gaming experience more than any other single part. Don't split the difference between a good CPU and a weak GPU; a strong GPU paired with a modest CPU almost always outperforms the reverse for gaming.

RAM

16GB minimum, 32GB safer
DDR5 is standard on current motherboards; DDR4 only applies if you're on an older/budget board. Always buy two sticks (dual-channel) instead of one — a 2x16GB kit outperforms a single 32GB stick at the same total capacity, because dual-channel roughly doubles memory bandwidth

Storage

NVMe SSD, no exceptions
A 1TB NVMe drive is the realistic baseline in 2026 — modern game installs regularly exceed 80–100GB each. Traditional hard drives (HDDs) only make sense now as cheap bulk storage for media libraries, not for your OS or games.

PSU

Don't cheap out here
Undersized or low-quality power supplies are the single most common cause of instability, random shutdowns, and dead components. Buy 80+ Gold certified with headroom above your GPU's rated draw — never buy the exact minimum wattage

Case & Cooling

Check clearance before you buy
Confirm your GPU's length and CPU cooler height fit inside your chosen case before ordering — this is the #1 build-day surprise for beginners. Cases with mesh front panels generally run several degrees cooler than solid-front "looks first" designs

"our CPU buying guide"