How to Choose PC Parts

What each part does, how much to spend, and the compatibility rules that trip up first-time builders.

Start with the job

Gaming: the graphics card matters most. Put 35–45% of your budget there. Video, 3D, programming: more CPU cores and memory. Office and browsing: a CPU with built-in graphics, and no graphics card needed.

CPU

Six cores is the sweet spot for gaming. Eight to sixteen help with creative work.

The CPU and motherboard must use the same socket. The current ones are AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000/9000) and AM4 (Ryzen 5000), and Intel LGA1700 (12th–14th gen) and LGA1851 (Core Ultra 200).

Also check: is a cooler included? Many aren't. Does it have built-in graphics? Intel "F" models and most Ryzen 5000 chips don't, so they need a graphics card to show a picture.

Motherboard

Match the socket, then check:

• Memory type: DDR4 or DDR5, never both. AM5 and LGA1851 boards are DDR5. LGA1700 comes in both, so look for "D4" in the name.
• Size: ATX (full), Micro-ATX (smaller) or Mini-ITX (tiny). The case must support it.
• M.2 slots: how many fast SSDs you can add.

B650/B850 (AMD) and B760/B860 (Intel) suit most builds. X870 and Z890 are for extra connectivity or overclocking.

Memory

16GB minimum for gaming, 32GB with multitasking. Buy a two-stick kit, which runs in faster dual-channel mode. Ryzen 7000/9000 runs best with DDR5-6000. After building, turn on EXPO (AMD) or XMP (Intel) in the BIOS, or the memory runs below its rated speed.

Graphics card

This sets your frame rate. Rough guide to video memory: 8–12GB for 1080p, 12–16GB for 1440p, 16GB+ for 4K. Check that the card's length fits your case and your power supply can handle it.

Storage

Use an NVMe M.2 SSD as the main drive. 1TB minimum, 2TB for lots of games. Hard drives are the cheap option for photos, video and backups.

Power supply

Don't cheap out. A bad one can damage other parts when it fails. Pick a known brand rated 80+ Gold, sized at about 1.3–1.5× your system's peak draw. The builder calculates this for you.

Case and fans

The case must fit your motherboard size, graphics card length and cooler height. Mesh fronts cool better than solid glass. Aim for at least two intake fans (front or bottom) and one exhaust (rear or top). Check how many the case includes, since some ship with none.

CPU cooler

A $35–50 tower air cooler handles almost any CPU quietly. Liquid coolers need a case with a mount for their radiator size (240, 280 or 360mm). Air coolers must fit under the case's height limit.

Don't forget

• Operating system: Windows 11 costs extra. Linux is free.
• Monitor, keyboard and mouse if you're coming from a laptop or console.
• Wi-Fi: look for "WiFi" in the motherboard name. Otherwise use Ethernet or add a Wi-Fi card.