PC Parts Buying Guides

Where the money should go, and why

A parts list is a budget allocation problem. Every component competes for the same money, and the returns are wildly unequal, so the order in which you decide matters more than any individual product choice.

• Graphics card, 40–50% of the build. It sets the frame rate ceiling at every resolution above 1080p. Capacity counts too: 8GB cards stutter in titles that want more, regardless of how fast the core is.
• Processor, 15–20%. Enough to feed the card at your resolution and no more. Beyond that point the money buys frames you will never see.
• Memory, 32GB. Capacity first, then speed, then timings — in that order. The latency guide explains why the CL number on the box is the least useful of the three.
• Storage, 1–2TB NVMe. Gen 4 is the sensible default; Gen 5 drives run hotter for gains that games rarely show.
• Power supply, quality over wattage. Correct size, right connectors, reputable line. The headroom guide works three real builds through the arithmetic.
• Cooling and case, the part people underestimate. A card that does not fit, or a cooler that does not clear the memory, stops the build entirely.

The two components most often cut are the ones that cause the most trouble later: the power supply and the case. Neither adds frames, and both determine whether the build is safe, quiet and upgradeable. A tight budget is a reason to buy a cheaper graphics card, not a cheaper supply.