How to build a PC
The assembly order that causes the fewest problems, the connectors people miss, and what to do when it does not start first time.
Category: Uncategorized
How to choose a CPU
Why the platform decision comes first, when core count stops helping, why clock speed does not compare across generations, and the firmware trap.
How to choose a graphics card
Start from your display, understand what video memory actually does, and make the three physical checks that stop a card fitting.
How to choose a motherboard
What a motherboard actually decides, why chipset is about features rather than speed, and the lane-sharing specification most people miss.
How much RAM do you need?
Why running out of memory is worse than having slow memory, the capacity each workload actually needs, and the BIOS setting most builds miss.
DDR4 versus DDR5
What actually changed between the generations, why the choice is usually made by your platform, and the naming trap that catches buyers.
How to choose an SSD
Why sequential speed is the wrong number to compare, what happens when the write cache runs out, and whether a PCIe 5.0 drive is worth it.
NVMe versus SATA
The real difference between the interfaces, why game loading times barely change, and the M.2 naming confusion that catches buyers.
How to choose a power supply
How to size a supply properly, why transient spikes trip units that looked adequate, and what 80 PLUS ratings do and do not tell you.
What to do after building a PC
The BIOS settings to check first, the driver order that avoids problems, and the testing to do while parts can still be returned.