PC buying tips: articles and comparisons
Practical guides to choosing PC components.
How to check if XMP or EXPO is on, and switch it on
New memory runs at a slow default speed until you switch on its profile in the BIOS. Here is how to see in Windows whether XMP or EXPO is on, how to enable it, and what to do if the PC will not start afterwards.
Resizable BAR: what it is and how to enable it
Resizable BAR lets the processor reach all of the graphics card's memory at once, and some cards depend on it. Here is how to check whether it is on in your PC and how to enable it without locking yourself out of Windows.
Missing drivers after a PC build: find and install them
A fresh Windows installation rarely has every driver it needs. Here is how to see which devices have none, where to get the right ones, in which order to install them, and which sources to avoid.
How to set a fan curve: quiet at idle, cool under load
A fan curve tells each fan how fast to spin at each temperature. Here is how to shape one so the PC stays quiet on the desktop and cool in games, where to set it, and how to check that it is safe.
What is a used gaming PC worth? Price it part by part
A used gaming PC is worth the sum of its parts at today's prices, minus a discount for being second-hand. Here is the method, part by part, for sellers and buyers.
How price tracking works
Where the prices come from, how to read the shop offers, what the price history tells you, and how to get an email when a part gets cheaper.
How the PC builder works: every tool
The PC builder, the compatibility check, prices, the FPS calculator and the rest - what each tool does and when you need it.
How to check real FPS and what holds your PC back
How to measure the frame rate you really get in a game, why the average is not the whole story, how to tell whether the processor or the graphics card is the limit, and what to check when the PC is slower than it should be.
New PC checklist: what to check after building one
The checks worth doing on a new PC before you trust it: the memory profile, drivers, the BIOS settings that matter, a load test with temperatures, and the fans and lighting. Most take a minute and cost nothing.
4K gaming PC: what you need for smooth 4K gaming
What a PC needs for 4K gaming: which graphics card class, how much video memory, how much the processor matters, when to use upscaling, and which power supply and monitor to pair with it.
Mini ITX build guide: planning a small form factor PC
How to plan a mini ITX build: start from the case, then check graphics card length, cooler height, power supply format and the limits of an ITX motherboard, and keep temperatures under control.
What GPU do you need for 144 Hz at 1080p and 1440p?
Which graphics card reaches 144 FPS in 13 popular games at 1080p and 1440p in our FPS model, and when your processor or 8 GB of VRAM holds you back instead.
Should I upgrade my CPU or GPU first for gaming?
How to tell whether your processor or your graphics card is limiting your FPS, what each upgrade gains in our FPS model, and what to check before the new part goes in.
How to build a PC online
The configurator picks the parts alongside you and rules out combinations that do not fit. Here is the order to choose components in, and what gets checked at every step.
Component compatibility
Socket, memory generation, millimetres inside the case and power connectors - a handful of conditions decide whether the PC will run at all. Everything else is a matter of taste.
How to read FPS numbers before buying a PC
An FPS number means nothing without a game, a resolution and settings. Here is how to read the estimate and what it cannot tell you.
SSD or HDD: which drive should you choose?
NVMe SSD speed, HDD capacity for pennies - how to combine the two and how much space you actually need.
How many watts (W) does a power supply need?
A simple way to pick the right power supply wattage from your processor and graphics card - no overpaying and no risk.