The Parts List
The Power Supply Unit (PSU)
This is the first stop on PC parts. Without this the computer will not power on. So, that is why it becomes the first to know about. They can be top mounted or bottom mounted, modular or non-modular, be silent or loud. Professional technical reviews cover a vast array of knowledge and details but here we will be picking out the best parts and how to judge them in terms of scalability. Other sites cover detailed technical specs on specific model numbers whereas others will be great beginner tech sites to plunge into.
The Central processing Unit (CPU)
Second on our stop is the CPU. This is essentially the brain of the computer where all of the processing of tasks takes place. This component will allow multitasking and fluent movement between programs. The core will set the pace for the motherboard socket and quality of components that will be chosen for a computer build. If the machine has a high end processor then a higher end motherboard will respectively be needed.
The motherboard (mOBO)
The third component is the motherboard. This can be visualized as the spine of the computer. Ram, CPU, fans, and GPU all use the motherboard to communicate to one another. Tech reviews are important to read in order to understand the limitations and potential gains of certain boards over others. Also, reading technical forums helps to see possible issues with boards before spending money and potentially running into issues.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM is for speed, the more we have of it the faster our computer will run. There are some tricky things to learn about how to know what RAM is needed for a computer. Reliability is truly the key when looking at RAM though. Aside from specs you have to understand a little bit of heat dissipation and height.
The Graphics Card (GPU)
The graphics card contains the power house for all of the content onscreen that you see. Knowing the right graphics card is important because it will determine whether the computer can handle the newest video games or not. It will also allow you to become more efficient by choosing the right one. For instance, ever get tired of having several windows open and having to flip from one to the other back and forth? This problem can be remedied by plugging in 2 monitors and taking advantage of features certain GPU's offer.