PC Building Guides
Everything you need to go from budget to built — step by step.
Building Your Pc
View all →How to Apply Thermal Paste: Step-by-Step Guide
How to apply thermal paste correctly: how much to use, which pattern fits your CPU's shape, and the mounting steps that keep air pockets out of your CPU cooler.
How to Install RAM: Step-by-Step Memory Installation Guide
How to install RAM correctly: opening the slot clips, aligning the notch, pressing the stick in until it clicks, and using the right slots for dual-channel speed.
How to Install a GPU: Step-by-Step Graphics Card Installation
How to install a graphics card correctly: opening the PCIe slot, seating the card, connecting power cables, and fixing the most common no-display problem.
How to Install a CPU: AM4, AM5, LGA1700 & LGA1851
Step-by-step CPU installation for AM4, AM5, LGA1700, and LGA1851 sockets, including how to avoid bent pins and whether your CPU includes a cooler.
How to Test Your PC After Building: The Complete Checklist
Booting to a desktop doesn't mean your build is solid. Here's how to check BIOS recognition, verify every part in Windows, and stress test CPU, GPU, and RAM before you trust the machine.
Common PC Building Mistakes Beginners Make (And How to Avoid Them)
The 10 most common PC building mistakes beginners make, explained with real component data. Covers incompatible parts, PSU sizing, CPU power cables, RAM slots, GPU clearance, and more.
PC Won't Turn On After Building: What to Check
New PC won't turn on after building? Work through this checklist from most to least likely cause. Most builds are fixed in under 10 minutes by one of four things.
What Tools Do You Need to Build a PC?
You need one tool to build a PC: a magnetic Phillips #2 screwdriver. This guide covers what's essential, what's optional, and what you can skip entirely.
How to Build a Gaming PC — Complete Beginner's Guide
Step-by-step guide to building a gaming PC from scratch. Every component, the tools you need, and first-boot setup — written for first-time builders.
Choosing Parts
View all →Best PC Case for Gaming in 2026: Top Picks by Budget, Size, and Cooling
The best PC case for gaming in 2026, picked by real cooling, noise, and clearance data. Mesh mid-towers from $68, budget shells from $40, plus Mini-ITX options.
Best GPU Under $400 in 2026: RTX 5060 Ti 8GB Is the Clear Pick
The best GPU under $400 in 2026 is the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB at ~$375. It's 23% faster at 1440p than the RTX 5060 and the only sub-$400 card worth buying at 1440p.
What PC Do You Need for Minecraft? (2026 Guide)
Minecraft PC requirements for 2026: official specs from Mojang plus real build budgets for vanilla play, modpacks, and shader packs at every price point.
What PC Do You Need for Fortnite? (2026 Guide)
Fortnite PC requirements for 2026: official minimum and recommended specs from Epic, plus real build budgets for 60fps, 144fps, and 240fps competitive play.
Best CPU Cooler in 2026: Air Coolers and AIOs Ranked
Best CPU coolers in 2026, ranked by thermal benchmark data from our component database. Dual-tower air picks from $34, single-tower budget options from $25, and the best AIO liquid coolers for high-TDP builds.
Best SSD for Gaming in 2026: NVMe and SATA Picks by Budget
Best SSD for gaming 2026: Kingston NV3 1TB ($155) leads budget builds, Crucial P310 1TB ($175) hits the gaming speed ceiling. 2TB, Gen5, and SATA picks covered.
Best Motherboard for Gaming in 2026: AMD and Intel Picks by Budget
Best motherboard for gaming 2026: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX (~$200) for AMD, MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi (~$230) for Intel. All budgets covered.
Best Airflow PC Case in 2026: Ranked by Thermal Benchmark Data
Best airflow ATX cases in 2026 ranked by CPU and GPU temperature benchmarks from the MaxMyBuild database. Budget picks from $68, real thermal data across 85 cases.
Best Case Fans in 2026: 120mm and 140mm Picks Ranked
Best case fans for gaming PCs in 2026. Budget picks start at $4.63/fan. Ranked by airflow, noise, and price using live data from 309 in-stock fans in the MaxMyBuild database.
Best RAM for Gaming in 2026: DDR5 Kits Ranked
DDR5 prices have risen sharply. Budget 32GB DDR5-6000 kits now run $150-181; AMD EXPO picks reach $280. Best gaming RAM picks at every capacity based on current June 2026 prices.
PSU Tier List 2026: Best Gaming Power Supplies by Wattage
PSU tier list 2026: best gaming power supplies ranked by value and build quality. 80+ Gold minimum, $65–$100 picks from 650W to 1000W — and which brands and models to avoid for RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 builds.
Best GPU Under $200 in 2026 — New vs Used Compared
Best graphics card under $200 in 2026: the Intel Arc A380 new, or a used RX 6600. What's worth buying, what to stretch for, and what to skip.
Best GPU Under $300 in 2026 — What You Can Actually Buy
The best GPUs to buy near $300 in 2026. The RTX 5060 and RX 9060 XT have $299 MSRPs but retail at $340–430+. Here's what's actually worth buying and why.
How Much RAM Do You Need for Gaming? (2026 Guide)
16GB is the minimum for gaming in 2026 — 32GB is the smarter buy. Here's what each tier gets you, plus DDR4 vs DDR5 and speed questions answered.
Budget PC Build Guide 2026: Best Parts for $650–750
How to build a budget gaming PC in 2026 for $650–750 with new parts — or $500–650 with a used GPU. GPU-first guide: RX 7600, RTX 5060 Ti, benchmark-backed picks with current prices and full build cost breakdown.
New vs Used PC Parts: What's Safe to Buy Second-Hand?
New vs used PC parts — most components are safe second-hand, but GPU and PSU carry real risk. Here's what to buy used, what to avoid, and how much you'll save.
How Much VRAM Do You Need for Gaming? 2026 Guide
Exactly how much VRAM you need in 2026: 8GB for 1080p, 12GB for 1440p, 16GB minimum for 4K. Real GPU picks at each tier — including why 12GB now beats competing 8GB cards on price.
How to Choose a CPU for Gaming — Cores, Speed, and Budget Guide
How to choose a CPU for gaming. Match your processor to your GPU and budget — with real CPU picks and benchmark scores at every price point.
How to Choose a GPU for Gaming — Budget & Resolution Guide
How to choose a GPU for gaming. Match your graphics card to your resolution — 1080p, 1440p, or 4K — with real GPU picks and prices for every budget.
Getting Started
View all →How to Set Your Gaming PC Budget — 2026 Guide
How much does a gaming PC cost? Concrete budget tiers, a GPU allocation framework, and what's not included. See what your budget gets you at MaxMyBuild.
How to Use MaxMyBuild: PC Build Generator Guide
Enter your budget, get a fully compatible gaming PC build with up-to-date pricing — in minutes. Here's how MaxMyBuild works and why it's the fastest way to go from budget to parts list.
Understanding Pc Parts
View all →What Is a PC Bottleneck? CPU vs. GPU Bottlenecks Explained
A PC bottleneck is when one component (usually the CPU) holds back another (usually the GPU) from running at full speed. Learn how to spot one and fix it.
PC Build Compatibility — The Complete Guide
Will your PC parts work together? This guide covers every compatibility check that matters — CPU socket, RAM, GPU size, power connectors, display outputs, and more — with a quick checklist you can use before you buy.
RAM Compatibility — DDR4 vs DDR5, XMP, and Dual Channel
Check RAM compatibility before you buy. DDR4 vs DDR5 differences, XMP/EXPO profiles, dual-channel slot configuration, and capacity guidance — with real numbers.
SSD vs HDD — What's the Difference for Gaming?
SSDs load games 2–10x faster than HDDs. For a new build, a 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD starts around $130 and outperforms any HDD by 35–50x at sequential reads.
CPU Cooler Height & RAM Clearance: How to Check Before You Buy (2026)
How to check CPU cooler height and RAM clearance in 3 steps — before you buy. Cooler height specs by type, RAM stick heights, AIO radiator sizing, and the 5–10mm margin rule for AM5, AM4, and LGA1851 builds.
GPU Size and Case Clearance 2026 — Will Your GPU Fit Your Case?
How to check if your GPU fits your case before buying. GPU length limits up to 340mm+, 2.5-slot vs 3.5-slot thickness, drive cage conflicts, and the 5–10mm clearance rule — with real measurements for mid-tower and SFF cases.
CPU & Motherboard Compatibility 2026: AM5, AM4, LGA1851 Socket Guide
Which CPUs fit which motherboards in 2026? AM5 (Ryzen 9000), AM4, LGA1851 (Core Ultra 200), and LGA1700 socket types explained — with chipset tier guide and BIOS update tips for mixed-generation builds.
TDP Explained — How to Match Your CPU and GPU to Your PSU
What TDP means and why it determines your PSU wattage. CPU and GPU power limits explained, with the exact sizing formula and worked examples for Ryzen and Intel builds.