Video summary

How to Pick Parts for a Gaming PC in 2026! 👀

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Video Summary: How to Pick Gaming PC Parts in 2026 (10-Min Starter Guide)

Start With CPU + GPU (Highest Priority)

  • CPU and GPU dominate gaming performance, so allocate your budget here first.
  • Suggested workflow:
    1. Pick a CPU/GPU combo
    2. Confirm performance with benchmarks for your target budget and resolution

CPU Selection (AMD vs Intel)

Main brands

  • AMD Ryzen (5/7/9)
  • Intel Core Ultra (5/7/9)

How to interpret the numbers

  • Bigger number = higher tier
  • Approximate tier matching across brands (example):
    • Ultra 5 ≈ Ryzen 5

Typical tier guidance

  • Mid-range (gaming): Ryzen 5 / Core Ultra 5
  • Higher end for max gaming: Ryzen 7 / Core Ultra 7
  • Top end (extra cores for editing/rendering/streaming): Ryzen 9 / Core Ultra 9

Look for X3D (AMD)

  • AMD X3D chips are highlighted as the fastest gaming CPUs
  • If going high-end, the advice is: “look for X3D”

Cores vs clock speed

  • Many games use only a few cores/threads, so more cores don’t always mean more FPS
  • Higher clocks can help with older or single-thread-leaning titles
  • Bottom line: performance depends on more than core count and clock speed

GPU Selection (AMD vs Nvidia vs Intel)

Current market players

  • AMD Radeon (often uses 9000-series-style naming)
  • Nvidia RTX (market leader, broad lineup)
  • Intel Arc (mentioned as limited in current-gen; mainly lower-end)

Brand tradeoffs

  • AMD
    • Often offers more VRAM
    • Often lower cost per frame rate (lower cost per performance)
  • Nvidia
    • Stronger studio features
    • Better ray tracing and DLSS performance boosts via AI upscaling

Main takeaway

  • Choose based on your priorities, but CPU + GPU are still the first components to get right

Motherboard (After CPU/GPU)

Why it matters

  • The motherboard is described as the system’s “lifeblood”
  • It connects CPU, RAM, SSD(s), GPU, SATA/power, and more

Compatibility checks

  • CPU socket compatibility (example: AMD uses AM5)
  • Look for:
    • Number of RAM DIMM slots
    • PCIe generation for the GPU slot (PCIe Gen 5 recommended)
    • M.2 slots vs how many M.2 drives you plan to install
    • Rear I/O ports, especially high-speed USB
    • Integrated Wi‑Fi (strongly recommended; framed as a “red line”)

Common form factors

  • ATX (most common)
  • Also: microATX, mini‑ITX, EATX

Chipset guidance

  • Mid-range AMD: B-series (not too expensive; still offers Gen 5 + some OC support)
  • Higher-end AMD: X870 / X870E
  • Higher-end Intel: Z890

Pricing rule

  • Don’t overspend: motherboard cost shouldn’t exceed CPU cost (otherwise, spend that money elsewhere)

CPU Cooler

Compatibility and sizing

  • Must be compatible with your CPU and appropriate size/fit for the case

Air vs liquid

  • Air cooling: better value
  • Liquid cooling: better performance at higher cost

Suggested cooling tiers

  • Ryzen 5 / Core Ultra 5: basic air cooler is fine
  • Ryzen 7 / Core Ultra 7+: recommends liquid cooling

Example

  • 360mm liquid coolers (examples mentioned: Montech, Thermalright, Arctic) can often be found at good prices

RAM (Memory)

Recommended capacity

  • Gaming: 32GB
  • Editing/rendering/streaming: 64GB

Pricing complexity

  • RAM has been affected by shortages and price spikes
  • Kits previously around ~80–100 can be 2–4x more expensive now

What to do during shortages

  • The historical guideline (still useful conceptually):
    • Cheapest 6000 MHz CL30 kit
  • But be flexible on speed/latency if needed
  • Consider:
    • Used market
    • Reusing existing compatible RAM, even if slower/smaller, then upgrading later

The speaker also mentions having a more detailed RAM shortage video.

Storage / SSD

Capacity planning

  • Capacity is preference-driven: 1TB / 2TB / 4TB / 8TB
  • Games can reach ~100GB+, so storage planning matters

SSD tech and speed tiers

  • SSD performance tracks PCIe generation: Gen 3, 4, 5
  • Each generation roughly doubles theoretical max speed
  • Guidance:
    • Gen 5: “wildly overkill” for gaming
    • Gen 4: recommended sweet spot

Recommendation

  • 1–2TB Gen 4 NVMe

Brand examples

  • Team Group, ADATA, Samsung

Windows install note

  • For new builds, prefer fresh Windows on the new drive
  • You can still carry old drives if you need extra capacity

Power Supply (PSU)

Choose wattage based on GPU guidance

  • Use the GPU manufacturer’s recommended PSU
  • Example: RTX 5080 recommends 850W, so target that range

Key standards and terms

  • ATX 3.1 and PCIe Gen 5.1: newer PSU platform/design standards
  • PCIe Gen 5 support includes the newer 12V high-power cable for newer Nvidia cards (example mentioned: a 5070 Ti system)

Value and brand notes

  • Corsair RMe series praised for value and cables

Efficiency ratings

  • Mentions 80 Plus and Cybenetics
  • Example given: Platinum rating (high efficiency / low power loss)

Cautions

  • Don’t buy cheap PSUs with poor cable design
  • Cable extensions are optional (nice, but not required)
  • Don’t overspend wattage:
    • Example: no need for 1200W for a typical 5070 gaming PC
  • Use reputable brands and prioritize good warranty
  • Check PSU reviews rather than guessing

Case / Chassis

Compatibility checks

  • Match the motherboard form factor: mini‑ITX / microATX / ATX / EATX
  • Verify clearance:
    • Air coolers: cooler height vs case glass panel clearance
    • Liquid cooling: radiator size support (example: 360mm front radiator based on case specs)
  • Verify:
    • PSU length (very long units can cause incompatibility)
    • GPU clearance (case lists max GPU length; front radiators/fans can reduce usable space)

Small case warning

  • Very small cases may force compromises:
    • mini‑ITX board
    • potentially smaller GPU
    • potentially cooler limitations (temps may be worse)

Extra buying considerations

  • Choose based on:
    • aesthetics
    • airflow preference (mesh front vs glass-heavy designs)
  • Check what’s included:
    • number of included fans
    • whether there’s a built-in fan controller
  • Example mentioned: Lian Li O11D appearing cheap—question raised about whether fans are included

Budget guidance

  • Mid-range: up to about $100
  • High-end: $150–$200 acceptable

The speaker also mentions linking to “best cases” videos.

Sponsored Mention

  • ASUS Winter Sale: deals on graphics cards, motherboards, routers, monitors, and more (linked in the description)

Main Speaker / Sources

  • Primary speaker: the YouTube creator (PC builder; mentions owning a UK PC building company called Geeka PC)
  • Referenced sources in the video:
    • ASUS Winter Sale (sponsor)
    • GPU/PSU manufacturer recommendations and published specifications
      • Example: GPU site PSU wattage guidance
      • Example: case spec pages for radiator clearance

Original video