A computer should be chosen from the task, not from the numbers in an advert. A PC that is too weak will lag today, one that is too strong takes money that is better spent on another part or on the monitor. Below are five questions, tables and rules of thumb that help even if you do not know the hardware.
- 1What will you do most of the time?games, work, editing: the answer sets the main part
- 2Which monitor will you use?resolution and refresh rate decide the graphics card class
- 3What is the budget and where is the ceiling?keep a reserve for the monitor, peripherals and Windows
- 4Which parts must not be saved on?power supply, memory in two sticks, a normal SSD
- 5How many years should it serve?3 to 5 years is realistic; leave room for an upgrade
1. Start from the task
| What you do | What matters most | Build guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Office, study, internet, films | SSD and memory, no graphics card needed | A processor with integrated graphics, 16 GB of memory, SSD from 512 GB |
| Esports (CS2, Valorant, Dota) in Full HD, many FPS | Processor and monitor refresh rate | A strong processor, a mid-range graphics card, a 144–240 Hz monitor |
| Modern games in Full HD and 1440p | The graphics card and its video memory | A mid to upper-mid graphics card, a mid-range processor, 16–32 GB of memory |
| Games in 4K | A top-class graphics card | A top graphics card, a good power supply, upscaling (DLSS and FSR guide) helps |
| Video editing, 3D, rendering | Processor cores, memory, a fast NVMe | A many-core processor, 32–64 GB of memory, NVMe from 1 TB, a card with spare video memory |
| Gaming and streaming at once | Processor headroom | A processor with spare cores or a card with hardware encoding, 32 GB of memory |
| Programming, virtual machines | Memory and cores | 32 GB of memory or more, a many-core processor, a fast SSD |
| Local AI models | Video memory of the card and system memory | A card with as much video memory as possible, 64 GB of system memory or more (for large models) |
These are guidelines, not strict rules: each game and program has its own requirements, so check the recommended specs of the ones you actually run before buying.
Approximate shares for a typical balanced build when prices are normal. Not a rule.
The same builds with the same parts, every price recalculated: memory about 4 to 5 times, SSD 2.5 times, graphics cards about +50%, motherboards +30%, processors +10%, power supplies and cases +8%. The table below explains where these numbers come from. This is our estimate, not a measurement; check live prices before buying.
The market is unusual right now: because of demand from AI data centres, memory and SSDs have become several times more expensive than in 2025, graphics cards are noticeably dearer too, and analysts do not forecast relief before late 2027. In practice: do not buy more memory and SSD than you need, but do not save on two sticks and a decent drive either. If the budget is tight, 16 GB in two sticks is still enough for most games for now, and you can replace the kit with a bigger one later. Prices change often, so check the current ones. Where our estimates come from:
| Part | Price change (rough) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Memory (DDR5) | About 4–5 times; in Latvian shops 32 GB now costs roughly 500–600 € | Windows Central |
| SSD | About 2–3 times | Windows Central |
| Graphics cards | +20% to +90% over launch prices depending on the model; RTX 50 on average +66% in a year (Germany), AMD +48% | Tech Times, ThePCEnthusiast |
| Motherboards | Up to +50% by unconfirmed reports (we used +30%) | TweakTown |
| Processors | Around +10% (Intel, reported; none reported for AMD) | Notebookcheck |
| Power supplies, coolers | +6–10% (reported, unconfirmed) | TechPowerUp / Eleven Forum |
2. The monitor sets the graphics card class
The graphics card draws every frame, and the more dots in a frame, the harder it works. So a top card for a 1080p 60 Hz monitor is pointless, and with a 1440p or 4K monitor a weak card forces you to lower the settings. Choose the monitor and the graphics card together: see the monitor guide and the 144 Hz guide.
Pixels per frame relative to 1080p. The more pixels, the heavier the load on the graphics card, not on the processor.
3. What matters in each part
| Part | How much to take | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics card | For games the biggest spend: roughly 40% of the budget | Choosing by name or by memory size only |
| Processor | Enough not to hold the card back; more important for esports | A top processor next to a weak card |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB minimum, 32 GB comfortable; always two sticks | One stick and XMP/EXPO off (how to enable) |
| Video memory | Rule of thumb: 8 GB for Full HD, 12 GB for 1440p, 16 GB or more for 4K and AI | An 8 GB card for 1440p on maximum settings |
| SSD | NVMe from 1 TB is the sweet spot (SSD guide) | 256 GB or an HDD for the system |
| Power supply | A good brand and headroom (power supply guide) | Saving on it or taking a no-name unit |
| Case and cooling | Good airflow, dust filters (temperatures, cleaning from dust) | A pretty closed case with no air |
| Motherboard | Do not overpay, but you need M.2 slots, ports and an upgrade path (BIOS update) | Paying for extras or taking a dead-end platform |
4. Not too weak and not too strong
For games the rule is simple: the graphics card should be the most expensive part, and the processor roughly half of its price (a rule of thumb). Balance is easy to check: in games the graphics card should be loaded at 95–100%. If it sits at 60% while one processor thread is at 100%, the processor holds the system back; if everything idles, you overpaid. You can measure it with the stress test guide, and the causes of drops are covered in the low FPS checklist.
Too weak
- Stutters and drops in the games you play today
- One part at 100% while the rest idle
- You will upgrade within a year
Balanced
- The graphics card is the busiest part in games
- Enough memory and a fast SSD
- Room to upgrade in 3 to 5 years
Too strong
- A top processor paired with a mid card
- Power you never use at your monitor’s resolution
- Money that could buy a better card
5. Traps when buying
- A “gaming PC” without exact models of the power supply, board, memory and SSD: ask for the full list, vague words often hide a cheap part.
- One memory stick instead of two: a noticeable part of the speed is lost.
- A no-name power supply: it affects the stability and safety of the whole PC.
- A graphics card with too little video memory for your resolution: it works, but games run into the memory limit.
- A price “for the brand”, lighting or a loud series name: compare real performance in reviews, not marketing.
- An old platform at a discount with no upgrade path: in a couple of years you will change everything at once.
- A used graphics card with no warranty: you can save, but the risk of hidden wear is higher.
- A budget with no reserve for the monitor, peripherals and Windows: the PC is built but inconvenient to use.
6. Room for the future
A realistic lifetime for a build is 3–5 years. The graphics card ages fastest, the case and a good power supply last longest, and memory and SSD are the easiest to add later. So buy a platform that can take the next processor and take a power supply with headroom. What to change first is in the upgrade guide.
| Part | How long it usually serves (rule of thumb) |
|---|---|
| Case | 8–10 years |
| A good power supply | 7–10 years (check the warranty) |
| Motherboard and processor | 4–6 years |
| Graphics card | 3–5 years |
| Memory and SSD | can be added later |
7. Checklist before you pay
- Write down what you will run and at which resolution.
- Check that the graphics card suits your monitor (or choose the monitor together with it).
- Ask for the exact models of all parts and make sure the memory is two sticks.
- Make sure the power supply is a known brand with headroom.
- Find out the warranty and return terms.
- Ask whether the build was stress-tested (how it is done) and whether Windows and drivers are installed (drivers guide).
- Find out where you can expand: memory slots, M.2, space in the case.
If you do not want to figure it out yourself, tell us your tasks and we will pick a balanced build. Or assemble a configuration in our PC configurator.