So, you’re thinking about building a new PC? Well, before you dive in and start ordering parts, there are quite a few things to consider. This isn’t just about slapping components together—it’s about getting the best out of your money, making sure everything works as expected, and avoiding some of the common headaches we’ve seen customers go through. Whether you’re upgrading an existing PC, sourcing your own parts, or asking us to build one from scratch, here’s what you need to think about before you start.

What Do You Actually Need?

Before anything else, ask yourself: What do I need this PC for?

I know, I know, obvious question. But you’d be surprised how often people get swept up in specs and marketing without actually thinking about their use case. Are you building a gaming rig? A high-performance workstation for video editing, AI, or data analysis? Or maybe you just want a solid, reliable machine that won’t need upgrading every six months. Your answer will shape everything—from the processor to the graphics card to the case size.

And sometimes, let’s be honest, you just want to build a PC for the fun of it. Nothing wrong with that either.

The Case – Big, Small, or In Between?

Choosing the right case is more important than you might think. It’s not just about looks—it’s about practicality.

Since we’re based in Manchester, a lot of our customers live in flats or shared spaces. If you’re in a tiny studio apartment, a massive full-tower case might not be ideal. On the other hand, super compact ITX builds can be a nightmare to work with—tight spaces, limited airflow, and awkward upgrades. My personal preference? A mid-tower case. It’s the sweet spot between space, airflow, and ease of upgrades.

I’ve seen too many people struggle to cram oversized GPUs and high-end coolers into small cases, damaging motherboards or dealing with overheating issues. And dust? ITX cases love dust. If you’re going for an ITX build, be ready for some serious cable management and regular cleaning.

Intel vs AMD – The Never-Ending Debate

This one’s a biggie. People ask me all the time: Should I go Intel or AMD? And honestly, it’s a tough call.

I’ll admit, I’ve always leaned towards Intel—just from personal experience. It’s not that AMD is bad (they’ve come a long way, especially in recent years), but I’ve seen more AMD CPUs fail or develop strange, intermittent faults. You know, those annoying crashes that happen randomly and make troubleshooting a nightmare? That’s why I tend to recommend Intel for long-term reliability.

That said, AMD does offer great performance for the price. If you’re on a budget and need multi-core performance (for video editing, rendering, AI work, etc.), AMD can be a solid choice. If you want rock-solid stability and slightly better single-core performance (important for gaming), Intel still holds the edge in my book.

Motherboards – Does It Really Matter?

Yes and no. Motherboards aren’t as crucial as your CPU or GPU, but they still matter. Here’s what you need to check:

  • Socket compatibility: Make sure your motherboard actually supports your CPU (you’d be surprised how often people overlook this).
  • Expansion slots: Do you need multiple M.2 slots? Extra PCIe lanes? Built-in WiFi?
  • Brand reliability: I personally like MSI boards—they’ve been consistently solid in my experience. Asus and Gigabyte are fine too, but I’ve seen more failures with them over time.

Go for a good-quality motherboard from a reputable brand that fits your needs. You don’t need to overspend, but don’t cheap out either—because when motherboards fail, they tend to take other components with them.

Cooling – Air or Liquid?

Ah, the big debate: Air cooling vs. Liquid cooling.

A few years ago, I’d have told you to steer clear of liquid coolers unless you really needed them. Too many leaks, too many failures. But things have changed—modern AIO (All-in-One) coolers are way more reliable. I rarely see leaks now.

But here’s the thing—air coolers can still perform just as well as liquid coolers. The only difference is size. If you’re okay with a big, bulky air cooler, go for it. If you want a sleeker look with RGB lighting and a cleaner case layout, liquid cooling is a great option. Just keep in mind that AIO pumps will eventually wear out, usually within 5 years or so. A good air cooler? That thing will last forever (just clean the dust out now and then).

Graphics Card – Spend as Much as You Can Afford

If you’re gaming, editing, or working with AI, your GPU is crucial. Get the best graphics card your budget allows.

Right now, Nvidia is leading the way, but AMD has some decent options too (usually for a bit less money). If you’re doing AI work or video rendering, Nvidia is the way to go—their CUDA cores make a huge difference. For gaming, it depends on your budget. If you can stretch to a 4090, amazing. If not, a 4070 or even a used 3080 still holds up well.

Just don’t go overboard if your needs don’t justify it. A £2,000 GPU in a system that only runs spreadsheets and Netflix is just overkill.

Storage – SSDs Are a Must

No more hard drives for your OS. Period.

Your boot drive should be an M.2 NVMe SSD—ideally 1TB or more. If you need extra storage, sure, get a secondary SSD or even a large HDD for bulk storage. But your main OS and applications should run on a fast SSD.

Seriously, an NVMe drive can make even an older PC feel lightning fast.

Power Supply – Don’t Cheap Out

People love to skimp on power supplies. Big mistake. A cheap PSU can kill your entire system.

Buy a good, branded PSU with at least 80+ Gold certification (Seasonic, Corsair, Be Quiet! are all solid). Wattage depends on your build, but for a mid-range gaming PC, 750W-850W is a safe bet. High-end builds? 1000W+ to be future-proof.

Building for Longevity & Upgrades

Think about future-proofing. Don’t just buy what you need today—think about what might change in 2-3 years. Can you upgrade your RAM? Will your PSU support a more powerful GPU later? Does your motherboard have space for extra storage? Spending a little more now can save you a lot of money down the line.

Final Thoughts

Building a PC is exciting, but it’s easy to get lost in specs and marketing hype. Focus on what you actually need, buy quality parts, and don’t cut corners on power supplies or cooling. If you’re in Manchester and need help picking parts or building your PC, we’re here to help. Drop us a message—we’re always happy to give advice or build a system that suits your needs.

Thanks for reading!