Building a PC is a dream that many players who want to take their gaming sessions to the next level have had, and over the years, the technology has only gotten bigger and better across the board. The games nowadays are far more power-hungry, and there is a near-endless list of different options available on the market at every price point imaginable.
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Going into 2026, however, the PC parts landscape is in a pretty tricky spot, as prices skyrocket due to the rising demand in AI data centers and modern games often releasing in broken or unplayable states, even on the best hardware out there. For anyone looking to step into the space for the first time, or for those hoping to update their rig, there are a few different factors to consider when making those big purchases and deciding exactly what components to accommodate the needs of the user.
VRAM
8GB May No Longer Be Enough
Details:
- More games require higher amounts of VRAM
- Even certain new cards don't provide more than 8GB
One of the most common mistakes PC builders still make is buying a GPU with just 8GB of VRAM. While this was acceptable a few years ago, modern games are far more demanding with high-resolution textures, ray tracing, and large open worlds that continue to push even high-end rigs to their limits.
Even at 1080p, many newer games still demand at least 8GB, with lower-end systems struggling with stuttering and other issues that make the whole experience borderline unplayable. In the end, a GPU with limited VRAM can become the bottleneck long before its raw performance does, making an otherwise capable card feel outdated far too quickly.
Future Proofing
Preparing For More Than Today
Details:
- Expectations of games becoming more demanding
- Better to have more power than less
The technological world moves pretty fast nowadays, and it seems like every other week, there is a new benchmark being set that completely blows everything else out of the park. In the PC parts market, many components can feel outdated pretty quickly, despite still delivering top-notch performance, and it is important to think ahead when making big investments into the more expensive parts.
Right now, certain builds within the low-mid range may seem pretty compelling, but as time goes on, players will begin to feel the strain on their lower-tiered parts when it comes to more demanding and taxing games. It is always worth considering a slightly more powerful setup, as even if it means shelling out a few extra dollars, it will be well worth it in the long run.
Drives
One Is All You Need
Details:
- No real need for a separate boot drive
- Cheaper to buy a single large M.2
Many builders still assume they need separate drives for Windows, games, and storage, spending a lot of extra money on several SSDs to spread out their storage. In reality, modern NVMe SSDs are fast enough to handle everything at once without any issues, and splitting drives can actually make things more complex and costly without meaningful benefits for most users.
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Multiple drives only make sense for specific workflows like video editing, massive archives, or for professionals in need the more widespread storage, but for gaming-focused PCs, a single large SSD is simpler, cheaper, and much easier to manage.
RAM
Prices Through The Roof
Details:
- Buy what is needed
- No guarantees of prices going back down soon
Over the past few months, RAM has exploded in price, with many products doubling or even tripling in price overnight. But when it comes to how much is needed, for the most part, 16GB of RAM should be considered the bare minimum for gaming, as while many games can still run fine, background apps, launchers, browsers, and Windows itself can quickly eat into that headroom.
For streamers, modders, or creatives especially, 32GB becomes far more practical, and underbuying RAM doesn't just hurt performance, but can actually lead to much bigger problems like system instability under those heavier loads. While the prices do remain pretty high overall, it is still well worth hunting around for deals to fill out those extra slots and to ensure a much smoother experience overall.
Overspending
Cheaper Alternatives Everywhere
Details:
- Scouring for deals
- Options at virtually every price point
One of the biggest traps that player still fall into is building far beyond their needs. Competitive games like CS2, Valorant, or League of Legends run exceptionally well on modest hardware, so spending thousands of dollars on these titles is beyond a waste, especially given that the benefits will basically never be felt in-game.
High-end builds make sense for demanding single-player games, 4K gaming, or for those using system-heavy applications for work, but the general rule of thumb is to think about what the device is going to be used for and what kind of performance is actually needed to match that, without going too far over the edge.
Compatibility
Making Sure It All Fits Together
Details:
- Using PcPartPicker to identify functional component pairings
- Understanding how parts fit together
Compatibility issues are still shockingly common, especially with novice builders, as many people expect all the parts to just slot into one another like a set of Lego. Lots of consumers can end up with CPUs that don’t match motherboards, RAM that won’t run at rated speeds, and cases that don’t fit GPUs, all adding up to a huge amount of wasted time and money.
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There will be scenarios where users attempt to force certain parts to connect or work together, leading to breaks and even more costs than if they just took a moment to double-check on sites like PcPartPicker. Some experienced builders can miss things like BIOS requirements or sizing issues, meaning that spending a few extra minutes checking can easily save hours of troubleshooting and frustration.
Underspending
No One Wants A Flaming PC
Details:
- Cheap parts may be too good to be true
- The second-hand market can be a gamble
While overspending is certainly a bad thing, cutting corners is just as dangerous. Cheap power supplies or no-name motherboards can lead to crashes, throttling, or even permanent damage, and a lot of people just assume these extra parts are just small extras that make the PC work, when in reality, they are just as important as a CPU or GPU.
A poor PSU, in particular, can take an entire system down with it, something which is particularly common in the second-hand market. Reliability matters just as much as performance, especially for long-term builds, so buying from reputable sources and making educated purchases that don't dip too below necessity can be all it takes to avoid all the extra drama and nightmares.
Unneeded Extras
Is RGB Really Worth It?
Details:
- Flashy vs function
- Prices depend on more than power
PC building is a double-sided coin that revolves around creating a powerful rig that can play games and support workloads, but also about having something nice to look at on a desk. Many parts nowadays come with extras like RPG or customizable panels, and by adding just a few of these special parts, the total price of the system can quickly creep up quite a lot.
It is nice to have a flashy PC with glowing lights and a nice cohesive look overall, yet for many, the performance is all that really matters. Within certain budgets, it is possible to create good-looking and great-performing systems, but if it comes down to having a nice full white setup and a bump in performance, players may want to consider which is more important to them.
Excessive Peripherals
500Hz Might Be A Bit Too Much
Details:
- Finding a monitor in line with the system
- Expensive peripherals don't guarantee a better experience
The peripherals market has moved forward about as much as the actual parts one. Monitors are turning into monstrous windows into virtual worlds that can deliver insane refresh rates and unmatched color clarity, or at the higher-end, both at the same time.
The buzzwords like 4K and FreeSync may tempt you to pick up a new screen, yet it is important to know whether the PC itself can even make use of the higher resolutions and settings during actual gameplay. If not, it could be a good idea to spend those pennies elsewhere, perhaps on a whole second monitor rather than a single over-the-top one that can barely even be fully utilized.
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