PC Building & Hardware Compatibility: From Parts List to First Boot

Power supplies, cooling, GPUs, motherboards and the compatibility rules that decide whether your parts list actually becomes a working computer.

0 guides 5 topics 1 free calculator Guides in progress — how we test

Close-up of a computer motherboard showing chips and circuitry

Before you buy anything

Three checks to run before you order a single part

Guides in progress.

Free tool · no sign-up PC Build Compatibility Checker Checks PSU wattage against estimated system draw with a headroom band, PSU connectors against what your GPU needs, GPU length and cooler height against case clearance, and CPU socket against motherboard. Returns a pass, warn or fail for each check, with the reason. Open the calculator

Power Supplies

Guides in progress

Cases, Cooling & Airflow

Guides in progress

GPU & CPU Selection

Guides in progress

Motherboards, RAM & Storage

Guides in progress

Build, Compatibility & Upgrades

Guides in progress

Guides in this section are written by Said and Benyamin, who compare published manufacturer specifications, independent measurements they cite, and aggregated owner reports. Nothing here has been tested in a lab, and every guide says so above the fold. Prices are never shown — only the band — because a stale price is a misleading one.

How we test and score → How we make money →