Software Development PC Build Guide
Plan a software-development PC around IDEs, compilation, containers, emulators, virtual machines, RAM, SSD storage, displays, and the workloads you actually run.
PC Builds
Build guides for the workloads you actually run.
Plan gaming, creator, workstation, quiet, compact, and upgrade-focused PCs around real workload constraints. These guides explain component balance, compatibility, power, cooling, storage, and upgrade tradeoffs without pretending one parts list fits everyone.
Build library
PC build planning guides
Workload-first build guidance from the current Core Tech Tips publication index.
Video Editing PC Build Guide
Plan a video-editing PC around timeline codecs, CPU and GPU acceleration, RAM, VRAM, media and cache storage, displays, network media, and upgrade headroom.
Blender Workstation PC Build Guide
Plan a Blender workstation around viewport work, Cycles CPU or GPU rendering, VRAM and RAM capacity, storage, display needs, thermals, power, and renderer compatibility.
Photo Editing Workstation PC Build Guide
Plan a Lightroom Classic and Photoshop photo-editing PC around CPU responsiveness, GPU acceleration, RAM, catalogs, caches, scratch disks, photo storage, displays, and backups.
CAD and Engineering Workstation PC Build Guide
Plan a CAD or engineering workstation around modeling, assemblies, rendering, simulation, memory, storage, graphics, and software certification instead of a generic parts list.
1080p Gaming PC Build Guide
Plan a 1080p gaming PC around your games, settings, frame-rate and display target, then balance GPU performance, CPU headroom, VRAM, memory, storage, power, cooling, and physical compatibility.
Local AI PC Build Guide: VRAM, RAM, Storage, and Power
Plan a PC for local AI by sizing GPU support and VRAM, system RAM, storage, power, cooling, and expansion around the models and workloads you actually intend to run.
Streaming PC Build Guide: CPU, GPU Encoding, RAM, Storage, and Capture Cards
Plan a PC for game streaming and recording by separating game rendering, software or hardware video encoding, RAM, recording storage, capture, audio routing, connectivity, and upload bandwidth.
Music Production PC Build Guide: CPU, RAM, Storage, and Audio I/O
Plan a PC for DAW work by separating real-time CPU load, plugins and tracks, sample-library memory and storage, audio-interface latency, connectivity, GPU needs, noise, and backup requirements.
Virtualization PC Build Guide for Local VMs
Plan CPU, RAM, storage, networking, firmware, and expansion for a PC that runs local virtual machines without relying on fixed VM-count or overcommit rules.
Game Development PC Build Guide: CPU, RAM, GPU, and Storage
Plan a PC for Unity, Unreal Engine, Visual Studio, Blender, asset work, compilation, editor testing, and project storage without relying on a one-size-fits-all parts list.
High-Refresh Esports Gaming PC Build Guide
Plan a PC around 240 Hz and 360 Hz-class competitive gaming by separating refresh rate, rendered FPS, frame time, CPU/GPU limits, latency, memory, VRR and display constraints.
1440p Gaming PC Build Guide
Plan a 1440p gaming PC around your games, frame-rate and image-quality target, then balance GPU performance, CPU headroom, VRAM, memory, storage, power, cooling, and display capability.
Home NAS Build Guide: Storage, Networking, Memory, and Expansion Planning
Plan a DIY home NAS around drive bays, SATA and PCIe expansion, Ethernet, CPU and memory needs, boot storage, cooling, power, and future pool growth.
Quiet Gaming PC Build Guide: Noise Sources, Fan Curves, Cooling Headroom, and Airflow
Plan a quieter gaming PC by separating fan, pump, drive, vibration, and coil-whine noise, then tune airflow and fan control without invented universal targets.
Creator and Gaming PC Build Guide: CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage, VRAM, Cooling, and Workload Balance
Plan one PC for gaming and creator work by mapping real applications to CPU, GPU, RAM, VRAM, storage, cooling, power, case, and display-I/O requirements.
4K Gaming PC Build Guide: GPU, VRAM, CPU Balance, Upscaling, Power, Cooling, and Display Outputs
Plan a 4K gaming PC around the display and games first, then validate GPU class, VRAM, CPU balance, upscaling, power, cooling, case fit, and the full monitor connection path.
Small Form Factor Gaming PC Build Guide: Case Volume, GPU Fit, SFX PSUs, Cooling, Cables, and Thermal Constraints
Plan an SFF gaming PC by checking Mini-ITX geometry, GPU and power-cable clearance, SFX/SFX-L PSU fit, cooler and radiator conflicts, airflow, storage, headers, and serviceability.