Value-led
Keep what works.
If you already own a compatible AM4 system, targeted upgrades can be a sensible route. Focus your budget where it will be noticed most: graphics, storage, memory, or cooling.
Buying guide
Choose the platform that fits your plan.
Start with what you want to spend and what you want the PC to do. This guide gives you a practical starting point; we will always confirm the final component compatibility before a build is accepted.
Balanced new build
Start fresh with AM5.
For a new PC, AM5 and DDR5 are a modern foundation. It can make sense when you want current platform features and a clear route for future component changes.
Higher-spec
Prioritise your workload.
Gaming, streaming, editing, and specialist software benefit from different balances of CPU, graphics, memory, and storage. Spend where your use actually demands it.
The current RAM crunch
Why AM5 is our usual starting point for a new PC.
The wider memory market is tight: demand for AI and data-centre memory has reduced the headroom available for conventional DRAM, while legacy DDR4 supply has become less predictable as manufacturers changed production plans. That affects availability and prices across the market, not just one type of RAM.
For a completely new build, we generally begin with AM5 and DDR5 because it is the current desktop memory platform. It avoids starting a fresh system around an older DDR4 supply chain at a time when availability can change quickly. AM4 is still a valid option when upgrading an existing compatible PC or when it better suits the real budget.
AM4
A practical upgrade platform.
- • Worth considering when you already own compatible AM4 and DDR4 hardware.
- • Can suit carefully chosen upgrades that retain useful existing parts.
- • The exact motherboard, BIOS, cooler, memory, and graphics combination still matters.
AM5
A current DDR5 foundation.
- • A sensible starting point for many new builds using Ryzen processors and DDR5 memory.
- • Good when you prefer to build around current platform hardware rather than reuse older parts.
- • The best choice still depends on budget, software, display resolution, and the components you need.
A clearer route
Plan the PC around your actual day.
The most useful specification is one that connects to what you do: the games you play, the screen you use, the work you run, and the parts you already own. Start with those four things before comparing product names.
Plan an upgrade →01 · USE
Name the workload.
List the games, software, or creative tasks you care about most. Specific examples are far more useful than a broad label.
02 · DISPLAY
Check the screen.
Resolution and refresh rate help establish the graphics target. Your monitor is part of the build decision.
03 · PLATFORM
Choose the base.
AM4 may fit an existing upgrade. AM5 and DDR5 are normally the current starting point for a brand-new PC.
04 · BUDGET
Spend deliberately.
Reserve enough for the parts that affect your experience, plus storage, cooling, operating system, and delivery.
Explore by priority
What should your budget lean toward?
Pick the closest match. This does not generate a quote; it shows the questions that matter most before choosing parts.
Gaming focus
Match the GPU to the display.
Start with the games, resolution, and refresh rate. Then decide how much visual quality, ray tracing, or frame-rate headroom matters to you. A balanced CPU and enough RAM prevent the graphics card from being asked to solve every problem.
The monitor map
What your screen changes.
1080p
Often puts more attention on high refresh rates and CPU/game balance. It can be an efficient target for competitive or lighter games.
1440p
Usually increases the graphics workload and is a common middle ground for people wanting more desktop space and visual detail.
4K or ultrawide
Typically asks more of the graphics card and its memory. Individual games and settings can differ substantially, so bring the exact monitor model to the conversation.
The quiet check
Noise, airflow, and the desk.
A PC is something you live with every day. Cooling and case choice affect fan behaviour, airflow, dust management, desk footprint, and how easy future changes may be.
Quiet operation +
Larger coolers, sensible fan curves, a well-ventilated case, and parts selected for the real workload can all help. Quiet is a preference to discuss, not a one-size-fits-all setting.
Case size +
Smaller cases can save space but place tighter limits on cooling, graphics-card length, and upgrade room. Larger cases are not automatically better; they should suit the desk and hardware plan.
Storage planning +
Leave some headroom for games, project files, backups, and future installs. A second SSD may be more useful than paying for performance you will not notice.
A useful starting point
Decide what matters most.
A good PC is not the one with the longest specification list. It is the one that puts the budget into the parts you will feel every day. Pick a primary use first, then make compromises deliberately.
If two uses matter equally - such as gaming and video editing - tell us. That usually changes the balance rather than simply making every part more expensive.
Four questions to answer
- 01
What will you run?
Name the games, applications, or workloads - not just “gaming” or “work”.
- 02
What display do you have?
Resolution and refresh rate have a big effect on where a graphics budget should go.
- 03
What can you reuse?
A case, SSD, graphics card, monitor, or peripherals may still be useful.
- 04
Where is the ceiling?
Set a comfortable total budget, including any upgrades around the PC itself.
Where the budget goes
The parts, in plain English.
Processor (CPU)
Handles the game logic, applications, background tasks, and general responsiveness. More cores help some workloads; they are not automatically the best upgrade for every gamer.
Graphics card (GPU)
Usually has the biggest impact on gaming performance and visual settings. The right choice depends heavily on your monitor and the games you actually play.
Memory (RAM)
Keeps active programs and game data readily available. Capacity is normally the first decision; speed and platform compatibility come next.
Storage
An NVMe SSD keeps Windows, applications, and loading times feeling quick. Think about capacity early - modern games and creative projects grow fast.
Motherboard & power
These set the platform, connections, and power headroom. They need to suit the selected parts without consuming money that would be better spent elsewhere.
Cooling & case
Airflow, acoustics, fit, and cable routing matter. They influence the day-to-day experience as much as a headline specification does.
For an upgrade
Check before you replace.
- • Confirm the exact motherboard model and current BIOS version.
- • Measure GPU clearance and check the power supply’s capacity and connectors.
- • Check whether existing RAM and storage are worth keeping.
- • Consider the monitor: a GPU upgrade may make most sense alongside a display change.
- • Back up important files before any hardware work begins.
For a new PC
Build around the experience.
- • Start with the platform and the display target, not a single brand or component.
- • Leave room in the budget for storage, cooling, Windows, and delivery.
- • Choose an appropriate case size and decide whether quiet operation matters to you.
- • Select parts that work together rather than chasing one standout specification.
- • Treat upgradeability as a preference, not a promise - future parts and prices can change.
Compatibility, explained
Why we still check every configuration.
Platform match
The CPU, motherboard socket, and memory generation have to agree. AM4 uses DDR4; AM5 uses DDR5.
Physical fit
Graphics cards, coolers, radiators, storage, and cases each have dimensions that should be checked together.
Power & software
Power connectors, PSU capacity, BIOS support, and the intended operating system can all influence the final recommendation.
The builder is a helpful starting point and live estimate. We review the selected configuration before accepting a custom build.
Common questions
Quick answers before you start.
Should I choose AM4 or AM5? +
AM4 can be sensible for an existing compatible system or a specific budget. For most entirely new builds, AM5 is the current DDR5 platform and is usually the clearer starting point. Your actual workload and budget decide it.
Will more RAM always make a PC faster? +
Not always. Enough RAM prevents slowdowns when applications run out of working space. Beyond that point, graphics performance, processor performance, storage, and software may be the limiting factor.
Can I reuse components from my old PC? +
Often, yes. Cases, SSDs, graphics cards, and peripherals can sometimes be reused, but their condition, physical fit, performance, and compatibility should be assessed individually.
Why can a quoted part change? +
Stock and market pricing can move. If a selected part is unavailable, we will discuss a suitable alternative rather than silently substituting something different.
Ready when you are
Build a shortlist.
Use the configurator for a live estimate, then ask us if you want help checking a direction before ordering.