Lesson 1Sourcing realistic parts: verifying product listings, reading spec sheets, and cross-checking pricesDevelop skills to verify that online parts listings are accurate and trustworthy. You'll cross-check specs, model numbers, and reviews across vendors and manufacturers while watching for misleading photos, bundles, and prices.
Confirming model numbers and revisionsComparing specs with vendor PDFsSpotting misleading photos and bundlesUsing reviews to confirm real behaviorFlagging gray‑market or fake listingsLesson 2Interpreting current component availability and pricing from major retailers and tech sitesLearn to interpret real-time pricing and availability from major retailers and tracking sites. You'll spot trends, seasonal sales, and regional differences so you can time purchases and adjust builds to stay on budget.
Using price history and tracking toolsComparing major retailers and regionsSpotting sales cycles and promo patternsReacting to stock shortages and delaysAdjusting builds to stay within budgetLesson 3Cooling options: stock coolers, air coolers, AIO liquid coolers, and thermal performance trade-offsCompare stock coolers, tower air coolers, and AIO liquid units. You'll weigh noise, clearance, reliability, and thermal performance so you can choose cooling that fits your case, CPU power, and aesthetic goals.
Stock coolers: pros, cons, and limitsTower air coolers and heatpipe designAIO liquid coolers and radiator sizingClearance with RAM, GPU, and side panelsNoise, fan curves, and maintenance needsLesson 4Storage types: SATA SSD, NVMe PCIe (Gen3/Gen4/Gen5) and sizing strategiesLearn how SATA SSDs and NVMe drives differ in speed, latency, endurance, and cost. Understand PCIe generations, capacity planning, and workload needs so you can size storage correctly without overspending or creating bottlenecks.
SATA SSD vs NVMe: latency and throughputPCIe Gen3, Gen4, Gen5 lanes and limitsRandom vs sequential workloads and QD impactEndurance ratings, TBW, and warranty termsCapacity planning for OS, apps, and dataLesson 5Case form factors, airflow, GPU clearance, drive mounting, and cable management considerationsExplore how case size and layout affect compatibility, airflow, and noise. You'll check GPU and cooler clearance, drive mounting, and cable routing so your builds stay cool, tidy, and easy to assemble or service later.
ATX, mATX, ITX case and board fitmentFront, top, and rear airflow planningGPU and CPU cooler height clearancesDrive cages, brackets, and SSD mountsCable routing channels and tie‑down pointsLesson 6RAM types, capacities, speeds, timings, and dual/quad channel implicationsUnderstand how RAM type, capacity, and speed affect performance. You'll compare DDR generations, timings, and ranks, and learn dual or quad channel implications for gaming, content creation, and memory-heavy workloads.
DDR generations and voltage differencesCapacity planning for common workloadsFrequency, timings, and real latencySingle vs dual rank DIMM behaviorDual and quad channel performanceLesson 7Power supply fundamentals: wattage estimation, 80+ efficiency ratings, modularity, protectionsUnderstand how to size and select a reliable PSU. You'll estimate system wattage, interpret 80 Plus efficiency ratings, compare modular designs, and evaluate protections and rails to avoid instability, noise, and future upgrade issues.
Estimating peak and sustained wattage80 Plus efficiency levels and impactModular vs non‑modular cabling choicesProtections: OCP, OVP, SCP, OTP, OPPSelecting reputable PSU brands and linesLesson 8Motherboard chipsets, sockets, and feature sets: matching to CPU use casesLearn how to match motherboards to CPUs and use cases. You'll compare sockets, chipsets, VRM quality, and I/O features, then balance expansion, connectivity, and budget for gaming, workstation, or office builds.
CPU socket and chipset compatibilityVRM design and power delivery qualityPCIe slots, M.2 slots, and lane sharingUSB, networking, and audio featuresBIOS quality, updates, and supportLesson 9How to read and compare CPU specifications: cores, threads, clocks, IPC, and TDPGain confidence reading CPU spec sheets and product pages. You'll interpret cores, threads, clock speeds, IPC, cache, and TDP, then relate them to gaming, content creation, and office workloads to choose the right processor tier.
Physical cores vs logical threadsBase, boost clocks, and turbo behaviorIPC, cache sizes, and single‑thread strengthTDP, power limits, and cooling needsMatching CPU tiers to target workloadsLesson 10Building a parts list quickly: templates, compatibility checks, and saved search techniquesLearn to assemble a complete, compatible parts list quickly. You'll use templates, filters, and compatibility tools, then save searches and alerts so you can react fast to stock changes and short-lived discounts.
Starting from proven build templatesUsing online compatibility checkersFiltering by budget and performanceSaving searches and price alertsVersioning and cloning parts listsLesson 11Documenting choices: writing concise justifications and noting purchase URLs and price snapshots for manager reviewDevelop a repeatable method to record part choices, prices, and sources. You'll practice writing short, clear justifications and capturing URLs, timestamps, and alternatives so managers can quickly audit and approve your proposed builds.
Writing one‑sentence part justificationsRecording URLs, SKUs, and seller detailsCapturing dated price and promo evidenceTracking alternative parts and trade‑offsOrganizing build notes for manager reviewLesson 12GPU tiers and market positioning: integrated vs discrete GPUs and how to pick by workloadLearn how GPU tiers map to gaming, creative, and office tasks. You'll compare integrated and discrete GPUs, VRAM sizes, power needs, and feature sets so you can pick a card that fits resolution, frame rate, and budget targets.
Integrated graphics vs discrete GPUsEntry, midrange, and high‑end GPU tiersVRAM capacity, bus width, and bandwidthPower draw, connectors, and PSU impactMatching GPU to resolution and refresh
