Lesson 1Sourcing realistic parts: verifying product listings, reading spec sheets, and cross-checking pricesBuild skills to make sure online part ads are legit and reliable. You'll double-check specs, model numbers, and feedback from different sellers and makers, keeping an eye out for dodgy pics, bundles, and costs.
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 read live prices and stock from big shops and tech trackers. You'll spot patterns, special deals, and local price differences to time your buys and tweak builds to fit the 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 basic coolers, big air fans, and liquid setups. You'll balance noise, space fit, dependability, and cooling power to pick what's right for your box, processor heat, and looks.
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 strategiesSee how SATA SSDs and NVMe drives differ in quickness, wait time, lasting power, and price. Get PCIe gens, size planning, and job needs to pick storage right without wasting cash or slowing things down.
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 considerationsCheck how case size and setup affect fit, air flow, and sound. You'll measure space for graphics cards and coolers, drive spots, and wire paths so builds stay cool, neat, and simple to put together or fix 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 implicationsGrasp how RAM kind, size, and speed change performance. You'll match DDR types, timings, and layers, plus dual or quad channel effects for games, making content, and big memory jobs.
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, protectionsKnow how to pick and size a trusty power unit. You'll guess total power use, read 80 Plus ratings, check modular wires, and weigh safety features to dodge shakes, noise, and upgrade hassles.
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 to pair boards with processors and jobs. You'll compare fittings, chipsets, power delivery, and ports, then balance extras, links, and cash for games, work, or office setups.
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 TDPGet comfy reading processor sheets and pages. You'll work out cores, threads, speeds, efficiency, cache, and heat limits, linking them to games, content making, and office tasks to pick the best level.
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 whip up a full, matching parts list fast. Use ready forms, filters, and check tools, then save hunts and alerts to jump on stock shifts and quick deals.
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 reviewMake a steady way to log part picks, prices, and sources. Practice short, plain reasons and grab links, times, and backups so bosses can check and okay your plans quick.
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 workloadSee how graphics levels fit games, creative work, and office stuff. Compare built-in and separate cards, memory size, power draw, and extras to choose one for screen size, frames, and budget.
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
