Blog: desktop buying explained

What each specification means, how much of it you need, and which buying guide to open next. Every figure links to the maker's own page.

• Workstation or Gaming PC: Which One You Need
  Learn the differences between a workstation and a gaming PC, including professional GPUs, RAM, and Windows 11 Pro, to decide which fits your work or play.
• Windows 11 Requirements for a Desktop PC
  Learn the exact minimum hardware needed for Windows 11: processor, RAM, storage, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and how to check your desktop for compatibility.
• Windows 11 Home vs Pro on a Desktop PC
  Compare Windows 11 Home and Pro features for desktop PCs, including BitLocker, Remote Desktop, Hyper-V, and domain join, and choose the right edition.
• Upgrading a Prebuilt PC: What You Can Change
  Learn which parts of a prebuilt desktop you can upgrade: memory, storage, GPU and power supply. Advice on what to check before buying.
• Small Form Factor or Tower PC: How to Choose
  Compare small form factor and tower PCs on size, cooling, upgrade room, and GPU fit to decide which form factor fits your needs and workspace.
• RTX 5080 vs RTX 5090: Which Top Desktop GPU
  Compare NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 specs: CUDA cores, VRAM, memory bandwidth. Decide which desktop GPU suits your 4K gaming, AI, or creative work.
• RTX 5070 Ti vs RTX 5080 in a Prebuilt PC
  Compare NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 specs, VRAM, and performance tiers to decide which GPU fits your gaming or creative needs.
• RTX 5060 vs RTX 5070 in a Prebuilt PC
  Compare RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 for gaming, video editing, and AI. See which GPU suits 1080p or 1440p, creative work, and local AI workloads.
• Ray Tracing Explained for PC Buyers
  Learn what ray tracing is, how RTX hardware handles it, and what the performance cost means when choosing a desktop GPU.
• Prebuilt or Custom-Built PC: How to Choose
  Learn the trade-offs between a prebuilt desktop and building your own. Covers warranty, assembly, part choices, and what to look for in a prebuilt listing.
• PC Specs for Video Editing: What a Prebuilt Needs
  Learn which GPU, memory and storage specs matter most for video editing and how to pick a prebuilt desktop that handles timelines, renders and exports smoothly.
• Prebuilt Gaming PC: What to Check Before You Buy
  Learn how to read a prebuilt gaming PC spec sheet: GPU, CPU, memory, storage, OS, and common traps like unnamed parts. Links to buying guides.
• PC Specs for Game Streaming: GPU, CPU & Memory Guide
  Learn which desktop specs matter for game streaming: NVENC encoder, GPU tiers, CPU cores, RAM. Find the right prebuilt for your stream quality goals.
• Intel K, F and KF Processors: What the Letters Mean
  What do Intel K, F and KF suffixes mean? Learn about overclocking and integrated graphics to pick the right desktop processor.
• Intel Core Ultra Desktop Processor Names Explained
  Learn how to read Intel Core Ultra desktop processor numbers and suffixes like K, F, KF, and T so you can pick the right chip for your prebuilt PC.
• How Much VRAM Does a Gaming PC Need
  Learn what video RAM holds, how the RTX 50-series GPUs compare, and which VRAM capacity suits your gaming resolution, creative work or local AI.
• How Much RAM Does a Desktop PC Need?
  Learn how much RAM a desktop PC needs for Windows 11, office work, gaming, video editing, and AI. Compare 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and more to find the right size.
• Power Supply Size for a Gaming PC
  How to choose the right power supply size for a gaming desktop, with NVIDIA RTX 50 series system power requirements and what to check on a prebuilt listing.
• DLSS Explained: What It Does on an RTX PC
  Learn what NVIDIA DLSS is, how each version works, and which RTX GPU supports which DLSS technology.
• 512GB, 1TB or 2TB: How Much Storage a Desktop Needs
  Learn which SSD size fits your use: Windows and apps on 512GB, games and media on 1TB, heavy projects on 2TB or more.
• Desktop PC Specs for Local AI and LLMs
  Learn which desktop specs matter for running large language models locally. GPU VRAM limits model size; system memory and storage matter too.
• Desktop GPU Tiers Explained: RTX 5050 to RTX 5090
  Learn the differences between every GeForce RTX 50 series desktop GPU: specs, VRAM, and which tier suits gaming, creation, or AI.
• Business Desktop PCs: What to Check
  What to look for in a business desktop PC: Windows 11 Pro features, memory, storage, and support considerations for your workplace.
• What a 4K Gaming PC Needs
  Learn what GPU, VRAM, RAM, and CPU a prebuilt gaming PC needs for smooth 4K gaming. Specs from NVIDIA and Windows 11 requirements.
• What a 1440p Gaming PC Needs
  Learn what specs a 1440p gaming PC needs: GPU tier, VRAM, RAM, and processor. Use our table to pick the right configuration for your favorite games.