The ingredients of a great PC
PROCESSORS
Choose the processor around the work your PC will do. Gaming, compiling code, rendering and everyday multitasking can place very different demands on a CPU. Start with your workload, then check its motherboard and cooling requirements.
8 componentsYour PC builder ↗
Before you choose
A platform choice, not just a processor.
Match the exact CPU to the motherboard’s support list and required BIOS version. A matching socket alone is not enough. Check whether the processor has integrated graphics if you will not use a dedicated graphics card, and budget for a suitable cooler when one is not included.
Read the compatibility checklist ↗