Know Your Parts

Everything you need to know about PC parts, all in one place. Every part has a job. Every part works with the others. Once you understand each one, building a PC feels a lot less overwhelming.

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Part Breakdown

The brain of your PC. Every instruction your computer executes passes through the CPU first. Opening an app, loading a game, and running a search all start here.

// Who should focus on this?

GamersFocus on clock speed and a 6–8 core CPU. Games care more about speed per core than lots of cores.

Video editorsMore cores is better. Go for 8–12+ cores so your software can crunch footage faster.

Students / everyday usersA 4–6 core CPU is more than enough for school, browsing, and light work.

The Two Main Brands

→Intel — Core i3, i5, i7, and i9. Great single-core performance and very popular for gaming.
→AMD — Ryzen 3, 5, 7, and 9. Excellent multi-core performance and usually better value.

Cores — More Workers, More Power

Think of cores like workers on an assembly line. More cores means your PC can handle more tasks at the same time.

→4 cores — Good for everyday use and light gaming.
→6 cores — Great for gaming and multitasking.
→8 cores — Excellent for gaming, streaming, and running multiple programs at once.
→12+ cores — For video editing, 3D rendering, and professional workloads.

Clock Speed

Measured in GHz. Higher = faster. For gaming, clock speed often matters more than core count.

Socket Type — The #1 Compatibility Check

→AM4 — AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series
→AM5 — AMD Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series
→LGA 1700 — Intel 12th, 13th and 14th generation
→LGA 1851 — Intel 15th generation and newer

Atlas Tip

We display the socket type on every CPU listing so you never have to guess. Pick your CPU first, then match your motherboard to it.

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You know every part. Now let's put it together. The PC Builder keeps your budget in view and lets you check compatibility before you commit.

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