Glossary

The terms used across this site, in plain English, for anyone buying their first gaming PC.

The main parts · Memory and storage · Power · Buying

The main parts

Graphics card (GPU): The part that draws the game on screen, and the one that matters most for gaming. Nvidia names its cards RTX (for example RTX 5070 Ti), AMD uses RX (RX 9070 XT) and Intel uses Arc (Arc B580). Within a range, a higher number is usually faster, and Ti, XT or Super mean a faster version of the same model.
VRAM: The graphics card's own memory, for example 8GB, 12GB or 16GB. Textures and other game data sit there. Too little VRAM for a game's settings causes stutter, so 12GB or more is safer for new games at higher settings. VRAM is fixed on the card and can't be upgraded.
Processor (CPU): Runs the game's logic and everything else on the PC. For gaming, a modern 6-core or 8-core chip is enough; more cores mainly help with work such as video editing.
X3D: AMD Ryzen processors with 3D V-Cache, an extra layer of cache memory stacked on the chip, for example the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 9800X3D. The larger cache speeds up many games, which is why X3D chips appear in most of our higher-budget builds. They are not much faster than the non-X3D versions for general work.
Motherboard: The board everything plugs into. It must match the processor's socket and the memory type. Names such as B550, B650 and B850 are the chipset, which sets features like how many fast storage slots and USB ports the board has.
AM4 and AM5: AMD's processor sockets. AM4 is the older platform (Ryzen 5000 series, DDR4 memory) and is cheaper. AM5 is current (Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series) and takes DDR5 memory only. An AM4 processor won't fit an AM5 board, and the reverse.
BIOS update: The motherboard's built-in software. A board made before a processor was released may need a BIOS update before it will start with that processor. Many store builds include this, but it's worth checking for newer chips.
Cooler: Keeps the processor cool. A boxed (stock) cooler comes with some processors and is fine for cheaper chips. A tower air cooler is quieter and handles hotter chips. An AIO (all-in-one) liquid cooler pumps liquid to a radiator, usually 240mm or 360mm long, mounted on the case.
Case and case fans: The box that holds the parts. Fans bring cool air in and push hot air out; we ask for at least two in our builds.

Memory and storage

RAM (memory): Short-term working memory for the processor. 16GB is the minimum we accept for gaming; 32GB is the norm from our $3,000 budget up.
DDR4 and DDR5: Generations of RAM. DDR5 is newer and faster, and is the only type AM5 boards and current Intel boards take. DDR4 is used on AM4 boards. The two are not interchangeable.
DDR5-6000, CL30: The first number is the memory's speed (6000 million transfers per second). CL is its latency in clock cycles: at the same speed, a lower CL is slightly quicker. DDR5-6000 is the usual choice for AMD's current processors.
Dual channel (2x8GB, 2x16GB): Two memory sticks working together, which doubles the memory bandwidth compared with one stick. A 2x8GB kit is faster than a single 16GB stick, so we require two sticks.
SSD: Solid-state drive, the PC's storage. It holds Windows and your games. 1TB is our minimum; 2TB from the $4,000 budget up, since many new games take 100GB or more.
M.2 and NVMe: M.2 is the small stick shape of most SSDs, which screws straight onto the motherboard. NVMe is the fast way it talks to the PC over PCIe. Most M.2 drives are NVMe, but some older ones use the slower SATA connection, so check both words.
PCIe Gen3, Gen4 and Gen5: Generations of the connection used by graphics cards and NVMe drives; each one doubles the bandwidth. A Gen4 SSD is faster than Gen3 for big file copies, though games load about the same. Some cheaper graphics cards use only 8 lanes and lose some speed in an older Gen3 slot.

Power

PSU and wattage: The power supply unit turns wall power into power for the parts. Its wattage is the most it can deliver. Graphics card makers list a recommended PSU size (for example 750W or 850W), and we follow it. Buying far more than needed doesn't make a PC faster.
80 Plus Bronze, Gold, Platinum: Efficiency ratings: a Gold unit wastes less power as heat than a Bronze one at the same load. The rating is about efficiency, not build quality, so the brand and model matter too.

Buying

Prebuilt: A PC a builder such as Nebula, Radium or Aftershock designs, assembles and sells as one product, often with its own case and a longer warranty. You choose from their list, sometimes with options.
Custom build: A PC built by a store such as Scorptec or PC Case Gear from the exact parts you choose, for an assembly fee. You get named-brand parts and pick every one.
Build it yourself (DIY): Buying the parts, often from several stores, and assembling the PC yourself. Usually the cheapest way, but each part's warranty is claimed separately and any fault is yours to find.
Assembly fee: What a store charges to build a custom PC, roughly $200 to $260 at the stores we check. It usually covers assembly, testing and installing Windows if you buy it too. See the store comparison for each store's terms.
Return-to-base warranty: If the PC fails under warranty, you send or take it back to the seller, who repairs or replaces it. Shipping it back can cost you, and you are without the PC while it's away. It differs from onsite warranty, where a technician comes to you.
OEM and retail Windows: Both are full Windows 11. An OEM licence is cheaper and is tied to the first PC it's installed on. A retail licence can be moved to a new PC later. Stores usually sell the OEM version with a custom build.
Windows 11 Home and Pro: Home has everything a gaming PC needs. Pro adds business features such as BitLocker drive encryption management and Remote Desktop hosting. Some prebuilts include Pro; it's not an advantage for gaming.
In stock: On our pages, a part counts only if the store itself has it now. Parts shipped from a supplier (often 8 to 18 days) or on pre-order don't count, because they can delay the whole build.
GST: Australia's 10% goods and services tax. Australian retail prices, including every price on this site, already include it.

Put the terms to use: component prices · store comparison · find a PC for your budget.