How to Build Your Own Do-Anything 4K-Capable Desktop

While it's a bit early to say that 4K has officially "landed," it's not far off. The benefits are tangible, especially if you have 4K-capable gear. That's right: There's more to a 4K PC than a display packed with pixels. Here's what you need—and need to know—to build a 4K desktop that handles anything you throw at it. » 6/04/14 8:00am 6/04/14 8:00am

How Do I Know When to Upgrade My PC or Just Build a New One?

Dear Lifehacker,
My computer is getting a little old. I built it myself, but I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile to upgrade individual things like my processor or video card or whether I should just start from scratch and build a new rig. How can I tell when it's time to upgrade and when I should start over? » 5/05/14 10:30am 5/05/14 10:30am

How PCI Cards Differ From One Another and Fit Into Your Motherboard

Building a computer isn't all that hard, but there are a few parts that can be confusing. When you start installing PCI cards—video cards, network cards, and other expansion cards—it's hard to know which kinds of cards are compatible with your motherboard. Linus Sebastian from Techquickie fills us in. » 3/14/13 7:30am 3/14/13 7:30am

Give The Gift of a Custom Gaming PC with These Builds

Is there a gamer on your holiday shopping list? Maybe someone you just want to get your game on with, or someone who's been complaining their old system isn't up to the demands of the latest titles, like Dishonored, Hitman: Absolution, or Call of Duty: Black Ops 2? Hook them up with a custom-built gaming PC this… » 11/22/12 7:00am 11/22/12 7:00am

Convert a PCI-E x16 Video Card to Fit a x1 Slot with a Diamond Cutting…

Russian software developer Mikhail Svarichevsky needed a a PCI-E x1 video card as all of the other PCI-E slots were occupied on his motherboard. PCI-E x1 video cards are available but can be pricier than PCI-E x16 versions so Mikhail used a rotary tool with a diamond cutting wheel to remove a tab from the circuit… » 10/12/12 9:00am 10/12/12 9:00am

This Chart Explains the Confusing Hierarchy of Nvidia GeForce Graphics…

If you've ever gone shopping for graphics cards, chances are you've been baffled by hardware manufacturer Nvidia's crazy naming scheme for their video cards. This simple chart will help you determine where each falls in a hierarchy of graphics performance. » 9/15/11 3:30pm 9/15/11 3:30pm

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