PC Case Sizes Explained: ATX vs Micro-ATX vs Mini-ITX, Mid Tower vs Full Tower

Aug 28, 2026

PC case sizes explained the way a builder explains them: the real ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX dimensions, what mid tower and full tower actually mean, the GPU length and cooler height numbers that decide whether parts fit, and which size we recommend for most builds at our Somerville NJ shop.

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Dave's Computers

How to Choose a Motherboard for a Gaming PC: AM5 B850 vs X870, LGA1851, and What Actually Matters

Aug 28, 2026

How to pick a gaming motherboard in 2026 without overpaying: what B850, X870 and X870E actually change on AM5, Z890 vs B860 on Intel, why VRM size rarely matters for gamers, the M.2 and BIOS features that do, and the boards we install at our Somerville NJ shop.

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Dave's Computers

How Many Watts Does Your PC Need? PSU Sizing and Wattage Calculators, Explained by a Builder

Aug 27, 2026

How many watts does your PC actually need? The real 2026 numbers for RTX 50 and Radeon 9000 builds, what a PSU calculator gets right and wrong, why transient spikes and ATX 3.1 matter more than the label, and the sizing rules we use at our Somerville NJ shop.

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Dave's Computers

DDR4 vs DDR5 in 2026: Which RAM to Buy for a New Build (Speed, Capacity, Dual Channel)

Aug 27, 2026

DDR4 vs DDR5 for a 2026 build: what changed, the August 2026 price gap, how much speed and capacity actually matter in games, why two sticks beat one, and the kits we install at our Somerville NJ shop.

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Dave's Computers

Best CPU and GPU for a Custom PC in 2026: Ryzen 9850X3D, RTX 50 Super, Nova Lake and What’s Worth Waiting For – NJ

Aug 21, 2026

The best CPU and graphics card picks for a custom PC build in 2026 by budget, what the reviewers actually measured, and an honest look at whether the Ryzen 9850X3D, RTX 50 Super, Zen 6, or Nova Lake are worth waiting for. From Dave’s Computers in Somerville NJ.

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Dave's Computers

Is It Cheaper to Build a PC or Buy One in 2026? Build vs. Buy vs. Let Dave’s Build It – NJ

Aug 21, 2026

For twenty years building your own PC was the cheap option. In 2026, with memory prices tripled and prebuilt makers buying parts in bulk, the math has changed. Here is what the data says about DIY vs. prebuilt vs. a local custom build, from our Somerville NJ bench.

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Dave's Computers

Why RAM and SSD Prices Are So High in 2026 (and How We Build Around It) – Custom PC Builds in NJ

Aug 21, 2026

RAM and SSD prices have tripled since late 2025 because AI data centers are buying up the world’s memory supply. Here is what the industry data says, what it means for a custom PC build, and how our Somerville NJ bench builds around it.

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Motherboard on its box with CPU, RAM and cooler laid out ready for a build

How to Build a PC in 2026: Step-by-Step From a Pro Bench (and When to Hand It Off)

Aug 11, 2026

The bench order for building a PC in 2026 — including the outside-the-case test trick, the mistakes that generate our rescue jobs, and an honest word on when to hand the build off.

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Half-assembled PC build on a bench with a clock in the background

How Long Does It Take to Build a PC? Honest Timelines From a Build Bench

Aug 11, 2026

First build: plan a full day. Experienced: a couple of hours. And the pro answer nobody mentions: assembly is the fast part — it’s the testing that separates “it turns on” from “it’s done.”

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Checking a PC's system information ahead of the Windows 11 26H2 update

Windows 11 26H2 Lands This October: Check Your Specs Now to See If Your PC Makes the Cut

Aug 10, 2026

Microsoft confirmed Windows 11 26H2 for this fall — with a supported-PC list. How to check your computer specs in two minutes and what each number means for the October update.

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