Best Computer Parts PC Hardware and Components 2012

Building your own computer can be a rewarding experience. Not only do you learn more about your computer, but also you know exactly what's going in it. While some would argue that buying a ready-made computer can save you some money, few would argue that the parts you get when purchasing a brand name computer are sometimes of inferior quality.

Computer Parts, PC Components, and Hardware on Amazon:

I purchase all of my computer parts at Amazon. While there are sometimes deals at other sites for a specific part, I find that Amazon in general, has as good or better prices than anyone on a "normal" day. This is because they use thousands of sellers to compete each other and Amazon itself to create the perfect bidding war. When wholesalers compete against each other, you and I win. Also, most of the time you can get super saver shipping when you bundle or look hard enough on Amazon. Some buyers make the mistake of looking just at the Amazon price, rather than looking at the wholesalers. Make sure to check out all of the different prices on each product to get the best deal.

Where should you begin when you are building your own computer? Start by creating a budget. Below I will list computer parts, components, and accessories for all PC price levels. If you get creative, then you should be able to stick to pretty much any reasonable budget.

What's the Best Computer for the Money?

This depends on what you plan on using your computer for. If it's an office computer, then a large hard drive or possibly 2 hard drives might be more important than the latest and greatest CPU. If you plan on doing video editing or gaming, then a video card and good CPU is first on your list. That's really the greatest part about building your own computer. If you understand your needs, then you'll get exactly what you want, and not what some manufacturer had in mind.

Since I like to pick my CPU first in building a computer, we'll cover these first. I pick my CPU first because the CPU will mandate what type of motherboard I can have. This year there are some unbelievable processors for awesome prices. I've put my favorites up for each chipset and a description for each below.

Best CPU motherboard Combo of 2012:

My choice for best CPU of 2011 is the Intel Core i7-2600k with the i5-2500k being a solid budget alternative. Use this with the Asus P8P67 PRO motherboard for ultimate performance without breaking the bank.

AMD: See my hub on the best AMD CPU Motherboard combos of 2012 for information about AMD CPU and AM3 Motherboards.

If you are building a computer strictly for office use, then you'll probably stay clear of a dedicated video card. If you want one to increase performance for gaming, editing, or high performance use I've listed a wide range of budget to high performance video cards.

On media office machines or home media centers I like to add a video card with an HDMI port so that I can hook my computer directly into my HDTV with an HDMI cable.

I hope you've enjoyed this hub on the best computer parts, pc components, and accessories of 2011. Please leave a comment below whether you liked this hub, or whether you feel like I missed the train completely. Either way your feedback is appreciated. If you are building a computer, then consider some of the links I've listed below for more information.