What do I need to consider when buying hardware to meet my needs?

Posted by Darth Android on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Darth Android
Published on 2011-06-14T23:46:49Z Indexed on 2012/04/04 11:32 UTC
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hardware-rec

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benchmarking

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community-faq

I'm looking to build a new computer from the ground up. I'm not sure what to look out for and need guidance and help on how to pick the hardware needed to construct my new rig.

How do I know what to buy?

How do I find out if a given CPU will be enough for a certain game or application that I want to run?
How do I find out if a given graphics card will be enough for a certain game or application?
What is important when looking at motherboards?
How much memory do I need?
How do I know how much wattage I need for a power supply?
What size case do I need?
What relevant standards do I need to read up on and be aware of?

PCI, PCIe, SATA, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, etc...
What "gotchas" do I need to be on the lookout for?

Please keep responses generation-agnostic to ensure they will be helpful to our future users.

While Stack Exchange does not permit shopping recommendations, it doesn't provide any general advice to consider when buying hardware. So, instead of just telling those that ask what to buy that it's not allowed, let's tell them how to figure out what they need.

This question was Super User Question of the Week #20
Read the June 20, 2011 blog entry for more details or submit your own Question of the Week.

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