I need a new system!

Computer parts nowadays are getting better and cheaper by the minute. It's no wonder more and more people are considering taking the plunge and upgrading their systems, with little to no prior knowledge of how to do so. Thankfully, the Internet is abound with websites dealing with hardware, and one doesn't need to travel far to find what he's looking for.

By the same token, you'll find yourself neck-deep in reviews before you know it, on the latest 3D video cards, 64-bit PCI sound cards, and fancy new CPUs. While that's great in terms of knowing what hardware is currently the best on the market, it may not be helpful in your quest to upgrade your system. In fact, it may be somewhat detrimental to most "newbies," as they assume (incorrectly) that a system is mainly comprised of a video card, sound card, and a CPU. So how does it all fit together?

That's what we're going to go lay out for you in this guide.

What is the holistic process of building a new system? What components do you need? What are the basic features and aspects you need to look for? While our daily reviews and detailed guides are designed to help you make the right decision once you've got everything narrowed down, you also need to learn the basics. Read on to learn about what you need to upgrade your system.