When building a computer system for a specific purpose, such as a home computer, games computer or video editing computer, it is important to consider what hardware components should go inside of them. All computers require the same generic parts but it is the size and speed of these components that differentiate them.

What differentiates machines is the power requirement, such as:

• CPU: number of cores, clock speed, cache & bus width

• RAM: size (amount) and clock speed

• Motherboard: clock speed & bus width

• Hard-drive: size, cache, speed

• SSD: size, cache & speed

• Video: GPU size, cache & speed

• Audio: cache & speed

• Power supply (wattage)