PC building glossary
Simple explanations of the PC terms you see when choosing compatible parts.
VRAM
Memory on a graphics card used for textures, frame buffers and visual data. More capacity can help at higher settings and resolutions.
CPU socket
The physical motherboard connection for a processor. The CPU and motherboard socket must match.
DDR5
A newer desktop-memory standard. A DDR5 kit needs a DDR5 motherboard; it cannot fit a DDR4-only board.
NVMe
A fast SSD protocol commonly used through an M.2 slot. Check the motherboard slot and SSD capacity before buying.
80 Plus Gold
A PSU efficiency certification. It does not replace checking quality, protections, warranty and connectors.
Bottleneck
A situation where one component limits a specific workload. It changes with the game, resolution and settings.
Ray tracing
A graphics technique that can improve lighting and reflections, but normally needs more GPU performance.