CALCULATORS & GUIDES

PC building tools and guides.

Estimate power allowance, usable storage and component budgets. Load your current build or enter figures below.

Loads this browser’s current draft when available. Calculations need no account, analytics or tracking consent. They do not change your build.

Enter your own assumptions below, or load your saved current draft.

01 / POWER REFERENCE

Estimate a power allowance.

CPU default TDP, processor base power and GPU board-power claims describe different measurements. Use the exact source label when entering the CPU reference. This adds them to an editable device allowance and planning margin. It does not model CPU boost, transients or measured wall power.

A missing power figure stays unknown. Load source facts or enter your own reference values.

Defaults of 75 W allowance and 30% headroom are editable assumptions, not manufacturer requirements. An integrated-graphics build needs a separately reviewed power model; do not silently treat missing GPU power as zero.

Review power assumptions and cable checks in your build →

02 / SPACE FOR YOUR FILES

Plan usable space.

Drive labels use decimal GB. Binary GiB is a different unit. Choose a reserve for your own planning, then compare it with your file needs.

Reserve starts at 0%. Set your own allowance; this tool does not estimate filesystem overhead.

Combined capacity is simple addition across recorded drives. Mirroring, RAID, recovery partitions, filesystem overhead and separate backups require their own plan. Nominal capacity is not a durability or performance score.

Compare exact drives and slot requirements →

03 / A TARGET FOR EACH CHOICE

Allocate your parts budget.

Set your own shares for the eight core component categories. If you load your build, known purchase cash and unpriced lines appear beside your targets. A target is not a current market quote.

Shares start at 0%. Use at most 100% combined; the remainder stays unallocated. Equal shares are an editable example, not a spending recommendation.

Review quotes, shipping, tax and extras in your build →

UNDERSTAND THE LABEL

Memory, connectors and storage.

RAM kits, modules and slots

A 2 × 8 GB kit is one purchase containing two memory modules and 16 GB total capacity. Two such kits use four DIMM slots. DDR4 and DDR5 are separate generations. Check the board’s exact slots, CPU and board capacity limits, QVL and firmware. A rated XMP/EXPO speed is a profile, not guaranteed operation; CORSAIR advises using a single validated kit rather than mixing separate kits.

Check your actual kits and slots →

Source: CORSAIR memory kit guidance ↗ · checked 2026-11-08.

PCIe and EPS connectors

GPU PCIe power and motherboard EPS/CPU power are different connections. A PCIe 6+2 plug is not an interchangeable CPU 4+4 plug. Check the exact GPU and PSU manuals, supplied cable inventory and required dedicated connections. Modular PSU cables must be approved for the exact PSU; connector shape alone does not establish pin compatibility.

Open exact PSU source details →

Sources: CORSAIR connector guide ↗ and exact cable compatibility chart ↗ · checked 2026-11-08.

12VHPWR, 12V-2x6 and cable space

These GPU power-connector names describe different revisions; do not infer the supplied cable from a retailer family name. Follow the GPU and PSU manufacturer’s exact insertion, adapter and bend-clearance instructions. Our pilot does not yet verify these connector inventories or lateral cable clearance.

Source: CORSAIR connector revision explanation ↗ · checked 2026-11-08.

M.2 is a shape; NVMe is an interface

An M.2 slot can have different lengths and supported protocols. Match the exact drive and board slot, then check lane sharing, CPU-dependent restrictions and boot support. A spare-looking connector alone does not prove the complete configuration is supported.

Review storage slot checks →

Source: Kingston M.2 interface and slot FAQ ↗ · checked 2026-11-08.

Read the exact component manuals linked from each part. These explanations describe the checks; they do not certify your installation.