This thread isn't meant to be a "come here to get all you need" guide but rather a list of sites that may help a range of people finding the type of pc that they're really going for. I'll list a few here that I know of and explain their use and target audience.
Penny-Pinchers
Full-size towers, US-based prices
If you're really focused on watching every dollar that you'll spend then this may be the site for you.
Logical Increments is a guide that breaks down many builds and makes it possible to see what control you have on hardware step-by-step. For those that are really keen on controlling their budget down to the dollar they'll find this to be a good start. It utilizes both AMD and Intel chipsets and has alternative parts that can be substituted in per build/level. It does have a simple guide to explain parts and their uses, as well as whether or not they're necessary depending upon your needs. It's a good start to get an idea of what you want and clicking on parts takes you to the cheapest vendor.
However, hardcore enthusiasts and experienced assemblers may not like how restrictive it may seem. Also, for those who want more "discreet" builds, this may not be the site for you.
The Skeptics (Or Dubious)
Full- and mid-size towers, International
Some of us are skeptical about whether or not what we pick will actually work best together. In fact, sometimes parts won't fit or may be sub-par compared to others. When in doubt it's best to get a second opinion from those that know better.
These sites will require an account to post (and please be mindful of the sub-community reddiqute) but the members are active in the community and will collaborate to help you optimize a build that suites your needs. Please be descriptive about what you will use it for, the budget you're aiming for, and anything you own that will be dependent on specific hardware (monitors, external drives, audio setups, etc).
The Enthusiast
All-in-one, International
During my time in the Philippines a colleague was helping to consult me about looking into a PC build. While the budget I thought to have had diminished quickly as I returned for college, he did provide a website that is known for community collaboration in creating guides for building PCs. It is highly in-depth and has a great link to an internal guide on overclocking. For those that really are tech-savvy and are looking for great peripherals as well to be paired to their build, this is the site for you.
NeoGaf regularly builds new guides to stay up-to-date and keeps everything comprehensive. They even cover keyboards, mice, headsets, and full- to mid-tower sizes. If you want to have a "discreet" tower build then don't pass this up!
If anyone knows of a site that would go well with these, please post them so I can review and add them! While there are already some pinned guides, the more we cover the better.
As someone who does some design work from time to time, please don't use Comic Sans, especially not for serious posts. No one would take you serious if you use the world's most hated font.
World's most hated? Really? Well then, change is in the air
Doing your own research rather than listening to a bunch of mouth-breathers?
I don't really understand the need for guides like this, or telling people to "go ask this 3rd party".
You look up parts like you would look anything else up when buying online, a mop, a TV, a book, etc. Once you choose some things if you need a 2nd opinion, go for it, but not in either of those subreddits. Blind fanboyism, bad moderation, and people who literally do not care are rampant.
As someone who does some design work from time to time, please don't use Comic Sans, especially not for serious posts. No one would take you serious if you use the world's most hated font.
it's my favorite font...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Proud member of the MCF AWA war of '13! if someone suggests Alienware or Cyberpower, wait for a custom-built list from someone who knows their stuff. Meh Rig
Doing your own research rather than listening to a bunch of mouth-breathers?
I don't really understand the need for guides like this, or telling people to "go ask this 3rd party".
You look up parts like you would look anything else up when buying online, a mop, a TV, a book, etc. Once you choose some things if you need a 2nd opinion, go for it, but not in either of those subreddits. Blind fanboyism, bad moderation, and people who literally do not care are rampant.
Haha, nice opinion on Redditors.
Why go ask a third party? Because 3rd parties have hivemind bias. The bias here for parts and specs are different than other online forums. Looking up parts isn't simple and finding compatibility can be hard. Heck, even threads here conflict and argue with radically different parts for the same needed specs.
And quite frankly, blind fanboyism, bad moderation, and people who do not care are here too and submitting.
This is not my opinion on redditors, this is the fact that the /r/buildapc community has turned to absolute garbage over the past year or so.
It basically started with the mod who was spamming hotlinks to his own site for ad revenue and banning anyone who mentioned it. A mod who is still active and moderating, mind you. So that goes to show what kind of standards are there.
Why go ask a third party? Because 3rd parties have hivemind bias.
........ Which is why you SHOULDN'T ask a hivemind like /r/bapc.
The bias here for parts and specs are different than other online forums.
No they are not. Looking at a random build thread on the first page, someone with +40 votes saying to get an intel CPU for a $600 budget because "intel is better".
Seems pretty close to the same bias everywhere else.
Looking up parts isn't simple and finding compatibility can be hard.
No it is not, and no it cannot. If you can undertstand simple numbers and letters, you can do this fine.
And if you really can't do that much, you shouldn't be building a PC. Building isn't some simple "do it in an hour" thing, it's very technical, especially for people who are not used to doing things on this technological level. Just because it is simple to us does not mean it is simple to everyone.
Heck, even threads here conflict and argue with radically different parts for the same needed specs.
Because this, like /r/buildapc and /r/buildapcforme, is a horrible place to get build advice.
And quite frankly, blind fanboyism, bad moderation, and people who do not care are here too and submitting.
Because the rules here are too lenient and do not allow for that kind of moderation and content control, I should know, I tried it for almost a year.
That doesn't mean this subforum is any good for this purpose.
This is part of off-topic, on the minecraft forums. This entire off-topic section is basically here so it doesn't pollute the other sections.
Thus, for modding and content priority, it is basically last.
If anyone knows of a site that would go well with these, please post them so I can review and add them! While there are already some pinned guides, the more we cover the better.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/SteevyT/saved/21PI
Is it sarcastic? It wasn't meant to be, in all honesty.
Comic sans man.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/SteevyT/saved/21PI
Hahaha. Yeah I can see that. I just hate the Arial/Times New Roman default texts. Too many essays written in them.
Effin' pointless essays
World's most hated? Really? Well then, change is in the air
Well then, what do YOU suggest?
I don't really understand the need for guides like this, or telling people to "go ask this 3rd party".
You look up parts like you would look anything else up when buying online, a mop, a TV, a book, etc. Once you choose some things if you need a 2nd opinion, go for it, but not in either of those subreddits. Blind fanboyism, bad moderation, and people who literally do not care are rampant.
it's my favorite font...
if someone suggests Alienware or Cyberpower, wait for a custom-built list from someone who knows their stuff. Meh Rig
Haha, nice opinion on Redditors.
Why go ask a third party? Because 3rd parties have hivemind bias. The bias here for parts and specs are different than other online forums. Looking up parts isn't simple and finding compatibility can be hard. Heck, even threads here conflict and argue with radically different parts for the same needed specs.
And quite frankly, blind fanboyism, bad moderation, and people who do not care are here too and submitting.
It basically started with the mod who was spamming hotlinks to his own site for ad revenue and banning anyone who mentioned it. A mod who is still active and moderating, mind you. So that goes to show what kind of standards are there.
........ Which is why you SHOULDN'T ask a hivemind like /r/bapc.
No they are not. Looking at a random build thread on the first page, someone with +40 votes saying to get an intel CPU for a $600 budget because "intel is better".
Seems pretty close to the same bias everywhere else.
No it is not, and no it cannot. If you can undertstand simple numbers and letters, you can do this fine.
Especially with the advent of sites like this.
And if you really can't do that much, you shouldn't be building a PC. Building isn't some simple "do it in an hour" thing, it's very technical, especially for people who are not used to doing things on this technological level. Just because it is simple to us does not mean it is simple to everyone.
Because this, like /r/buildapc and /r/buildapcforme, is a horrible place to get build advice.
Because the rules here are too lenient and do not allow for that kind of moderation and content control, I should know, I tried it for almost a year.
That doesn't mean this subforum is any good for this purpose.
This is part of off-topic, on the minecraft forums. This entire off-topic section is basically here so it doesn't pollute the other sections.
Thus, for modding and content priority, it is basically last.
Simple.