Building a custom PC is a fun but overwhelming task. With countless components, fluctuating prices, and constantly changing benchmarks, even tech enthusiasts can feel out of touch. With the advent of AI in almost every possible task, I wondered if AI could also choose PC components for you, and sure enough, there were already a few tools on the internet.
Curious to see if they were worth their silicon, I tried them out. Here’s how it went.
Why AI for PC building makes sense
As much as I like to pretend I’m a PC-building professional, I’m not really a hardware expert. Sure, I keep track of the biggest industry news, but I don’t obsess over new GPUs every week or memorize motherboard specifications in my spare time. My last deep dive into computer parts was two years ago when I built my own rig, and since then, I’ve happily moved on with my life.
Fast forward to now, when my friend asked for help building his gaming PC, and suddenly, I realized that I wasn’t that updated about the latest trends and prices. I just had one starting point: the AMD Ryzen 7800X3D, which, due to local market quirks, is a bargain where I live. For the rest, I needed help.
I had already checked out PC benchmarks, but in the end, I didn’t want to spend hours swimming through product listings. So, I turned to an unexpected helper: AI. After all, if AI can sift through all the reviews, prices, and compatibility information about computer parts online, it’s the perfect solution for the problem I was facing.
Testing out the AI
I went to Google and searched for AI PC building tools. Many came up, but Newegg’s Custom PC Builder caught my attention. The tool allows you to enter key details like CPU, GPU preferences, budget, and intended use of the PC — basically, a dream come true for someone who already had some pieces of the puzzle.
Newegg’s AI didn’t disappoint — it didn’t try any newbie tricks like pairing the Ryzen chip with an Intel motherboard. Even better, it paired my Ryzen CPU with AMD EXPO DDR5 RAM (which even some pros miss), and recommended a liquid cooling system for that great processor. Since the tool uses Newegg’s database, it shows real-time prices.
And if none of the suggested parts met my expectations? A few clicks, and I could easily swap them out for alternatives. The best part is that I could put everything in my cart and checkout right there. It was almost too easy.
The downsides of letting AI build your PC
Of course, relying solely on AI is risky. AI is prone to errors, especially when it doesn’t understand context or makes compatibility errors. It’s important to have a bit of background knowledge—this can help you identify when AI makes some weird suggestions, like pairing a low-end PSU with a high-performance GPU.
Likewise, knowing which GPUs to avoid or which specs to prioritize can save you from blindly trusting AI recommendations and creating a substandard build.
The Verdict: Can AI Handle Your Next Build
AI PC builders aren’t perfect, but if you already have a basic understanding of computer components, they’re an incredibly convenient tool. Tools like Newegg’s AI PC Builder help bridge the gap between tech enthusiasts and full-fledged hardware experts, providing surprisingly capable builds that are a good starting point for further changes.
If you’re ready to build your dream rig without spending hours researching components, try AI tools—you might be surprised at how well they do the heavy lifting. Just remember to double-check its homework.