Collection: Computer Accessories

Which computer accessories do you actually need?

Most PC builders treat computer accessories as an afterthought, then find that a bargain cable, a tired fan or a flaky Wi-Fi adapter is what's holding a good build back. The three tiers behave differently depending on the part, so it helps to know what changes under the hood.

Take cooling. Entry-level coolers are usually a small aluminium block with three or four heatpipes and a 92mm fan. They're fine for a locked mid-range chip but run out of surface area quickly under sustained all-core loads. Sweet-spot dual-tower air coolers like the Thermalright Peerless Assassin line add a copper base, six heatpipes and two 120mm fans. That gives far more fin area and lets the fans run slower and quieter for the same temperature. Enthusiast 360mm all-in-ones such as the Arctic Liquid Freezer series move heat to a bigger radiator, but the gain over a good dual tower is often only a few degrees. That's where the diminishing returns start.

Power supplies follow the same pattern. Entry units hit the rated wattage but handle transient spikes poorly. Sweet-spot ranges like the Seasonic Focus and Corsair RMx use better capacitors, tighter voltage regulation and longer hold-up time. Platinum and Titanium efficiency adds only a couple of percent at the wall, so you're mostly paying for quieter fan curves.

Upgrading and technical nuances

Platform generation matters more than most people expect. On AM5 and Intel's LGA1851, Desktop Memory is DDR5 only. For AM5, a 6000 MT/s CL30 kit with EXPO is the usual sweet spot, because the memory controller and Infinity Fabric run happily at that speed. Pushing well past it brings more bandwidth but often forces looser timings, so latency gets worse. Corsair Vengeance, Kingston Fury and G.Skill Ripjaws all have solid kits at that tier.

Motherboards are where VRM design shows up. Boards like the ASUS TUF, MSI Tomahawk and Gigabyte AORUS lines pair decent power stages with proper heatsinks, so they hold clocks under long loads. Cheaper boards use fewer phases and thin heatsinks, which can throttle a high-core-count chip during long renders. Check the CPUs & Processors you're considering against the board's real power delivery, not just the socket.

For storage, a PCIe 4.0 drive such as the Samsung 990 series, Crucial T500 or WD_BLACK range is the practical sweet spot. PCIe 5.0 drives have higher sequential speeds, but they run hot and throttle without a good heatsink. Most games and everyday workloads can't tell the difference. Browse Solid State Drives (SSD) with heat and sustained write speed in mind, not just the headline figure.

On the cabling side, modern Graphics Cards / GPU use the 12V-2x6 connector. Use a native cable from an ATX 3.x Power Supplies unit where you can, and make sure it's fully seated. Adapters add another failure point. Good Cables & Connectors matter for displays too, since high refresh rates need the right DisplayPort or HDMI version.

Practical things to check

Measure before you buy. Tower coolers are tall, and a lot of cases cap clearance at 160mm to 170mm. Check the cooler height against the side panel space in your Computer Cases listing, and check radiator support if you want an AIO. Big dual-tower coolers can also hang over the top memory slot, so tall heatspreaders on your RAM may not fit. Low-profile Vengeance kits are an easy fix.

GPU length and thickness are the next gotcha. Many current cards are three slots thick and over 320mm long. Confirm the case's maximum card length and check that the card won't block front radiator mounts. Leave around 35mm of straight cable before the 12V-2x6 plug bends, or the connector can be stressed and may not seat fully. Side-mounted connectors in narrow cases are the usual culprit.

For power, check the PSU length against the case shroud and make sure the cables reach. Count your fan headers and USB headers, since a busy build can easily run out. The ATX Power Supply range lists connector counts, so you can confirm you have enough PCIe and CPU leads.

Airflow is the last piece. Fans differ in bearing type. Sleeve bearings are cheap but wear faster and dislike certain orientations. Fluid dynamic bearings stay quiet for longer. Static pressure fans suit radiators and dense filters, while high-airflow fans suit open mesh fronts. Browse Fans, Heatsinks & Cooling and CPU Cooling with that in mind. Don't forget the screen: a Monitors upgrade is only as good as the cable and GPU output feeding it. For connectivity, Networking gear like TP-Link adapters and routers can sort out Wi-Fi dropouts that make a fast PC feel slow.

Brands and local warranty

In this category, reputable names include Corsair, Kingston, G.Skill, ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, Samsung, Crucial, WD, Seasonic, Thermalright, Arctic and TP-Link. Each has strengths. Seasonic and Corsair are known for power supplies, Samsung for storage, and Thermalright and Arctic for cooling value.

Australian warranty support matters more than people think. Under Australian Consumer Law, you have guarantees that apply regardless of the manufacturer's terms, but dealing with a local reseller is much easier than shipping a faulty PSU overseas. Grey imports can leave you with no local support at all. Power supplies often carry 7 to 10 year warranties, and that's only useful if the seller is easy to reach. For a complete rig, check out our Computers range too.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is it worth paying more for faster RAM?

Usually not beyond the sweet spot. On modern platforms, 6000 MT/s with tight timings gives most of the benefit. Faster kits raise bandwidth, but if latency worsens and the memory controller struggles, real-world gains are small.

Q: Do I need a 360mm AIO or will air cooling do?

A good dual-tower air cooler handles most mid-range and many high-end chips. An AIO helps with sustained heavy loads and cramped airflow, but it adds pump noise and a failure point.

Q: Will my old cooler fit a new CPU socket?

Often yes. AM5 reuses AM4 mounting holes, and LGA1851 coolers generally match LGA1700 mounts. Always check the manufacturer's compatibility list and contact pressure notes.

Q: Is a PCIe 5.0 SSD worth it?

Only for specific heavy workloads. For gaming and daily use, a PCIe 4.0 drive feels the same, runs cooler and costs less.

Q: Can I reuse my old PSU cables?

No. Cables are not standardised between brands or even product lines, so use the cables supplied with that specific unit. Mixing them can damage components.