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How Accurate is PCPartPicker to Check Compatiblity?

Potential Compatibility Issues to Be Aware of When Using This Typically Trustworthy PC Building Tool (An Unofficial PCPartPicker FAQ)

What a handy invention PCPartPicker is. A fairly complex yet easy to use tool for PC enthusiasts which helps you more easily check compatibility between your parts and view other people's completed systems among other things. But just how reliable is PCPartPicker and how accurate are its compatibility checks? 

Can you, and should you, rely solely on PCPartPicker to automatically and instantly check compatibility between all of your parts? Does it account for every possible compatibility issue out there? What about space and size restrictions, such as parts getting in the way of other parts in your rig? What about RAM compatibility and the QVL? 

Related: Does QVL Matter for RAM?

These types of questions are quite common if you've only just stumbled upon PCPartPicker (or even if you've been using it for a while). It's a handy tool that allows you to enter the parts you're thinking of buying for a new custom PC build, and have it automatically check whether they're all compatible with one another. But you may wonder how an automatic tool like this can possibly check for compatibility between every single possible type of hardware configuration out there. Is it too good to be true?

If you're the perfectionist type who cares about all the little technical details (many PC builders are, and sometimes you indeed have to be), and/or if you just want to be extra safe when planning your build using their tool (especially if it's a more complex build), let's break down all of the above questions and more. Consider this an unofficial FAQ to PCPartPicker from a fan, with the most common questions answered all in the one place (instead of randomly scattered around the web).

This is my collection of findings based on both my own experience using the tool, and the collective experiences of many other builders, however don't take this analysis/critique of the limitations of the PCPartPicker compatibility tool the wrong way. We're in no way, shape or form trying to nitpick them or downplay the substantial value they've brought to PC builders over the years, and we're simply objectively pointing out things that are good to know as a beginner when using the tool, including any nuances and potential compatibility issues to be aware of so that you can better understand what it does and doesn't do for you.

How Reliable is the PCPartPicker Compatibility Checker?

In a nutshell, PCPartPicker is indeed reliable and accurate the majority of the time for most hardware configurations. They've done a great job and it's the best hardware compatibility checker out there.

But is it pure perfection that checks for every single possible compatibility issue out there? I think you already know the answer, but let's be real here: few things on this Earth come close to perfection besides heaven-sent history-making hits like HL1, GE007, OOT and MGS1.

As accurate as PCPartPicker typically is, if you want to be 100% sure you completely avoid any potential compatibility issues whatsoever when planning your custom PC, it's probably best that you double check things yourself and not blindly rely on any one single source no matter whether that's PCPartPicker, our own custom gaming builds, some random dude's build on Reddit, and so on.

As a beginner, if you don't know how to check for compatibility yourself, you should take the time to learn and understand the basics so that you're never at the mercy of any tool, and to be a more informed builder to avoid problems now and with all your future upgrades.

For all the builds we carefully plan and publish here at BGC, we like using PCPartPicker from time to time, but we also always do our own compatibility checks just to be sure because you just never know. Plus, the truth is there are indeed some things the PCPartPicker compatibility checker cannot possibly account for (at least not for now), so it might not just be a good idea to do your own checks but a necessity to avoid all potential issues.

Let's look at the compatibility checks that the PCPartPicker tool might miss, and what to do about it. Not everyone will need to worry about these potential problems, especially if your build is simple, but for some builds these issues may be important.

Does PCPartPicker Check if Parts Fit in the Case? Space and Size Issues

You may wonder if PCPartPicker accurately takes into account all size/space issues for a parts list. In other words whether ALL your parts fit in the case you've selected as well as whether certain component combinations will fit together without encountering space restrictions (eg checking if large CPU coolers or GPUs would obstruct other pieces of your build such as RAM modules or add-on PCIe cards, etc).

The following warning message you might already have seen when using their tool pretty much sums it up:

"Some physical dimension restrictions cannot (yet) be automatically checked, such as cpu cooler / RAM clearance with modules using tall heat spreaders"

Pretty self explanatory, but you may wonder what they mean exactly when they say the tool cannot check everything. What does and doesn't it check?

Short Answer:

PCPartPicker will check most size and space issues, and the tool pulls data such as GPU lengths and CPU cooler heights from the official manufacturer specs. So you could be okay relying on the tool soley, especially for simpler builds without too much going on (ie custom modifications).

But there are some things it just cannot possibly check, such as their example of CPU coolers and RAM with large heat spreaders (which most builders shouldn't have to worry about it as most RAM modules don't have tall heat spreaders).

Long Answer:

If you want to be extra safe, you should always do your own compatibility checks, especially if you're using a small case, a bulky air cooler (double check the compatibility between your chosen cooler, case and RAM), a large GPU (or SLI/CrossFire), a rarer more obscure brand of case/component, or you're throwing in add-on parts like PCIe cards that could potentially get in the way of other parts like thicker GPUs. It's also not going to check parts for a custom water cooling build.

As a common real-world example of how relying solely on the PCPartPicker checker could lead to space restriction issues, let's say you have say a micro ATX motherboard with a fairly thick graphics card, and you want to include a PCIe expansion card in your setup such as a PCIe wireless network card. You might not have enough space on a compact motherboard like that and the cards might interfere with each other (space-wise), and you'd have to make do using an external USB wireless network adapter instead.

See discussions here, here and here for a bunch of specific examples from other builders on why you should always do your own space/size checks and, as helpful a tool as it is, not rely just on the PCPartPicker compatibility/size checks.

One last thing to keep in mind on checking space for your parts: since PCPartPicker uses the specs provided by manufacturers in their checks, this is going to be accurate 99% of the time, but there's always the chance the manufacturer's listing actually makes an error and/or provides inaccurate information for a certain model. 

Those official specs could also assume something about your configuration, so if you're cutting it close with a certain measurement you should do your research to ensure you don't run into issues. A Reddit user from this thread explained it well:

"Problems can occur when manufacturer specifications are not accurate, or depend on specific situations. For example GPU clearance might depend on front intake configuration. Some case manufacturers for example measure GPU clearance assuming a front mounted radiator (and if you follow that measurement you might find out that you wasted a lot of space or that you could have bought a larger video card in an air cooled setup). You also have to keep in mind that GPUs that need some extra space around them for circulation and for the cables. These are things that are not covered by PCPartPicker. Therefore it is always a good idea to look for configurations that use the components that you are interested in and see if they worked for other people."

Does PCPartPicker Check Memory Compatibility With the Motherboard?

Short Answer:

Yes. PCPartPicker checks basic compatibility between your motherboard and RAM, such as the type of RAM and whether the RAM modules will fit.

Long Answer:

Yes, but it doesn't check the QVL. This is quite unlikely to cause compatibility issues for most consumer PC builds, but it is indeed a possibility if you get really unlucky. Read on if you're curious to know more.

While PCPartPicker will confirm if your RAM modules fit your motherboard, it does not check whether those particular modules have actually been tested to work on that particular motherboard. To be more specific, it does not check if your memory modules are listed on what's called the QVL (Qualified Vendors List) of your motherboard. This is not PCPartPicker's fault, as implementing such a feature in their tool hurts my brain to just think about (let alone execute).

Officially tested and approved memory modules for any given motherboard are listed on the QVL, which you can find on a motherboard manufacturer's site, but does this even matter? Should you manually check that your chosen RAM modules are listed on the QVL?

See Is the Memory QVL Important for a full explanation, but in a nutshell, for most gaming PC builds it's not necessary to do this, as many RAM modules that aren't actually on the QVL will still work just fine. So 9 times out of 10 you will be just fine if you just check that your memory type/size/speed is supported by your motherboard (which PCPartPicker does for you), and there's no need to restrict the RAM you select for a PC build to only those on the QVL.

However, checking the QVL is generally not important - until it is. While rare, there is always the chance that you get unlucky with a certain combination of RAM and motherboard and encounter issues by not sticking to the QVL. It's a bit of a grey area, with different opinions on the matter, but based on my own perspective, the general consensus among most builders is that it's not necessary for gamers to worry about the QVL unless you're building a server-type PC etc. But problems can occur, and if you want to be extra extra careful, you may want to consider sticking to officially listed RAM for any given motherboard.

How Accurate is the PCPartPicker Estimated Wattage?

Accurate enough, but it's only a general estimation of the power your system will use, and so you should think through the power needs of your system yourself. Same thing goes for any power calculator. For example, a power requirement calculator like PCPartPicker's may tell you that your parts-list will only use up to 450 watts, but let's say you have a GPU that has an officially listed minimum PSU requirement of 550 watts by the manufacturer.

In this case, if you got a 450 watt unit you could be in trouble, so always check the manufacturer's specs. Plus, don't forget to always factor in any extra power requirements you might need now or later on (upgrades, overclocking, etc).

See Also: How to Choose the Right Power Supply

Does PCPartPicker Include Every Component Out There?

Most, but not all. For example, sometimes a brand new release won't be included in their database. Plus, the tool does not include custom water cooling parts such as EKWB pumps, radiators, water blocks etc (popular when building a water cooling PC), or other lesser-known niche products for more complex/custom systems. This is totally understandable; can you imagine the complexity of including such calculations in a software tool? I used to be an avid programmer in my teens, but my brain hurts just thinking about it.

PCPartPicker is a great PC building tool you can trust for checking most compatibility issues. While not perfect, there's no more reliable and accurate software tool out there right now for checking hardware compatibility. But ask any other experienced PC builder and they'll tell you the same thing: do not rely solely on any one tool or resource, and use your own judgement and do your own checks if you're unsure about anything.

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