u/Capable-Long-4310

Hi all, first-time builder here. I’m trying to understand the compatibility and scalability side before I commit to parts.

Use: Gaming (mostly single-player titles like RDR2, God of War, Cyberpunk, Dark Souls) and programming.

Budget: Roughly $900-1000 USD total. I don’t have a monitor yet, but I already own a keyboard, mouse and headset.

Background and issue: I originally planned a DDR4-based build that would comfortably cover my gaming and programming needs on a tight budget. But the more I’ve read, the more I’ve realized how much goes into this: compatibility, bottlenecks, upgrade paths. Now I’m worried about locking myself into older tech that becomes a dead end in a couple of years, so I’m considering a newer, more scalable platform. The issue is that going newer means paying more for the base of the system, which leaves less for everything else, and I don’t have a monitor yet either. On top of that, I live in a remote area with no trustable PC shops nearby, and I can only buy parts once, on a single trip home, so I can’t easily return or swap anything if I get it wrong. My local market also has limited selection and higher prices than typical US listings, so PCPartPicker prices won’t match what I’ll actually pay. I’m stuck between spending less now on something that works but ages faster, and stretching my budget for room to upgrade, without knowing if the extra cost is worth it at this level.

Questions:

1. At a budget of around $900-1000, is paying more for a newer platform worth it for upgradability, or is a cheaper, older setup the smarter choice for my needs?
2. If I go newer, what should I cut or downgrade to afford it, and what should I never skimp on?
3. How do I avoid bottlenecks between parts now, and what upgrades could I realistically make later without replacing half the system?
4. Since I can only buy once and can’t easily return anything, what compatibility checks should I do beforehand (BIOS support, power connectors, cooler and case clearance, etc.)?
5. Any common first-time mistakes I should watch out for, especially when buying in a market with limited selection and higher prices?

Thanks in advance!

Recently, I bought a new laptop and tried to download some videos on YT so I can watch them later while I travel. When I clicked the three dots next to the video I wanted, there was no download option. Initially, I thought it may be one or two videos due to some reason but I can't download any video regardless of the Youtuber. I can't find any definitive yes or no answer either. Would help if someone can give me a definitive answer and an alternative if it's a yes.