u/Glad-Cupcake-4139

Looking at getting a new TV and the 4K 120Hz models cost quite a bit more than the 4K 60Hz ones. I mostly play normal single-player games, shooters sometimes, and some multiplayer but not really competitive.

Does 120Hz actually make a big difference when playing PS5 games, or is 60Hz already fine for most stuff? Also does every game even support 120fps, or is it only certain games/modes?

Trying to figure out if the extra money is worth it before buying a TV. I also see people mention VRR with 120Hz, so not sure if that makes the difference bigger. Is 4K 120Hz something you notice right away, or more of a nice bonus once you get used to it?

Would appreciate some real-world opinions from people who went from 60Hz to 120Hz on PS5.

Thinking about upgrading but dont wanna do it just because Microsoft keeps pushing Windows 11. The PC is mostly used for gaming, browsing, YouTube, Discord and some normal school/work stuff, so wondering if Windows 11 gives any real speed boost in everyday use. Like does it boot faster, open apps quicker, feel more responsive or improve gaming performance at all? Ive also heard some people say Windows 10 feels lighter and runs better on older hardware, while others say Windows 11 is just as fast or even better with newer CPUs. Not sure what to believe tbh. The hardware isnt super old, but its not some brand new high end build either, so dont wanna upgrade and suddenly have everything feeling slower. Also wondering if background processes in Windows 11 use more RAM or CPU compared to 10. If the actual performance is basically the same, might just stay on 10 for now unless there’s another reason to switch. For anyone who has used both on the same PC, did you actually notice a speed difference or was it mostly just the UI changes?

Trying to understand if it’s something worth spending extra money on or if the stock/basic cooler is good enough for most builds.

Right now I’m looking at a CPU that comes with a cooler, but I keep seeing people recommend big tower coolers or even liquid AIOs. Some say a better cooler keeps temps way lower, others say it barely matters unless you’re overclocking.

Does a better cooler actually improve gaming performance or is it mainly about keeping the CPU quieter and cooler? Like if two PCs have the exact same CPU, GPU and RAM, but one has a cheap cooler and the other has a really good air cooler, would there be a noticeable FPS difference?

Also wondering about boost clocks and thermal throttling. Can a decent cooler help the CPU hold higher clocks for longer, or is that mostly only noticeable in benchmarks?

And how much should I care about noise? If a stock cooler gets the job done but sounds like a tiny jet under load, would upgrading to a $40-60 tower cooler be a big improvement?

Not trying to overspend, just wanna know where the sweet spot is.

How often are you actually supposed to replace thermal paste on a CPU? I keep seeing people say every 1-2 years, but then other people say you basically never need to touch it unless temps start getting bad. So now I’m kinda confused lol. Does thermal paste really dry out that fast or is replacing it regularly just unnecessary? Also does it matter what CPU or cooler you have? Trying to figure out if this is something I should be doing as normal PC maintenance or just leave it alone until there’s a reason to replace it.

Is 1080p still good enough for PC gaming or is 1440p basically the standard now? Looking at getting a new monitor and trying not to spend a ton if I don’t need to. Most of the games I play are competitive stuff, so I care more about high FPS and smooth gameplay than having the sharpest image possible. Would a 24 inch 1080p 144Hz or 165Hz monitor still be a solid setup in 2026? I keep hearing 1080p looks kinda rough on 27 inch screens, so wondering if screen size makes that much difference. Also my GPU isn’t some crazy high-end card, so 1080p would probably let me push way more FPS anyway. Is 1440p worth the extra money even if it means lower FPS, or does it mostly matter for single-player games? Not trying to build some insane setup, just want something that looks decent and runs smooth without wasting money. For anyone still gaming at 1080p, do you feel like you’re missing out or is it honestly still perfectly fine? What monitor size and refresh rate would you recommend for 1080p these days? Trying to figure this out before I buy something I regret lol.

Trying to figure out where it makes more sense to spend extra money on a PC build. If you had to choose between getting a stronger CPU or putting that money toward a better GPU, which one would you pick? Mostly thinking about gaming but also some normal everyday stuff, nothing too crazy.

I keep seeing people say GPU matters way more for gaming, but then others say a weak CPU can bottleneck the GPU and cause stutters or bad FPS in some games. So now I’m kinda confused about where the better balance actually is.

Would you rather have something like a mid-range CPU with a really good GPU, or a high-end CPU with a weaker GPU? Does it depend mostly on resolution too? Like would the answer change between 1080p, 1440p and 4K?

Also wondering about future upgrades. Is it smarter to spend more on the CPU now so it lasts longer, or just get the best GPU possible and upgrade the CPU later if needed? Curious what setup you guys are running and if you ever regretted prioritizing one over the other.