About PCSmithy

PCSmithy is an independent site built and run by Hadrien, a long-time PC builder. It is not a storefront and not a company blog: it is one person's tool, opened up for anyone to use for free.

Why this site exists

I have been building my own PCs, and my family's, for over 20 years. Two problems came back every single time. First, compatibility: does this cooler clear the RAM, does this GPU physically fit the case, is the power supply actually enough. Second, the sheer time it takes to compare parts against each other before you can even start.

PCSmithy is my answer to both. The goal is a tool that is simple and fast to use, and that gives sound advice to people who do not have deep hardware knowledge, without making them read a dozen forum threads first.

How the builds are made

• A hand-checked catalog. Every part in the catalog has been reviewed and its specifications filled in, so the tool reasons on real numbers, not on a scraped product title.
• A deterministic compatibility engine. Socket, chipset, RAM type, cooler height, GPU length, case clearance, power draw and connectors are checked by fixed rules written in code. That check is not left to the AI, and it runs again on the server before a build is ever shown to you.
• AI for the assembly and the explanation. A language model picks the parts within your budget and your stated use, then explains the trade-offs. You get three distinct builds compared side by side, not a single take-it-or-leave-it answer.

How the site makes money

PCSmithy is free to use. When you follow a link to a retailer and buy something, the site may earn an affiliate commission on that purchase, at no extra cost to you. That commission never changes which parts get recommended: the selection is driven by the budget and the compatibility rules, not by the payout. There are no manufacturer partnerships and no paid placements. Full details on the Affiliate Disclosure page.

What this tool does not do

Estimated prices. Prices shown are estimates and change constantly. Always check the current price and availability at the retailer before you buy.

You still assemble the PC. PCSmithy picks parts that fit together, it does not build the machine for you. Putting a PC together yourself asks for a bit of comfort with hardware and patience. If you have never done it, watch a full build video first, there are excellent ones online that walk through every step. If that is not for you, take the parts list to a shop or a friend who has done it before.

Advice, not a guarantee. Recommendations are generated automatically and can be wrong. Treat the result as a well-informed starting point and sanity-check anything critical before spending money.

Contact

Questions, mistakes to report, or feedback on a build: hello@pcsmithy.com. Real messages get a real answer.