# How We Pick Parts

How We Pick Parts

Updated September 30, 2026
## The budget rule

If a price jump pushes a list over its budget, we step down the case, then storage, then the cooler to a cheaper pre-checked option. If new parts still do not fit, the page says so at the top and shows the closest build with how far over budget it is.


## Parts out of stock

The Stock column shows what Amazon reported at the last check. A part that goes out of stock is replaced by a pre-checked backup within 48 hours: it leaves the build after two checks in a row show it out of stock, at least 24 hours apart. A part also leaves when its price rises more than 15% from the price it had when we added it.


## Nightly price checks

Prices and stock for every part, and for every backup part, are read from Amazon each night at 06:00 UTC. The page shows the date of that check. The price on Amazon at checkout is the one that applies.


## Swaps are pre-checked by a person

For each budget and slot we keep a short list of backup parts. Each one is checked by hand against socket, memory generation and the board maker's memory list, BIOS support, power supply wattage and connectors, graphics card length, cooler height and case size. The nightly script only picks from that list; it never decides compatibility on its own. The CPU and motherboard are never swapped automatically.

Every swap is written to the Recent changes block on the page. A part that comes back in stock does not replace its substitute for at least 7 days, so lists do not flip back and forth. The Updated date moves only when a part changes, stock changes, or a price moves by $5 or 2% or more.


## Where FPS numbers come from

We do not run our own benchmarks. Each frame rate on the site is an average from a published test of the same graphics card, labeled as an average, with the source, the test processor and the month shown next to it. If we have no source for a game and resolution, we show nothing.


## About

BuildSheet publishes complete PC parts lists by budget and keeps them current. We earn a commission from Amazon when you buy through our links; it does not change what you pay.


## Contact

Found a wrong price or a better part? Write to the address on our contact page.