5 PC Building Trends We've Stopped Swearing By

PC building trends like full-tower cases, all-RGB builds, overclocking, custom watercooling loops, and CPU delidding have fallen out of favor, according to a recent analysis. These once-popular practices are now considered outdated or unnecessary for most modern builders. Compact mid-tower and mini-ITX cases have replaced full-tower cases due to their desk-friendly size and easier building process, while AIO liquid coolers and air coolers have largely superseded custom watercooling loops. Overclocking has declined as manufacturers now push CPUs and GPUs near their limits out of the factory, leading many to prefer undervolting for better temps and longevity instead Excessive RGB lighting, once a trend, is now often mocked as "rainbow puke," though tasteful implementations remain acceptable. CPU delidding, which involves removing the IHS for better thermals, carries high risks like permanent damage and voided warranties, making it unappealing for most users given modern chips' thermal resilience