Comment by Aardwolf

> It wasn’t just harder or more expensive. It seemed like every new build was an adventure.

Not sure how it was in the 90's, if it was harder it was probably because the case designs were much worse, but I think PC building is not at its easiest today either and was probably easier in the mid 2000s or 2010's (but, of course, it's still fun!):

- Graphics cards and CPUs are more power hungry, e.g. there's more fire risk from GPU power connectors now

- Graphics cards are also heavier so physical strain and location/orientation matter, some even come with a "card holder" (a little pillar to support its weight)

- There now exists "RAM training" (which can make the first bootup look as if it's failing) and in general compatibility between RAM's max speed and CPUs seems less guaranteed

- I also think RAM memory is a bit more sensitive to be plugged in perfectly in its slots now

- Storage drives now need to be screwed into the motherboard (in sometimes hard to reach places like under the huge CPU cooler) and possibly need heat sinks

- PCI lanes amount feels more limiting now than it used to (multiple storage drives and GPU fighting for bandwidth on the motherboard, limitations like "if you put an nvme drive here and here, then that will be disabled..."), it seems devices outgrew what even top end consumer CPU's have to offer