For some it may be a key element of the computer for others it is just an accessory used to display LCD screen. So, simplifying graphics cards can be divided into two groups. The first is the graphics integrated with the processor such as Intel UHD 630 or simple graphics like Nvidia GT 710 or Nvida Quadro NVS 510. Generally they are used to display screen, decoding 4K video material, etc. In any case, their computing performance is low, although properly support even several monitors or multimedia applications.

The second group are dedicated graphics cards on PCIe. They are characterized by high computing power (several or more times greater than UHD630). In some applications they can even support calculations very efficiently. And of course games – in this case, good graphics is the basis of successful play. Here we can choose Radeon RX 560 4 GB , Radeon RX 6600  or 6600 XT 8GB . Card recommended for apps such as FinalCutproX , DaVinciResolve and wherever there is the possibility of using GPU for rendering.
 And so far our fastest graphics under MacOS are :  Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB and Radeon RX 6900 XT 16 GB . Due to the dimensions and power consumption available only  in “larger” computers. Recommended for professional applications where price is not a priority.

        The standard size of memory in our computers is 16 GB. Recently we hear from the Apple company  that 8 GB is enough and 16 GB is already the ultimate. How is it really? Well   8 GB may be sufficient for most home applications. Even on 4 GB you can work. But the difference between 8 GB and 16 GB is about 50 $. In the Apple store upgrade from 8GB to 16 GB cost about 250$ … You already understand why it is not really worth buying a new computer with 8 GB of memory even if it will not be immediately used.

Professional applications may require more memory . Some of course and depending on the complexity of the project on which we work. That is, 3D rendering , video editing, graphics. Here it is better to have 32 GB and maybe even 64 GB. You need to monitor the system to know how much memory a particular application uses.
In Macstorm computers, the maximum memory, depending on the model, ranges from 32 GB up to 196 GB.
In ITX-type constructions (small computers) we have only two memory slots, which means that they are filled as standard and there are no other slots to add memory. Here, for example, if there are two 2x8GB memory modules, then to expand the memory we have to remove them and use 2 x16 GB modules.
When the board is larger, i.e. micro ATX or ATX there are usually four memory slots. In this case  we have two 2x8GB memory modules and we can add another two 2×8 GB memory modules to get a total of 32 GB. Expand to  64 GB, you need to replace all memory modules with 4×16 GB. The memory works in dual channel mode, which means that we should always fill the modules in pairs, otherwise we have a certain decrease in performance.
Newest DDR5 memory in real applications are a bit faster than DDR4 but more expensive.

        A basic component of any computer. In the case of Macstorm, the board is already carefully selected both in terms of performance and compatibility with macOS. So we do not have to change anything here.
However, the only parameter you should pay attention to is the size of the motherboard; because it determines the possibilities of computer expansion. We have ITX, micro ATX and ATX motherboards of different  sizes.
The ITX motherboard is the smallest possible and is mainly used to build small computers. An important thing is the number of memory slots – there are always two memory slots. That is, at the time of purchase, both slots are already occupied because the memory is always filled in pairs. To increase the memory in the future, you simply need to replace the memory modules with larger ones. The maximum amount of memory is limited because of the two slots to a maximum of 64 GB (in older models it was correspondingly less). Another important issue is the number of available PCI Express slots. On the ITX board we always have only one PCI Express x16 slot; usually already occupied by a graphics card. So we are unlikely to add other cards on PCIe. There is simply not enough space.
Micro ATX motherboard. Here we usually have four memory slots. Normally, two slots are occupied and the next two are free, so to add memory you only need to buy two additional memory modules. There is also an increase in the maximum amount of memory to a maximum of 128 GB. More PCI Express slots usually up to four. So we have, for example, 2x PCIe x16 and two PCIe x1. We can install a second graphics card.
And finally, the largest ATX motherboard. When it comes to memory it is the same as for micro ATX.  The maximum amount of available memory is 128 GB or 196 GB (for DDR5). The number of PCI Express slots increases , which means that  up to three  graphics cards can be installed. It is also worth noting that the top ATX boards (Macstorm Raptor are equipped with five  M2 slots for ultra-fast drives.

                Thunderbolt has always been associated with the Mac. You could say it’s sort of a symbol of the Mac. What is its status in 2023? First of all you need to know that Thunderbolt (now version 3) in the technical sense is a PCI Express x4 bus plus DisplayPort.
Relating this to our computers, most of them have a few faster slots PCIex8 , PCIex16 or at least one PCIex16 … 
What we use Thunderbolt for ?. For example  disk arrays. Do we need them in the era of ultra-fast NVME M.2 drives? They are not needed. We can also successfully make a software disk array using SSD or even HDD. Disk arrays made sense some …. two decades ago )
The second application is the external GPU or powerful graphics cards connected via TH adapter. But even our  small ITX computers can use high performance graphics cards.
And finally various Thunderbolt audio interfaces . Bingo ! Well, here there is no way out because no one will change the expensive hardware. The Thunderbolt option is available as standard on Macstorm VIII computers and is probably the best for macOS compatibility. For some models you can use additional TH cards on PCIe. So in summary. Thunderbolt makes sense if you are going to use a specific piece of hardware that is not available in another option. Otherwise, do not buy any TH devices – it does not make sense !

               Without a good and customized power supply, there is no stable operation and all our efforts come to nothing. This is the least appreciated component of a computer. Macstorm power supplies are specially selected for power and other parameters .
So what should an ideal power supply offer? It should have the right power rating depending on the components in the computer. Many cheap power supplies differ significantly from what is written in their specifications. For example, if you buy a 500W power supply, it may actually have 300W… Without going into details, a decent power supply is not cheap. A special feature is …. weight. If you have some power supply  at a mega low price, check how “light” it is, which means that something was saved. It is also not worth going overboard and buying some “monsters” with 1000 watts of power. For example, the 700W power supply in the Macstorm VIII. The maximum load that can be achieved is… 400 to 450 watts. While there are quite a few good power supplies on the market, there is only one choice if you care about silence – BeQuiet.

              It is known that macOS is a very stable system and can work without any problems for years. On the other hand, you can never 100% exclude the possibility of hardware failure in the sense that the disk falls or that “we broke the system” by digging into system files. And here comes the need to have something like a system backup. MacOS offers us Time Machine and Recovery options. However, they all have a drawback: they only work if something else works. And this something is either the MacOS system  or we must have access to Wifi or at least undamaged boot files. This cannot be ! In our computers, a copy of the system always works regardless of the circumstances.
That’s why every Macstorm has an alternative, fully functional copy of the system, which always works regardless of the conditions. You can recover the system to disk, but you can also work on it, because it is a second working system. In extreme cases, even if the system disk is dead, we can recover the system to another disk.
You can easily drink one cup of coffee, that’s how long it takes to recover the system. Without a services visit or wasting time on installation and configuration of the system.