I'm usually the first one to advise people to maximize FPS per dollar and build a balanced gaming PC. While that means buying only those components that directly affect the performance of your PC, I'm also someone who appreciates esthetics and convenience in PC building. You might not need an expensive motherboard, but it comes with definite benefits that extend beyond performance. Spending on a good-looking case or graphics card isn't mandatory, but it sure feels great.

These components are only slightly more expensive than their regular variants, but can provide disproportionately greater value to some PC builders. If you value performance, looks, and convenience equally on a PC, then you should consider spending slightly more on some PC components.

6 A premium case

Enhance your rig's esthetics

The PC case is the first thing you see when you look at a PC — it might not be the origin of your PC, but it's where everything ends up. While the basics dictate that your case should be big enough to house your components, have good airflow, and allow for upgrades, there's more to a PC case, right? Spending big on your case is worth it for that premium build quality, extra room to build in, and enhanced looks for your beloved machine.

And you don't even need to spend hundreds for those privileges. Where a decent budget case costs around $60, a premium one can be had for around $100. And for around $150, you can easily get your hands on one of the best PC cases on the market. Dual chambers, removable panels, multiple build layouts, glass panels all around, natural materials, clean designs — you get to pick whatever your heart desires. A small premium is nothing when you're choosing a house for your precious components.

5 A modular PSU

It's just more convenient

These days, it's harder to find a power supply that's not modular, but the budget builders out there trying to save every penny might consider skimping on the PSU. You can save a few bucks by choosing a non-modular PSU, but you're losing out on a lot. For instance, while building your PC, a modular power supply simplifies the number of cables you need to manage. You only use the cables you really need for your components.

Additionally, the build process becomes easier with a modular PSU since the extra cables don't come in your way. Plus, a modular unit allows you to use custom cables of your preferred design to truly personalize your PC. Also, if you ever need to diagnose a hardware issue with your build, opening up your PC and removing a component is far easier with a modular power supply.

4 An SSD with a heatsink

Cover it up

Most of you aren't using a Gen5 SSD yet, so a heatsink isn't strictly required, but it's still worth buying an SSD that comes with one. SSDs with heatsinks look much better compared to their naked counterparts. SSD manufacturers don't really focus on looks when designing SSD, so if your motherboard doesn't already have pre-installed heatsinks for each of the M.2 ports, you'll be left with a mostly ugly-looking drive.

SSDs with heatsinks usually cost only around $10 more than their non-heatsink variants. And for that amount, you can ensure that your storage drives aren't the ones ruining the vibe of your PC. Heatsinks might not be required for Gen4 drives, but they sure don't hurt. Heat is one of the major reasons that could contribute to a drive's early demise, and getting some help keeping it cool is always a bonus.

3 RGB RAM

Lighten up, will ya?

I know what many of you think about RGB, and the "colorful" names you have for it, but hear me out. Besides the case, cooler, and GPU, the RAM is one of the most important visual pieces on any PC. Using a standard non-RGB kit might work for some builds, but most PCs look incomplete without a good-looking memory kit. And no one can deny the effect some clean RGB DIMMs can have on the overall looks of a PC.

RGB RAM isn't even priced like a premium product anymore, so you aren't really wrestling with spending more than you'd like on your memory kit. For around $100, you can get a great DDR5 RAM kit with RGB and enough performance for gaming and other workloads. For those building an all-white or classic dual-tone PC, a pair of white DIMMs can work wonders. You can also opt for non-white designs if your PC's theme matches it.

2 A good-looking GPU

Not the time to save a few bucks

The graphics card is easily the highlight of any gaming PC, both functionally and visually. While you could get the same performance from the cheapest AIB model and the more expensive ones, it pays to be more discerning when buying a GPU. For around $50 or $100 more (in a normal market, unaffected by inflated MSRPs), you can score AIB models that not only come with great designs, but also provide better cooling and lower noise levels.

You don't even need to consider AIB models for some GPUs. Reference designs from Nvidia and AMD often look striking on their own, and they're the cheapest variants on the market. You don't buy a GPU often, so picking one with great looks for a slight premium isn't a big deal, especially if you're already spending around $1,500–$2,000 on a build. With a good-looking GPU, you'll want to mount it vertically to show it off, or install it in an upright orientation, if your case supports it.

1 A white motherboard

Unparalleled sophistication

An expensive motherboard contributes the least towards gaming performance, but if you need a good-looking model, the white-themed variants are your only options; and they're usually more expensive. Still, the impact of a white motherboard on a gaming PC can't be overstated. Compared to standard motherboards with black PCBs, an all-white motherboard looks highly premium, effortlessly standing out from the crowd.

A black motherboard disappears in the background, but a white motherboard reflects more light, fully showcasing its premium esthetics. They might cost slightly more than regular variants, but they're not overly expensive by any standards. For instance, the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX Ice at around $220 is priced similarly to most other B650 motherboards. Spending slightly more on the motherboard makes sense if you're targeting a specific theme for your PC, and if you're fawning over a certain design.

Set aside some of your budget for esthetics and convenience

The next time you're building a PC, ensure you're spending on looks and quality-of-life features as well. Unless you're working on a strict budget, it's always possible to spend a bit on components that might not enhance performance, but make your PC look considerably better. You'll use your PC almost every day, so make sure you craft a machine you're proud to look at.