Recommended Tools

Affiliate Disclosure: PC Fix Hub may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend tools and parts I’ve personally used or tested in my shop. Prices reflect market rates as of May 2026.

1. Laptop Repair Toolkits

A quality screwdriver set is the single most important tool you can own. I’ve used cheap sets that stripped screws on the first job. These are the three kits I recommend at different price points.

KitBest ForBitsPriceLink
iFixit Pro Tech ToolkitProfessional / serious DIYer64 bits~$70View on Amazon
KAISI 136-in-1 KitBudget / occasional use136 pcs~$30View on Amazon
Mahi 48-in-1 SetEveryday laptop work48 bits~$25View on Amazon

My pick: The iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit. Hardened steel bits, best grip I’ve found, and the case keeps everything organized. Worth every penny if you open more than a few machines a year.

2. Cleaning & Thermal Paste

Dust is the #1 cause of overheating. Dried thermal paste is #2. Both are free to fix if you have the right supplies on hand.

ProductTypeBest ForPriceLink
Electric Air DusterReusable compressed airDust removal~$40-50View on Amazon
Thermal Grizzly KryonautPremium thermal pasteHigh-performance CPUs~$10-14View on Amazon
Noctua NT-H1Excellent all-rounderEveryday laptops and desktops~$8View on Amazon
Arctic MX-6Budget pickNon-conductive, safe for beginners~$9View on Amazon
99% Isopropyl AlcoholCleaning solutionRemoving old thermal paste~$10-15View on Amazon

3. Desktop Diagnostics & PSU Testing

Before you replace expensive parts, test the power supply. A dead PSU is one of the most common causes of a “dead” computer, and a PSU tester costs less than $20.

ToolWhat It DoesPriceLink
Klein Tools MM420 MultimeterVoltage, continuity, resistance testing~$40-55View on Amazon
PSU Tester (ATXPOWER)Tests all PSU voltage rails instantly~$15-20View on Amazon
Corsair CX650M PSUReliable 650W modular replacement PSU~$85-110View on Amazon

4. Power Protection (UPS)

A UPS protects your PC from surges, brownouts, and outages. I recommend these to every small business client. If you have a gaming PC or any system with an active PFC power supply, you need a pure sine wave UPS — simulated sine wave models can damage these PSUs.

ModelVA / WattsSine WaveBest ForPriceLink
APC Back-UPS Pro 1500S1500VA / 900WPure sineDesktop workstation~$230View on Amazon
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD1500VA / 1000WPure sineGaming PCs, high-draw systems~$200View on Amazon
APC BE600M1600VA / 330WSimulatedBasic desktop / router backup~$65View on Amazon

5. Small Office Networking

For small businesses and home offices that need reliable managed networking without the enterprise price tag, these are the two ecosystems I recommend most.

TP-Link Omada

Best for most small offices. Cloud-managed, affordable, no subscription required.

  • EAP670 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 AP — ~$90
  • ER7206 Gigabit VPN Router — ~$110
  • TL-SG2210P PoE Switch — ~$80

View TP-Link Omada on Amazon

Ubiquiti UniFi

Best for larger offices or IT professionals. More powerful but steeper learning curve.

  • U6 Pro Wi-Fi 6 AP — ~$180
  • UDR Dream Router — ~$200
  • USW-Lite-8-PoE Switch — ~$110

View Ubiquiti UniFi on Amazon

6. Memory & Storage Upgrades

RAM and SSD upgrades are the two cheapest ways to breathe new life into a slow PC. But you need the right type — laptop and desktop memory are not interchangeable, and DDR4 and DDR5 are not compatible with each other.

2026 RAM Price Alert: DRAM prices have risen sharply due to AI-driven demand. DDR4 32GB laptop kits now run $150-$180 (up from ~$60-90 in 2024). DDR5 32GB desktop kits are $200-$280. Budget accordingly and check current prices before ordering.

Which type of RAM do you need?

Your Device CPU Generation RAM Type Needed Form Factor
Laptop (pre-2023)Intel 8th-12th gen, AMD Ryzen 5000DDR4 SODIMM260-pin
Laptop (2023+)Intel 13th/14th gen, AMD Ryzen 7000/8000DDR5 SODIMM262-pin
Desktop (older)Intel 10th/11th gen, AMD Ryzen 3000/5000DDR4 DIMM288-pin
Desktop (newer)Intel 12th gen+, AMD Ryzen 7000+DDR5 DIMM288-pin (not compatible with DDR4 slots)

Laptop Memory (SODIMM)

ModuleCapacityMay 2026 PriceLink
DDR4 SODIMM 16GB16GB single stick$75-$100View on Amazon
DDR4 SODIMM 32GB Kit (2×16)32GB dual channel$150-$180View on Amazon
DDR5 SODIMM 16GB16GB single stick$100-$140View on Amazon
DDR5 SODIMM 32GB Kit (2×16)32GB dual channel$200-$240View on Amazon

Desktop Memory (DIMM)

ModuleCapacityMay 2026 PriceLink
DDR4 DIMM 16GB Kit (2×8)16GB dual channel$55-$80View on Amazon
DDR4 DIMM 32GB Kit (2×16)32GB dual channel$90-$140View on Amazon
DDR5 DIMM 32GB Kit (2×16)32GB dual channel$200-$280View on Amazon
DDR5 DIMM 64GB Kit (2×32)64GB dual channel$380-$480View on Amazon

SSD Storage

DriveInterfaceCapacityPriceLink
WD Black SN770NVMe PCIe 4.01TB$80-$110View on Amazon
Samsung 870 EVOSATA III1TB$55-$75View on Amazon

Prices last updated May 2026. Amazon pricing fluctuates — click through for the current price before ordering.