There are also many small hardware components such as transistors, capacitors, jumpers, and many other small parts that make different hardware components work well together .
- 10 Things to Consider When Buying a Gaming PC – CPU, GPU, RAM, Monitor, Cooler and More
- CPU
- List Of Most Important Parts Of Gaming PC
- Memory
- Graphics Card
- Storage
- Motherboard
- Power Supply
- Optical Drive
- Cooling
- Some Frequently Asked Questions?
- You May Also Like
- Top 5 Gaming Keyboard and Mouse for PS4 [Level Up Your Gaming]
- Dell Alienware Desktop Computers – Elite Level Gaming
- External Memory For PS4 [BEST CHOICE]
- Processor
- Memory
- Memory
- Motherboard
- CPU Cooler
- Graphics Card (GPU)
- Watch Our Step By Step Guide
- Choosing Your Budget & Understanding Your Needs
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Level
- High-End
- Tools You Need To Build A PC
- Tools & Accessories
- Workstation
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Putting the pieces together
- Focus on what matters to you
10 Things to Consider When Buying a Gaming PC – CPU, GPU, RAM, Monitor, Cooler and More
Buying or building a gaming PC requires planning, researching, comparing and comparing and, if possible, testing your options.
Many novice players wonder whether to buy a ready-made computer or build it on their own. Self-built computers are cheaper, and you have more control over the components of your gaming hardware.
However, the process can be tedious as you have to assemble the parts yourself. If you run into problems with your custom gaming PC, you’re on your own.
With ready-made gaming PCs, you don’t have to buy and assemble components yourself, and you also get technical support from the manufacturer / seller.
Whether you are buying a pre-built computer or you have a custom-made computer, here are the top ten things to consider in order to make the right purchase.
CPU
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of the computer. A good, modern Intel or AMD processor will give you a decent gaming experience. You don’t need a very powerful processor to play. We recommend a 4-core / 4-thread processor as the absolute minimum for entry-level games.
If you’re looking for some decent gaming gear, you’ll need one that will work on the newest and greatest games like Shadow Of The Tomb Raider and Far Cry 5 with average graphics and decent FPS around 60.
When it comes to processors, Intel is considered a better gaming option due to slightly better single core performance. Since most games don’t use multiple cores intensively, only the performance of a single CPU core matters.
However, it should be noted that the difference is very marginal (less than 10% in different tests) and given the better pricing of AMD processors, AMD can also be considered for its price-performance ratio.
Intel processors have better single-core performance than AMD processors, resulting in significantly better gaming performance. With K-series processors, you can also overclock to boost performance even further, if the rest of your hardware components can handle it.
If you’re only looking for the best gaming performance and price isn’t a factor, you can go for the latest generation of Intel processors.
For games, we recommend Core i5-10600K or newer. It is a 6-core / 12-thread 12MB cache processor which is a great option for beginners, novice players as well as competitive gamers.
You may be wondering why we should even mention the Core i5 when the i7 and i9 options are available. As mentioned earlier, you don’t need multiple cores to play. You may want to go for an 8-core / 16 thread processor, but it’s unlikely to improve gaming performance significantly.
Also pay attention to the processor generation. The newer generations have better performance than the older generation processors.
The 7th Generation Core i5 is better than the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Generation Core i7. If you’re going for a Core i7, the minimum spec should be a 7th Gen Core i7 processor. Better yet, go all out and buy a Core i9 if you can afford and want to spend.
AMD processors typically offer more cores and / or threads than Intel processors in terms of price. They also offer more cache, faster memory support, and PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) 4.0. AMD is also your best bet if you plan on building or purchasing a mid-range gaming PC.
If you prefer AMD, there are some great options for you. AMD’s flagship processors are the Ryzen series. For an AMD processor with satisfactory performance, you should look at the Ryzen 5 3600 and above.
Let’s look at the size first. The size you choose will determine the size of the components that can fit in it, which in turn has an impact on the performance of your gaming PC. It will also determine how many fans can be installed to keep everything running smoothly and prevent overheating.
List Of Most Important Parts Of Gaming PC
The central processing unit, also known as the central processor, is one of the basic components of a computer. The CPU usually handles the actual gameplay when you play games. Takes instructions from the mouse and keyboard, starts the game, loads maps and background images, and processes in-game. The CPU performs calculations and then passes them on to the graphics card to finally display these supported items.
Memory
Computer memory, also called RAM memory, stores information or short-term details. This information is constantly used by the CPU. It’s like a temporary storage place where you can store things for a short time. The processor can access information in RAM more quickly compared to the hard disk.
Graphics Card
The graphics card is considered an essential part of the gaming PC. Everything displayed on the screen or monitor comes from the graphics card. It handles the processing and rendering of images received from the central processing unit (CPU) and displays them on the screen. Many graphics cards have features that allow you to handle certain graphics views of your game. Some of the features are image rotation, fine textures, anti-aliasing. It helps the CPU break free from these specific operations, which increases processing time and is handled by the graphics card.
Storage
The hard drive is where many of our games are stored. The processor cannot store a large amount of data. Retrieves data or information from memory and then displays it. We can keep the data by storing it permanently or not.
Motherboard
The motherboard connects all the main components together and creates electrical connections between the main components of the computer.
Speed can be influenced by transmitting information serially (that is, carrying data one by one over a single wire), rather than transmitting it in parallel (information can be transmitted through multiple wires at once).
In order to get a perfect motherboard, optimization is necessary so that speed cannot be limited to transferring information (usually you will be limited by components such as CPU, storage drives or graphics card well ahead of the motherboard).
Power Supply
The power supply does not directly affect the gameplay. However, inadequate power supply can affect the game. To function well, your system must have a reliable power supply.
Optical Drive
Some players require optical drivers (commonly known as a CD drive). The CD is rarely used for installing games these days, but sometimes you have to fix it with a CD. The gameplay is not affected by the disk if you only use it for installation purposes as it can be removed after installation. Your optical drive should be faster because if you are gaming and have a disc inserted at the same time it would slow down your system.
Optical drives are optional, not necessary as people don’t use them widely these days and the industry is moving towards downloading. So most people download games instead of installing them with a disk.
Cooling
Your PC should have adequate cooling as heating is one of the enemies of PC hardware. For gaming, the system needs to cool down as if it is hot this can cause the components to slow down as they automatically start winding up at their speeds to reduce overheating. You should have adequate fans and ventilation for cooling.
Some Frequently Asked Questions?
What are the most important parts of a gaming PC?
The most important parts of the gaming computer are:
- Processor
- Storage
- Graphics Card
- Cooling
- Optical drivers
- RAM)
What components do I need to build a PC?
- Thing
- Motherboard
- Processor [processor]
- GPU [graphics card] (if no integrated GPU)
- [RAM]
- Storage device (SSD, NVME, SSD, HDD)
- Cooling (CPU, Case)
- Power supply [Power supply]
- Display device, Monitor
- Operating system [OS]
- Input devices, mouse, keyboard
How much RAM do i need to play?
8 GB of RAM is the minimum RAM required for any gaming PC.
If your computer has 8GB RAM, it won’t cause any problems while playing games.
How much GHz do I need to play?
A clock frequency of 3.0 GHz to 4.0 GHz is the optimal speed for gaming.
What’s the best gaming processor?
Here is a list of some top brand CPUs you can use for good performance:
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700X.
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200G.
- Intel Core i9-9900K.
- Intel Core i5-9600K.
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X.
- Intel Pentium Gold G5400.
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
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Most modern games are getting better at having multiple cores at once. However, when paired with the same GPU, you will see almost identical performance on all CPUs as the resolution goes up. Therefore, in many cases, you don’t need an advanced processor such as a Core i9 or Ryzen 9 to play.
Processor
The processor, sometimes referred to as the CPU, is the brain of the computer. I would go as far as to say it IS a computer. Without it, your machine wouldn’t work and you couldn’t do anything. However, for a gaming PC, this is not a top priority. Games, especially well-optimized ones, do not burden the processor as much as the graphics card. Typically, the lower the framerate of your games, the lower the CPU load, and that load scales linearly with increasing FPS. This is important because it means you need to be sure paired graphics cards and processors do not hit the so-called CPU bottleneck or the point at which the graphics card waits for the CPU to display frames on the screen.
All Periphio systems have been tested to avoid bottlenecks as much as possible, and all systems currently available use Intel quad-core processors to ensure maximum use of the system’s graphics card.
Memory
Memory does matter, but not as much as the other items mentioned above. The minimum amount of memory, also known as RAM, in a well-optimized gaming PC should be 8 GB by 2020. Anything under 6GB can cause game crashes or even launching heavier titles. Our Periphio Tempest 560 and Blue both have 8GB each, and our Red goes way beyond that by packing 16GB of RAM. Our own testing and third-party testing shows that, at 1080P, the transition from 8GB to 16GB for most games shows no noticeable difference in average frame rates. That’s not to say that it doesn’t help – especially if you plan on recording your gameplay or streaming while you play, having extra RAM can ensure.
Storage, one of the last essential components of any computer, is at the bottom of our list, though it is certainly no less needed than the others. All Periphio machines use a dual-disk configuration and all Periphio machines contain SSD or SSD disks. SSDs, unlike standard spinning hard drives, do not have any physically moving parts inside. For this reason, they are up to ten times faster than standard hard drives and help a lot when it comes to boot times and maintaining a system that is fast and responsive. One disadvantage of SSDs is that they become much more expensive than standard hard drives for larger capacities.
They’re usually good enough for light tasks like word processing and some small games, but whenever you want to delve into heavy graphics tasks like 3D GPU rendering, top-level gaming, video editing, graphic design, and more you’ll need to stock up on into a separate graphics processor .
Memory
A computer’s RAM contains short-term information that is constantly used and used by the CPU. Think of it like a temporary cache / storage location where you put things that need to be referenced frequently. Accessing information in RAM is much faster for the CPU than if it had to access the same information on, say, a hard drive. It’s the equivalent of a bar fridge right next to your couch, so you don’t have to get up to go to the kitchen fridge every time you want a drink.
Your hard drive (or solid state drive that is becoming more affordable and popular) is used for storage and is where most of your game is located – that’s where it got installed on your computer. When you go to a game, the CPU needs to access this information to display it on the monitor. It does this by directly retrieving information from the disk and performing any actions on it. The processor itself cannot store information, so it has to access the same information each time it has to retrieve from the disk. This can slow down performance if the memory drive is slow (and it often is – it’s usually the slowest element in the chain).
Motherboard
Your motherboard physically connects all components together and provides an electrical connection between all major parts. It can also affect the speed at which information can be transferred from one element to another, especially if the information is only transferred serially (think one wire, with one path of motion) and not in parallel (think multiple wires or multiple wires) ways transmitting multiple pieces of information at the same time).
Good motherboards are optimized for the greatest information throughput, so they don’t limit the transfer speed of information (you’re usually constrained by components such as CPU, storage drives or graphics long before the motherboard).
If you’re serious about gaming and want to consider overclocking now or in the future – you should also check if your motherboard (and CPU) supports this feature.
As a kind of inverse to refresh rate, for a PC monitor’s response time to be good, the number must be at the bottom. So, unlike the refresh rate where higher is always better; when dealing with response times, lower is always better.
CPU Cooler
Anything that consumes power also generates heat, and the CPU generates a lot of heat.
This means it needs to be chilled for it to work flawlessly. What do we need to cool the CPU? CPU cooler! 🙂
Some processors, such as the AMD Ryzen Series (e.g the 3900X / 5600X) already have CPU-Coolers included in the CPU Box, but many others, such as the popular Intel i9 12900K, do not.
Make sure you have a CPU cooler that is compatible with your CPU and socket. It’s the same as with the motherboard and CPU socket. The cooler must match the CPU and socket.
Example: Are you planning to purchase an AM4 processor like the AMD Ryzen 5900X? You also need an AM4 motherboard and an AM4 compatible CPU cooler. It’s easy!
Air-cooled CPU cooler Tower, Image source: bequiet
There are two common types of CPU cooling. One is air-cooled tower cooling (seen in the image above) and the other is AIO closed-loop water-loop CPU cooler.
AIO Closed Waterloop Coolers are usually better at cooling overclocked CPUs and CPUs that are hot for long periods of time.
However, AIO devices can be louder (they usually have more fans and additional pump noise) and need more space in the computer case because they are attached to the side of the case, connected to the CPU with water pipes. You can check out our AIO VS Air Cooler Guide to learn more.
The air-cooled CPU cooler in the tower case is great for cooling short periods of performance, is nice and quiet, and usually takes up less space in the case. It is simply placed on top of the CPU where it sits and takes care of cooling.
As different processors come in different sizes and are mounted in different sockets, make sure the Cooler is compatible with the type of processor you will receive.
Many CPU coolers come with different mounting brackets for added compatibility
Graphics Card (GPU)
Next comes the graphics card. Its purpose is to process everything related to visualizations and display these visualizations (images, user interface, GUI) on the monitor.
There are two main types of graphics processors: Integrated Graphics Processing Unit (iGPU) and Discrete Graphics Processing Unit.
Integrated graphics processor is integrated with the processor. This means that some processors already have a built-in graphics chip, and you won’t need an additional GPU to connect a monitor.
While dedicated / discrete GPUs and iGPUs are designed for similar tasks, their performance and size vary considerably
Once your CPU has an integrated graphics chip (such as the Intel i9 10900K processor), you can connect the monitor to the graphics card on the motherboard. The thing with integrated GPUs, however, is that their performance is very limited.
They’re usually good enough for light tasks like word processing and some small games, but whenever you want to delve into heavy graphics tasks like 3D GPU rendering, top-level gaming, video editing, graphic design, and more, you’ll have to obtain a separate graphics processor.
A discrete graphics processor is a graphics processor that is not part of the processor. It comes on its own PCB (like in the picture above), which is then plugged into a PCI Express slot on the motherboard.
Some modern GPUs include the Nvidia RTX generation such as the RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3070, RTX 3080.
The competitor AMD also has a solid offer with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 or 6800XT.
The two vendors, Nvidia and AMD, are fiercely fighting to gain an edge over the others, but at the moment it seems NVIDIA would be the brand to pick AMD if you’re looking for the maximum performance you can get your GPU out of.
All Periphio systems have been tested to avoid bottlenecks as much as possible, and all systems currently available use Intel quad-core processors to ensure maximum use of the system’s graphics card.
Watch Our Step By Step Guide
Before anyone builds a PC, there are a few things to consider. First, you need to make sure you understand your own needs with regard to the components you can afford. After reading this section, you’ll find out if building a gaming PC is right for you (it almost certainly is) or if you should go for a pre-made machine instead.
Choosing Your Budget & Understanding Your Needs
Start by setting a budget. Component prices can vary greatly depending on what you expect from your PC, so you’ll need to consider whether you want to build an entry-level, mid-range, or high-end gaming PC.
What is the difference between these levels? How does each level affect your budget? We’ll cover this in more detail below, but for a brief overview of the estimated budget at each level, please see the table below:
* Note: These prices include chassis and hardware, not gaming peripherals such as monitors, mice or keyboards.
Entry-Level
A budget of $ 300-400 will allow you to build a gaming PC that can run some games (such as esports titles) at low settings, but not enough to build a computer suitable for playing AAA or high-definition games.
This is fine if you want to build a PC specifically for playing older titles, but you have to remember that building a basic gaming PC will severely limit the choice of games you can play as well as the quality of the games themselves.
Spending between $ 500- $ 600 on a gaming PC will allow you to invest in a graphics card or a more powerful processor. This means that you will be able to play some modern AAA games, however you will have to play them with lower graphics settings.
So, while it may be a better choice for anyone working on a lower budget, it’s often a better idea to hold off until you have a little more money to play. You will then be able to build a gaming PC that will provide much better performance.
Mid-Level
If you want to play modern titles and even enjoy the world of VR games, the minimum expenditure will be a budget of $ 600-800. At this price point, higher 1080p graphics settings can be achieved, as well as higher frame rates of around 144+.
You’ll even be able to add multithreading to your PC’s feature list if you opt for an AMD processor. This further enhances the gameplay of some titles and gives you greater versatility in terms of the games your PC can play.
High-End
With a budget of $ 800 to $ 1,000, you’ll be able to build a super-powerful computer that is capable of much more than a regular game. You will be able to purchase components that provide high performance while playing at maximum settings above 1440p.
Spending $ 1,000 plus on your PC will give you all of the above performance as well as allowing you to play games with high definition 4K graphics. Greater workload tasks such as streaming and video rendering will also be easily handled.
As you can see, the minimum budget needed to build your own gaming PC is $ 300. This does give you an entry-level PC, though, so if you want to play modern games or anything with 4K performance you’ll have to put aside a lot more money.
However, this doesn’t include any peripherals like monitors, mice, or keyboards – so it’s also something you need to consider as well.
Tools You Need To Build A PC
As you can imagine, building a gaming PC takes a lot of components. While some are fairly obvious, there are others that you may have never heard of before. This is especially true if you are a complete newbie to the inner workings of your computer!
So what do you need to build a computer? Here, we walk you through all the components you need, as well as the tools and hardware required to properly assemble your gaming PC.
Tools & Accessories
Setting up your workplace and making sure you have the right tools for the job is a critical part of building a gaming PC. Organization is key here. Think of yourself as a computer surgeon who always has everything he needs at hand.
So you will need the following tools:
- Working station
- screwdriver
- Latex gloves
- Antistatic bracelet
- Compressed air
- Organization buckets
Workstation
Start by assigning yourself a clean, transparent workspace. It does not have to be a drastic setup in a temperature controlled environment or walls covered with plastic wrap. Simply in a place where you can work without restrictions and without interruptions.
Make sure your workplace has plenty of light so that you can correctly see the more complex work that you will be doing. It is also a good idea to put an antistatic mat on the work area before starting assembly, as this will prevent electrostatic discharge from damaging sensitive computer components.
Screwdriver
a screwdriver will be your most needed tool during the entire construction process. However, it’s a good idea to have a variety of screwdrivers in your tool kit that vary in length, size, and head shape.
Screwdrivers come in many different shapes and sizes, but some of the most common you’ll need to assemble your gaming PC are:
- Phillips (cross) screwdrivers
- Flat screwdrivers
- Pozidriv screwdrivers
- Torx screwdrivers
- Three-point screwdrivers
Attempting to install any components with a screwdriver that does not fit the screw may result in the computer hardware not being attached securely enough. It can also damage the screw head itself, making hardware removal much more difficult than necessary. If you don’t have a Phillips screwdriver nearby, we recommend the ingenious iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit. That’s more than enough to get you started on your first computer build, including the required Phillips bits and a handy anti-static strap.
Gloves
Keeping all components free from fingerprints and microscopic dirt while assembling your computer is also essential. The best way to do this is to wear a pair of gloves. They also provide better grip for small screws, reducing the risk of dropping them.
However, you need to make sure the gloves are antistatic. Some materials, such as latex, can create a static charge that can damage computer components. White cotton gloves will work best, because they do not create electrostatic charges.
Nvidia graphics cards are available in all budget ranges, from inexpensive to premium. For budget beginners, the GeForce series GPUs are quite suitable, including GTX 1030, 1050, 1650, 1660, 1660 Ti GPUs.
Putting the pieces together
Putting it all together is your motherboard. You don’t want cheap here, but you don’t have to go too expensive either. There are two aspects to consider: socket and chipset. Fortunately, the former is easy. Each processor is manufactured to fit a specific socket – for example, Ryzen 3000 processors use socket AM4 – so just make sure the processor matches the socket on your motherboard. If you are purchasing a pre-built machine, you don’t need to worry about the socket.
The chipset is more interesting. Both AMD and Intel offer different chipsets with different features targeting different prices. For example, Intel’s flagship Z490 chipset supports overclocking, while the cheaper B460 chipset does not. Likewise, the top-of-the-line AMD X570 chipset has more PCIe lanes compared to the cheaper B550 chipset.
Honestly, there’s almost too much to consider between chipsets. For gaming, the big question is whether you want to overclock your CPU. AMD supports overclocking its X-series and B-series chipsets, while Intel only supports overclocking on its X-series chipsets. Otherwise your motherboard will have almost zero impact on performance.
However, there are considerations beyond performance. Manufacturers will include various features on their motherboards, such as better networking capabilities or a better sound chip. Furthermore, motherboards have different levels of expandability (some may only have two slots for RAM, for example). You don’t have to spend a lot on your motherboard, but you should consider overclocking support, expandability, and other features like networking and audio.
For a better insight into choosing your motherboard, read our guide to the best gaming motherboards.
Focus on what matters to you
When setting up your gaming desktop, remember that the gaming ecosystem needs careful balancing. You need to find out what you prefer and what you want from your overall gaming experience and then invest in resources to make it possible.
If you’re having trouble organizing your budget, we recommend that you invest most of your budget in your graphics card and processor. These features will have the greatest impact on improving the look of your game. From there, reliable and high-capacity storage will keep the game running and loading faster. While a sleek design or fancy case would look nice, it won’t affect your gaming experience. More memory has its place, but if there is more than you can use, it won’t do much.
Remember; this investment is entirely up to you, so build a computer that works for you. If the appearance of your computer matters to you, trick it. Light up your computer and make it look amazing. If you prefer overclocking and overclocking, spend some money on a nicer motherboard and a decent cooler. We recommend that you spend most of your money on features that will ultimately improve your device’s gaming features, but the computer should suit your preferences as well.