What do i need for a good gaming pc

The processor determines how a system will perform in most software. The processor core count is a major consideration. Options range between two and 16 cores in the mainstream space. Those looking to do a lot of high-powered work may want to aim for eight cores or more instead, depending on how well the software can take advantage of the high core count. A six-core or eight-core chip is plenty for gaming. When it comes to AMD vs. Intel , AMD tends to offer better value throughout the pricing spectrum, providing more cores and much better multithreaded performance thanks to every chip enjoying support for simultaneous multithreading.

The latest Ryzen processors beat everything Intel has to offer across gaming and productivity tasks. Stepping back a generation, however, Intel has an edge in gaming. Most modern games are getting better at utilizing multiple cores at once.

For a deeper dive into the best bang-for-your-buck CPUs, check our out in-depth guide. Model numbers tell you much of the story here, with higher numbered cards typically meaning more performance, though there are some caveats there, and overclocked models from third-party GPU partners can close performance gaps between versions.

If you want to game at p at decent frame rates, you need something more powerful like the RTX or RX from the last generation. One often confusing element of graphics cards is video memory or VRAM. You may find yourself with a choice between two cards that are similar but offer different VRAM amounts. More VRAM does not have a significant impact on overall performance by itself, but it does allow a video card to better handle certain visual features and is a must for higher resolutions.

Though once a great choice for high-end gaming, today, multi-card configurations often run into driver or game support issues that prevent them from unlocking their full potential. The current list of games supporting ray tracing is minimal at best, with support for additional titles in the future expanding, but still far from expansive.

For more tips on GPU buying, check out our guide to the best graphics cards. A good baseline for modern gaming systems is 16GB, especially with how far prices have dropped in recent months. After all, memory is one of the easiest things to upgrade later — and one of the most affordable.

That said, additional memory beyond 16GB merely sits unused. Any money that might be spent on RAM beyond 16GB should instead be put toward a component that has a bigger impact on performance.

Everything running on your PC requires memory, from the operating system to your mouse and keyboard drivers. This is why developers recommend higher amounts so your PC has room to breathe while the game remains active.

One final note about memory: Make sure your configuration comes with at least two sticks. Two sticks will allow you to take advantage of dual-channel memory on most motherboards, which effectively doubles the data transfer speed versus a single stick. A GB SSD is enough to store Windows and most of your games and it will make a huge difference to how your PC feels, as well as how fast your games load. With a decent SSD under the hood, Windows should boot and be ready to use in under 30 seconds.

Games that take a minute to load on a hard drive should be done in 10 to 20 seconds on an SSD. They use a SATA 3. When is it ever really the right time to get a gaming PC? They can cost as much as a used car, without the getting-to-places utility, and can prove as finicky as a large houseplant without the air-cleansing benefits. Hear us out, though.

Gaming PCs are a social play environment. Gaming PCs are channels for passive socializing, a way to stay in touch with homies or make new ones. They use it to hang out and connect again. Covid has thrown much of the manufacturing world into flux. A lot of PC component manufacturers are based in China, which was hit hard by Covid PC shipments have fallen 8 percent this year, according to analytics firm Canalys —the largest drop since Data on PCPartPicker.

Monitor and power supply prices are a little up, and CPUs have had small ups and downs. Overall, nothing major. With so many parts out of stock, getting the specific brand or model of components you want can be challenging.

If you want to spend quarantine looming over a rainbow-lit mechanical keyboard in a dark room playing League of Legends and eating frozen pizza, we are completely behind that.

That is a respectable existence. Most top-level competitive gamers and esports pros play on a gaming PC because it generally means more accuracy, more fidelity, and less lag.

The online multiplayer gaming lifestyle is more inclusive than it ever was. Today, most PC gaming enthusiasts will tell you that 4GB of RAM is the bare minimum since games are becoming much larger and more complex. If you can splurge a little, go for 32GB or more. Consider the subtle factors regarding memory, too. Will you be transferring games from other platforms , like Steam and gaming consoles? That step will require more RAM. In addition to these other compatibility considerations, also look for motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built right in.

In addition to supplying adequate electricity to every part of the build, the right choice in power supply can also make cable management easier through modular designs and other features. To calculate your PSU requirements, multiple the total amps of your chosen components by the volts of all the components. This gives you the wattage your PSU needs to supply. Or, you can use an online PSU calculator to do it. Hard drive disks HDDs and solid-state drives SSDs provide the long-term storage capacity you need for operating systems, photos, documents, videos, game installs, music and all the other media you accumulate in your digital travels.

In fact, if you upgrade just one component on your old PC today, swap your old hard drive for an SSD. SDDs may prove to be more useful for building a gaming PC for beginners or any skill level. Its speed and reliability usually make it a safe option. Spend time thinking about what kind of case you want to live with. Most gamers prefer a full-tower or mid-tower design, both of which are large enough for full-size ATX motherboards.

More experienced builders enjoy the challenge of mini-ITX designs, though these require specially sized motherboards. Pay attention to the primary build materials in your computer chassis. Steel, plastic and aluminum all influence the fit-and-finish, durability and longevity in major ways.

Go with the ones that offer the best protection from dust and damage. Another easy-to-overlook tool is a screwdriver. A magnetic screwdriver will save a world of tedious pain as it holds on to the tiny screws that can get lost during the actual building phase. But as far as gaming PC components go, more or less everything has a place and a function.