In 2021, buying a good gaming PC is often thought to be an expensive endeavor. However, there is no fixed amount that can be expected to be spent by gamers on their rigs. Several factors come into play when it comes to determining the cost of an ideal gaming PC, such as the quality of the components, the type of games being played, and the user’s personal budget.
When shopping for a gaming PC, the most important part is to get the best bang for the buck. That being said, the higher-end components come with a premium price tag. Some of the key components to strong gaming performance include a good graphics card, a powerful processor, sufficient RAM, and enough hard drive space.
The graphics card is particularly important, as this dictates the level of visual quality achievable. A strong graphics card can range in price from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand. Additionally, the processor should be well-equipped to handle the most popular games, so choosing one with several cores and high clockspeed is important.
The amount of RAM needed to maximize gaming performance will depend on the games being played, but it’s usually at least 8GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the amount of hard drive space will depend on how many games are being stored. As such, buying an SSD with at least 256GB of storage space is recommended for most gamers.
When all these components have been put together, the final cost of a good gaming PC will be different for everyone. Generally, a budget-friendly gaming PC can cost around $700, while a premium gaming setup can cost anywhere from $1000 to upwards of $5000.
Type of Processor to Consider for Gaming
When shopping for the best processor for gaming, there are several types to consider. Previously, Intel dominated the gaming processor market due to the consistently high performance offered by their latest chips. However, AMD’s Ryzen processors now offer increased performance and a variety of different types to choose from.
Intel’s Core i7 and i9 processors, along with AMD’s Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 CPUs, give the best performance when it comes to gaming. These chips offer high clockspeeds, large caches, and powerful integrated graphics. However, Intel’s Core i5 and Core i3 processors, along with AMD’s Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 CPUs, offer significant performance at a more budget friendly price.
No matter which processor one chooses, it is key to ensure that the cooling solution is up to par. Equipping the processor with a decent heat sink fan (HSF) will help it perform optimally, even when subjected to the most demanding gaming session.
Finding Quality Parts for a Gaming PC
When building a gaming rig, the aim is to find the best components and parts at the most reasonable prices. Fortunately, there are various websites and stores that offer discounts to help gamers save money when buying parts. Additionally, some of the price comparison sites can come in handy when selecting parts, as these sites help to show who has the best deals and deals from multiple online stores in one place.
It’s also advisable for gamers to buy parts from reputable electronics stores and websites. This means that buyers should always double check the warranties and return policies before committing to a purchase. Furthermore, it’s wise to read user reviews about a specific part before buying, as these reviews can offer valuable clues regarding the quality of the item.
When it comes to buying parts from online stores, it’s not just about finding the best prices. Some online retailers may offer cashback and/or extended warranties, which can add significant value to a purchase. Overall, it pays off to research each part before buying to ensure that the components are of good quality and are worth the price tag.
Building a Gaming PC
For gamers who choose to build their own gaming PC, the process isn’t as daunting as it may seem. Before beginning the build process, it’s essential to ensure that all of the desired parts are on hand. Additionally, it’s important to prepare a work station to assemble the gaming PC. This work station should be free of dust, offer enough space for a comfortable work experience, and should have access to a steady power source.
Once the components are ready, the build process can begin. There are several online tutorials and guides that can help with the construction process, so it’s wise to consult these resources beforehand. Before placing a part in its place, it’s important to make sure that it is compatible with the rest of the rig. In addition, once it’s time to power on the gaming PC for the first time, it’s advisable to triple check all of the parts to make sure that everything is connected correctly.
In addition to assembling the gaming PC, it’s key to install an up-to-date operating system and configure it with the appropriate settings to ensure peak performance. Doing this also helps to maximize the return on investment, so double-checking the configuration is essential.
Maintaining a Gaming PC
Securing optimal performance for a gaming PC requires regular maintenance. This includes keeping all the components clean, up-to-date, and well-ventilated. Additionally, it’s important to replace worn parts with new components to ensure that they are running at their best.
It’s also important to keep the gaming PC’s software up to date, as this ensures that the machine is always running the latest and most effective code. While the gamers can always enable automatic updates, they are advised to manually check for updates at least once a month to ensure that nothing important is missed.
In addition to the operating system, gamers should keep the games they are playing updated as well. Patches and updates can often improve performance and fix existing issues, so regularly checking for updates is highly recommended.
Finally, it’s advisable to invest in antivirus software to protect the gaming PC from potential threats. Gamers must also be on the lookout for fake products, as scammers are known to make counterfeit components to scam unsuspecting gamers.
Backup Solutions for Gaming PCs
When backing up a gaming PC, the aim is to keep all the important data safe and secure. There are several options available for this, such as keeping a physical hardcopy of the data, using external hard drives for storage, using cloud storage, or using an online backup service.
Some external hard drives offer up to 10TB of storage, which can store a lot of important information. Meanwhile, cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive offer an unlimited amount of space, which makes it possible to store large amounts of data. Investing in an online backup service is also a viable option, as these provide reliable access to all the stored data with various levels of encryption.
Lastly, gamers should not forget to back up their games too. Steam and other gaming platforms come with options to back up games, but gamers should also remember to create backup images of the game discs for physical copies installed on the gaming PC.
