Though a gaming PC consists of hardware as well as software, the backbone of every machine is the hardware components you choose. As such, to make a good gaming PC, you need to pick out the right components to meet, or even exceed your gaming needs. Here are the components you need to make a good gaming PC.
CPU
Your CPU is arguably the most important aspect when it comes to building a good gaming PC. You want to get a processor that will be able to handle the games you want to play without spilling too much of your budget. Some modern gaming processors include Intel’s latest 10th Gen and AMD’s Ryzen series processors. You also have to consider the number of cores you need and whether or not you’d like to get a processor with integrated graphics or use a dedicated graphics card for it.
Motherboard
Your motherboard is the foundation for the components you choose for your gaming PC. It determines which processor, memory, and other components you can use in your build. You will also need to decide between a variety of factors like the chipset, formfactor and other features like built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB ports. An important aspect to consider is the number of PCIe slots available as a higher number could give you more options to add future components.
Memory
Having enough RAM ensures that your game doesn’t suffer from lags. It also helps with multitasking, allowing you to multitask while gaming.You’ll want to choose the right type of RAM; DDR3, DDR4, or DDR5, and the right amount. Typically, 8GB is an industry standard for gaming, but if you want to be able to stream or run more applications at once, 16GB might serve you better.
Graphics Card
A gaming PC just isn’t a gaming PC without a good graphics card. There are a wide range of choices when it comes to GPUs for gaming. You need to pick one according to your budget and the type of games you are playing. AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce are the two major GPUs on the market, each offering their own suites of graphics cards.
Case & Power Supply
Your case is the shell that your components go into and should offer you enough space for the components you choose. Make sure it offers adequate cooling and preferably has dust filters. It should also have the right ports and connectors that you need. For the power supply, you’ll want to get a unit that can accurately provide enough power to all of the components your build requires.
Storage
Having a good storage system is important for gaming. You need to choose between HDD and SSD storage. SSDs are faster and quieter than HDDs and provide much faster loading times for your games. Choose an HDD if you have lots of files and documents to store.
Optical Drive
An optical drive is no longer a necessity in modern gaming PCs, though you might want to consider adding one if you need to access physical discs or if you require to burn discs. Blu-ray drives, DVD drives and CD-ROM drives are the three types of optical drives that you can choose from.
Peripherals
Having the right peripherals can also help enhance your gaming experience. You need to select a display, keyboard, and mouse that fit your gaming needs. Factors like display resolution, size, refresh rate, type of input on the keyboard, number of keys, and type of sensor on the mouse are amongst the things you need to consider when picking out peripherals.
Heat Sink & Fans
Heat sinks and fans help keep your system cool during gaming sessions. Heat sinks are designed to transfer heat away from the CPU, while fans can be an efficient way to help air circulate to both components and the case. You’ll need to pick the right cooling system that fits your budget and specific needs.
Expansion Slots
Expansion slots allow you to upgrade and add more components to your gaming PC. The type of expansion slot you might need depends on the component you want to add. For instance, a graphics card requires a PCIe slot, while a sound card requires a PCI slot. If you want to add additional components, you need to make sure your motherboard supports those expansion slots.
