Important Things to Consider Before Buying a Gaming PC

Cost, graphics card, processor/RAM, and hard drive are the first things to look at.

You can play the most recent games at high resolutions and with great visuals on a gaming PC, which is one of the best ways. You have to think about a lot of different things when you buy one.

If you want to buy a gaming laptop and PC, this buying guide will help you figure out which one to buy based on your needs, budget, and tastes.

What Is a Gaming PC?

It is true that at its core, a gaming PC is just a computer, but it isn’t like most other computers. While most PCs can run office software, browse the internet, and do basic photo or video editing, they can’t run more than simple games at low resolutions. This is because most PCs aren’t powerful enough to run more than simple games at low resolutions.

To play today’s level of games on your PC, you need to choose a gaming system with hardware that is only for gaming. Regular PCs can run some simple or older games, but to play the most up-to-date games, you need a graphics card and more powerful hardware. In today’s top-tier games, the computer has to do some of the most complicated things it can do.

See Also: Best Gaming Laptop of 2022

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Gaming PC

You need to think about a few things that aren’t the same as when you buy a normal computer. There are a lot of different kinds of gaming PCs out there.

There are a lot of things you need to think about before you buy a new gaming PC:

• Cost
• Graphics Card
• Processor/RAM
• Hard Drive
• Out of the box or custom?

How Much Should a Gaming PC Cost?

It’s possible to spend $500 on a cheap gaming PC and $5,000 on a high-end gaming PC. Finally, it’s up to you and what you can afford to decide how much you want to pay.

It is more likely that you will buy high-quality parts if you spend more money on them That means a gaming PC will last longer, so it’s a good idea to spend a little more money upfront to be safe in the long run.

However, that isn’t always possible. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can still make a good investment and get a good PC for gaming.

Price Range	What You Can Expect
$500 – $1000	Can handle games that don’t involve high-end graphics and older games. Best for users who don’t need to play games at high resolutions or quality levels.  Note: Not suitable for the games like Forza Horizon 5, Cyberpunk 2077, or Control.
$1000 – $1500	Able to play the latest games, but you might need to lower resolutions to 1080p and reduce detail levels so they don’t stutter. This range is best for those willing to compromise or keen on playing older games with lower requirements.
$1500 – $3000	Able to play the latest games at a high resolution, including 4K gaming. Best for players who don’t want to scrimp on image quality by spending less.
$3000 – $5000	Able to play the latest games and ready for future games with higher requirements. Best for players with a lot of spare cash.

Most people can get the best gaming PC for between $1,500 and $2,000 in the middle two rows of the chart if they buy it at the right time.

What Kind of Graphics Card Should a Gaming PC Have?

The most important part of any gaming PC is its graphics (video) card. What makes it possible for you to play games at high resolutions and with as many graphical features turned on at the same time is the heart of what is called “graphics cards.” They’re also one of the most pricey parts out there.

Look for:

• A card is suitable for playing at 1080p resolution at a minimum with 4K resolution being an option depending on budget.
• The most powerful GPU processor you can afford.
• The most GPU RAM you can afford.

AMD and Nvidia are two companies that make graphics cards. With the RTX 30-series of graphics cards, Nvidia has the best graphics cards right now. As long as money isn’t an issue, the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is the best graphics card. You’re more likely to see the GeForce RTX 3060 or 3070 range when you buy a gaming PC.

If you want to play games at 4K resolutions or with high or ultra-high graphics settings, the RTX 30-series is usually the best choice for most people.

Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you should keep an eye on AMD. The RX 6000 Series is worth looking into. These cards are good for playing games at 1080p resolutions and with a little less attention paid to the graphics. Most games can run at 1080p or lower if you’re willing.

The most recent Call of Duty games and Final Fantasy XIV will be scaled down to 1080p. Cyberpunk 2077, on the other hand, may stutter a little on low-end cards. It’s easy for games like Fortnite to grow in size, so most computers will be able to play them, too.

In either case, it’s important to pay attention to the model number!

A 20-series GPU card usually costs about $300 less than a GeForce RTX 30-series card on its own, but if you buy a desktop computer with a GeForce RTX 30-series card, you can expect to pay about $200 more. Prices are always changing because there are still shortages of microchips all over the world.

This is the last thing you should do. Check to see how much memory is on the card. One that has 12 GB of RAM is likely to be better than one that has eight. GPU RAM, also known as VRAM (video random access memory), is a type of RAM that only helps your computer’s graphics card. It doesn’t help any other parts of your computer.

In contrast to regular RAM, you can’t add more to it at a later time. More VRAM means that your graphics card can get to things like game textures and other effects more quickly than if it had less of it.

Which Processor and RAM Should a Gaming PC Have?

People who want to buy a gaming PC can choose between Intel and AMD. Now, the best processors for games depend on how much money you have to spend. Like with graphics cards, the more cards there are, the more processing power there is.

There is a part of your computer called a processor, or “CPU.” It’s the brain of your computer. It interprets and then does most of the things that happen on your screen. Its speed and cores affect how quickly it runs and does its jobs.

Cores are processors inside of processors. Most CPUs have four to eight.

A lot of computer RAM is like VRAM, but it doesn’t help with your graphics card’s processor. Instead, it helps the main CPU. The more RAM you have, the better your computer can find and use temporary information, which will speed up and improve performance.

It’s important to have 16GB of RAM. The average PC can do a lot of things at once with 8GB of memory, but when you’re playing games, you’ll need at least 16GB because games are more demanding than browsing the web or using office-related software, so you’ll need a lot more memory.

When you have at least 16GB of RAM when you play games, you can rest easy knowing that your system won’t slow down when it needs to load new data for a fast-moving game.

RAM isn’t the same. Check the speed and type of RAM. DDR5 is the most up-to-date and fastest RAM, but many systems still use DDR4 instead. Keep away from anything that doesn’t have DDR4.

If you have an Intel processor, you need the RAM to run at 3,200 MHz for the best performance. If you have an AMD processor, you can run it at 3,600 MHz. Having less RAM will still work, but your computer might run into a problem as it tries to process all of the information, and your computer’s performance might be slowed down by it.

For high-end gaming, AMD also has the Ryzen 9 series. The Ryzen 5 series is what you’re most likely to see in a gaming PC.

It’s also possible to choose between Intel’s i9 range for high-end gaming and the more affordable i5 and i7 ranges for more affordable but still very fast gaming. Keep your eye on the higher numbers and the most recent processors from both Intel and AMD, and you’ll be fine, even if the world of processors changes quickly.

What Type of Hard Drive Should a Gaming PC Have?

Most gaming PCs have Solid State Drives (SSDs) as their storage method, which is better than a hard drive. If you see one that only has space on the hard drive, don’t buy it. The only time this isn’t true is if the gaming PC has both SSD storage and a hard disc drive (HDD).

You can speed up your gaming PC by using SSD storage, which is one of the most simple ways to do this. Using SSD storage, your computer can read files more quickly and load games faster for you. This, in turn, makes your computer run better.

If you want to buy as much SSD storage as you can, it’s very important to do so. Some gaming PCs only have 256GB of SSD storage. With the most recent games like Call of Duty: Vanguard taking up more than 100GB of space, you won’t be able to install many games at once, so you’ll have to buy a new computer. Instead, you’ll have to uninstall games all the time to be able to play different games at different times.

It can take a long time to reinstall games because most of them are available digitally or require a lot of work to fix. You also need to make sure there is a lot of room for the patches above to grow and install.

Should I Build My Own Gaming PC?

In fact, many people build their own gaming PCs. It is possible to do, and many people do it. When you build a PC, it’s kind of like building a more complicated version of LEGO with electrical parts.

In order buy parts that work together, it can be hard. It takes a lot of research to buy all the right parts unless you buy a bundle deal from a store that has a lot of different parts that work together. Also, there’s the rising cost of living.

Once, building your own PC was cheaper than buying a ready-made one. But those days are over, with parts like a graphics card sometimes costing more than a whole gaming PC tower.

Who Should Buy a Gaming PC?

Gaming PCs are good for a few types of people in society. They will get the most benefit from them.

• Casual gamer: A gamer who likes a few games very much. They don’t want to spend a lot of money on a gaming PC, but they’re really into one or two fun games they know well, like an MMO or a free-to-play game like Fortnite or Apex Legends. At this point, it might be worth it to buy a cheap gaming PC to make the games better.
• People who game more than 20 hours a week: You can use a computer instead of a game console to play games. This means that a gaming PC gives you a lot of choices when it comes to games. Often, PC games are cheaper to buy than console games.
• Streamers: A gaming PC that can play games quickly and at a good quality level is needed to stream games on Twitch and other networks. When a streamer can’t get to the game they want to play, no one likes to see it.
• Home workers: It’s likely that you already have a computer that you need to do your job if you work from home. A gaming PC means that you can do both works and play at the same time. This means that your computer can do everything you need during the day and switch to game mode at night.
• Experienced gamers who like to mod: People who play games on a computer can usually make or change games more easily than people who play on a console. This is one of the benefits of playing games on a computer. Add more to your favourite game with cheap or free mods.

What Should I Do After I Buy a Gaming PC?

It will be easy to set up your new computer if you’ve used a computer before. Once you move your files over from your old computer, it will be easy. What else should I do after I buy a gaming PC?

1. Buy a new monitor: There aren’t many gaming PCs that come with a monitor, so you’ll need to buy a new one. Check out the best gaming monitors that you can afford, and don’t cut corners on costs when you can. A normal monitor will work, but a gaming one is better because it has better refresh rates and input lag, which means there is no risk of motion blur or a picture that looks bad for a short time.
2. Buy new peripherals: It also needs a new keyboard, mouse, headset, and, if you want to play games, a games controller. You may already have these things (games console controllers work well), but now is a great time to get a new one. A headset is only necessary if you want to talk to your teammates or if you want more immersive sound. Most gamers should buy a gaming keyboard and mouse. Many gaming mice have buttons that can be programmed and faster speeds. In games that move quickly, a mechanical gaming keyboard is more responsive than a membrane-based one. This can make a big difference when you’re typing quickly.
3. Find a suitable living space for it: Make room in your den, study, or living room for the new gaming PC. You can do this by moving things around. Tidy up some wires, so the new setup is ready for the new rig when it comes.

More Tips for Buying a Gaming PC

Before you buy a gaming PC, there are a few other things you might want to think about.

• Do you need a gaming PC: No, because I don’t have time to play games. If so, do you already own a computer that can play the games you want to play? People who play games on a computer might not need one of these things. Do not buy one just because it is cheap. A good gaming PC costs a lot of money
• A gaming laptop might be a better choice: If you want to play games on the go or have limited space at home, a gaming laptop could be a good option. Sometimes, a gaming laptop is more expensive than a normal computer for playing games. However, it is still very convenient because you can take it with you.
• Don’t forget the aesthetic: If you want to play games on your computer, you don’t have to have a black tower of hardware. These days, you can add RGB lighting and cool windows to your PC so you can see what’s inside of it. Look for one that fits your style and is right for you.

Frequently Ask Questions

How do I build a gaming PC?

Assembling your own computer is an alternative to buying one that lets you choose everything from the start, including memory, processors, and the look of the computer. You’ll get a basic case first, then buy the parts you need (like a logic board, memory, and a CPU) and put them in.

How do I optimize a PC for gaming?

Most of the ways to make a PC run games better involve making it faster or more powerful. To make a big change, you can add more memory and change the graphics card and drivers for your computer. You can also make some changes without having to buy more hardware. Check out Task Manager, clean up startup and shutdown items, and overclock your computer to get more performance out of the hardware you already have, to make your computer run faster.

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