Buying a dedicated gaming PC puts you at the front line in conquering the toughest AAA or eSports games. However, simply buying any gaming doesn’t guarantee high-end graphical performance in any game you play on your PC. Before investing in your first gaming machine, there are 6 key factors to consider. The question widely asked is “What hardware to install in a gaming PC?” Whether to build your own gaming PC or buy a prebuilt one? When is the best time to buy a gaming PC, and where to purchase it? This guide will answer all of these questions in detail.
What Factors To Consider Before Buying a Gaming PC?
The 6 factors to consider before buying a gaming PC are mentioned below.
1. CPU
Whenever newbies ask me which part of a gaming PC to invest more money in, my answer is always the “CPU” or Processor. When you play or launch a specific game, it’s the CPU that has to do the calculations and pass instructions to your GPU (Graphics Card) to create visual images.
Therefore, prefer a gaming PC with a powerful CPU. Generally, there are 2 CPU brands to choose from, the Intel and AMD.
One of the biggest decisions for beginners at this stage is choosing between Intel and AMD. While both brands are renowned for producing high-end CPUs for gaming, some key differences mentioned below set them apart.
- Choose an Intel CPU If: You need a CPU with a higher clock speed for high-end gaming performance. Intel CPUs are good for high-end AAA games where FPS (Frames Per Second) matters the most.
- Choose an AMD CPU If: You want to save money (AMD CPUs are cheaper than Intel CPUs). AMD CPUs serve as a better option for multitasking as they come with more cores/threads. AMD processors are ideal if you want to play games in low-medium settings.
Gamers who are new to PC gaming believe that getting more cores/threads on a CPU boosts gaming performance, which is wrong. Although, modern games are designed to advantage of multiple cores on a CPU, they do not occupy more than six cores.
2. GPU
GPU acts as the backbone of gaming PC. A 2GB video card was once sufficient for demanding games. However, modern video games demand more VRAM to create visuals at higher resolution. For casual gamers, a 4GB graphics card is sufficient. To play at high settings such as 1440p or 4K, choose an 8GB graphics card.
There are two main GPU manufacturers, Nvidia and AMD. Nvidia offers superiors perfromance over AMD due to advanced game scaling tech. AMD on other hand is usually preferred by gamers low on budget.
Nvidia is leading the GPU market by offering innovative features like ray tracing and DLSS in their RTX GPU line-up. The inclusion of ray tracing and DLSS in Nvidia RTX cards results in real-life gaming experience in the games that support this technology.
3. RAM (Memory)
More RAM on a gaming PC enhances gameplay, enabling smoother multitasking, faster data retrieval, and reducing lag during intense gaming sessions. A higher amount of RAM loads larger game worlds and assets quickly, ensuring a seamless experience.
Install at least 16GB of RAM for smoother gameplay and multitasking. Prices of RAM have dropped significantly in recent years, thus more RAM will not strain the budget you set for building a gaming PC.
4. Storage
According to a study conducted by IGN.com, get at least 1TB of storage space for gaming. Modern PC games require large storage on a computer. In the past, 40 GB of storage was sufficient for hundreds of PC games. Currently, titles such as Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War require at least 125GB of free space to install.
There are 2 main types of storage devices, the SSD and HDD. SSDs are faster than traditional HDD drives in loading games and other programs. The next generation of SSD is NVMe drive, which offers superior performance over previous drives.
Advancing from SSDs to NVMe drives improves the data transfer speeds, reducing load times and improving overall system responsiveness.
5. Motherboard
The motherboard is the main platform that holds the computer hardware in one place. The communication between the hardware on a computer takes place via slots and circuits present on a motherboard.
Motherboard are divided into 3 main types listed below.
- Standard ATX
- Micro-ATX
- Mini-ITX
The table below compared the motherboard types, their best use cases, and upgrade options:
| Motherboard Type | Best For | Upgradability |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ATX | High-performance gaming and workstations | High upgradability with multiple slots for GPUs, RAM, and storage |
| Micro-ATX | Budget builds and compact gaming setups | Moderate upgradability with fewer expansion slots than ATX |
| Mini-ITX | Compact and portable builds | Limited upgradability due to space constraints, often only one expansion slot |
6: PSU
PSU or Power Supply Unit is the powerhouse of a PC. It is responsible for powering all the components connected on a motherboard.
In a standard gaming PC with a dedicated graphics card and high TDP CPU, the power requirement typically ranges between 350 to 500 watts. The demand for stable power supply increases if you are building a high-end gaming PC with multiple storage drives, and advanced cooling systems, may consume over 800 watts.
It is crucial to choose a power supply which meets system current needs and supports future upgrades. Checking the power efficiency rating (e.g., 80 PLUS certification) ensures stable performance and lowers energy costs.
Should you buy a prebuilt gaming PC or build a new one?
A pre-built gaming PC is best for gamers who are new to PC gaming world. Choose trusted gaming PC brands such as Alienware, NZXT, HP, etc to buy your first gaming PC.
Once you are confident enough about how different gaming PC parts affect your gaming performance, you may then learn about building your gaming PC.
Building a new gaming PC isn’t a skill, rather it’s a hobby or fun learning activity that anybody learns by showing little interest. It is cheaper to build a gaming PC rather than buying a pre-built.
I’ve written an entire guide about prebuilt vs custom-built gaming PCs showcasing the main differences and which one to choose.
Where Is the Best Store to Buy a Gaming PC?
Listed below are the best stores to buy a gaming PC.
- BestBuy
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Newegg
- PC Part Go
What Is the Best Time of Year to Buy A Gaming PC?
The best time of the year to buy a gaming PC includes Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Day, and New Year sales.
1. Black Friday / Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best events to buy a new gaming PC under $500 to $1000 range. You may get the best deals on a new or old gaming PC alongside hardware components at these events. Dell and HP tend to offer a heavy discount on their gaming machines at Black Friday and Cyber Monday events.
- Upcoming Black Friday 2024: 29th November
- Upcoming Cyber Monday 2024: 2nd December
2. Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day is the best time for you to buy an old or new gaming computer. Prime Day takes place every year in July and you expect a huge discount on gaming PCs and related components during this event.
3. New Year Sales
With the start of the calendar year, manufacturers try to clear out the old stock through flash sales. Vist any gaming PC manufacturer’s website to buy old gaming PCs at a low price.
4. New Hardware Launch
The prices of old PC hardware drops significantly whenever a new hardware is launched on market. For example, with the launch of Intel’s Raptor Lake chipset, the price of Intel Alder Lake CPUs cut down to a significant level.
Mosaab Jamal Ahmed brings 12+ years of PC Hardware experience to the table. His journey began in 1998 with a Pentium 1 PC, igniting his lifelong fascination with computer hardware and video games. Over the years, Mosaab has honed his skills in upgrading and building gaming PCs. He has built dream gaming machines for multiple brands and local businesses throughout his career. Mosaab’s areas of expertise are building custom gaming PCs, in-depth PC hardware analysis, and PC hardware reviews.