Are you building a gaming PC for the first time and unsure which parts to include? The most crucial hardware components of a gaming PC are the PC case, CPU (central processing unit), GPU (graphics processing unit), motherboard, RAM, storage, CPU cooler, and PSU (power supply unit).
Additionally, there are optional parts you can invest in, such as a higher refresh rate monitor, gaming mouse, and gaming keyboard.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the different parts of a gaming PC, discussing their importance and guiding you on which ones to prioritize when assembling your gaming computer.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through different parts of a gaming PC. I’ll discuss why these parts are important and which ones to choose when building a gaming machine.
Parts of A Gaming PC
1: PC Case
A PC case (also known as a PC chassis) serves as the base of a gaming PC. You will need a PC case to accommodate bulky hardware like a motherboard, graphics card, PSU, etc.
PC cases are available in various sizes, including E-ATX, Full Tower, Mid-Tower, and Mini-Tower, with the choice depending on the hardware you intend to use for your gaming machine.
Additionally, PC cases come in different styles and colors, some featuring side glass panels for an inside view of your gaming rig.
Ultimately, your selection of a PC case will hinge on personal preferences. Opting for E-ATX or Full-Tower PC cases with side glass panels is ideal for showcasing your gaming PC.
However, I recommend considering a Mid-Tower or Mini-Tower PC case if you’re assembling a low-budget gaming PC to be placed under your desk or in a confined space.
2: CPU (Central Processing Unit)
CPU or processor acts as the brain of your computer. A CPU is responsible for executing all the tasks required for a program to run properly. A gaming PC heavily relies upon a powerful CPU for smooth gaming performance.
Modern CPUs come with multiple cores and threads yielding optimal gaming experience. AAA games these days require you to have at least a six-core CPU for smoother gameplay. Having a multi-core CPU brings more freedom to play games and stream your gameplay simultaneously.
Apart from the multiple cores, the single-core performance of a CPU has a lot to do with the gaming performance. Single-core performance means that the clock speed (measured in GHz) per core should be high enough to execute instructions sent by a gaming program.
Learn about single vs multi-core performance in detail.
While writing this guide, there are two well-known CPU manufacturers, Intel and AMD. Again, going with AMD or Intel is entirely up to you.
I prefer Intel CPUs as they are equipped with higher clock speed per core compared to their AMD counterparts.
3: GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
Building a gaming PC revolves around immersing oneself in stunning visuals and graphics. The role of the GPU or graphics card is to render the 2D and 3D images that you see on your monitor during gameplay.
Alongside the CPU, the GPU significantly impacts the average FPS (frame rates per second) performance. Generally, there are two main manufacturers of GPU, Nvidia and AMD.
Opt for a dedicated graphics card with higher VRAM (video memory) for building a gaming PC. Modern AAA or eSports games require at least 6GB of VRAM on your GPU for smoother gaming performance.
Moving forward, GPUs come with different VRAM memory types, namely GDDR3, GDDR5, GDDR6, and GDDR6X. The higher the memory type, the better gaming performance you can expect from a GPU.
Note: For better gaming performance, make sure you choose a GPU that can keep up with the pace of your CPU. Choosing a powerful graphics card and a weaker CPU would result in a bottleneck.
4: RAM
The role of RAM is to provide short-term memory storage for the CPU to access data quickly when needed. RAM and the CPU work synchronously to ensure that tasks are completed smoothly without any stutter or delay.
There are different types of RAM modules, such as DDR3, DDR4, DDR5, etc. Each upcoming RAM type performs better than the previous one. For example, DDR5 offers a higher clock speed compared to DDR4.
The same principle applies to RAM capacity: the higher the storage capacity of the RAM, the more data it can store for the CPU to access.
Installing more RAM on your gaming PC ensures smoothness and improved frame rates. These days, having at least 16GB of RAM is sufficient to play modern AAA and eSports games.
5: Motherboard
A motherboard is responsible for holding all the PC parts in one place. It acts as a communication bridge between all the hardware installed on it.
All crucial components of a gaming PC, such as the CPU, GPU, RAM, hard drives, and other dedicated cards (LAN, WAN, TV card), integrate into a motherboard.
Like PC cases, motherboards are also classified into different types based on their dimensions. This categorization ensures that the motherboard you purchase for your gaming machine easily fits into the PC case.
The most commonly known motherboard form factors are Extended ATX, ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX. These form factors correspond with the PC case sizes discussed earlier in this guide.
When selecting a motherboard for a gaming PC, ensure it offers plenty of expandability options, such as surplus RAM slots and numerous SSD slots.
Additionally, ensure that your motherboard comes with the latest PCI Express interface to enhance the performance of the hardware you intend to install.
6: CPU Cooler
A gaming PC consumes a lot of CPU resources, resulting in an increased temperature and significant heat generation. A CPU cooler plays the crucial role of dissipating this heat and maintaining the CPU temperature within a safe range to prevent overheating.
CPU coolers are generally categorized into two main types: air coolers and liquid (AIO) coolers. Air CPU coolers are cost-effective as compared to liquid CPU coolers.
When constructing a gaming PC, the choice of CPU cooler depends on personal preference. Air CPU coolers provide efficient cooling to manage rising temperatures on a gaming CPU.
However, when assembling an extreme gaming machine featuring some of the best gaming CPUs available, I recommend opting for an AIO or liquid cooling solution.
7: PSU (Power Supply Unit)
PSU acts as the powerhouse of your gaming PC and without a proper power supply, your gaming PC won’t run at all. PSU supplies the electric current to your motherboard, which then distributes it to your CPU, GPU, RAM, storage devices, network cards, etc.
As we are talking about the most important parts of a gaming PC, that often consume a lot of energy, the high-wattage rating on a PSU cannot be ruled out.
The most power-hungry part of a gaming PC is the GPU, followed by the CPU. The lack of power to your CPU and GPU would impact your overall gaming performance.
For improved cable management, choose modular or semi-modular PSU.
8: Storage
You will need plenty of storage to install game files on your gaming PC. Modern-day games require more than 8GB of space to install necessary game files.
According to DiskPart, you will need at least 500GB to 1TB of storage space if you are a casual gamer. When you plan to build a hardcore gaming PC with a large gaming library, you will need more than 1TB of storage space.
Furthermore, the type of storage device also plays some part in your gaming performance. For example, SSD or NVMe drives are much faster than traditional hard disk drives.
Additional Hardware
Here are some other parts that do not directly influence your gaming performance, but these can help improve your overall gaming experience.
Gaming Mouse
A gaming mouse offers more features when compared to a standard desktop mouse, including dedicated buttons that can be useful when playing AAA games on a PC.
Additionally, gaming mice typically come with high DPI sensitivity, allowing for faster navigation across the screen with less physical effort
Gaming Keyboard
Gaming keyboards are equipped with shortcuts or dedicated buttons to execute various actions during gameplay.
Modern gaming keyboards boast responsive buttons and numerous customization options, providing gamers with enhanced control and flexibility.
Monitor
To fully appreciate the images rendered by your GPU, it’s advisable to use a gaming monitor. A gaming monitor with a higher refresh rate (144Hz or 240Hz) is recommended for AAA gaming or eSports titles.
Editor’s Recommendation:
Mosaab Jamal Ahmed is a seasoned technology enthusiast with a passion for gaming and PC upgrades. His journey began in 1998 with a Pentium 1 PC, igniting his lifelong fascination with computer hardware.
Over the years, Mosaab has honed his skills in upgrading and optimizing PCs with the latest components, ensuring peak performance for gaming and other demanding applications.
Through his insightful articles, Mosaab shares his extensive knowledge on building and enhancing gaming PCs.