With about 1,181,019 games available in the market, there's no wonder why you want a high-end gaming PC. A gaming PC is a huge investment, though, so you need to do your research. You need to search on computer specs to understand which suits your budget and goal.
Putting together your first gaming PC is a daunting task, so here's our guide. Read on to learn the essential computer specs for your top-end gaming PC.
Decide Your PC Gaming Goals
Before going on a journey to find the best PC gaming parts, you need to list your goals. Consider how many games you plan to download on the PC. Check if the games you want are graphically demanding or needs a lot of RAM to play well.
If you plan to play older games, you won't need powerful computer specs. However, diving into new games will require a beefier setup. Figure out what you want in your new PC and how to see computer specs, and take note of them.
Do you need to know how to check computer specs? Be sure to ask the employees in the physical store or search their website.
Make a Set Budget
When buying a top-end gaming PC, a budget is what you need. You need to know how much cash you're willing to spend on your new, powerful build. Sometimes, cheaper PC components work as well as the most expensive ones.
Use your goals to make a set budget for your needed components. Find the best parts that fit your budget and maximize performance and savings.
Get a Suitable Processor
The PC's processor or CPU is the heart of your computer, affecting your apps' performance. It handles the gameplay of the games and actions you take on your computer. The CPU will input instructors from your keyboard and mouse, run games, load maps, and process events in the games.
Your options range between 2 and 16 core processors. The four-core chip is the best choice for lower budgets. The six-core chips like AMD's Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel's i5-10600K is another great choice.
The eight-core or higher are great for intensive games and apps, such as AutoCAD or Adobe Premiere. The two best processors you can choose from are Intel and AMD. Intel Core and AMD Ryzen are the most popular and used processor for any build, from cheap to high end PCs.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper and Intel Core X are for the more intense workloads. You can do things like 3D modeling, video production, and stream games with ease. The best minimum processors for most high-end games will work with Intel Core i5 and AMD Ryzen 5.
Find the Right Motherboard
A motherboard is the backbone of your PC, allowing various components to communicate with one another. It connects all your pieces, providing an electrical link for all the main parts. This component will determine the maximum number and performance of the other parts.
The motherboard affects the speed of the information passes through components. The CPU and motherboard will affect each other's performance, so you have to pick the right one. It will also affect your storage drives and graphics cards.
The form factors of motherboards include:
Standard ATX
The standard ATX is the most common type of motherboard design on the market. It is the best choice for budget-friendly gaming computers. This motherboard form factor offers better aesthetics, beefier VRMs, and more PCle slots.
The ATX became the main architecture for motherboards and their components. It became the improved version of the older technology called AT.
The changes of the ATX include the location of the CPU socket. They placed it near the power supply to let the airflow not affect other elements. ATX also changed the source of feed, making it a single connector.
Mini-ITX
The mini-ATX uses the lowest power-consumption, measuring 6.7 x 6.7 inches. It is the standard format for most types of equipment. This includes industrial apps, vehicle embedded computers, and many more.
Micro-ATX
The micro-ATX measures 9.6 x 9.6 inches and offers a lower-cost than the standard ATX. It supports four expansion slots, combining PCI, ISA, ISA/PCI shared, and AGP. Micro ATX works well with both AMD and Intel processors.
LPX
The low profile extended boards is a non-standard form also called the mini-LPX or LPX. They run along with the motherboard to better integrate sound and videos. You need expansion cards with riser card arrangements to let it run well.
The LPX falls short in the cooling. It also has limited upgrades for this type of motherboard form factor.
NLX
The NLX is the updated version of the LPX motherboard form factor. It supports larger cases, memory modules, video cards, and many more. This board has more options to upgrade and repair compared to the LPX.
BTX
The BTX motherboard form factor is the change from the ATX form factor. It works alongside well with tower-sized systems, giving more system slots. The greatest advantage of BTX is how it uses airflow to cool its system.
The expansion slots and memory placements got switched for more airflow. It reduces the need for the fan, reducing the noise levels from the motherboard. The disadvantage of BTX is that the manufacturers and developers are slow in adopting this type of form factor.
Attain Enough RAM
Since you have a goal, it's best to stick to your needed RAM or computer memory. You don't need to have a lot of RAM to run your intensive games smoothly. Stick to at least 8GB to 16GB of RAM to run old and modern games.
Most popular games require at least 8GB to run, like Fortnite, PUBG, Doom Eternal, and so on. The RAM holds the short-term info, so you can access your apps without having to wait long. It acts as your temporary storage spot or cache where you put things that you need to open quickly.
All the processes of your computer's data pass through your RAM. Everything you are using on your PC now uses RAM, allowing you to multi-task on apps. Some of the best choices include HyperX Fury, Corsair Vengeance LED, and G.Skill Rampage V.
They give an equal balance of speed, affordability, and reliability. You don't have to worry too much about your RAM since you can upgrade it in the future. Make sure to check if your motherboard can handle the RAM you plan to buy.
A great way to get faster RAM is getting a configuration with two sticks. The two sticks will allow you to use the dual-channel memory on motherboards. It will double the data transfer speed of your app's performance.
Don't Forget the GPU
The graphics card or GPU will help boost your gaming performance. It also spits out the best frame rates and resolutions for your screen and game. Use at least one-third of your budget for the GPU.
The higher numbered GPU cards, the higher the performance you'll get. Entry-level GPUs include Nvidia GTX 1650 or AMD RX 570. If you want high-end 4K gaming, go for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 1080 or AMD's RX 6000 series.
Consider the Power Supply
If you don't want your power and your other components to fail along with it, you need a reliable power supply. When the power can't supply the PC's components, your PC will slow down in performance and speed. Look for a PSU that exceeds your needed wattage.
For example, get a 650w PSU for your computer that needs 400w. Be sure to look for a power supply with an 80 plus certification. 80 plus standard rates PSUs by their power efficiency. They give all the needed power to all the components to efficiently run as you want it to.
There are three types of power supplies for PCs: non-modular, semi-modular, and modular. The non-modular have all the cables in your PC attached to the PSU. Semi-modular PSUs only need some essential cables, like the 24-pin power connector.
The semi-modular gives you detachable cables for the other components, such as the video card's 8-pin power. The modular power supply comes with all the cables detached. You can plug in the cables only when you need to use your PC.
Cool Your PC As You Game
The cooling of your CPU can impact your gaming performance. If you want to push your PC's basic specs or want the PC to stay quiet, you need the best cooling system. CPU coolers come in two primary types: liquid coolers or air coolers.
Liquid coolers use closed loops of coolant to keep your processors chilled. This type of CPU cooler is more efficient in keeping your CPU at lower temperatures. The only downside is that they are more expensive compared to air coolers.
Air coolers use the air to push out the heat using heat pipes and fins. They are the easiest to install and the most affordable choice. However, there are times when they interfere with the memory or graphics card installment.
Look For These Crucial Computer Specs When Building a Gaming PC Today
Do your research and learn the best computer specs for your goals. Check the GPU, RAM, CPU, motherboard, ports, power, and many more.
We hope you enjoyed our guide! Get to know more about the best gaming PCs or laptops by checking our other blog posts. We have more guides that can tell you how to find the best and right one for you and your budget.
