How to Build a PC for Gaming

You’ll need your components as well as a few tools to build a pc for gaming. To begin, make sure that all of the components for your PC (CPU, RAM, and Motherboard) are compatible with one another, as the last thing you want is for the CPU to become the bottleneck for the rest of the system.

Unlike choosing the rest of your PC, though, choosing the best unique PC case is a lot more like clothes shopping. As long as your motherboard and other parts fit into the case.

You’ve set up your workstation and determined the case size you’ll need. Now it’s time to figure out what kind of hardware and components you’ll need to get your gaming PC up and running. Things become a bit more technical at this point. Learning what all of these components perform and what their acronyms mean can make creating your gaming PC seem a lot less scary.

We’ll go through each one in depth below, avoiding jargon as much as possible.

• Processor (CPU)
• Motherboard
• Graphic Card (GPU)
• Memory (RAM)
• Storage (SSD or HDD)
• Power Supply Unit (PSU)
• PC Case

Processor (CPU)

The processor, sometimes known as the central processing unit, is a computer’s “brain.” The CPU is the second most significant component of a gaming PC, behind only the graphics card, but it is the most vital for content production. The processor is a critical component of any computer that executes instructions.

The clock speed, cores, and threads are the three most crucial aspects of a CPU to understand.

You should always get the most up-to-date CPU your budget allows in order to receive the most performance and future-proof your system.

Intel processors are well-known for their high single-core speed; hence they’ve long been considered the greatest gaming chips. While this is true, cost should not be a deciding factor when purchasing a computer for gaming, since Intel’s CPU prices have been frequently criticized for being overpriced.

AMD processors are well-known for their high multi-core performance and low cost, making them ideal for multitasking and demanding workloads. AMD’s single-core performance has also increased as a result of recent improvements, making them a genuine challenger in the CPU industry and reducing the gap on Intel.

Motherboard

So, you’ve made your decision on a CPU. Now you’ll need to choose a motherboard that works with your system. The biggest difference between low-end and high-end motherboards is mainly overclocking capabilities and premium features.

If you want to overclock your CPU, follow these steps:

A K-series processor and a Z-series motherboard are required for Intel CPUs.

All AMD processors can be overclocked, but you’ll need a B- or X-series motherboard to do it.

Once you’ve determined whether or not to overclock your new PC, you’ll need to figure out what form factor your MOBO and case will take. ATX, MATX, and ITX are the most prevalent motherboard sizes for gaming PCs.

It is important to get a motherboard from a recognized manufacturer since the motherboard does not need to be fancy. ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte, and MSI are the brands we suggest.

Graphics Card (GPU)

The graphics processing unit, or GPU, is the most critical component in any gaming PC, and it is also generally the costliest.

Don’t get a GPU that’s less powerful than this! The new GDDR6 standard is found on the newest AMD and Nvidia graphics cards.

• Expect good performance at 1080p resolution with standard-definition textures with 4GB of VRAM.
• Expect good performance at 1440p or 1080p resolutions with high-definition textures with 6GB of VRAM.
• Expect decent performance in VR games, 4K and 1440p resolutions, and high-definition textures with 8GB+ of VRAM.

Memory (RAM)

The third most crucial component for gaming performance is random access memory, often known as RAM or memory. RAM is your computer’s short-term memory; it’s quick and simple to use, but it’s only there for a short time. This is where your computer saves data that is currently in use. Benchmarking has proven that having sufficient quantities of fast RAM may increase CPU performance, but having more than you need is a waste of money.

While RAM speed or frequency isn’t the most significant aspect, AMD’s newer processors have been demonstrated to benefit from fast-acting memory. We attempt to use 3600MHz processors in all of our AMD setups here at PC Building, providing you better gaming performance from your system.

In certain cases, speed may help you get a few more frames per second, but the most crucial thing to consider is RAM capacity. In general, the more RAM you have, the better your computer will be at running several apps and playing recent games.

• 4GB – This is the absolute minimum amount of RAM you should have. Modern games would be overpowering on 4GB, therefore it would only be appropriate for basic computer duties and very modest gaming.
• 8GB – These days, a gaming PC with 8GB of RAM is considered inexpensive. While this is acceptable for gaming alone, multitasking can be a stretch. For example, if you’re playing a high-intensity current game and want to tab out, a larger amount of RAM will help the process go more smoothly.
• 16GB – This amount of RAM would be ideal right now. This may seem excessive to some, but having 16GB of RAM in your system will enhance your overall experience while also future-proofing your PC.
• 32GB — This is more memory than you’ll ever need for gaming, and although it’s great to have, it’s not worth the money unless you want to perform video editing or content production.

Storage (SSD/HDD)

We used to save everything on our HDDs, from apps and text files to games, but that has all changed with the arrival of SSD technology. An SSD (solid-state drive) is a storage device that has no moving components and stores data in microchips, making it quicker.

Invest in a solid-state drive (SSD) for high-performance storage. It’s more robust, quicker, and smaller in general. However, it is significantly more expensive than an HDD. HDDs provide greater storage capacity for less money, but their quality isn’t as excellent as that of an SSD.

If your budget allows it, a hybrid storage solution that includes both an SSD and an HDD would be excellent. Getting an SSD large enough to store your operating system, multiplayer games, and programs will make your experience much better. You’ll notice a significant improvement in boot and load times, as well as a performance bump in certain games. You can even utilize your SSD as a cache.

Meanwhile, an HDD may be utilized to store media content (music, movies) and single-player games where loading speeds aren’t as critical.

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

The power supply, or PSU as it’s more frequently called, is as simple as it sounds, and it delivers power to your whole system. There are a few guidelines to consider when purchasing a power supply for your PC construction.

First and foremost, choose a trustworthy manufacturer. Off-brand manufacturers often provide low-quality power supplies; although these may be cheap, it’s not worth risking the rest of your system. Stick to well-known manufacturers like Corsair, EVGA, and SeaSonic.

The next step is to make sure you have adequate watts for your system. You may use resources like a PSU calculator to figure out which PSU to buy. Keep in mind that the PSU needs indicated on a GPU’s specifications are generally exaggerated, but if you want to overclock or expand your system in the future, you may want to go with them.

Although a high-efficiency power supply will not save you a lot of money, all respectable manufacturers now employ 80+ efficiency ratings. The higher the rating, the more expensive it is, but it implies that the PSU will use the majority of the power it generates and that less heat will be wasted. Do not purchase a power supply that does not have an 80+ rating.

PC Case

It’s up to you whether you start with the PC case or the motherboard, but make sure the form factor is suitable, as we stated before (ATX, MATX, or ITX).

All of the components you’ll be putting together and installing need a safe place to dwell. This is when the casing of your computer comes into play. This isn’t a straightforward process, and it will take some consideration to make the best decision for your specific circumstances.

You’ll also need to consider the expansion capabilities of your computer case. With a complete tower case, you’ll be able to update and add additional components anytime you choose. Smaller cases may need to be changed totally when your gaming PC evolves and its components are replaced.

Aesthetics are also crucial. Because the casing of your computer will be visible in the room where you set it, it’s a good idea to match it to the rest of your interior design plan. It’s up to you whether you start with the case or the motherboard, but make sure the form factor is suitable, as we stated before (ATX, MATX, or ITX).

If you’re searching for a new PC case, we’ve put together a list of the top Unique PC cases, for the more compact PC build.

Cooler + CPU

It’s a good idea to invest in some additional case fans if you intend on overclocking, or simply if you’re worried about your CPU and other gear overheating in general.

Fans

When it comes to case fans, there are three key factors to consider: airflow, RGB lighting, and noise output. Here’s a quick rundown of what each one means:

• Airflow: the most significant of the three since it is your fan’s primary job and the major cooling component. The airflow of a fan is measured in “CFM” (cubic feet per minute), and the greater the figure, the better the fan will keep your CPU cool.
• RGB Lighting: While this has little influence on the cooling capacity of your fan, it does offer a stunning lighting appearance to your PC case. However, there will almost certainly be more cords to deal with, so consider if RGB lighting is really necessary.
• Noise Output: You want your fan to be as quiet as possible while yet providing enough cooling. Your gaming experience may be harmed if your fan is too loud.