BEFORE YOU BUY

How to Pick a Gaming PC

First of all, what is a gaming PC? A gaming PC (personal computer) differs from regular PCs because while the latter are suitable for office tasks, homework, internet browsing, and basic photo or video editing, they lack the capability to run demanding games at high resolutions.

Modern high-end games pose some of the most demanding computational tasks for a computer. While a standard PC might handle basic or older games, you’ll need a dedicated graphics card and a powerful processor to play the latest titles. So, basically a gaming PC is like a PC on steroids, it can do the same things a normal PC can do but also much more.

This buying guide aims to assist you in selecting the perfect gaming PC based on your specific requirements, budget, and preferences.

To ensure you have an optimal gaming experience, it is crucial to find a well-balanced gaming PC, and here are the essential aspects you should consider before buying one:

1) Cost: Determine your budget and find a gaming PC that offers the best value for your money. Gaming PCs tend to be more expensive than normal PCs, but there are still some relatively cheap options.

2) Graphics Card: Choose a gaming PC with a powerful graphics card that can handle the graphical demands of modern games.

3) Processor and RAM: Consider the processing power and amount of RAM available, as they greatly impact gaming performance.

4) Cooling system: Make sure that the PC has an efficient cooling system that meets your needs and budget.

5) Hard Drive: Assess the storage capacity and type of hard drive to ensure you have sufficient space for games and fast loading of 3D models and their textures.

6) Ports: Also known as sockets, they are often overlooked, but their type and number is important to connect all your peripherals and accessories.

7) Laptop vs Desktop: There are various things to consider before you decide whether a laptop or a desktop would serve your needs better.

8) Out of the box or custom: Decide whether you want a pre-built gaming PC or if you prefer to customize your system according to your specific needs and preferences.

Below we dive into more detail about these points and will give you a basic understanding of what the main components are and do.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Pricing

The price range for gaming PCs can vary significantly, from budget-friendly, relatively cheap options around $1000 to high-end systems costing over $5,000. The decision on how much to spend ultimately depends on your budget.

Investing more money in a gaming PC often means acquiring top-quality components. This, in turn, can extend the lifespan of the PC, making it more “future-proof”. Therefore, it can be wise to allocate a higher budget initially for better longevity, especially on graphics card (GPU) and processor (CPU).

What is a Graphics Card (GPU)

Put simply a graphics card, or graphical processing unit (GPU), is the most crucial component in a gaming PC as it enables high-resolution gaming, high frames per second (FPS) and can support monitors with a high refresh rate (here you can read more about frames per second and refresh rates).

There are two types of graphics cards, integrated and discrete (or dedicated), for high-end gaming you will need a discrete graphics card (you can read more about the difference between the two here).

Two major companies, AMD and NVIDIA, provide discrete graphics cards. Pay attention to the model numbers when choosing one, as they can indicate the performance level and capabilities of the card. Generally higher numbers indicate more recent and better performing cards.

Discrete graphics cards are typically expensive so the one you choose may ultimately depend on your budget. However, consider also the following:

1) Resolution

All latest graphics cards can handle 1080p resolution (i.e. full high definition or FHD), but not all can handle higher resolutions such as 4K at a reasonable refresh rate (at least 144 Hz) and frames per second (at least 60 fps).

2) GPU RAM (VRAM)

When evaluating a graphics card, it’s important to consider its amount of dedicated memory. The memory on a graphics card, known as GPU RAM or VRAM (Video Random Access Memory), is a specialized type of RAM dedicated solely to supporting the graphics card’s functions, separate from the system’s regular RAM (more on this below).

A graphics card with 16 GB of VRAM will deliver a better performance compared to one with 8 GB of VRAM, especially if you play games with high-end graphics.

Having more VRAM allows the graphics card to access game textures and generate visual effects more efficiently, resulting in smoother gameplay and faster rendering of graphical details.

VRAM bandwidth is also important. Other factors being equal or similar, GPUs that have faster memory will offer better perfomance. For example, the NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super has 16 GB of VRAM just like the RTX 4080 but with 736 GB/s of bandwidth instead of 717 GB/s.

Unlike regular RAM, VRAM cannot be upgraded later on. So, if you want to future-proof your gaming PC and ensure optimal performance for all upcoming games, it’s advisable to have a GPU with at least 12 GB of VRAM.

3) NVIDIA CUDA cores vs AMD Stream Processors

CUDA cores are specialized processing units within GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) designed by NVIDIA. CUDA stands for Compute Unified Device Architecture, CUDA cores are central to the GPU’s ability to perform parallel processing, making them key to the GPU’s performance in gaming.

Each CUDA core is like a small, lightweight processing unit, but unlike a CPU core (see section below), which is designed for a wide range of complex, sequential tasks, CUDA cores excel at handling many smaller tasks simultaneously (parallel workloads), such as rendering images or running physics simulations.

NVIDIA GPUs typically have thousands of CUDA cores working in parallel. For example, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has over 16,000 CUDA cores.

The equivalent of CUDA cores in AMD GPUs is Stream Processors. Both CUDA cores (in NVIDIA GPUs) and Stream Processors (in AMD GPUs) are the basic computational units that enable parallel processing in their respective architectures. Despite the naming difference, they serve similar purposes, though they are part of different underlying technologies.

Like CUDA cores, AMD Stream Processors are designed to handle many tasks simultaneously, but they are assembled into a different architecture. Stream Processors are part of AMD’s Graphics Core Next (GCN) or RDNA architectures (depending on the GPU model), and are grouped into units called Compute Units (CUs), where each CU contains a fixed number of Stream Processors.

Keep in mind that the performance of a GPU depends not only on the number of CUDA cores or Stream Processors but also on other factors such as architecture efficiency, amount of dedicated memory, and memory bandwidth.

So, differences in architecture and optimization mean that the raw number of CUDA cores or Stream Processors alone doesn’t directly indicate performance. Instead, benchmark tests and real-world application performance are the best ways to compare GPUs.

NVIDIA’s latest video cards, the RTX series, are well-suited for demanding games. These cards feature faster video memory and are particularly focused on ray-tracing technology, which enhances lighting and reflections for a more realistic visual experience akin to watching a movie. Among the RTX cards, the RTX 4000 and RTX 5000 series GPUs currently stand out as the most powerful, with the RTX 5090 at the very top.

For gaming at 4K resolutions or high graphic settings, the RTX 4000 series is generally a good option in terms of price vs performance. AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 Series also offers great value.

One last important thing to keep in mind is that, despite sharing the same name, laptop and desktop versions of the same GPU are not equivalent. For example, the laptop version of an NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4070 has only 8 GB of VRAM compared to the 12 GB of its desktop counterpart. This and other different specs mean that the laptop RTX 4070 performs roughly the same as an NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3070 desktop GPU. Similarly, a laptop NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4090 has only 16 GB of VRAM compared to the 24 GB of the desktop version, and is roughly equivalent to an NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4080 desktop GPU.

For more details on all most recent GPUs we highly recommend Tom Hardware’s graphics cards ranking.

What is a Processor (CPU)

In gaming, while the graphics card handles graphic-intensive tasks, the processor (CPU = central processing unit) controls the game world, including computer-controlled opponents and bullet trajectories. The CPU performs calculations for actions like shooting, while the graphics card renders the corresponding visuals such as explosions.

While the processor is crucial, generally the graphics card still holds the greatest influence over game performance. However, a more powerful processor may benefit certain types of games (e.g. shooters) or activities such as streaming your gameplay.

The CPU, acts as the computer’s brain and is responsible for interpreting and executing tasks displayed on your screen. Its speed and number of cores impact its performance and task completion time. Cores can be seen as sub-processors within the main processor, and most modern CPUs have several, currently up to 24 (here is more info on cores and their speed).

When selecting a gaming PC, you have the choice between Intel and AMD processors. For gaming purposes, AMD offers the Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 series, while Intel has the Core i7 and Core i9 series. Generally, higher numbers indicate better processing power, similar to graphics cards.

Currently, the best desktop CPUs for gaming are AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 7 9800X3D, followed by Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K and Intel Core i9-14900 KS.

Cooling Systems

Cooling systems for gaming PCs are essential to maintain optimal temperatures and prevent overheating of your CPU and GPU, which can lead to performance issues and hardware damage. Remember that effective cooling not only enhances gaming performance but also prolongs the lifespan of your components.

The most commonly found cooling methods in gaming PCs are air cooling and liquid cooling. These methods strike a balance between effective cooling, ease of installation, and cost.

Air Cooling: Air cooling refers to the method of cooling specific components inside your PC, such as the CPU or GPU, using dedicated air coolers. Air cooling is not to be confused with your case fans: air cooling is about cooling specific components, while case fans are about maintaining a good overall airflow within the computer case to keep all components at an optimal temperature.

Air coolers typically consist of metal heat sinks (a metal plate) and fans. The fans blow on the hot plates to cool them down. This is a simple and efficient system, but can take up a lot of space and may struggle to cool down your components during high-performance gaming. Moreover, when the fans spin at high speed they can be quite loud.

Liquid Cooling: Liquid cooling is a popular alternative to air cooling, and it comes in two main forms: All-In-One (AIO) coolers and custom loop cooling setups. Both use liquid (usually a mixture of water and coolant) to carry heat away from your CPU or GPU more effectively than air. This liquid flows through tubes to a radiator with fans that cool it down before it returns to the components to pick up heat again.

AIO coolers are pre-built and easier to install, while custom loops offer more customization but are more complex to set up. While very efficient at dissipating heat, liquid cooling can be expensive. You will also need to watch out for leaks that can damage the hardware components, and you will need to regularly ensure that the coolant stays at a proper level.

Hybrid Cooling: Some high-end graphics cards come equipped with hybrid coolers, which combine air and liquid cooling. Hybrid cooling offers superior cooling performance compared to traditional air coolers, but because of its liquid component it comes at a higher cost and requires more maintenance than simple air coolers.

In summary, air cooling and AIO liquid cooling are the most commonly found cooling methods in gaming PCs due to their balance of performance, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. Air cooling is generally sufficient for most gaming setups, but if you are willing to spend a bit more money and are not bothered by the more regular maintenance, then liquid cooling can provide better performance.

Computer RAM

Computer RAM (Random Access Memory), unlike VRAM, assists the main CPU rather than the graphics card. RAM helps with retrieving temporary information, which enhances system speed and performance. For gaming, a minimum of 16 GB of RAM is recommended.

While an average PC can handle multitasking reasonably well with 8 GB of RAM, gaming requires more resources. Having at least 16 GB of RAM ensures there are no bottlenecks when loading new data in fast-paced games, providing a smoother gaming experience.

RAM comes in multiples of 8 GB (8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB), and as we wrote above 16 GB is the minimum amount that you will need for high-end gaming. Having said that, 32 GB would be optimal for the latest most demanding games, and if you really want to future-proof your system go for 64 GB. Having 128 GB, on the other hand, is a bit of an overkill at the moment with the current applications and games.

Also keep in mind that not all RAM is the same. It’s important to check the RAM type and speed. DDR5 (Double Data Rate 5) is the latest and fastest RAM, but many systems still use DDR4. DDR5 offers higher speeds and improved data transfer rates compared to DDR4, providing better overall system performance. Avoid anything lower than DDR4.

Also keep in mind that not all DDR5 modules are created equal, and there are variations in terms of speed. To ensure you’re getting a fast DDR5 module, it’s essential to check its speed in millions of Hertz (MHz) (e.g., 4800 MHz, 5200 MHZ, 5600 MHz).

Aim for RAM running at least at 4,800 MHz for optimal performance. Slower RAM will function, but it may create a bottleneck, impacting the processing of information and overall performance.

Finally, if you are planning to buy a laptop that has LPDDR5X memory, keep in mind that this type of memory chips are typically soldered to the motherboard, so you won’t be able to upgrade the memory later on.

Storage

When it comes to storage in a gaming PC, most modern systems offer Solid State Drives (SSDs) as the preferred option. If you come across a gaming PC that only has a regular hard disk drive (HDD) for storage, it’s advisable to skip it unless it also includes SSD storage in addition to the HDD.

SSD storage significantly enhances the performance of your gaming PC. It allows for faster file reading, resulting in reduced game loading times and overall improved performance. It’s crucial to prioritize maximum SSD storage capacity.

It is important to note that some gaming PCs come with only 512 GB of SSD storage, which can be insufficient considering the file sizes of modern games such as “Call of Duty: Vanguard”, “Baldur’s Gate 3”, or “Red Dead Redemption 2”, which can all exceed 100 GB. With limited storage, you may need to uninstall games frequently to make space for new ones (reinstalling games can be time-consuming, especially with digital downloads and extensive patches).

It’s also important to leave significant free space for patches and expansions (i.e. DLCs) that will increase the file size of your games. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to consider at least 1 TB of SSD storage unless you are specifically purchasing a PC to play just a couple of games. Fortunately, many desktop systems allow for the installation of additional hard drives, providing the opportunity to expand storage capacity, but this is not usually true for laptops.

Ports

PCs come with a variety of ports (or sockets) for wired connections to the internet or external devices such as mouse, keyboard, monitor, and external storage (i.e. peripherals).

All PCs have an Ethernet port (or LAN, which stands for Local Area Network), and this is used for wired internet connections. Currently there are two main types of Ethernet ports: Fast Ethernet, which offers LAN speeds of up to 100MB/s, and Gigabit Ethernet, which provides LAN speeds of 1GB/s or more.

To connect your desktop PC to a monitor you will need a video port, a USB-C port, or a Thunderbolt port (more on the last two below). Two types of video ports can be found in modern PCs: HDMI and DisplayPort.

If you want the best gaming experience DisplayPort 1.4 is better than HDMI 2.0, but not HDMI 2.1, while DisplayPort 2.1 is better than HDMI 2.1 but is still rarely used.

Then there are USB ports, on a PC these come in 2 main types: A and C. Type-A USB ports (USB-A) are used for data transfers (e.g. to a flash drive) charging portable devices (e.g. a camera or smartphone), and peripheral connections (e.g. mouse, keyboard). Type-C USB ports (USB-C) are an improved version of Type-A, they can provide faster data transfers and higher power delivery. Some recent monitors can be connected to a PC via a special USB Type-C connection, with no loss of resolution or performance.

If you are wondering about Type-B USB ports, those are used to connect devices such as printers and scanners (the Type-B port is on the device and connects to your PC via a Type-A port), but these are now often replaced by Wi-fi or Bluetooth connections.

USB ports also come in different versions (e.g. 2.0, 3.2) and generations (e.g. Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 2×2), the higher the numbers the faster the data transfer speed (5, 10, or 20 GB/s). USB 4.0 (or USB4) is a port based on the Thunderbolt protocol (see below), with very fast data transfer speeds (up to 40 GB/s).

A Thunderbolt port exteriorly looks like a USB Type-C port, but is marked with the Thunderbolt logo. This port can provide high-speed data transfer and is very useful if you run out of internal storage and decide to connect an external SSD with fast transfer speed to you PC.

The Thunderbolt 4 can reach a transfer speed of 40 GB/s and 100W of power delivery, while the recently released Thunderbolt 5 offers double that speed (80 GB/s, but 120 GB/s with Bandwidth Boost), and up to 240W power delivery. These ports are ideal to connect your PC to a 4K monitor (or three in the case of Thunderbolt 5, assuming your GPU can handle them).

If you want to know more about the various versions of USB ports currently in use, their symbols, data transfer speed, and whether they also support audio, video, or power delivery, check out this handy guide here.

Desktops vs Laptops

While the same general knowledge that applies to gaming desktops also applies to gaming laptops, there are a few differences to keep in mind:

1) Portability: Gaming laptops are designed to be portable, allowing you to easily carry them around. Desktop PCs, on the other hand, are bulkier and less portable due to their larger components and the need for a separate monitor.

2) Performance: Gaming desktops generally offer higher performance compared to gaming laptops. They can accommodate more powerful processors, graphics cards, and have better cooling capabilities. This allows for better gaming experiences and the ability to run demanding games at higher settings. Also consider that despite having the same name, graphics cards in laptops and desktops are not truly equivalent, with the latter typically outperforming the former by a wide margin.

3) Upgradeability: Gaming desktops are more easily upgradeable compared to laptops. Desktop components such as the graphics card, processor, and RAM can be easily swapped out or upgraded to keep up with the latest technology. Laptops, on the other hand, often have limited upgrade options due to their compact design.

4) Display: Gaming laptops come with built-in displays, which are usually smaller in size compared to desktop monitors. Desktop PCs offer more flexibility in terms of display options, allowing you to choose a larger monitor or even multiple monitors for a wider field of view. You can still connect your laptop to an external larger monitor, but several recent laptops with high-end graphics cards come with excellent high-resolution displays. You can read more about PC monitors here.

5) Power and Cooling: Desktop PCs have larger power supplies and better cooling systems, which enable them to handle high-power components more effectively. Laptops often have limited cooling capabilities, leading to increased heat buildup and potential performance throttling during intensive gaming sessions.

6) Input/Output Options: Gaming laptops usually have a limited number of USB ports, display outputs, and other connectivity options due to their compact size. Desktop PCs provide a wider range of connectivity options.

7) Price: Gaming laptops tend to be more expensive compared to desktop PCs with similar specifications. The compact form factor and portability of laptops contribute to their higher cost. Desktop PCs offer better value for money in terms of performance-to-price ratio.

The choice between a gaming desktop PC and a gaming laptop depends on your priorities. If portability is crucial and you don’t mind sacrificing some performance and upgradeability, go for a gaming laptop. If performance, upgradability, and a better overall gaming experience are what matters most to you, then a gaming desktop PC is likely a better choice.

After reading this buyer’s guide you should now have a decent idea of what makes a good gaming PC, be it a desktop or laptop. You should also now be able to understand why we selected these as some of the best gaming desktops and best gaming laptops for people on different budgets. Make sure you also read this post about 3 common mistakes to avoid when shopping for a new gaming PC. And finally, if you are considering the idea of building your own PC instead of buying a pre-built one, just keep on reading!

Should I build my own PC?

While they are guaranteed to work flawlessly and are headache-free, pre-built PCs can be expensive, so if you want to save some money you may want to consider building your own gaming desktop PC. However, to do that you will need to be the crafty type, handy with a screwdriver, and willing to invest a good amount of time into learning about computer components, software, and how to piece everything together without hiccups.

If this describes you, then you may want to check out one of the many online courses on how to build your own PC. We can definitely recommend this course by Nathan Cope on Udemy, where you will learn all the basics.