Getting a gaming PC is one of the best ways to make sure that you are able to enjoy the latest video games with excellent visual quality and high resolutions. With so many different brands and specs to think about when looking for a gaming PC, it’s not always easy to know where to start if you want to buy one.

What’s the Difference Between a Standard PC and a Gaming PC?

While gaming PCs are computers like all the others, a PC that has been designed for gaming has some key differences. You can expect an average PC to be able to do things like browse the internet, run office-based software, and perhaps allow some basic video or photo editing. However, most typical PCs are not able to run more than simple video games at low resolutions. If you want to play some of the top PC video games, then it’s important to have a gaming system that comes with dedicated hardware for gaming. You’ll need a dedicated graphics card and other types of powerful hardware to get the best gaming experience. Luckily, you can find a lot of great gaming PCs that are built and ready to go. Check out CCL to find out more about the best pre-built gaming PC. Choose everything that you need to get a customised, best pre-built gaming PC system from CCL to suit your needs.

Graphics Card

Before you go ahead and choose a gaming PC, there are a few important specs to think about. One of the most crucial components of any gaming PC is the graphics card. Graphics cards are at the heart of what allows you to enjoy the most high-resolution games with lots of graphical features on your PC. Depending on your budget, you should look for a card that is suitable for playing games at a minimum of 1080p resolution or go for 4K if you can afford to. Splash out on the most GPU RAM and the most powerful GPU processor that you can afford.

Processor

A processor or CPU essentially acts as your computer’s brain. It is responsible for interpreting and carrying out all the tasks that are necessary for you to play a game and do other things on your PC. Two main factors, the speed and cores, have an impact on how quickly your PC can be operated and complete tasks. Cores are like processors within the processor, and most CPUs will have between four and eight. Bear in mind that for gaming, more processors don’t always mean better power, and speed is a more important feature to focus on. When picking out a CPU for your gaming PC, AMD and Intel are the two main options.

RAM

Computer RAM assists the main CPU with performing tasks. The higher the amount of RAM that you have, the easier it will be for your system to retrieve temporary information, which ultimately improves performance and speed. 16GB of memory is the best option to go for when it comes to RAM. While 8GB might be enough for the average PC, a gaming PC needs to have more as playing video games on your PC is far more demanding than average tasks like using office software or browsing the internet.

Hard Drive

Most PCs for gaming have Solid State Drives for storage. It’s best to go for SSD storage than regular hard drive storage, unless you find a PC that offers both. This is because having SSD storage is one of the easiest ways to improve the speed and performance of your PC. Through SSD storage, your PC will be able to read the files faster. Ultimately, this reduces game loading times and boosts PC performance. Buy as much SSD storage as you can afford for your gaming PC; the more you have, the more games you will be able to have installed at once, along with allowing for easier expansions and updates.

Accessories

Once you’ve weighed up your options for different components to include or look for in your gaming PC, it’s time to think about accessories. A monitor is going to be one of the first you’ll buy since most gaming PCs do not come with a monitor included. Spend some time researching gaming monitors and buy the best one you can afford. A monitor designed for gaming is better since they offer better refresh rates and input lag. You’ll also need a new keyboard, mouse, and potentially a games controller depending on the type of games that you play. If you want more immersive sound, stream your games live or play with friends a lot, then you’ll also need to invest in a gaming headset.

Buying a gaming PC can be one of the best ways to ensure that you are getting a better gaming experience. But before you part with your money, it’s important to understand what to look out for.