How to Buy the Best Gaming PC for Your Needs

It's usually enough to meet a game's recommended requirements, but going above those specs can push your gaming experience even further. Below, we explore which specs to look for in a gaming PC to suit the needs of most modern games:

CPU Requirements For Gaming

The CPU, or the so-called 'brain' of your PC, will have a huge impact on every aspect of your gaming experience.

Your gaming CPU needs to be able to quickly process all the instructions and commands of your PC. Look for any one of the two following CPU manufacturers:

• Intel - look for Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9, preferably 12th generation and above
• AMD - look for Ryzen 5000-series or 7000-series

GPU Requirements For Gaming

If you're looking to play today's most popular, hardware-intensive gaming titles, you'll need a dedicated GPU (or graphics card). The GPU is the component that handles all your game's graphics requirements, influencing aspects such as frame rate, resolution, and the quality of on-screen visual effects.

Look for dedicated graphics cards from any of the following manufacturers:

• NVIDIA
• AMD

The actual GPU model you choose will depend on your desired gaming performance. If you simply want a smooth performance at 1080p, an AMD Radeon RX 6600 will do the job just fine. On the other hand, a stunning and immersive 4k experience will demand a much more powerful high-end graphics card like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070.

1440p is the sweet spot for most games - you can easily run games at this resolution with a GPU like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060.

RAM Requirements

As a general guideline when choosing a gaming PC - the more RAM, the better.

RAM is what your gaming rig uses to store all information it is actively using, like any open games and software, open files, and browser tabs. The more RAM you have, the more information your PC can process at once - in other words, you will be able to run demanding games with little to no load time.

16GB of RAM is considered enough for standard gaming, though you might struggle with highly intensive games and multitasking. High-end gaming PCs come with 32GB or even 64GB - if you're looking to stream resource-intensive games or do professional video editing, it might be worth breaking the bank for better specs.

16GB - 32GB is the perfect blend of costs and performance, allowing you to enjoy a smooth gameplay experience without a huge financial commitment. If your needs change and you find yourself needing more, don't worry - RAM is one of the easiest and most budget-friendly PC components to upgrade later on.

Storage Requirements

If you're planning to store a large number of games, software, and files on your PC, you'll need a large amount of storage. You will need:

• HDD (Hard Disk Drive) - the highest storage capacity device. HDD storage is essential for any PC, and not having enough of it can be very limiting.
• SSD (Solid State Drive) - faster, more durable, and generally more efficient than HDD, though it also has less overall storage capacity.

If you find yourself needing additional storage space, you can always connect an external hard drive and save extra files there.

Ports & Connectivity

Gaming desktops won’t always come with the same types of ports and connectivity. When choosing your brand-new gaming rig, check the specifications for:

• Video output

In other words, the ports on the back of a PC where external monitors connect. Common types of display connections are HDMI and DisplayPort. When looking for a gaming monitor, make sure to choose one that matches your port specifications.

• USB ports

You need to make sure your PC comes with enough USB ports for all the peripherals you need. This can be your mouse, gaming headset, or even external storage drives. It's also a good idea to go for a wide variety of USB charger types, such as Type-A or Type-C.

• Bluetooth

Most pre-built gaming desktops don't come with built-in Bluetooth support, but you will likely be able to add that as an extra. Usually, most wireless/Bluetooth accessories (e.g. mice or headsets) come with a USB dongle which allows you to connect them to the PC even if it doesn't support Bluetooth connection.

• Networking

All modern gaming systems support a wired connection by default, but some might also feature Wi-Fi as well. Check the specs list to make sure your PC supports both Ethernet connection and Wi-fi connection, if that is something you require