Do you want to build a PC so that you can play today’s hottest games on it? Are you unsure how to get started? If the answer to both questions is yes, this blog post is for you!
All too often I see people buying pre-built gaming PCs that are no better than office systems. I am of the opinion that you should build a gaming PC yourself. Why? Because you have complete control over its specification. Plus, you are more than likely going to save money in the process.
So, without further ado, here’s how to get started building the ultimate gaming PC for your needs!
Case
The first thing you need is an enclosure for your system. It’s important to select one big enough for the components you want to use. I recommend buying one that offers support for full-size ATX motherboards.
If you’re planning on modifying your case, it makes sense to opt for a used model. That way, you’ll save some cash and won’t feel so bad cutting bits of metal out of it!
The power supply is a crucial component of your future gaming PC. It needs to be beefy enough to supply constant electricity without damaging your system. Avoid the cheaper budget power supplies on the market. Instead, opt only for ones that offer 80+ certification. In case you wondered, that means it’s at least 80% efficient.
Consider getting a modular PSU. That way, you’ll have fewer wires in your case. And fewer places for dust to get trapped!
Motherboard and CPU
If you’ve got the cash, go for an ASRock or Gigabyte motherboard that has dual PCIe x16 slots. That way, you can install two video cards in SLI mode.
Stick with a board that has an Intel chipset and opt for a quad-core Intel Core i5 CPU or better.
RAM
It’s likely your gaming PC will run the Windows operating system. For versions 7 through to 10, I suggest no less than 8GB RAM. You could get more if you wish. But, it’s unlikely even the most resource-hungry of games will need more RAM.
Video Cards
Assuming you’ve got a compatible motherboard, get two video cards that are 100% identical. You can then run them in SLI mode for high-performance gaming!
Solid-State Drive
Games often suffer because of slow drive access speeds. To remedy that problem, don’t install anything other than SSDs in your gaming PC. The price of solid-state drives has dropped in recent years. There’s no excuse not to supercharge your system with an SSD or two!
Speakers
When you’re playing a game, the speakers for PC gaming you have can make all the difference. You should, at least, opt for a set of speakers complete with a subwoofer.
Keyboard and Mouse
Let’s face it: you’ll spend hours playing your favorite games at your PC! The last thing you want is to have aching hands and wrists. To make sure that doesn’t happen, get a wireless gaming keyboard and mouse combination.
Monitor
You need to be able to see what you’re doing when you play games! I recommend a 21.5-inch or bigger display for your gaming needs. Make sure it has an HDMI or DVI connection at the back. No-one uses VGA anymore!
Chair
Last, but not least, get a comfortable gaming chair! You need one that is ergonomic and comfortable. Don’t get a budget office chair. Your back will hate you for it!
