Do you plan to become a professional gamer streaming live on YouTube or Twitch? Do you want a rig that can run the latest titles at the highest possible graphical setting?
If you’re serious about your setup, it’s time to get into gaming PC building. You don’t need to spend over $10,000 for a home gaming setup similar to streamers like Dr. Disrespect. However, you should still understand which components to get and which pitfalls to avoid.
Fortunately, we’ve got a guide prepared right here to help you build the ideal gaming PC. Read on below and discover everything there is to know when it comes to gaming PC building:
List the Parts You Need
Gaming PC building is a long and complicated process, so simplify it by listing what you need. Knowing what to invest in will also help you compute how much you might spend.
There are many gaming PC components to buy but we’ve listed the core pieces you need to invest in. These are the ones you need to prioritize before buying anything else.
It starts with a good processor. It’s the heart of your gaming rig, after all.
Processor
When it comes to processors, you should only look at two options: either the upper-tier Intel Core CPUs or the AMD Ryzen.
Buying an Intel CPU? The Intel Core i5 (ninth generation) should be the lowest CPU you go for. It’s not powerful enough to run some modern games on ultra settings but it’ll get the job done for most.
To run everything on ultra settings, you’ll want an eleventh-generation Intel Core i7.
Not a fan of Intel? If you want an AMD Ryzen processor, the lowest you should aim for is the Ryzen 7. The Ryzen 9 or the Ryzen Threadripper are the upper-tier options and should be your goal if you want high-end gaming and live-streaming.
Graphics Card
A graphics card will make or break your gaming experience. You can have a fast CPU and a lot of RAM, but it won’t mean a thing if your GPU can’t handle your game’s visual demands.
The ideal GPU is something like the Nvidia RTX 3090 or the AMD Radeon 6900 XT. Both of these will cost you a lot but they have the power to handle things like ray tracing and 120 fps gaming at a 4K UHD resolution.
Don’t buy a low-end GPU like an Intel i3 or AMD Athlon 240GE. These can’t handle the heavy demands of today’s video games.
Memory (RAM)
Your PC’s memory determines how much processing the unit can simultaneously handle. It’s the third part main component of your gaming rig, along with the CPU and GPU. Put together, these three handle the heavy lifting when it comes to running video games.
A few years back, you could get away with only 4 GB RAM. That’s no longer the case. To handle the types of games releasing today, you’ll need a minimum of 8 GB RAM.
Don’t stop there, however. If you can keep upgrading to 16 GB RAM or even more, take the plunge. Most games don’t need that much RAM but you will need the extra memory if you plan to record or live-stream while gaming on your PC.
Storage
Many games releasing today require more than 100 GB of storage space. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) consumes over 175 GB of space, for example.
That said, don’t purchase an old HDD. Those hard drives use a physical disk. While reliable, they aren’t as fast or as durable as the newer SSD hard drives.
An SSD drive uses flash memory instead of mechanical parts. This makes them sturdier, faster, and more reliable. They have faster read speeds too, which reduces load times for video games.
How much space should you settle for?
For starters, you’ll want at least 2 TB of SSD space. This is good enough so you can install a few high-end modern games, from Battlefield 2042 to Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2. You’ll still have space to store movies, music, documents, and other apps.
Motherboard
It’s important to never forget to invest in a good gaming motherboard too. It’s the component that puts everything together. Without an updated motherboard, none of the pieces you buy will work together.
Compatibility is your main concern. Make sure that your motherboard works with the CPU, GPU, and accessories you buy. You may even want to go one step further and check for compatibility with your sound card too.
You also need to check the ports available. Does the motherboard support USB-C with DisplayPort or Thunderbolt? How many USB 3 ports does it have and does it feature an HDMI port too?
The board’s form factor is another concern. Make sure that it fits the case you want and that all the ports are in the right spots. This guarantees you can fit all the other components and still close your CPU to keep it safe.
Power Supply
Gaming PC building requires a little bit of electrical know-how. For example, you should get a decent power supply to make sure your PC doesn’t overload. Doing so can lead to a fire hazard or your PC suddenly overheating and shutting down.
How much continuous wattage do you need?
For a mid-range gaming PC, you’ll want at least 750W. This should provide enough power if your setup only uses a single GPU and a few SSD hard drives. However, if you have a high-end multi-GPU setup, you’ll need at least 1000W to guarantee you have enough power supplied to your PC.
Cooling System
With all that electrical power and processing going on, it’s no surprise that a high-end gaming PC can heat up rather quickly. If you don’t invest in a decent cooling system, your PC will overheat. You’ll know this is becoming the case when your computer begins to abruptly restart, slow down, or shut off.
There are two types of cooling you can opt for. The most common is via air ventilation. The other is liquid cooling, which is a lot more complex and more expensive.
For proper air ventilation, invest in heatsinks and cooling fans. Again, make sure that the ones you buy fit your motherboard and aren’t too big to a point you can’t close your CPU case.
Liquid cooling uses water and dielectric fluids to transfer heat. If you invest in a closed liquid system, you don’t have to worry about maintenance or replacing the fluids.
Know Your Budget
Now you know which components to get to build your gaming rig. Now you need to make sure that you follow a rigid gaming PC budget. Set a hard limit and then look for components that fit within that restriction.
Break down your budget. Instead of looking at one big number, list down your budget per component. This will give you a better idea of how much you’ll spend on each piece and where you can make adjustments.
Your OS Matters
Every good gaming setup relies on a solid operating system. For gaming, you’ll want to stick with Microsoft Windows. Microsoft recently unveiled Windows 11, which will roll out by the end of 2021 and into early 2022.
Windows has the highest compatibility when it comes to PC games. Most titles available on the Epic games store or Steam run fine on a Windows PC. This is sadly not the case for Linux or Mac.
Take a look at The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, for example. It’s one of the most popular games in recent years but it can’t run on a Mac. The only way around this is through game streaming services, such as Google Stadia.
Monitor Temperature
How hot does your PC setup get when you play modern games on high or ultra settings? As mentioned, a cooling system should be a primary concern. However, you also need to learn how to check your PC’s temperature to check whether or not you need further adjustments.
The best way to do this is to download and use apps that monitor the individual temperature of each piece. You can use tools like Speccy or SolarWinds. All this checking and monitoring can get quite hectic and tedious especially if you want to get into gaming as soon as possible. If you don’t want to take any risks by assembling the PC on your own, the MVP has professional builders who do all the hard work for you allowing you to select from a wide variety of prebuilts or concoct your own custom gaming PC
Buy the Right Monitor
You can’t appreciate a good gaming PC build if you don’t have a powerful monitor. Why invest in a PC that can run games at full 4K UHD and a high frame rate if your monitor only outputs to 720p and has a low refresh rate? It’ll be impossible to appreciate the capabilities of the PC you spent for.
What are the ideal settings for a good monitor?
Look for one that can output in 4K UHD and has a 120 Hz refresh rate. 60 Hz is fine for people who don’t game but it won’t be enough for a professional setup. You’ll want one that offers true color settings to bring out your games’ visuals.
Useful Accessories
Got a little extra money left after investing in all the essentials? Now it’s time to invest in some great accessories.
Start with an HWID Changer. This will mask your PC and monitor’s unique ID, a helpful feature when you aim to boost your gaming experience with cheats or bots.
Do you plan on gaming with friends? Invest in the best headset like oculus quest 1 & rift s prescription lenses which are the most powerful on any VR headset. You might also want to get a high-end gaming keyboard and mouse.
Make it a point to invest in a good audio system too. You could buy a Bluetooth speaker or a room-wide Dolby 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system.
Invest in Good Seating
Getting a good gaming chair is about more than playing to a popular meme.
Keep in mind that you’ll be in front of your new gaming PC for hours, especially if you’ll be playing live on Twitch or YouTube. You need to invest in a good PC gaming chair that offers comfort and convenience.
It should also have an ergonomic design to guarantee you can maintain good posture. This will also reduce the risk of lower back pain or neck pain. A few pads, such as for the neck, will give you ample support when you need to lie back and rest.
Of course, you can splurge a bit too. Some gaming chairs feature built-in Bluetooth speakers, USB charging ports, and cup holders.
Gaming PC Building Needs Aid
Not sure how any of this works? Do you have no clue when it comes to picking PC hardware or the requirements for modern video games?
You’re not alone and you don’t have to isolate your problem. Get online and join a few Facebook groups or Reddit threads.
You’ll easily find communities dedicated to gaming PC building. Discuss what you want to achieve, your budget, and some requirements for your build.
It won’t take long before some people answer your concerns and point you in the right direction. Many will start suggesting components and tips to build the best gaming PC within your budget and restrictions.
Perform a Bench Test
Got everything ready? Before you start spending hours playing your favorite video games on your new rig, make it a habit to perform a bench test. This will highlight how powerful and how fast your PC runs when at its optimal condition.
Why is this important?
You can use the data later on when your PC begins to slow down or when other issues begin to pop up. Comparing the performance with the bench test may help point out the problem, making it easier to replace a broken or worn-out part.
Build Your Gaming PC Today
Gaming PC building is no easy task and there is a lot to consider. It’s easy to make a mistake and spend a lot of money on a poorly-performing rig. However, you can avoid those problems by following this gaming PC guide.
Know which components to get, follow a budget, and don’t forget to ask for help. Run a bench test and invest in useful accessories or tools, like a temperature monitor.
Of course, building a gaming PC is only the beginning. Continue going through our library of tech guides to learn how to set up things like a VR rig or which games to try out on your new rig!