When it comes to high-grade gaming PCs, you have a few options. You can purchase one pre-built by OEMs like Dell, Alienware, HP, etc. Or you can build your custom gaming PCs with parts bought from another company’s store.
Some people prefer buying ready-made computers that are fully functional out of the box and don’t need any fixing or upgrading right away.
The issue is that these machines are often costly—and they are not even customizable. For example, if the model you wanted isn’t being sold anymore, tough luck.
The Processor
Your standard OEM PCs are designed for people who only need them to browse the internet or do office work.
They have no interest in tinkering with or upgrading their machines, so they don’t even bother making it easy to do so. Instead, they just leave all of the upgradability to your discretion.
The problem is that if you want a good gaming computer, chances are you’ll be doing some serious upgrades and modifications (like adding an aftermarket heatsink and fan).
That’s why anything short of a custom gaming PC will make you regret wasting money on something that can’t meet your needs.
What to Consider When Building a Custom PC
The processor is the brain of your whole computer. So it should be powerful enough to support whatever you want to do with it. This means that if you plan to run games that require a lot of CPU power, having an i3 processor won’t help.
They’re all the same in terms of performance. Instead, get something like an i5 or an AMD Ryzen chip. If the PC will serve other purposes besides gaming (like video editing, for instance), opt for the best processors you can afford.
The Graphics Card
The graphics card isn’t as important as the processor since it only handles the visuals. It’s not doing any heavy computing work. Instead, it’s just responsible for displaying the graphics/images on your screen.
Luckily, AMD and Nvidia offer great graphics cards at different price points (Nvidia GeForce 1070 or 1080 for high-end, GTX 1050 for mid-range, AMD RX 580/590 for entry-level). You can also add more than one of these.
The Motherboard
The motherboard is the bridge that connects all the components. Without it, you won’t have a working PC. Since they come in different sizes and support different processors and memory modules, you should always check if all parts are compatible with your motherboard before purchasing anything.
MSI is a great brand, while ASUS makes some of the best motherboards around.
Memory
You’ll be storing all your data in the memory. So, it’s crucial to get a lot of it; 8 or 16 GB will be enough for most people. However, you might need more if you’re planning to use the computer for something besides gaming.
Memory modules are pretty cheap these days, so it won’t cost you much, even if you go with 16GB or 32GB of RAM.
The Storage Capacity
The storage is where you will install all your games. The greater your storage capacity, the more games you will be able to download, install and play at full graphics settings.
Install only one game per drive to save money and space on your hard drive (this does not apply to SSDs as they don’t have any moving parts). You can always transfer your other games to an external storage device if you need to free up some room on your PC.
Power Supply Unit
The power supply unit(PSU) is the heart of your whole computer. So you must pick one with enough power for all of your parts (including future upgrades).
If you don’t know how much wattage you need, you can always get a 500+ watts PSU, considering most mid-range graphics cards will require about 300 watts.
Just make sure that there is enough space inside your case (the bigger the case, the more space for airflow) and that it’s compatible with all of your parts too.
The Case
While not as important as other components since its job is primarily to protect the other parts, it’s still necessary for your PC. Just like with any other product, you get what you pay for. So cheap cases will not only look cheap (and feel cheap), but they also break easily and can’t handle high-end components.
These are the things you should look for in a custom gaming PC. Many gamers have found building or assembling their own gaming PC to be less expensive than buying one with the highest specifications.
