When it comes to buying a gaming PC, you can be overwhelmed with all of the options available. The problem is that not all gaming PCs have been created equal. This is why you need to know what matters when you look at buying one of these computers.
The Processor
The processor is the heart of your gaming PC and you need to take the time to consider all your options. The first factor to look at will be the number of cores the processor has. Most experts recommend a 6-core processor, but if you have the funds you can look at an 8-core processor.
You also have a choice between Intel and AMD. A lot of people recommend Intel 4 and 6-core processors instead of AMD 8-core processors. If you have a tight budget, AMD will be a solid choice, but it might be worthwhile paying a little more for Intel.
The GPU
The GPU is the next aspect of your gaming PC that you need to consider. These are the graphics cards and you have to consider the memory that they offer. While GPU memory will not have a major impact on overall performance, it does impact the amount of data the card can handle before chocking.
If you have a display with less than 1080p resolution, you will need a card with at least 1GB of memory. If your display resolution is more than 1080p, you need at least 3GB of memory. Fortunately, most cards come with around 4GB of memory which means that you should not have any problems.
When it comes to the GPU, a lot of people assume that multiple cards will be better. While this does have the potential of being faster, you can run into serious issues in terms of driver and game support. Multiple cards will also run hotter and louder than a single card.
The RAM
RAM is relatively inexpensive when you consider the other parts of a gaming PC. However, this does not mean that you should pack your computer with unnecessary amounts. The majority of the games on the market will run on 8GB of RAM.
While this is the minimum requirement for most games, you should look at getting a bit more than this. Ideally, you should look for a computer that has 16GB of RAM. Anything more than this will be unnecessary and you can put the money you spend on this into other components.
The Drive
Solid state drives have become more affordable over the years and you can get them in larger sizes as well. Mechanical hard drives are still the most common and you can easily get 1TB models. However, you generally do not need all of this space for your gaming and unused space will be a waste.
It is recommended that you get an SSD with the space that you need. An SSD will load faster with levels that take 30 seconds to load on a hard drive only taking 5 to 10 seconds. If you are going for a dual drive system, ensure that the SSD is your primary storage device.
There are a lot of factors to consider when looking at gaming computers. The processor is important as well as the GPU. You should only look at getting the RAM that you need and an SSD with the right amount of space.