Building Your Own PC for Online Gaming? Here’s What You Need to Know
With most people forced to stay at home due to the ongoing pandemic, many have turned to online gaming to keep busy. Unsurprisingly, this has caused global gaming PC sales to grow by 16.2% last year — and this surge is predicted to continue throughout 2024. With options ranging from high-end models to budget-friendly units, today’s gamers are indeed spoiled for choice. But while it’s definitely convenient to buy a complete PC straight from the store, some serious gamers are also opting to build their own. Not only does it offer more customizations, but it also allows users to be more selective with the components that fit their gaming needs. The trend of gaming is reshaping day by day and the gaming industry is getting a boom year by year.
For low-end graphics games that are lightweight, you can check some PC games under 500 MB if you don’t have a high-end PC or you don’t want to invest in building a high-end PC. That being said, if you’ve been considering building your own gaming PC, here’s what you need to know.
Begin with your CPU
The processor, or CPU, is the brain of the computer since it controls the number of tasks it can perform and how fast. In the world of desktop CPUs, AMD and Intel are the names you should look out for. The AMD Ryzen line and Intel Core i3, i5, and i9 are the best ones for gaming. These CPUs have multi-core processors that can handle the load of modern games. They can also be overclocked, which is an affordable way to make your PC run faster.
Invest in a high-quality graphics card
The graphics card, or GPU, is probably the most expensive part of your gaming PC — and for good reason. It’s responsible for the cutting-edge display and graphics you enjoy as you play your games — without your computer lagging or crashing. The best ones, such as those from AMD and Nvidia, are able to run 4K smoothly. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has excellent ray tracing and 1080p performance. For AMD enthusiasts, their Radeon RX 6800 also offers solid ray tracing and a 4K gaming performance.
The highest RAM isn’t necessarily the best
Having sufficient RAM can improve your in-game frame rates and boost your PC’s responsiveness. 4GB or 6GB is enough for light games, but these RAMs can also accommodate heavy multi-tasking — such as browsing the web, working with basic applications, and light photo editing. 16GB should be the minimum for gaming PCs, though 32GB is ideal if you’re playing games(like Apex legends, Counter-Strike, etc) that have a demanding level of graphics. Aside from the games, you’ll be playing, you should also consider if you’re planning to stream. Recording your screen, unfortunately, puts a strain on your PC. Consider brands like the Trident Z RGB 16GB, which has an impressive bandwidth of 4266Mhz that lets you run games such as Battlefield 5 smoothly.
Don’t skimp on your motherboard
The motherboard is pretty much the heart of your entire setup since it contains your graphics card, CPU, and every other critical component that allows your PC to operate. This means you’ll need to get a motherboard that is specifically designed for gaming, such as the Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme and MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon Wi-Fi. These motherboards are built with improved capacitors and sockets, which is what enables them to power the rest of your PC. Usually, motherboards already have pre-determined PCB stackup impedance calculations — meaning, their power levels are set too. Nonetheless, you should make sure all parts are compatible, or else it may cause your system to lag or not run at all.
Get a powerful PSU
The PSU, or power supply unit, is probably not the first thing you think of when building your dream gaming PC. It’s important to get a PSU with wattage that can fully support your PC no matter what you’re doing. An underpowered PSU can become unstable — giving you problems in cooling, data corruption, and slow responses, among others. Nothing bad will happen if you end up with an overpowered PSU since your PC will simply draw the power it needs. But don’t worry, you don’t need a power supply of 1,000W. Models like the Corsair RM850x are already powerful PSUs — boasting 850W capacity, a quiet fan, and modular cables.
Get a cooling system
Intense gaming sessions can lead to an overheated PC, which can torch your components. A cooling system prevents this from happening. There are two kinds of cooling systems, namely air, and water cooling. The Noctua NH-D15 is an excellent air cooler that performs quietly even if it’s working at 100%. As for liquid cooling, this system is typically difficult to install due to extra steps involving the water block. Meanwhile, air cooling is ideal for its entry-level price and simple installation. But if you’re willing to shell out more money for a quieter and more efficient option, then liquid cooling is for you.
Match with the proper accessories
Part of the ultimate PC gaming experience is the setup, of course. There are countless possible accessories to choose from, so prioritize what you want to get first and ensure they’re compatible with each other. For example, you can get a keyboard and mouse to match your sleek gaming monitor. Meanwhile, if you’re one to play online multiplayer games with friends, a gaming headset like the HyperX Cloud Revolver is a good pick. Again, the best thing about building your own PC is the customization, so take advantage of it!