A gaming computer is usually understood as a powerful device that can not only play modern games, but also ensure their maximum performance for comfortable entertainment. Such machines are usually very different from those in offices or schools - both in technical specifications and in cost. Therefore, if you decide to build a gaming PC yourself, you should go to this event with great responsibility.
What do you need to focus on?
To build a gaming PC, you must first focus on the budget that you have. Buying gaming components is not cheap, so you need to allocate such an amount that does not hit the gamer's family budget. You should also be mentally prepared for the fact that after assembly you will need to invest several thousand more in something that was not previously taken into account (buying a keyboard or mouse, speakers, good headphones, and so on). Therefore, first save up a lot of money, and only then start buying accessories.
Also an important factor is the monitor, which will be used to display the image on the screen. Most gamers prefer to buy a 21-inch display with FullHD (1920 x 1080) image quality. However, many modern games have graphical QHD or 2K (2560 x 1440) format settings. If a gamer acquires such a monitor, but saves on a graphics card or central processor, he will not be able to enjoy a comfortable game in high quality. Therefore, be sure to compare the power of your components with the screen resolution.
The third key point is the system requirements of modern games. If four years ago it was possible to assemble a powerful gaming PC, which pulled all the new items at maximum settings, for only 45-50 thousand rubles, then today this amount has doubled. The reason is not only the appreciation of the dollar, but also a sharp jump in system requirements. Games began to look much more realistic, however, for a comfortable game in this case, the fifth generation processor is no longer enough. Ideally, you will have to use the ninth series, as well as a powerful graphics card.
CPU
Regardless of whether you want to build a cheap gaming PC or an expensive one, you should first decide on the platform on which your machine will operate. Today, there are two large companies on the market that are engaged in the production of central processors for computers: AMD and Intel. And although their products are in many respects similar, there are still fundamental differences that cannot be ignored.
Intel processors are considered more versatile and can carry the work of poorly optimized applications much easier. So if you plan to play games whose work is complete without lags even on the most powerful computers (Sims 3, Gothic 3 and so on), then you should give preference to this particular company, since AMD is unlikely to cope with such a task. The fastest and most powerful CPU to date is the Intel Core i9, which is actively used not only by gamers, but also by various server companies around the world.
As for AMD, its products are much better at coping with multi-core tasks than Intel processors. Recently, gamers conducted an interesting experiment, trying to find out on which computer the optimization of the game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (requires an eight-core processor) would be better. To do this, we used machines assembled on the basis of Intel Core i9 and AMD Xeon processors (the company's most powerful processor to date). What was the general surprise when they saw a difference of almost 10 FPS. The victory was unconditionally given to AMD.
Motherboard
To properly assemble a gaming PC, you need to choose the right motherboard. For central processors from Intel and AMD, these devices will be seriously different. Also, special attention should be paid to the number of slots for chips with RAM. If a gamer plans to add a certain amount of RAM in the future, then this should be taken into account even at the stage of purchasing a motherboard. For a future upgrade, it is recommended to leave at least 2 (and preferably 4) slots for RAM.
Another important factor is the number of SATA or PCI interfaces for installing HDDs. Many gamers prefer to install two hard drives at once, using one for downloading games, and the second for installing the operating system and various programs that do not take up much space. If you plan to assemble a computer for a long period of operation, it is recommended to purchase a motherboard in which there are more than two interfaces for hard drives.
I happened to see gaming computers with backlight more than once, and now you decided to assemble the same? Then you should choose a motherboard in which there are several built-in light bulbs that are activated manually or automatically. Such a function will look especially beautiful in a transparent case at night, however, the cost of the backlight is corresponding. The most budget options with colored lights are produced by MSI, which has the logo of a red dragon.
Video card
What do you need to assemble a gaming PC? Well, of course, a powerful video card capable of delivering stable 60 FPS in modern games at maximum settings. For good optimization, a graphics editor is just as important as a properly selected central processor. Nevertheless, simply purchasing a powerful video card and installing it in a computer will not work. It should fit your processor and motherboard. The device receives data not only from the CPU, but also from RAM, so all components should ideally complement each other.
Every gamer should understand that it makes no sense to purchase an expensive GeForce GTX Titan X if the processor is not able to give out half of the power that the video card asks for. Distribute most of the load on the graphics editor does not work. Therefore, it is necessary to select a video card that will be in approximately the same category as the central processor. For example, for Intel Core i7 it is best to choose something from the tenth series - the GeForce GTX 1070 or 1080. In this case, it will be possible to get maximum performance due to the uniform load on the components.
Also, one should not forget about the possibility of upgrading a PC - you can pre-purchase a motherboard that will support two video cards. However, it is worthwhile to understand that in this case you will have to purchase the exact same graphic editor that is already installed on your computer, otherwise the system simply won’t see the second video card. However, they rarely resort to such manipulations, preferring to install 3-4 devices in advance to get maximum power. Although several graphics cards justify themselves only if their owner wants to create a special mining farm.
RAM
No PC assembly can do without installing RAM - RAM, which is used for short-term data storage, for example, during games. When choosing this component, you should first of all take into account its compatibility with the motherboard and processor. For example, not all CPUs support DDR4 chips. And most processors from AMD only work with RAM, DDR3 format.
The amount of RAM is limited by the number of slots for RAM and the gamer's budget. When assembling a PC, it is best to use chips with 32 gigabytes of RAM on it, because in this case the user will have more opportunities to upgrade. However, the data exchange rate theoretically increases if 4 chips of 8 gigabytes are used. Although several small boards will cost much more than one large.
HDD
If you plan to build a budget gaming PC, then you can save a lot on this parameter. Most gamers purchase large hard drives to store their entire Steam library on them, as well as download dozens of seasons of various TV shows and films. However, why buy a large hard drive if the series can be watched online (if you have good internet), and delete the game after passing through and download another?
As for the capacity of modern HDDs, it varies from 1 to 10 terabytes. Of course, you can find old 512 GB hard drives, but most stores have not supplied such components for a long time. However, be sure to consider the connector of your drive (SATA or PCI-E) so that there is no embarrassment when you connect the hard drive to the motherboard or video card.
Power Supply
Why do many gamers say that assembling a gaming PC yourself is incredibly difficult? The thing is that novice users do not understand which power supply is suitable for their assembly. In the best case, they will get the most expensive option and waste extra money, and in the worst, they will buy a 450 W unit, after which it will burn up after a few days of operation.
Even if you are sure about how much resources your components will consume, it is far from a fact that you will be able to purchase a suitable power supply. You must also focus on the voltage in the outlets of your apartment. Classic 220 V is a rarity for a modern power transmission system (the indicator can be higher or lower).
Therefore, before purchasing a power supply for your gaming PC, be sure to consult an electrician who will tell you the optimal power for such a device. If voltage fluctuations often occur in your home, be sure to purchase an “uninterrupted power supply” that will protect your computer from breakdowns. Such a device costs no more than 1,500 rubles.
Cooling system
In order to inexpensively assemble a gaming PC, many gamers save money on the cooling system, after which they regret it very much. Of course, most modern processors are equipped with special coolers that blow on a chip greased with thermal grease and cool it to a suitable temperature. However, if you decide to purchase such a device separately, then be sure to look at the mounts so that they fit your motherboard.
In addition, additional coolers can be installed in the case, so that the video card and RAM are cooled on hot summer days. Of course, you can buy a water cooling system, which lowers the temperature much more efficiently, but you will have to pay a considerable amount of money for it. Although liquid freon moves through the tubes almost silently, so the computer will not work so loudly.
Body
Also, to build a gaming PC, you will have to purchase a suitable case, which will not only look beautiful in the room, but will also contain all the components. Some gamers are trying to save on the purchase of this element, after which they have to drill additional holes in the case for mounting the motherboard or installing the power supply.
Particular attention should be paid to buying a quality case if you want to install a water cooling system or additional backlight inside the computer. Carefully consider the fastening of each component, otherwise you run the risk of running out of space. In addition, some cases do not even have openings for a drive - keep this in mind if you are still installing games from media.
Game devices for PC
No gaming computer can do without a high-quality mouse, keyboard, speakers or headphones and other devices necessary for a good rest. However, gaming devices - this is exactly the point at which you can save a significant part of the money. For example, it is not necessary to buy an expensive mechanical keyboard with backlight, released by any brand company. It will be enough to purchase the device for 500 rubles at the nearest computer equipment store. However, if money does not play a special role for a gamer, he can safely purchase an expensive device that not only lasts a long time, but also has additional functions.
We hope you now better understand how to build a gaming PC. A person who understands the computer device and constantly monitors the prices of components on different sites, such an event does not seem too complicated. Inexperienced users can study all the necessary information on the Internet, carefully looking at the characteristics of a particular product. For example, if you decide to build a gaming PC on AMD, then you should choose a motherboard that will fit this processor. Otherwise, the gamer may run out of space for installing a cooler or incompatible connectors.