How do I choose the right gaming PC? - Coolblue (2024)

FAQs

How do I choose my gaming PC specs? ›

Choose a case that's compatible with your gaming environment and visual preferences. Prioritize choosing the right CPU and GPU, especially if you plan to play at higher resolutions or FPS. Consider an SSD for faster loading times. Make sure the system has plenty of accessible USB ports for connecting gaming devices.

If you're serious about gaming, select a gaming PC with a powerful CPU processor and video graphics card. Don't neglect cooling, as gaming uses a lot of power. If you're buying a gaming laptop, see whether it has built-in heatsinks for additional cooling and consider a laptop cooling pad.

Many experts recommend 16GB of RAM as the standard for most gaming needs, as it allows for a broad selection of today's PC games and styles. For those who are looking for an even higher performance level, 32GB of RAM is recommended to run multiple high-intensity programs simultaneously.

16GB of memory is enough to play any modern AAA game or any other game for that matter. It'll also most likely futureproof you for about another 2 to 3 years. However, you may have to upgrade sooner because some newer games are becoming increasingly resource hungry and require 16GB of RAM to run smoothly.

The average gaming PC price will typically fall between $1,000 and $4,000 when considering a budget. However, a reasonable budget for a gaming PC can range between $1,000 and $2,500, although getting a PC below $1,000 and even $500 is possible.

What makes gaming computers different from regular computers? The key difference lies in the hardware. Gaming computers are equipped with high-end components, such as powerful central processing units (CPUs), top-notch graphics cards, and faster, larger amounts of random-access memory (RAM).

How to tell if a PC is good for gaming? ›

The answer will depend on what type of gaming you plan to do. For basic games like Fortnite, you'll be able to get away with a low-end GPU, any i5 or Ryzen 5 processor within the last few years and 8GB RAM. If you want to play triple-A games with higher settings you'll need to invest in a higher-end GPU.

The most critical component in any gaming PC is its graphics (video) card. Graphics cards are the heart of what enables you to play games at high resolutions and with as many graphical features as possible. They're also one of the most expensive components out there.

To check your PC hardware specs, click on the Windows Start button, then click on Settings (the gear icon). In the Settings menu, click on System. Scroll down and click on About. On this screen, you should see specs for your processor, Memory (RAM), and other system info, including Windows version.

High-end games demand powerful processors like Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 and above, coupled with advanced graphics cards such as Nvidia GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon series. RAM is crucial, with 16GB being a sweet spot for gaming. Solid State Drives (SSDs) offer faster load times than HDDs.

For a gaming PC, the optimal amount of RAM recommended for the most recent gaming titles is 32GB. If you like to run a lot of applications in the background, you might want to push this number up to 48GB or even 64GB.

For ideal results, a machine running an Intel® Core™ i7 processor or better with at least 8GB of RAM is sufficient for playing games and streaming at the same time. If you're hoping for less impact on your gaming performance, an Intel® Core™ i9 processor makes for an even smoother experience. Find out more.