Gaming PC components

Introduction

Constructing your first Gaming PC can be an extremely dauting experience, it can be difficult to start when you don’t know the basic components needed for the computer to run. There are a variety of options on the market with various different pc internals thus selecting the necessary parts for your build, although scary, is very necessary. While pre-built systems offer convenience, they are often much more expensive and much less suitable if you were to try and upgrade them in the future. On the other hand, custom-built PCs can provide equal/better powerful performance for less expenses, with the added satisfaction of having constructed the computer completely from scratch.

In this article, we will discuss the brief overview of components of a gaming rig. From the Central Processing Unit (CPU), to the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). There will be a break down each part's role and what to look for when making your selections. Whether you're aiming for a budget-friendly build or a top-of-the-line setup, this guide will give you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and build your own gaming pc to suit you as a gamer.

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the brains of the computer, its main responsibility is to process data and execute instructions given to it.

Various CPUs have different numbers of cores and clock speeds which determine the rate at which they work and how many tasks it can complete at one time. The more cores often mean the higher workload the computer can cope with.

There are 3 main brands in the gaming pc industry which are preferred by gamers worldwide. These are Intel, AMD and NVIDIA

Suggestions

• Budget: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, Intel Core i5-12400F.

• Mid-range: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, Intel Core i7-12700K.

• High-end: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, Intel Core i9-12900K.

2. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

The GPU is responsible for rendering images and video, this is essential for the computer to relay information to the monitor and crucial for performance gaming.

The GPU has a dedicated memory storage, often referred to as VRAM (video random-access memory) This is to store and manage data which is related to the processing of video and the graphics.

Popular selections from gaming users often fall between NVIDIA GTX series and AMD RX series. These Brands both have their perks and each provide their own advanced adaptive sync technology, this allows for supporting monitors to eliminate screen tearing and input lag by matching the monitors refresh rate to the frame rate from the GPU.

Suggestions

• Budget: NVIDIA GTX 3050 AMD RX 6500 XT.

• Mid-range: NVIDIA RTX 4060, AMD RX 6700 XT.

• High-end: NVIDIA RTX 4090, AMD RX 7900 XT.

3. Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is actively used by the CPU to store data; this allows for quick access of applications and the ability for sleek multitasking across more than one application.

RAM comes in different quantities, most commonly ranging from sticks of 4-32 Gigabytes. These sticks are placed in the motherboard, (often in dual channel configurations) depending on the motherboard, you usually have the option to use between 2-4 sicks of band which offer various bandwidths and speeds.

These sticks of RAM have various speed capabilities generally spanning from 800-6800MHz (Megahertz)

Suggestions

16GB DDR4 3200MHz for most gaming pc builds, 32-64GB for high-end systems or heavy multitasking. Some popular RAM manufacturers such as Corsair, Crucial and Kingston offer reliable and fast Random Access Memory.

4. Storage solutions

Storage systems are responsible for holding all of your operating system, data, files and your games this is where everything you download will live. You can have as many storage devices as your motherboard will allow you and have as much storage as you wish.

Storage comes in two main forms, HDD (Hard Disk Drives) and SSD (Solid State Drives). HDDs store data in magnetic disks which are often devices plugged in and external to your motherboard, these are regularly considered as less reliable, cheaper and slower when it comes to loading games, although they sometimes provide a larger capacity. Whereas SSDs contain newer technology and chemical properties allowing them to offer more storage volume, speed and provide more efficiency from a smaller drive. These can come in external versions (SATA SSDs), however m.2 SSD drives which attach directly into your motherboard are preferred by the gaming community as they are power efficient.

Standard HDD will read and write at approximately 80MB/s – 160MB/s opposed to 200MB/s -550MB/s of newer SSDs. These options should be considered depending on budget and the performance level you are looking for.

Suggestions

HDD: Seagate BarraCuda or Western Digital Blue

SSD: Crucial P3 Plus SSD 1TB m.2 NVMe

5. Motherboard

The motherboard is the main circuit board in which the components are connected to. This requires all the previous parts listed to be connected to it for your pc to be able to function correctly. There are various different ports within the motherboard which you will have to find once you have one to decipher where your components will be connected to. (this will be found in the instructions of the motherboard).

The most common boards for gaming are the ATX but for smaller builds there are Micro ATX and Mini ITX which are also good options, however bear in mind you may be restricted with the amounts of ports available. Smaller boards do not always support more powerful components (CPU, GPU, RAM etc.)

Before ordering all your pc components, you must check that the motherboard is compatible with all the other components you are planning on purchasing, not all parts will fit every motherboard so checking before hand can save time and money.

Suggestions

• Budget: B550 chipset for AMD, B660 for Intel.

• Mid-range: chipset for AMD, Z690 for Intel.

• High-end: X670E for AMD, Z790 for Intel.

6. Power Supply Unit (PSU)

The power supply is the main source of power which provides all the components with the wattage to function.

There are Modular power supplies and non-modular power supplies. Modular PSUs Come with some of the cables detached, this means you are able to use only the cables you require and leave the rest in the box. This leaves a cleaner look within the pc case as there is less cables to hide whilst also allowing easy removal of the PSU if needed. On the other hand, non-modular PSUs will come with all the cables secured from inside the power supply and you will not be able to remove them. This will take up a lot more room within the pc case and sometimes you will have daisy chained cables which can be difficult to connect to the motherboard whilst hiding the cable.

Popular gaming PSUs come in various wattages. Budget builds often opt for 550W, mid-range 650-750W and for higher end builds up to 850W.

Suggestions

Budget: Corsair CX450

Mid-range: CX550F RGB

High-Range: EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G7

Note – Higher wattage doesn’t always mean better, as certain components become more energy efficient, they tend to require less power to achieve performance.

7. Cooling Solutions

All components used in a PC build exert a certain extent of heat energy which is lost when using the computer. If the functioning elements reach a temperature beyond their capabilities, this may lead to overheating which can ultimately break or damage the components within. This is why cooling solutions are a need for any PC build whether it’s a budget or high range rig.

Case fans are necessary for all PC cases, this allows for good airflow throughout the case and allows the cooling of the components during this process. For low end, less powerful computers this can be sometimes all you need to keep each component cool. However, if you are looking to built a more powerful rig with middle to high end parts, case fans alone may not be sufficient. This is when extra cooling devices should be considered such as thermal paste, extra fans, CPU specific fans and Liquid cooling.

CPU specific fans is a purchase that many gaming PC experts recommend for middle to high range CPUs. This is a fan which can be attached to the motherboard by the use of screws and will blow cool hair straight on to the CPU in order to cool it down.

Thermal paste is a filament that improves the contact between the CPU and its cooler. The improved contact allows for better heat transfer, therefore preventing the temperature to spike.

Liquid cooling is a system used within the case which keeps the PC cool during intense gaming usage. It involves circulating liquid coolant throughout the PC case through a series of tubes and blocks. This absorbs heat from the main components such as the GPU and CPU before travelling to a radiator where fans cool down the liquid again before it is then recirculated.

Suggestions

CPU specific fans: ID-COOLING range

Liquid cooling: Corsair H100x RGB ELITE

Thermal paste: ARCTIC MX-4

8. PC Case

The purpose of the case is to house and protect all the components. This prevents dust creating heating complications, providing a structure and to allow customisation of the aesthetic value of your PC.

There is a vast market of PC cases of all different sizes and shapes. If the case comes with minimum 3 fans, it is more a decision of aesthetics rather than performance. However, airflow designed cases will allow for more efficient cooling, so they can be a solid choice.

Suggestions

• Budget: NZXT H510, Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L.

• Mid-range: Fractal Design Meshify C, Corsair 4000D Airflow.

• High-end: Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic, Phanteks Eclipse P600S.