A Guide to Know Things Before Buying Your First Gaming PC

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PC gaming has a reputation for being expensive and complicated. And sure, playing games on PC is arguably the “deep end” of the video game hobby compared to playing on consoles, but it’s much easier to wade into those waters than you might think.

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The more you know about the inner workings of a computer, the easier it is to make informed decisions about what parts are worth upgrading. There might be just one or two pieces of hardware that could use a good upgrade before you start gaming, but you might find that you'd need to replace nearly everything (or nothing) before your PC is considered gaming-ready.

What do you need for a gaming PC?

One of the most prevalent misconceptions about PC gaming is that you need an expensive setup. Many would-be PC gamers (or their parents or spouses) are understandably alarmed by the sticker price for new PC parts—the recently announced Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU is a whopping $1,700 at launch. But the good news is you don’t need bleeding-edge parts to play PC games.

Indeed, high-fidelity graphical settings like 4K and 1440p resolutions, super-high refresh rates, ray tracing, and DLSS require very powerful—and very expensive—hardware, but they’re largely optional.

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Part of the beauty of PC gaming is its flexibility. Games often have numerous graphical settings so you can run them on modest hardware. They may not look as good at lower graphics settings, but they will usually run well enough to be playable.

A Guide to Know Things Before Buying Your First Gaming PC

A Guide to Know Things Before Buying Your First Gaming PC

• CPU: The CPU, aka processor, is your computer’s “brain,” controlling the different components, apps, and functions your run. Intel and AMD are the main CPU manufacturers. If you’re parting out your PC on your own, you will need to make sure you select a CPU that’s compatible with your other parts, but pre-made PCs will handle this for you. Instead, you may be asked to select from a specific model range. In general, a 10th or 11th-generation Intel i5 processor or higher, or AMD’s Ryzen 3, 5, 7, or 9 are best for gaming, with higher-numbered models offering higher processing speeds and multitasking capabilities.

• Graphics card (GPU): Your GPU is what renders in-game graphics, and will likely be the most expensive component you buy. Nvidia and AMD are the two major GPU manufacturers. Some common entry-level models include Nvidia’s GTX 1660 and RTX 2000 line, and AMD’s Radeon 5000 series. Nvidia’s RTX 3000 and 4000 series, as well as AMD’s RX 6000 series, are much more powerful, but increasingly more expensive (and may be harder to find). Avoid computers and laptops that only use Intel’s “integrated graphics,” since these chips are not built for gaming.

• RAM: This is your computer’s memory. The more of it you have, the faster it can perform certain tasks. At least 8GB of DDR4 RAM is the baseline you’ll want for a budget PC gaming PC, but 16GB is preferred if you can afford it. 32GB or more is best if you plan to edit videos or stream with your PC as well. Luckily, expanding your PC’s RAM is one of the simplest and most affordable upgrades you can make.

• Hard drive: These make up your PC’s storage space. Solid State Drives (SSDs) are faster and load games and apps quicker than hard drives (HDDs), but HDDs are more affordable and can store much more data for the price. You can outfit a PC with multiple drives, and even mix and match SSDs and HDDs. Either way, you’ll want at least one drive with 256GBs, though 1TB drives are best—modern PC games take up tons of drive space, usually between 20-100GBs or more, so having more space is always helpful.

• Operating system: Windows is best for gaming since it has the broadest game and app support. Some gaming PCs use versions of Linux (like SteamOS or Ubuntu), which are fine but can be hard to learn if you’re not already familiar with Linux, and may not run every game or program.

• Case, motherboard, and power supply unit (PSU): These last three components are the bedrock of any PC build: The motherboard performs many important functions, including running your PC’s BIOS and interfacing with the CPU and other hardware, but the most important thing to know is it’s the main circuit board all your components plug into. The PSU is what draws electricity from your outlet and powers each component. And the case houses all the hardware safely and securely. Selecting the right model for each of these components is important, but pre-built PCs or laptops will normally handle this decision for you.

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All of the above parts are included in any PC build, but you will also want to keep these additional parts and accessories in mind when buying a PC since they’re rarely included with a pre-made desktop or laptop. Be sure to factor them into your budget.

• Display: For entry-level PCs, a simple 1080p monitor with a 60 Hz refresh rate is just fine. Not only are they more affordable, but you can also maximize your hardware’s potential by choosing a monitor that fits your PC’s capabilities. For instance, a 1080p monitor with a 60Hz maximum refresh rate is better suited to a weaker rig than a 1440p or 4K monitor with high refresh rates.

• Internet connectivity: Unless you plan to hardwire your PC to your router via Ethernet cable, you will need a wifi card to connect wirelessly. Some motherboards include these, others will require a separate component.

• Keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals: A basic keyboard and mouse will work just fine, but competitive players may prefer the feel and performance of mechanical keyboards and gaming mice. As for gamepads, you can pair up Xbox, PlayStation, and third-party controllers via USB or Bluetooth. Some monitors come with speakers, but a pair of headphones or a gaming headset will work, too.