Are you a long-time gamer? Or are you building your gaming room setup?
The pandemic is boosting the video game industry. People staying home run to video games for entertainment and comfort. As a result, gaming sales in the United States grew 37% back in August of 2020 to a whopping $3.3 billion.
Video games, however, are only one part that’s experiencing a boom. The PC industry is likewise riding the trend triggered by the pandemic.
PC sales, in general, are spiking and one of the biggest sectors behind the rise is the gamers. Incidentally, this also points to the fact that gamers need to choose a computer that will meet their gaming requirements to perfection
With so many gaming computers out there, how do you pick the best one from the rest? Continue reading below for some valuable tips.
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Picking that perfect gaming computer is the same as choosing a laptop to a certain extent. There are key factors you need to consider before parting with your hard-earned money. Hence, the search for that gaming PC begins with the processor.
The processor is like the heart of the gaming computer. If you have a powerful computer processor, the more demanding video games you can play.
Since video gaming involves processing data at an ultra-fast pace, you need to find a high-end processor that can take on the task. The quality of your processor will determine if the system can keep up with all the software that you will use.
There are different options when it comes to gaming processors. You can find processors with as low as two cores. Meanwhile, hardcore gamers go for the 16-core option.
A big factor that will affect your choice is your budget. If you’re only a newbie in video gaming, you can start at a four-core chip. This is also the perfect option for gamers on a tight budget.
If you have extra money to spare, you can jack it up to a six-core chip. Some of the best options include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and the Intel i5-10600K.
If you’re a serious gamer, you may go for an eight-core chip. Anything beyond that can be overkill. Generally, anything higher than eight-core is more suitable for people who do tasks that use AutoCAD and Adobe Premiers.
Another crucial factor to consider is the graphics processing unit or GPU. The GPU or graphics card is the component that ensures the crispness, frame rates, and resolution of your video games.
Generally, the main guide to picking the right GPU is the model numbers. Theoretically, the higher the numbers in the cards, the better performance they offer. However, there are entry-level options that perform decently.
The Nvidia GTX 1650 is one of those affordable GPU options if you’re only playing at 1080p. If you’re looking to play games at 1440p, then you need to level up a bit. Here, you can go for the RX 5700 or the RTX 2060 also from Nvidia.
If you’re a veteran gamer who’s looking to spend more on VR games or titles with the highest settings, then you need the most powerful GPUs out there. Hence, you will never go wrong with the RTX 2080 or RTX 2080 Ti. These 20-series cards can cover all your VR requirements, as well as other special effects.
Also, you need to be aware of the video memory (VRAM) of the graphics cards. Today, the baseline for most video games at 1080p is 3GB. You’d aim for 4GB of VRAM for better performance.
Keep in mind that a higher VRAM does not equate to better overall performance. Instead, it enables the video card to handle specific visual features and games with higher resolutions.
You also need to look at the RAM and storage capabilities of a gaming laptop. The RAM stores temporary data while your computer is working on different tasks. The bigger RAM you have, the more your computer’s multitasking capabilities are.
If your computer doesn’t have enough RAM, you may encounter a slowdown in your gaming experience.
Though some gamers think that splurging on 64GB of system RAM is wise, it is the opposite. This is because 8GB to 12GB of RAM is enough for your gaming requirements. Your 8GB should be your minimum.
If you’re playing more modern games, 16GB of RAM should cover you for at least a few more years. For older games, your 8GB and 12GB RAM should suffice.
Also, you need to check the storage capacity of the gaming computer. Since modern video games require faster performance in reading and writing data. Thus, your best bet is a computer that comes with a solid-state drive or SSD.
Compared to traditional hard drives, SSD doesn’t come with any moving parts. In turn, it can focus on speed and stability. Since they are several times faster than hard drives, SSDs can launch and save your games faster.
Moreover, an SSD helps minimize heat and noise. This is because it doesn’t come with any moving parts.
An essential part of the gaming experience is the quality of images you see on your screen. Thus, you need to check on the display capabilities of the gaming computer.
Choosing the perfect display can be tricky. There are several factors you need to look into before deciding. For starters, you need to determine the size that you want.
This is more of a subjective matter. Some gamers prefer bigger screens while others are happy with smaller ones.
Most of today’s gaming laptops come with 15 or 17-inch screens. For desktops, they’re bigger. Ideally, you want something between 20 inches and 25 inches.
For the resolution, a higher one yields a larger field of vision. This means you will see more of the game vertically and horizontally. Also, higher resolution means smoother visuals.
Also, you may consider a 4K UHD monitor. 4K means four times the total number of pixels you get from a full-HD monitor of the same size.
Alternatively, you can go for curved displays. This is perfect if you’re gunning for an extensive field of vision.
To pull this off, gamers usually place two sets of monitors side by side. This dual-monitor setup allows you to enjoy more screen coverage within your peripheral range.
Furthermore, you want a computer monitor with an impressive refresh rate. Refresh rate pertains to the number of times your monitor refreshes for every second.
For gaming, a refresh rate of 60Hz should be enough. This means your monitor refreshes 60 times per second.
When buying a gaming PC for your gaming room setup, choose a computer that is a cool and quiet performer. Technically, the cooling aspect of your computer shouldn’t affect its performance. However, it can affect your gaming experience.
Some graphics cards come with built-in coolers. Unfortunately, some of them can become noisy. In turn, the noise can affect your playing especially during those quiet and intense moments of a game.
However, playing with your headphones on can remedy this problem. In case you bought a processor that doesn’t come with a stock cooler, you can opt for an advanced cooling system.
You can find big CPU coolers that keep your desktop from overheating. These coolers also don’t make any noise.
Last but not least, you need to find the right set of keyboards. Don’t settle for anything standard if you wish to take your gaming to the next level.
Consider keyboard options that come with an anti-ghosting feature. This technology reduces the possible number of combinations whenever you press different keys at the same time.
Do you prefer dimming your lights while playing? Consider getting a keyboard with backlit keys. The backlight allows you to see your keyboard when playing inside a dark room.
Moreover, the colors of the backlights can add more character to your gaming setup. You can find keyboards that allow you to customize the lights. You can highlight certain keys that you use often.
You can also program the lights to pulsate, giving you that additional flair while gaming. If you want to go all-out on your keyboards, you can invest in a mechanical keyboard.
This features an individual mechanical switch for every key on the board. This offers durability especially if you play games that need a lot of keyboard action.
Also, this type of keyboard can help increase your accuracy. Every time you hit a key, it creates a distinct sound. Hitting the wrong key will give you a different sound.
By considering these key factors, you can find a computer that will best suit your gaming requirements. Also, you can better manage your budget and avoid spending on features that you don’t need at the moment. However, having the perfect gaming computer is only the beginning.
We invite you to check our other articles and learn about the other essentials in a gaming room setup.
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