Performance and costs are directly related

The most important consideration to make is the level of performance you expect to get out of the gaming computer you’re about to build. Creating a powerful machine on a tight budget is completely practical – you don’t need to pay a premium to get solid gaming performance. However, if you are looking to push the threshold of gaming performance with cutting-edge hardware and accessories, it will cost more. No matter which route you take, you’ll need to build your gaming PC from the inside out.

Focus on the hardware of your build

Hardware is the engine of your gaming rig. It accounts for almost all the performance available– that includes the speed, responsiveness, frame rates, and running multiple apps at one time (for example, gaming while recording your gameplay on video) – other accessories and software can help and are still important, but they’re complementary...and their impact is dictated by the capabilities of the hardware.

Items you’ll need for your build

Hardware

Motherboard

Processor (CPU)

Memory (RAM)

Storage (drives)

Video card/Graphics card/Graphics processing unit (GPU)

Case

Case fans

Power supply

Software

Operating system (OS)

Peripherals

Monitor

Gaming keyboard

Gaming mouse

Gaming headset

 Motherboard:

The motherboard is the first internal component you’ll want to choose. The motherboard dictates the physical dimensions and size of your PC build, and it also determines what other pieces of hardware the computer can use – a critical point because your motherboard must support the amount of performance you’d like to get out of the rig. For example, the motherboard sends power to the processor, so the motherboard must provide enough power to run the processor. The motherboard will also require a specific class of memory, such as DDR4, DDR3, or DDR2, and have a limit on the number of modules that can be installed which affects the CPU speed and efficiency. The motherboard will further indicate what kind of storage (drives) can be installed; both the size of the drive (2.5-inch, mSATA, or m.2) and the type of interface (SATA or PCIe). You’ll want to choose the motherboard based on the other components you want, but the motherboard is the starting point.

 Processor (CPU):

The processor might be the single most important component you choose for your build. Memory and storage fuel the processor, which controls every data transaction within the PC. When you’re determining which CPU to install, pay attention to the gigahertz (GHz) – the higher the GHz, the faster the processor. This is important if you’re overclocking because the amount of GHz you use will rise. By definition, overclocking is speeding up the clock cycles of the CPU to process more data transactions faster. It also puts an added importance on finding a proper heats ink for the processor....so the higher temperatures don’t affect system health. The processor must be compatible with the motherboard you’ve chosen.

 Memory (RAM):

Memory, or RAM, gives your processor and graphics processing unit the resources they need to perform. More gigabytes of memory equal more assets they can turn into faster system speed, seamless responsiveness, and higher frame rates. Adding memory is one of the fastest, easiest, and most affordable ways to amplify the performance of any gaming rig – no matter what size your budget is, maxing out the RAM is an essential part of building a gaming PC.