Introduction
Purchasing a fully functional complete assembly is the easiest way to attain a new desktop, especially if you’re not a tech expert, but would love a high-tech setup. The market is saturated with similar options, and the specifications are meant to help you decide. Yet, with all the technical information, are you able to tell which computer is better than the other? If you’re interested to buy gaming desktops, but you’re not sure where to begin, then read on because this guide will serve to highlight seven major factors to consider when shortlisting your next gaming unit.
Design
A variety of sizes caters to different user needs such as the case of finding an aesthetic fit to your interior or giving leeway for a cooling system. If the size is not a particular consideration to you, medium-sized cases are usually the go-to pick for gaming PCs. Not only are they compatible with a wide array of hardware components, but they also provide enough internal space for upgrades. For those looking for a more compact design for tight-fitting spaces, small form factor desktops would be the ideal choice.
Apart from the size, look at the functionality of the design –– are there sufficient ports and connecting docks for your frequently-used devices in the front panel and back panel? Are these ports compatible with your devices? These are important considerations for usability.
Particularly for gaming consoles, cooling systems are essential to help regulate the temperature and prevent the internal hardware from overheating, extending the operational life of your computer. More often than not, pre-built desktops should have a cooling system installed. Thus, there is no need to concern yourself over it, unless you intend to add new components and upgrade your system.
In a more aesthetically driven direction, it might be of your interest to find out that some gaming PCs have remote-controlled lighting in their interior and front panel which gives style to an otherwise dull-looking machine. Even though the colors and lights are merely pleasing to the eyes, and don’t actually have any effect on the system performance, it is still something you might want to consider.
System Functionality
The core of gaming PCs is all about their performance. This depends on the competence of each individual component – CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage – when assembled together.
CPU
CPU is the foundational essence of a computer. Gamers should opt for the newest Intel Core processor as it entails more core count, a faster clock rate, and is compatible with the Intel Optane memory. One way to further increase the speed of your computer is to overclock your CPU. Intel differentiates its clickable processors by an additional ‘K’ at the end of its code.
GPU
The key to picking a suitable GPU is to look at your monitor’s performance potential. The higher the screen resolution, the greater the performance intensity is demanded from your GPU. As the units work hand in hand to provide the best output, make sure that the standard of your CPU, GPU, and monitor are leveled in standard.
RAM Capacity
Typically part of the set-up in a ready-built desktop, the RAM plays a major role in system performance too. The bigger the capacity, the better.
Minimally, gaming desktops should require 16GB worth of RAM space, and this is what is often found installed in pre-built PCs. With this capacity, an ordinary computer should be good enough to process contemporary games with other applications running in the background. However, some pre-built PCs do also come with 8GB and 32GB of RAM space. While 32GB is on the higher end of the spectrum and will result in better overall system performance, 8GB could lead to certain hiccups when running too many applications, or new games.
Another consideration when it comes to RAM is its speed. If the speed of the RAM is 3000MHz or more, it could be beneficial to your game experience. Although the actual gains from having a high RAM speed might not be as obvious as having a powerful CPU and GPU, it still plays a part in the overall system performance.
Storage Space
Storage defines your boundaries and parameters of the number of applications you can download, and the time it takes for the bot to retrieve information. Games will load faster, applications will launch quicker, and the computer will also take a short time to restart its system. Having more storage space is helpful because it increases the productivity of the system. Basically, bigger storage means a faster PC.
When it comes to storage, SSDs are superior to hard disk drives. These days ready-built PCs come with SSD storage, but there are some that still carry hard disk drives. If modern games can easily take up memory space as much as 100GB, you can already imagine the storage capacity you’d need to cater to all the applications in your computer. Having primary storage of 500GB is good enough to get by, but the bigger the capacity, the better. Some ready-built gaming desktops come with two storage drives, one SSD, and one HDD. This method not only increases the storage space of the computer but also allows the processing workload to be shared between the two drives, thereby increasing the operational speed too.
Connectivity And Ports
Although every desktop design is bound to have some form of video output, USB port, BlueTooth connectivity, audio connection, and network connection, not all PCs carry the same standard variety of ports. Ensuring that the ports offered are compatible with your connectivity needs is crucial.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, getting a good gaming set-up is not just about buying the best, priciest components on the market. It’s also about the compatibility of the desktop, how well it fits with your user habits, and if it falls within your budget. Furthermore, it is also important to ensure that the various key players of the PC are of similar quality to not compromise the full potential of each individual unit. Now that you are well-equipped with the relevant knowledge, put it to good use when shopping for your new gaming desktop.
