What PC Specs Do I Need for Gaming?

These days, a lot of gamers are making the jump to PCs from consoles like Xbox and PlayStation. This is mostly due to the sheer customizability and upgradability of PCs, which allow for a better overall gaming experience compared to gaming consoles, as noted by Business Inside.

However, it can be daunting to build your own gaming PC ⁠— especially if you’re used to the straightforward and casual gaming experience consoles provide. Lucky for you, we’ve drafted up a quick guide on the basic PC specs that you need to consider when building your gaming PC.

Table of Contents

Processor

You have to find the right processor for your gaming PC since it’s essentially the brain of your device ⁠— dictating how smoothly your system runs while running different software. When looking for a processor, be sure to first check its core count. On the market, most processors have cores that range from 2 to 16 ⁠— and a quad-core processor is the basic standard for gaming PCs. You can choose between AMD and Intel for your processor, but we advise that you go with AMD as you get more bang for your buck. That’s because it offers better-priced processors with faster multithreaded performance.

GPU

The GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is arguably the most important component in a gaming PC. With the right GPU, you can play games with mind-blowingly HD graphics at incredibly high frame rates. Thankfully, it’s easy to spot the higher-performing GPUs on the market ⁠— the higher the model number of a GPU is, the better it performs. The VRAM or Video RAM is also a good way to measure how a GPU will perform. 2 GB of VRAM will allow you to play 1080p games decently, while 6 GB and higher will give you access to the world of 4K and 1440p titles.

However, do note that your GPU and processor need to work hand-in-hand. If you pair a low-performing processor with a high-performing GPU, you’ll run into issues like a CPU bottleneck and FPS drops.

RAM

Amount of RAM, or Random Access Memory, plays a very important part in how your gaming PC will run different software at once. At low RAM, your PC won’t be able to store the data it needs to run games smoothly, resulting in a cumbersome gaming experience. The more RAM you have, the easier your PC will be able to store and retrieve data to manage and meet the memory needs of your software.

That said, a look at RAM basics by HP points out that you’ll need at least 8 GB of it for casual or online gaming. More serious gamers looking to stream and compete down the road would do well with anywhere between 16 GB and 32 GB, as this can ensure smooth gameplay and even future-proof your system as developers release more and more immersive titles. But while it can be tempting to push your RAM up to 64 GB, it could be a waste of cash as 32 GB already allows you to show off how fast your gaming PC is.

Storage

Lastly, it’s a must for any type of PC these days to have SSD storage, considering how cheap these are now. Our own Jacob Rapid suggests that 500 GB or more of storage space is ideal, allowing you to store lots of your games, files, and software. Furthermore, SSDs are smaller and more durable than ever before, and will let you boot your PC and games at stunningly fast speeds.