Choosing the best features for your gaming PC will depend on your budget, the games you play, the graphics quality you want, and of course the appearance of the components.
No matter which components you choose, they will all work together to produce a smooth and realistic gaming experience. The choice of components is essential, because by selecting them wisely, you will reduce jerks and latency, while improving the cooling of your system.
Keep your budget in mind when selecting the parts for your future machine. Respect the amount you have set for a PC with an optimal performance / price ratio. It is strongly advised not to buy a very powerful component and to skimp on the others, because the latter will restrict the performance of your computer.
If you plan to play in 4K, always go for high-end components, unless otherwise stated.
Processor
Most games require multithreaded workloads, so you’ll need to choose a processor with multiple cores, capable of running multiple threads simultaneously. Do not get carried away too quickly, you will not need more than 4 hearts. If your budget is limited and you do not intend to play with the best possible graphics, two hearts will be more than enough.
To play in Full HD, you will need a processor with a frequency greater than 2.5 GHz. The best mainstream processors today are the i5 and i7, the latter being the most powerful.
If you plan to overclock your machine, we must remind you that this operation will increase its power consumption and its internal temperature. Be sure to take these settings into account when choosing additional power and cooling devices. Before moving on, make sure your current processor, or the one you plan to buy, is overclock able. You will also need to have an overclock able motherboard.
If you can do without the performance gains that overclocking offers, the fan that comes with the processor will be more than enough. Find out how to keep your computer cool.
RAM
There are different types of RAM, so you will need to choose the one that matches the specifications of your motherboard. Almost all recent motherboards are compatible with DDR3 and DDR4 modules like best RAM for Ryzen 2700x. The format of each memory type is different, so it is not possible to accidentally insert incompatible RAM into a motherboard. These two types of memory are physically different.
Your computer’s maximum RAM capacity will be limited by the number of memory locations on your motherboard. For gaming, 16 GB will be more than enough. However, if you plan to work on a lot of software simultaneously, host virtual machines, or perform intensive tasks, you may need to equip yourself with 32 GB of memory.
Motherboard
Your motherboard must have a socket compatible with your processor. It must also support the type, frequency, capacity, format and number of RAM modules with which you plan to equip your computer. Also pay attention to the number of expansion slots and USB ports it offers, and make sure they meet your needs. Most motherboards come with an Ethernet / LAN port, but if you prefer a wireless connection, you will need a port for the wireless adapter. Some high-end models directly offer wireless connectivity using an integrated Wi-Fi card.
If you plan to equip your machine with two graphics cards, there are specific criteria to take into account. First, your motherboard must be compatible with SLI ™ technology (for NVIDIA ® cards ) or Crossfire (for AMD Crossfire ™ cards) to operate the two graphics cards together. Using two graphics cards in one machine is no small task, and without the right drivers and software, the task is almost impossible. The presence of two graphics processors may increase the power consumption of your computer, and will generate more noise and heat. Such a configuration will therefore have an important impact on your cooling strategy, but also on the general appearance of your machine.
Most sound cards built into motherboards are more than enough. You hardly ever need an additional sound card for gaming.
Storage drive (hard drive / SSD)
For the storage of your data, you have the choice between a hard drive and an SSD. If you choose a hard drive, you will need to choose a model suitable for gaming running at 7,200 rpm and having 8 or 16 MB of cache. Its interface (ATA, PATA, or SATA) must match that of the motherboard. Most of the time, 250 to 500 GB of storage will be enough for gaming. Go to the most famous brands. You will get what you pay for, so avoid cheap hard drives which can cause problems after a while. If you’re looking for shorter read / write times and faster loading of your games, consider purchasing an SSD. The interfaces available are the most common, and must be compatible with the ATA, PATA or SATA ports on your motherboard. SSDs are more expensive than hard drives, however. Remember to take this factor into account when determining your budget.
