Gaming PC Buying Guide 2024
A gaming PC is a large investment but it can pay off if you’re a gamer who cherishes powerful machines, exquisite performance and incredible graphics. Whether you’re a casual gamer who enjoys sitting back and relaxing at the end of the day or a keen gamer who competes in online lobbies, gaming PCs can be a worthwhile investment.
However, as they can be such a large financial commitment compared to gaming consoles like PlayStation or Xbox, it’s important to know exactly what you need to enjoy your PC gaming experience.
What to look for in gaming PCs
If you’re keen on buying a gaming PC then there are several key specifications to look out for that affect performance. Whether you love playing massive open-world games like Elden Ring or love some online competition on Call of Duty, the internals of a PC are what make a gaming rig.
Below are the most important factors when it comes to choosing your own gaming PC whether you’re buying one or setting up a custom gaming rig:
- Cost and size
- Processing power
- Graphics card
- SSD storage
- Memory (RAM)
- Cooling system
- Power supply
- Motherboard
Cost and size
Cost and sizeThe first thing to consider when buying a new gaming PC is the price and the size of the machine. What’s your budget? You can get a lot of power for a relatively good price in gaming, whether that’s with a pre-built gaming PC or a budget gaming PC.
But, before you consider things like CPUs, GPUs, cooling and storage space, you have to think about what you can afford – both financially and in terms of space.
Some PC towers are quite large and tend to sit under a desk on the floor. Plenty of gamers display theirs on their desk because of built-in RGB lighting that offers a visual appeal. However, if you’re lacking space, a huge gaming PC tower may not be for you. You can still get a good PC that’s smaller, like a Mini PC.
A Mini PC may not pack as much of a punch as a high-end gaming PC, but it still provides a pleasurable gaming experience for some.
For many gamers, a gaming laptop will suffice. Lots of models on the market possess a powerful graphics card for smooth gaming, while a gaming laptop offers users the chance to move about freely and take their games with them on their travels.
Processing power
After figuring out your budget, processing power is the first important thing to look for in your dream gaming PC.
AMD and Intel are the two options for best performance, but the more powerful you want your PC, the more it will cost. The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of your PC and it’s responsible for interpreting and executing almost anything you do. The more powerful its cores, the better your computer will perform.
If you want to play demanding games, you’ll need a powerful CPU. Most CPUs have between four and eight cores and the more cores yours has, the smoother and faster your PC will be. Most modern games will demand a powerful CPU so consider your budget and the number of cores when choosing your new gaming PC.
Graphics card
Of course, all components in a gaming system are important, but if you want exceptional quality graphics without a decrease in frame rates, you’ll need a capable graphics video card.
Graphics cards – graphics processing units (GPUs) – are responsible for powering the visual aspects of your gaming PC, like ray tracing, frames per second (FPS) and motion blur. The difference between a budget GPU and a high-end one is massive with a noticeable difference in performance.
Nvidia GeForce offers gamers the most powerful graphical performance for PC games in 2024, with a wide variety of options available at different price points.
When buying a gaming PC in 2024, it’s essential to check the graphics card or you could be left disappointed when it comes to loading your games.
SSD storage
A solid-state drive (SSD) is key if you want your games to load quickly every time you log on. Most modern PCs don’t need much space in a hard drive unless you’re storing lots of videos, music and pictures. An SSD is key to performance, though.
A standard 512GB SSD will be enough to store your Windows operating system and a couple of games but performance will be affected. If you want quick load times and smooth gameplay, we recommend picking up a gaming PC with at least 1TB or 2TB.
This way, you have more than enough space for your games and plenty left over for the PC to work without issue.
Most games in 2024 are quite large, with AAAs at around 100GB before any additional patches are required. If you only have 512GB SSD storage then you’ll be at capacity in no time and won’t be able to enjoy your PC gaming experience.
Memory (RAM)
The best way to understand RAM is the higher the number, the quicker it can process programs and tasks on your PC.
For standard PCs, 8GB is RAM is more than enough to run simple tasks like internet browsing and working. For gaming PCs, your best bet is to look at 16GB and higher.
If you aim to use your PC for more than gaming, like editing pictures and video for example, you may require 32GB or even 64GB, depending on the files. However, most gamers can get by with 16GB.
A large game like Call of Duty may use somewhere around 6GB of the PC’s RAM at one time, so if you have just 8GB in total, your system will struggle to run at a comfortable speed with the remaining 2GB. This is why having at least 16GB is adequate for most gaming PCs.
Cooling system
While the cooling system isn’t directly related to performance, it can have an impact. If you have a gaming PC with inadequate cooling, you’ll start to experience a slowdown and a rather noisy system.
Gaming PCs need efficient cooling measures in place to keep all components from overheating. If the cooling system isn’t strong enough, it will end up working overtime to try and keep everything cool while you game. This results in a noisy computer when the system has higher demands put on it.
Some cooling systems can cost as little as £30 but if you want a silent system without worrying about overheating, you’ll have to pay a little more.
Cooling components can come in the form of a fan or a liquid material.
Power supply
With all of these powerful components ensuring a seamless, smooth gaming experience, you’ll need an adequate power supply to keep up.
One important thing to note is you should never cut corners on your power supply and buy a cheap one. A low-cost power supply unit (PSU) will die quickly and may take some of your components with it.
It’s worth getting a more expensive one and wattage is key. You should make sure the power supply unit within your chosen gaming PC exceeds the system’s required wattage so it can comfortably handle everything. If it’s lower or just the minimum required, you may experience some issues.
The PSU’s certification is the next thing to look at. Anything over 80 certification offers excellent power efficiency. Combine this with a high wattage and you’ll have no worries regarding power.
Motherboard
If you want to buy a gaming PC, the final thing to consider is the motherboard. This is where everything above connects to, ensuring the entire system runs as intended.
So, your graphics card, CPU, GPU, power supply and cooling setup will all connect to the motherboard. As a result, you must ensure your desired gaming PC has a strong enough motherboard to handle everything being thrown at it.
Fortunately, a good motherboard does not need to break the bank, but you also don’t want to opt for a cheap one. You must also ensure you get a motherboard that fits the socket in your machine, but if you’re buying a pre-built gaming PC, you won’t need to worry about this as it will already be installed.
Should I buy a budget gaming PC?
If you prefer to game on a PC than a next-gen console and you don’t know anything about building PCs, you should consider buying a pre-built machine.
Fortunately, in 2024 you don’t need to break the bank when buying a new PC. Budget gaming PCs still come built with a lot of handy components and impressive specifications, so if you’d prefer a PC or even a gaming laptop, a budget machine is an attractive option.
It’s also convenient for many people, like parents with limited free time. A pre-built machine is ready out of the box. Simply plug it in, switch it on and play.
Should I build a custom machine for PC gaming?
When it comes to gaming PCs, many people prefer to build their machine as they can pick and choose the components that suit their budget and preferences.
Building a gaming desktop comes with a few obstacles, though, and it starts with expertise. While building a gaming PC can turn out cheaper than buying a high-end computer that’s ready out of the box, it comes with a steep learning curve. For example, which type of graphics card do you need? Is the wattage of your power supply enough?
It’s not a case of simply buying a bunch of high-end components, plugging them in and switching the computer on. You’ll need to dedicate a lot of time, research and learning to the process. If you do, and you complete the build, you’ll not only have a gaming PC built to your needs but you’ll have an overwhelming feeling of reward and pride.
Another thing to consider is space. If you have limited space at home, can you make the room to build a PC or are you better suited to a laptop or Mini PC?
Buy a gaming PC at Inside Tech
If you’re considering buying a gaming PC, we hope that this guide has answered a lot of your questions and offered advice you didn’t previously consider.
Choosing to buy a gaming desktop or laptop is a big one and can be quite the investment, and there’s so much choice in the market that it can seem a little daunting if you’re not sure what to look for.
Fortunately, at Inside Tech, we can help. If you have any more questions about gaming PCs, gaming monitors, how to get the best out of your system for sim games, or anything else, don’t hesitate to contact us. Give us a call on 0800 009 6084 or email us at info@inside-tech.co.uk. One of our friendly team will be happy to help you find the gaming PC of your dreams.
