A gaming computer consists of its components: central processing unit, random access memory, graphics card, and so on. The choice of a gaming system depends on these components. In this article, we will talk in detail about them and explain what components a modern gaming PC should have.
Central Processing Unit
A gaming computer in 2023 should have a processor:
- 12th or 13th generation from Intel;
- 5th or 7th generation from AMD.
The generation of AMD processors is indicated by the first digit in the numerical index, while Intel uses the first two digits. For example, in the name "AMD Ryzen 9 7950X," the generation number is 7, while in "Intel Core i5-13500(F)," the generation number is 13.
The main characteristic of modern gaming processors is the number of cores. The more cores, the higher and more stable the frame rate in games. There are some nuances to how this works, which we will discuss later, but first, let's understand the letter indices at the end of the processor names.
Intel's letter indices:
- F - the processor does not have integrated graphics;
- K - the processor has increased frequencies and can be overclocked.
AMD's letter indices:
- G - the processor has integrated graphics;
- X - the processor has increased frequencies.
4-Core Processors
Many people believe that 4-core CPUs are outdated, but their performance says otherwise. For example, the modern Intel Core i3-12100(F) is more powerful than one of the best processors of 2018, the 8-core Intel Core i7-9700K. So, do not underestimate the performance of CPUs with 4 computational blocks. They are still relevant and perform well in gaming tasks.
However, currently, the only 4-core processor that is suitable for a modern gaming computer is the Intel Core i3-12100(F). The closest AMD analogue, Ryzen 3 4100, significantly lags behind in performance. Therefore, if you are considering buying a PC with a 4-core CPU, give preference to Intel.
6-Core Processors
Today they are considered the best in terms of price and performance, and their popularity is growing every year. This is because these processors handle any project, regardless of the graphics settings.
Current 6-core Intel processors:
- Intel Core i5-12400;
- Intel Core i5-12500;
- Intel Core i5-13400;
- Intel Core i5-13500.
Current 6-core AMD processors:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600;
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X;
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X.
The older the generation and version of the processor, the higher its performance. The version is the numbers that come after the generation. For example, in the name "Intel Core i5-12400," the number 400 is the version. The principle is the same for AMD processors.
If you need a computer for gaming at maximum graphics settings with high and stable FPS, it should have a CPU with at least 6 computational blocks.
Processors with 8 or more cores
The difference in gaming frame rates between 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16-core processors is insignificant, but it does not mean that installing multi-core CPUs in gaming computers is impractical. There are gaming conditions where having expensive CPUs with more computational blocks is necessary.
For example, this makes sense when using a powerful graphics card. If you pair an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics accelerator with a 4-core Intel Core i3-12100(F), a "bottleneck" will occur. The processor in the game will be loaded 100%, while the graphics card will only be loaded 30-40%. To achieve maximum frame rates, the performance should be based on the graphics card, not the processor. This is why an expensive multi-core CPU is needed in a gaming computer.
Video card
A video card is the most important component of a gaming computer. Other components such as the processor or RAM are also important, but the main load falls on the graphics accelerator. The resolution and graphics settings you will play with largely depend on the video card.
The main characteristic of graphics accelerators is performance. This is indicated by a numerical index in the card's name. Like with CPUs, the first digits indicate the generation, and the next digits indicate the power.
For example, in the name "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080", the number 40 is the generation, and 80 is the performance level. AMD's principle is slightly different. The first digit indicates the generation, and the next three indicate the performance level. In the name AMD Radeon RX 6800, the number 6 is the generation, and 800 is the performance level.
Modern computers should have video cards:
- NVIDIA generations 30 or 40;
- AMD generations 6 or 7.
Entry-level video cards
These are graphics accelerators designed for gaming at 60 FPS on high graphics settings and at Full HD resolution.
Modern computers should have video cards:
- GeForce RTX 3050;
- GeForce RTX 3060 [8GB].
As well as AMD Radeon cards:
- RX 6400;
- RX 6500XT.
These accelerators have a nuance in the form of a reduced number of PCI-Express lanes. Usually their number is 16, but in the listed video cards, it is less. If you install such accelerators into motherboards that do not support the 4th version of PCI-Express, the power of the video cards will decrease. Therefore, always clarify which version of PCI-E the motherboard in the system unit has.
Mid-level video cards
This category includes accelerators designed for gaming on ultra graphics settings in Full HD and 2K resolutions.
These are NVIDIA GeForce video cards:
- RTX 3060 [12GB];
- RTX 3060 Ti;
- RTX 3060 Ti [8GB GDDR6X];
- RTX 3070;
- RTX 3070 Ti;
- RTX 4060 Ti;
- RTX 4070.
As well as AMD Radeon video cards:
- RX 6600;
- RX 6600XT;
- RX 6650XT;
- RX 6700;
- RX 6700XT;
- RX 6750XT.
Premium video cards
This category includes cards designed for gaming at 4K resolution or 2K, but with a high frame rate. The latter is relevant for owners of 144 or 240 Hz monitors.
Premium NVIDIA GeForce video cards:
- RTX 3080 [10GB];
- RTX 3080 [12GB];
- RTX 3080 Ti;
- RTX 3090;
- RTX 3090 Ti;
- RTX 4070 Ti;
- RTX 4080;
- RTX 4090.
Premium AMD Radeon video cards:
- RX 6800;
- RX 6800XT;
- RX 6850XT;
- RX 6900XT;
- RX 6950XT;
- RX 7900XT.
Integrated graphics
Some gaming computer manufacturers do not install video cards in their products. For displaying images in such PCs, they use the integrated graphics of CPUs. This solution is not suitable for gaming setups.
Integrated graphics have too low performance. It is not even enough for minimum graphics settings at Full HD resolution. Of course, with outdated games, the "built-in" graphics will cope, but it will not handle modern gaming.
RAM
The CPU performance depends on the RAM, more specifically on its size and frequency. We will discuss these characteristics in detail.
16 GB RAM
In 2023, this will be the minimum RAM size for a gaming PC. This does not mean that systems with 8 GB RAM cannot run modern games. They can, but you will encounter:
- crashes to the desktop;
- short freezes;
- significant drops in frame rate.
Frame rate drops occur when the game's frame rate drastically decreases for a short period of time. It is normal for FPS to constantly change. It's bad when it changes constantly by too large values.
If your game's frame rate is consistently between 70-90, everything is fine. But if the FPS regularly drops, for example, to 40 and then sharply rises to 90, these are frame rate drops. They will spoil the enjoyment of the gameplay, especially in competitive shooters, where "lags" will interfere with aiming at opponents.
32 GB RAM
This is the optimal RAM size for a gaming computer in 2023. Yes, the recommended RAM size for most modern games is 16 GB. But games like Hogwarts Legacy and Forspoken already require 32 GB RAM. These games experience significant FPS drops on systems with less RAM, which most often occur when moving around the open world. With each passing year, the number of such demanding projects will only increase.
64 GB RAM
It makes sense to consider a gaming system with this amount of RAM only in two cases:
- you need a very powerful gaming computer for 7-10 years ahead;
- you plan to use your PC not only for games but also for complex computations such as 3D modeling, video editing, photo processing, etc.
Memory Type
Today, there are two types of RAM: DDR4 and DDR5. It may seem that the latter is better because it came out later. However, this is only true for working with programs.
The difference in gaming performance between DDR4 and DDR5 is either insignificant or absent altogether. This is because developers are reluctant to optimize games for new hardware. Therefore, it will take more than a year for the difference between DDR4 and DDR5 to increase in favor of the latter.
So, in 2023, you can confidently choose a computer with DDR4 memory. However, the situation will change every year, so if you have enough money, it is better to consider a system with DDR5.
RAM Frequency
For DRR4 RAM, the frequency should be no less than 3200 MHz. Otherwise, the CPU will lose a significant portion of its performance. This is especially important for CPUs from AMD, as their performance depends heavily on RAM frequency.
The situation with DRR5 is simpler. The performance of the new type of memory does not depend so much on frequency. Therefore, we confidently choose computers even with a standard rate of 5200 MHz.
Presence of Radiators
Radiators are metal plates that are put on RAM sticks. They are used for heat dissipation and for decoration. Their presence in a gaming computer is not mandatory, but desirable.
Firstly, radiators increase the lifespan of components. The less they heat up, the longer they will last. Secondly, radiators, especially with backlighting, make the appearance of the computer more interesting. Yes, this does not increase the frame rate in games, but a beautiful PC assembly always pleases the eye.
SSD and HDD Drives
Modern games are filled with detailed models with high-resolution textures. The speeds of hard disk drives (HDD) are not enough to quickly load textures into the system's RAM and video memory. This leads to the following problems:
- levels load slowly;
- objects appear "out of thin air";
- textures are loaded right in front of the player.
This can be avoided by using solid-state drives (SSD) instead of HDD. They read data tens of times faster and transfer them to the video card with RAM in time. Therefore, an SSD drive is a must-have in a modern gaming computer setup.
This does not mean that hard drives cannot be used. They are great for storing videos, photos, text documents, and any other files except video games, programs, and operating systems.
Case and Fans
Microelectronics, including processors, video cards, and RAM, are subject to degradation - the destruction of internal elements. This process cannot be avoided, but its impact can be reduced by lowering the operating temperature of the components.
The easiest way to do this is to install computer parts in a case with good airflow. In such a case, hot air from the components should be blown out of the system unit, and cold air, on the contrary, should enter through ventilation holes. To achieve this circulation, the case should be:
- with a special perforation;
- with the power supply unit located at the bottom;
- with several fans for blowing and exhausting air;
This is what a gaming case in 2023 should have. This will significantly reduce the temperature of the components and increase their service life.
Power Supply
When choosing a ready-made configuration for a home PC, pay special attention to the power supply unit, as modern components are very demanding on the quality of the electrical current. This especially applies to video cards, which often fail due to strong voltage drops on the 12-volt line.
The "80 PLUS" certificate can indirectly indicate the quality of the power supply. They come in:
- 80 PLUS;
- 80 PLUS BRONZE;
- 80 PLUS SILVER;
- 80 PLUS GOLD;
- 80 PLUS PLATINUM;
- 80 PLUS TITANIUM.
In general, this parameter indicates the difference between the power consumed from the outlet and the power obtained at the output, but it is impossible to obtain an "80 PLUS GOLD" and higher certificate with a low-quality component base.
Ideally, you should find out exactly which power supply model is installed in the ready-made setup. Then it doesn't hurt to go online and read a review of this PSU. If you are not familiar with radioelectronics, don't worry: many authors summarize, using simple words to indicate the strengths and weaknesses of power supplies.
For example, if you read reviews of the AeroCool VX, it becomes clear from the first lines that this PSU cannot be used for building a system unit, let alone a gaming one.
Conclusions
The gaming computer market is so wide that you can find and buy a system for any need. At HYPERPC, we offer optimal configurations and provide quality assembly.
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