How to Improve Computer Power and PC Performance in Games?

Graphics Card

The heart of a gaming computer. It is responsible for performance in rendering graphics. The better the graphics in the game and the higher the resolution you have set, the more power is required. Modern cards are made for specific screen resolutions. For example, the RTX 3060 Ti is made for 2K monitors or widescreen monitors with a vertical resolution of 1080P. Game developers usually optimize performance for these standards. That is, if you buy yourself an RTX 3060 Ti, all modern games will definitely work on 2K and with any 1080P monitor.

What do you need to know when installing a graphics card?

Replacing a graphics card is very simple technically – just unscrew one fastening screw and remove it from the case. The fastenings may vary depending on the case model and motherboard, but overall, it's very easy. Cards are universal, that is, any card fits any motherboard, the connector is standardized. Monitor outputs are also universal and in the worst case, an adapter costs pennies.

That's where the good news ends. The problem is in choosing a graphics card. You can put an infinitely powerful graphics card into practically any PC stool, but in such a case, you will not be able to use its full 100%, a weak processor power will not be able to unleash its potential in games.

If you plan to completely update your computer in the near future, you can take a more powerful card and run it with the potential that will be available to your hardware at that time for a couple of months. But if you do not want to completely throw away the old computer, then choose a simpler card. It all depends on your processor. Here is an approximate table of correspondence of current models of graphics cards and processors.

Look at the technical specifications of your CPU, and you will see the approximate models of cards that suit you. Not all of them can run modern games at maximum settings, for example, the GTX 1050 Ti is not capable of this. You can be sure that even if you have old processors with such specifications, the cards will work at full capacity. There is no column with eight-core stones, you can put any card on such things, except perhaps for the top ones like the RTX 3090.

Power, Cooling, and Form Factor

Note – any video card has a specification called "minimum power supply wattage," top cards write power consumption in watts, this is convenient if you are assembling a system from several cards. Your power supply is most likely not calculated for the voracity of modern components, it will need to be updated. However, if when assembling a computer you were installed a PSU with a margin, then you can use it, just compare the required indicators with the capabilities of your power supply.

The second most important factor – cooling. The more powerful the gadget in your PC, the more heat it generates. It is advisable to update the case or at least add fans, or in the worst case – open the lid. Cooling is a separate topic, in this article we just write that it should be sufficient.

Modern cards are quite large, and not always old cases are designed for such board length. Also, you may have an old type of case with a top-mounted power supply, then the hard drive mounts are located at the bottom closer to the front wall, which can interfere with the installation of the card. Compare its physical sizes and measure the case to avoid having to saw it.

Processor

If you have decided that the processor is too weak, then things are a bit more complicated. Simply changing the stone to the first one that comes along will not work, they have different sockets.

The type of processor socket is called a socket, and many companies are constantly releasing new types. AMD in this respect is a bit more modest and several generations of processors fit into AM4, while Intel, on the other hand, tries to make each new generation of CPUs on new sockets.

If you are lucky, then you have a popular socket and you can easily find the required processor on the second-hand market, if not – you'll need a motherboard for replacement.

So, if you need to update the processor, then see what socket you have on the motherboard. The easiest way to do this is to look at what model of processor you have, and its technical specifications on the manufacturer's website should indicate the socket.

There is a small nuance – if your motherboard has an FM2 socket, there is also an enhanced version of it, FM2+. FM2 processors will work on a motherboard with FM2+, but not the other way around – an FM2+ processor will not run on a board with an FM2 socket.

What performance is needed?

If you are limited by the frame of your socket and do not want to update the motherboard, then just take the best possible, usually this gives a small, but still a performance increase.

If, however, you are ready to buy a new set of motherboard+processor, then choose from the modern models that are presented at HYPERPC.RU, our computers are assembled from current components that are optimal in terms of price and performance.

It is best to have at least 6 cores in reserve, Hyperthreading is only needed if you plan to engage in photo and video processing, as well as for work in three-dimensional environments. For games, 6 cores are enough, additional threads are not needed. A more powerful computer is better already assembled based on 8 cores.

RAM

With memory it's maximally simple – a minimum of 8 GB of RAM, better 16 GB. This is enough for most games. Today, two versions of memory are relevant, DDR3 and DDR4, determine which modules you currently have and buy exactly the same. Here are a few rules:

• The higher the frequency, the better. But it is limited by the capabilities of the processor. To avoid overpaying, look at the stone's characteristics – they indicate the maximum possible memory frequency. There may also be a limitation on the motherboard: if the computer is assembled competently, then they will be at the same level, if the assembler made a mistake – the memory will work at the lowest available frequency value.
• It is best to install identical modules on one channel, it is best to buy a pair of identical ones in one place at once. If this is not possible, then at least take one manufacturer with identical characteristics.
• Occupy both memory channels with modules, this will increase the speed.
• Radiators on memory sticks are often just decoration. Cooling is only needed for RAM in very specific situations when the memory is constantly loaded with new data. In games, such a load is impossible to achieve, it can only be provided by engineering software or something similar.