One can argue that PC gaming is hotter than ever. More people are realizing the benefits of gaming on a desktop computer over a home console. PC gaming offers the ability to change hardware and settings to your liking without restrictions. You are also granted access to multiple digital distribution platforms instead of settling with one. As good as the benefits may be, some people are still intimidated by the building process. Lets break down what you’ll need.

Motherboard + Case


It’s important to lump the motherboard and case together. After all, if you decided to get a case and you struggle to fit your motherboard in it, then it’s not an ideal start to your PC gaming venture. If you choose to get a micro ATX motherboard, it’s wise to get a micro ATX case. Want to go for a mini ITX motherboard? It’s best to get a mini ITX case.

It’s also important to note whether or not your motherboard is compatible with your CPU. Not all motherboards are the same. Some are only compatible with a particular list of AMD or Intel CPUs. Be sure to do your research first before getting products that are incompatible.

CPU

Since we mentioned CPUs, let go more in-depth on this vital part of your gaming PC. In general, quad core processors are the way to go. There are some dual core CPUs like the Intel Pentium G4560 due to its hyper-threading technology, but not all dual cores perform the same. The same is true for quad cores, but you will have an even lower chance of games having incompatibility issues. An example of this was the launch of Far Cry 4. Before a patch was released to fix the issue, the game wouldn’t run on dual core CPUs even if it had hyper-threading.

GPU + Power Supply

We’re getting to the point where 2GB graphics cards are starting to become outdated and even out of the range of being considered budget GPUs. Typically, cards with at least 4GB are recommended. While there are pinless GPUs, most are not. You should make sure that your power supply is compatible with the pin connectors and has enough wattage to handle the load. These days, a power supply that is 80+ certified is the way to go.