PC gaming buying guide

Processor (or CPU)

The processor (or CPU). is your computer’s brain - telling all the other components what to do. The better your processor, the faster your PC can ‘think’. And the more impressive your other components, the more powerful your CPU will need to be. For that reason, most gaming PCs will come with a high-end processor – like an Intel® Core™ i5 / i7 / i9 or AMD Ryzen 5 / 7 / 9. And when it comes to cores – the higher the number, the more power. Simple as that.

Graphics card (or GPU)

While the processor runs all the little (and big) functions in the background, the graphics card (or GPU) looks after the fun stuff – everything you see. And graphics cards come in two types – integrated (that means it’s part of your processor) and dedicated (which means it’s a separate component). Dedicated graphics cards are key gaming components.

To make it really simple – the better your graphics card, the better the resolution and frame rates when playing. Want to game in 4K? You’ll need a great graphics card. Plan on hooking up multiple monitors for immersive gaming? Well… you see where we’re going with this. But remember that there’s no point getting a fancy GPU if your monitor can’t match its resolution and refresh rate. Keep an eye out for NVIDIA GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon for the best specs.

Ray-tracing helps games look way more realistic, by mimicking the way shadows and light work in real life. Not all games have it and not all PCs support it, but it’s becoming a lot more common. So if you’re all about those AAA graphics, it’s not a bad idea to find a PC that’s compatible.

Memory (or RAM)

Memory (or RAM) is what lets you run, load and switch between different applications. Without enough of it, your games will take forever to start… if they do at all. 8GB is fine for your work or school laptop, but for a proper gaming build we’d recommend 16GB RAM or above. 

Storage type and capacity

All your saved files, games, mods – everything really – will be stored on your PC’s hard drive. Even your operating system. So how much storage you’ll need depends on how many games you have (as well as files, songs and everything else you have stored on your computer). The average game being released now is around 50GB, but this very much depends on what you’re playing. 1TB is probably the minimum you want unless you’re getting a dedicated laptop just for gaming or intend on adding a second hard drive. Don’t want to dig around inside your PC? An external hard drive can be plugged into a USB port to expand your storage in a second.

You’ll also need to decide between an SSD (solid-state-drive), HDD (hard disk drive) or a mix of the two. SSDs tends to be better for gaming because they load things much faster than HDDs, but they’re also more expensive.

Video output

What screen are you using with your PC? If you’re using an external display of any kind, you’ll want to make sure your tower or laptop has a compatible video port – whether that’s HDMI, DisplayPort or anything else. So, make sure they match before you buy!

Screen size

Getting a laptop? Bigger screens are usually better for gaming. But you’ll end up with a larger, heavier computer. So just how portable do you need your laptop? If you’re not moving it around that often, a larger 17in screen might be fine. But if you’ll be on-the-go a lot, it’s better to get a smaller 15in laptop and hook it up to an external display when you’re gaming.

Cooling

Gaming PCs work hard! Which means the GPU and CPU generate a whole lot of heat. To stop your PC getting damaged, most gaming laptops and desktops will have heatsinks and cooling fans. But they can be a little noisy. If that noise will bother you, maybe look for a PC with a liquid cooling system – it's more expensive but can be a really unique feature in your build (especially if you use lighting or colourful coolant) and makes almost no noise.

Design

When it comes to their PCs, gamers definitely know a thing or two about style. Loads of gaming computers have stuff like multi-coloured backlighting as well as unique fan and chassis designs. So, if that’s your kind of thing, you’ll have plenty to choose from. 

Upgradeability and size

If you want to stay on top of the latest specs, a full or mid-tower desktop with easy interior access is worth looking out for. Keep an eye out for clear side panels in particular – you’ll be able to add, upgrade and swap out components without too much faff. Before you start taking things apart though – it's worth checking your warranty – some brands void your warranty if you switch things out, but others won’t. But if you want to save on space and don’t mind giving the DIY upgrades a miss, a smaller tower or gaming laptop will suit you just fine. 

Resolution

The higher your monitor’s resolution, the crisper and more detailed you’ll find the picture. Gaming monitors range from Full HD up to jaw- dropping 4K Ultra HD. But for higher resolutions you’ll need a suitably powerful GPU. Keep an eye out for HDR – it's a feature that brings out the detail even in darker scenes (perfect for exploring dungeons).

Screen size

Like with TVs, this is measured diagonally from corner to corner. And, for most, 27in will do just fine, since you’ll probably be sitting up close. But if you want to use your monitor for console gaming or watching movies, you can find larger screens up to 40in.

LCD / LED / OLED

Exactly like a TV screen - OLED, LED and LCD are essentially different ways for a monitor to be lit. LCD is the oldest tech of the three, so an LED monitor is a good step up with brighter colours. An OLED monitor is the best, with particularly bright colours and deep dark tones – perfect for gaming.

IPS / TN / VA

There are lots of letters floating around when you’re looking at different types of monitors but knowing the panel type is pretty important for gaming. It will really make a difference when it comes to clear colours and smooth imagery. TN and VA are the oldest of the three and tend to be found on standard LCD screens. If you want the full RGB colour spectrum (super important for any creative software or editing as well as 4K gaming), you’ll want IPS – you'll also get amazing viewing angles no matter where you’re sitting.

Refresh rate

Refresh rate, particularly if you’re playing any kind of action game, is the most important thing you want to check for a gaming monitor. It’s measured in Hz or fps and is how many times a second your monitor updates the image onscreen.

You want this number to be high – at least 60Hz but ideally over 120. That way what you’re seeing onscreen will match what your computer’s doing as closely as possible. You’ll be able react faster and even the most frantic combat sequences will look super smooth.