While the allure of consoles is still hard to resist, PC gaming is soaring in popularity. It’s no longer reserved for those hardcore few, happy to spend a weekend dismantling their desktop.
Why is PC gaming going mainstream?
A pre-assembled gaming PC is becoming more affordable – with more models boasting powerful processing tech and better graphics.
The rise of online gaming platforms Steam and Discord, which have tens of millions of users, makes the latest games more accessible and offers a platform to share tips and chat.
Latest developments with Windows 10 mean there’s even the opportunity to play with friends who are on console.
PC gaming also leads the way in free-to-play games, like iconic eSports title League of Legends.
What is a gaming PC?
Traditional desktop PCs with a gaming processor that gives you extra graphics power – enabling you to play demanding games.
With a gaming PC you can enjoy…
Smooth gameplay at 60 frames per second in Full HD with high-end NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics
Smooth running of the most demanding games with Intel® Core™ i5/i7 processor with 4 (quad) cores
Crystal clear quality thanks to powerful graphics cards like GTX 1050/GTX 1060 that deliver 60 FPS in Full HD
Pushing your PC to its limits without overheating it, thanks to innovative cooling technology
Much faster load times of your games with lightning quick SSD (solid-state drive) storage
8 reasons to choose a gaming PC
1. The gaming experience is unbeatable
For a hands-down incredible gaming experience you cannot beat a gaming PC. The potential for playing the latest FPS blockbusters at 60 frames per second or higher is really something.
For the very best experience play games in 4K. You’ll need a 4K TV or monitor, while only the best graphics card – the Asus ROG Strix range will do. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine and Red Dead Redepmtion 2 are among the great 4K games available.
2. Future-proof your gaming system
As long as you have enough space in the tower you can upgrade the different components throughout the year – keeping you constantly at the cutting-edge.
You can always add more memory or a new graphics card further down the line. This can be a challenge but you can find a tutorial on YouTube if this is the route you want to go down.
3. They’re Virtual Reality ready
Virtual Reality is big in today's games. HTC Vive Pro Eye and Oculus Rift, the most powerful headsets, are easy to set up and play with a PC.
VR through one of these headsets and a high-end PC will be more immersive than through its console counterpart.
Steam is among those creating games in VR.
Even for gaming PCs, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive require some serious oomph in terms of processing power so much sure you've got a processor that can keep up!
4. You can play modded versions of your favourite games
For as long as games have been played on PCs, enthusiasts have created mods to make them better.
From new costumes and high-tech armour to updated graphics, mods can make you fall back in love with older games while new ones become more exciting. What’s more, they’re often free.
5. Not just for gaming
The same features that make your PC great for gaming, such as power and speed, also make it the perfect computer for day-to-day use and more.
If you do a lot of photo editing or work with expansive worksheets in Excel, you’ll appreciate the capabilities.
But you don’t need to run powerful software to get the most out of it – choose a wide gaming screen for cinematic Netflix boxset binges.
6. They have Steam
Steam is an online PC gaming service with 125 million users worldwide – Xbox Live has 48 million, to put that into perspective.
Valve, the developer of iconic games like Half Life, is behind Steam. Once installed on your PC, you can download and buy games that are saved in your own online library.
7. And play nicely with Xbox One X
Windows is committed to narrowing the gap between console and PC gamers. Games bought digitally can be played on both PC and Xbox with the Windows’ Play Anywhere feature.
You can start a game on your PC then pick up on your Xbox later – and play against friends online who are using Xbox while you’re playing on your Windows 10 PC.
8. Better aim and more control
When transitioning from console to gaming on a PC you can still use your Xbox controller for playing games. But if you want better precision, especially with first-person shooters, you can’t beat the mouse and keyboard.
And, depending on the game (and the keyboard you're playing on), you can set up your favourite hotkeys all over your keyboard for game play. Real-time strategy games benefit the most from a mouse/keyboard setup.
Choose the perfect setup in Currys' PC gaming section or chat to one of our tech experts via video call on ShopLive.
