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Gaming Desktops Buying Guide
Check out the top 5 things you need to know when buying a new gaming PC with our helpful guide
Built with high performance in mind, gaming PCs are the cream of the computing crop. Whether you’re taking your first steps into the gaming world or upgrading an existing machine, we’ve outlined the key features you should be looking out for. Discover everything you need to know about awesome graphics cards, powerful processors and much more.
Things to know
Input
Input is a techy name for the ports on your computer. There’re a few different types for sharing data, sending audio-visual info, or even charging up your phone. It’s always worth checking which ports your devices have, so you’ll have no trouble connecting them.
Processor
The processor is your computer’s brain – it’s what makes apps and hardware tick.
It does all the clever stuff to make your computer work, and tells things like your RAM and storage what they need to do when you use them. You’ll need a powerful processor if you want to run lots of things at once. But for email and web browsing, a less powerful one will do the trick.
Storage
Storage is where your computer saves apps, files, and all the data it needs to work, including the operating system. There are a few kinds of storage to choose from, and they all come in different sizes. Some start up and load apps really fast, while others have lots of space for saving big files.
RAM
Your computer's short-term memory is also known as RAM. It stores all the info that your apps need to work properly when you launch them. If you just want to send emails or do some shopping online, you won’t need as much – 4GB of RAM is enough to handle the basics, while 8GB is ideal for multitasking. But for more demanding apps and games you’ll want 16GB or 32GB of RAM, while 64GB and up is usually only needed for professional video editing and 3D modelling work. Apple also has their own type of RAM called Unified Memory that lets the processor and graphics card access the same resources for a more streamlined experience.
Graphics Cards
A graphics card or chip is how your computer turns data into the images you see on your screen. It’s usually part of the processor on regular desktops and laptops, while gaming and professional workstations have a separate bit of kit that handles more intensive tasks.
Guides and advice
Best desktops of 2024
Want the low-down on the latest and greatest desktops of 2024? Check out our expert guide that’ll take you through the best computers for worktime, downtime, and everything in-between.
Upgrade your desktop
Whether it’s a new family computer or personal purchase for your home office, our desktop buying guide has all the info you need to make the right choice.
Tips and tricks
PC Game Pass for Windows 11
This guide covers all you need to know about PC Game Pass for Windows 11
Are Online Gamers At Risk?
Follow our tips and advice on keeping online gamers safe and secure!
FAQs
- What can I upgrade on my PC?
If your PC just isn’t quite meeting your needs, you might want to upgrade the specs. The easiest things to improve are RAM capacity (e.g. changing it from 4GB to 8GB), the graphics card (by adding a dedicated graphics card), and storage (an additional hard drive or a new SSD).
- What to upgrade in my PC?
You don’t always have to purchase a new PC to get a better performing one. Instead, improving the RAM, SSD storage and graphics cards in your existing one will make a big difference. Whether you’re a keen gamer or you need your PC to run faster for work, you’ll benefit from increasing the amount of RAM. This will speed up your PCs functioning and help it to multitask programs with ease. On top of this, a bigger SSD will add more space and load programs faster too. And of course, popping in a dedicated graphics card will seriously improve the picture - handy for gamers and creatives.
- What is a gaming PC?
As you’ve probably guessed from the name, a gaming PC is built to run the most demanding games smoothly. This means that everything has a powerful spec from the processor to the amount of RAM included, as well as a bigger SSD for more storage and fast load times. On top of this, gaming PCs have a dedicated graphics card instead of an integrated one - these are much better and can handle really sophisticated visuals. Gaming PCs will also have a few extras included like RGB lighting and cooling technology (since gaming marathons are often played long into the night).
- How much are gaming PCs?
Like many things, the price of a gaming PC will vary depending on what spec it has. The processor, RAM, graphics card, storage and whether it has extra features like RGB lighting, or cooling technology all make a big difference to what you pay. You can pick a decent one up for as low as £519, but if you’re serious about gaming, then PCs can go up to £3,268 - at this price, you really are getting top tier kit. Why not explore our range of gaming desktops and check out the prices here?
- What makes a good gaming PC?
There are a few things to think about if you fancy a gaming PC. You should look for one with at least an Intel® Core™ i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor, alongside 8GB of RAM. A graphics card is also very important, and the two most common models are Nvidia GeForce® or AMD Radeon. You’ll also want enough storage for your games, so a 512GB or 1TB hard drive is a good option. But if you want things to load faster, you can get one with an SSD.
- What you need for a gaming PC?
As well as the computer itself, there are a few extra bits you might want to pick up. Gaming mice and keyboards have things like extra buttons and RGB lighting that you can customise. You might also like a gaming chair – they’re designed to keep you comfy for long sessions, and some even have built-in surround sound tech.
- What does GHz processing rate mean?
Processing speed is pretty important when it comes to your gaming desktop, since the faster it is, the more it can process at once. That means it’ll be able to handle complex games and high settings with ease – giving you a smooth ride. The clock speed is measured in GHz (gigahertz) which is the number of cycles your processor performs per second. The more cycles, the faster the processor.
- What does Hz refresh rate mean?
Hz is how monitors and TVs measure their refresh rates, and it tells you how quickly they can display images. A higher number means a faster refresh rate, giving you a smoother picture with less lag.
