If you’re a video game lover and an avid PC user, you know that building a good gaming rig is like a rite of passage for many gamers.
Just the thought of hand-picking the components and assembling a machine that can run even the most demanding games with high FPS and low temps can be a pretty rewarding experience.
But building a PC from scratch can be a lot of work, especially if you’re a first-time builder.
And with the whole gaming PC market expected to reach $39.4 billion by 2025, it’s clear that there’s a need for high-powered rigs in the market.
So, why exactly do you need to build a gaming PC and not just get a pre-built one?
Pre-built options from popular brands serve a purpose, but they have their limitations.
And, while it does take effort and research to select compatible parts, the assembly process itself is quite straightforward.
The payoff can be huge, too.
You get to have a personalized machine optimized for your favorite games and applications.
Everything, from the case design to the RGB lighting, can be tailored to your taste.
So don’t be daunted by the idea of constructing your own gaming PC, assembling one is a lot easier than you think.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to a Gamers Nexus survey, 68% of participants rated their experience building a PC as very easy or straightforward.
This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to plan and build a PC that exceeds your expectations.
Let’s get started!
Why have a Gaming PC?
You know, building a gaming PC is much more than just fun.
You can get more out of it than just the thrill of assembling the beast together.
Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider investing in a gaming PC:
- Performance: Gaming PCs can be customized to dish out the best performance, which allows you to run the latest games smoothly and with high graphics settings.
- Cost Efficiency: Besides, building a custom rig can oftentimes be more cost-effective than just buying a pre-built system with similar specs. And you get to choose parts that can give the best value and performance for your budget.
- Flexibility and Upgradability: Building your own gaming rig can also give you the flexibility to upgrade individual components as needed. This ensures that the system stays relevant for years to come.
- Customization: From the case design to the RGB lighting and even the choice of cooling solutions, you can even have the system built to reflect your personal style and preferences.
- Educational Value: It can also be a valuable learning experience. It can help you understand how computers work and give you the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands.
And, if you’re thinking about buying a pre-built gaming PC instead, Flipkart offers a wide range of options to suit different needs and budgets.
You can easily explore their selection of gaming PCs with a good number of discounts by accessing shopper’s discount codes on Flipkart.
Why Build Your Own Gaming PC?
Building your own gaming PC has many advantages over buying a pre-built one:
- Better Customization: You can easily hand-pick the components based on your gaming needs. Want maximum power? Spend more on the GPU and CPU. Do you prefer high-resolution gameplay? Invest in a better monitor and graphics card. Building it yourself lets you choose.
- Better Value: Pre-built machines tend to cheap out on key components like the PSU or motherboard. DIY allows you to get premium quality parts.
- Upgradeability: Building the PC by yourself makes future upgrades like adding more RAM or swapping the GPU much easier.
- Cost savings: Carefully selected components can save you hundreds compared to a branded pre-built.
DID YOU KNOW?
Building your own PC can save you as much as 50% compared to an off-the-shelf alternative with similar specs. PCPartPicker analyzed 500,000 completed builds and found the average custom rig cost was just $732. Pre-builts with comparable components easily run over $1000.
As long as you do your homework on compatible parts, the building process itself is pretty simple.
Plus, the satisfaction of booting up a hand-crafted machine is worth the effort.
Core Components of a Gaming PC
While every gaming PC is unique, most share these core components:
- GPU (Graphics Card): The GPU is responsible for the image and frame rates on your screen. A powerful graphics card is the most important part of a gaming PC. Graphic cards from Nvidia and AMD are the best in the market.
- CPU (Processor): The CPU handles all the vital computational tasks tied to game physics and AI. AMD’s Ryzen and Intel’s Core CPUs are the best performers in the budget range.
- RAM: RAM stores data needed quickly by the CPU. Usually, 16GB-32GB is the sweet spot for gaming PCs today. Go for fast DDR4 or DDR5 at 3200 MHz or higher speed sticks.
- Storage: Games demand fast load times. Use a 250GB+ SSD for the operating system and favorite titles. Back that up with a 1TB or higher HDD.
- Motherboard: The motherboard connects all the parts together. Choose one compatible with your CPU and features like overclocking.
- PSU (Power Supply): Invest in a quality 80+ Gold or higher certified PSU to efficiently deliver stable power to your components.
- PC Case: The case houses all your parts. Look for excellent airflow and sound dampening.
Those are just the basics. Optional extras can include CPU coolers, case fans, custom RGB lighting, etc.
Setting a Realistic Budget
Building a customized gaming PC can get expensive. Set a realistic budget before you start picking parts. Here are some tiers to consider:
- $800-$1000: This entry-level range can play many eSports titles and older AAA games at 1080p 60fps.
- $1200-$1500: The mid-range sweet spot. Expect high frame rates in 1440p gaming. Handles new titles well.
- $2000+: It comes in the high-end territory with the most powerful GPUs and CPUs for 4K gaming. Water cooling and customization options open up here.
Just, keep in mind that you’re still missing a display and other components like keyboards and mice as well as a Windows Key.
So, keep a budget for these things set aside after all you need a PC that performs and not just an overpriced brick.
Choosing the Right Components
Let’s run through how to select compatible parts for an epic gaming rig:
Graphics Card
Go with the most powerful GPU that fits your budget. The RTX 4070 or RTX 4080 offers excellent 4K performance. AMD’s RX 6700 XT trades blows with the RTX 4070 for less money.
Pay close attention to video memory. 6-8GB is the minimum for future-proofing. Models with small video RAM will struggle with newer games.
Processor
For pure gaming, a mid-range 6-core CPU like the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 or Core i5-13400H is sufficient. They pair well with most graphics cards.
If you also intend to stream or create content, spend up for an 8-core processor. The extra cores will hugely benefit production workflows.
Make sure to buy a CPU suited to your total budget. Avoid pairing an expensive GPU with a cheap CPU or vice versa.
Memory
16GB of RAM is the consensus sweet spot for smooth gaming and multitasking. 8GB is passable if you need to cut costs.
If you’re going for Ryzen CPUs, get faster 3600MHz memory, as they benefit more from high RAM speeds. Intel CPUs play nicely with 3200 MHz too.
Motherboard
The motherboard has to be compatible with your CPU’s socket type, AM4 for Ryzen, and LGA 1151 for newer Intel chips.
The B550 and X570 boards are great options for Ryzen. For Intel, Z390 boards allow overclocking. Also, check the RAM support and PCIe slots.
Don’t cheap out too much here. Entry-level boards can throttle performance. High-end options offer extras like WiFi and premium sound.
Storage
Use a 250GB or 500GB NVMe SSD as the boot drive for the best game load times. Install Windows and some of your favorite games here.
Supplement that with a 1TB or 2TB HDD for mass storage of other games and files. 7200 RPM drives offer the right balance of capacity and speed.
To save money, you can start with a smaller 240GB SSD and add more storage later.
Just don’t skimp out on the SSD!
Power Supply
An 80+ Bronze-rated 500W PSU is enough for entry-level rigs.
For mid to high-end gaming with dedicated GPUs, invest in an 80+ Gold-rated 650W or 750W PSU from reputable brands.
This can give you a cleaner and more stable power delivery even under heavy loads.
Make sure your PSU has enough PCIe power connectors for your graphics card(s).
Modular PSUs reduce cable clutter by allowing you to only attach the required cables.
Case
Look for cases with excellent airflow, dust filters, and sound dampening. Mid-towers offer ample room for upgrades and support full-size GPUs.
Fancy RGB-laden gaming cases look awesome but also drive up the budget. Some cheap but functional cases go for under $50.
If you’ll be frequently swapping parts, get a case with cut-outs for easy access. Extra USB ports up front are handy too.
Putting It All Together
Once you’ve selected compatible parts for your budget and needs, here are some tips for the building process:
- Carefully study the motherboard manual and watch PC build guides to understand component placement and cable connections.
- Install the CPU, RAM, SSD, and any M.2 drives before mounting the motherboard in the case. This gives you more room to work.
- Make sure that the CPU cooler is securely installed with an even thermal paste application.
- Take your time with cable management. Use zip ties and raceways to neatly hide and route all cables to allow for airflow.
- Connect just the core components and external keyboard/mouse to boot the system for the first time. If all is well, move on to add more storage drives and accessories.
- Don’t forget to install Windows, motherboard drivers, antivirus software, and other necessary programs like web browsers and tools.
- Finally, activate XMP in the BIOS to run your RAM at the rated speeds. Enjoy your new gaming rig!
The global gaming PC market size is at $55.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow by a CAGR of 12.9% and reach a valuation of $129.9 billion by 2030.
Conclusion
Building your dream gaming setup takes research and patience.
But the satisfaction of booting up a hand-crafted PC that exceeds your expectations makes it all worthwhile.
And now that you have completed the setup, it is time to test your beast.
You can try running Cyberpunk or Crysis on max settings or get your just desserts with your favorite titles like God of War, Forza, or any other games you like.
