The first thing you will need to consider when building your custom gaming PC is the budget which will determine the hardware components to choose. You can build a decent gaming computer for $800 or less, but if you want high-quality performance, it may cost more than $1,000.
Building a custom gaming pc can be complicated and might require some knowledge of what components would work best together.
Suppose you have difficulties choosing the correct parts for your system or want peace of mind that you are getting optimal quality while maintaining affordability. In that case, trying a custom PC builder may be the better choice.
What to Consider
The main advantage of buying OEMs is that they come ready-to-play out of the box. All that’s left for you to do is to plug in the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, install your games, and play them.
These PCs cost more than assembled PCs, but you can get anywhere from 5 to 30% extra in terms of performance, so they might just be worth it.
However, if you don’t mind putting in some time and effort to save money and appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes from constructing your custom gaming PC, go ahead and try a custom PC builder.
Specs for a Top Configuration
(Estimated cost: $1,950 – $3,000) GPU [Graphics Processing Unit]: The GPU is arguably the most crucial component in any gamers’ rig. It’s responsible for processing all graphics-related tasks such as rendering 3D models and animation.
The following are the most common specs that you would find in a top-of-the-line GPU.
Options: AMD Radeon r9 290X; Nvidia GTX Titan Z (dual GPU); Nvidia GTX 980TI; AMD Radeon Fury X (Liquid cooled).
CPU [Central Processing Unit]
The CPU is responsible for processing all game physics virtually and AI-related tasks. It also assists other components, such as the GPU, when rendering graphics; gamers usually have strong preferences towards certain CPU brands like Intel or AMD.
Options: Intel Core i7 4790K (4GHz Quad-Core); Intel Core i7 5820K (3.30GHz Hexa Core); Intel Broadwell-E Processor (vary by model – 6 8, 10 core variants available); AMD Ryzen 7 1800X (8 core 16 thread 3.6GHz to 4GHz).
RAM [Random-Access Memory]
The RAM is where your computer temporarily stores data; the more RAM you have, the faster programs and games will launch and run.
Having a lot of RAM space will also reduce loading times in most applications like video editing software and digital content creation tools such as Photoshop.
Options: 16GB DDR3 2400MHz; 8GB DDR4 2133MHz; 32GB DDR4 2400MHz (depending on cpu); 32GB DDR4 2666MHz (depending on cpu).
Motherboard
The motherboard serves as the backbone of your computer. It determines how well all system components can communicate with one another. So you must get a motherboard that’s compatible with all the components you want to use.
Options: ASUS ROG Formula (Socket LGA 2011); MSI X99 SLI Plus ASRock Fatal1ty X99 Professional; ASUS Prime X399-A (Socket TR4).
Power Supply
The power supply is another important part of your custom gaming pc. It provides a steady flow of power to all system components. So you need a high-quality one if you want optimal performance from your rig.
Options: 750W Corsair RM 750i 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular; 850W EVGA Supernova G2 Gold Certified EnermaxPlatimax D.F.
Case
A case does not affect the performance of a computer. However, it can significantly increase its overall aesthetics. With so many options available, you should never have trouble finding a case that will fit your preferred budget and style.
Options: SilverStone Redline Series RL06 Corsair Carbide SPEC-ALPHA NZXT S340 (Black/Red or White/Purple); Phanteks Eclipse P400S (Black/White).
RAM Cooling System
Custom gaming PC builders typically choose to use a liquid cooling system for their RAM. It offers superior heat dissipation compared to a conventional air cooling system.
This results in higher overclocking potential even on cheaper high-performance RAM kits. Liquid-cooled RAM also tends to look very cool, which is always a plus if you’re building a custom computer PC to show off. You can opt for a dual/quad fan liquid cooling or un-liquid cooled.
Other Items
A mouse and keyboard are other parts you may need for your gaming PC. Additionally, you will definitely need a monitor, speakers, headset, etc., to be able to use your computer for anything besides playing games. You can also game better with these accessories.
Other Considerations
Some custom PC builders prefer liquid-cooled RAM over an air-cooled alternative. They believe it operates 10% cooler and results in higher overclocking potential.
However, this is a RAM-related misconception based on the thermal conductivity of water vs. air – though this may have been true in the past when liquid-cooled GPUs were also more common.
