Processor (CPU): The CPU provides the power for the computer to function, so you want a good one. Intel’s Core i7 is a pretty standard CPU to find in gaming PCs. The i9 is a common upgrade from there.
Graphics Card (GPU): Your GPU determines how good your games will look. AMD and Nvidia are the two primary companies competing in the graphics-card market. Currently, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 is an acceptable and widely used high-end graphics card, although you can certainly go up to the 4090 for improved graphics.
Memory: Random-access memory (or RAM) is the short-term memory available to your computer, vital when playing games that require your PC to do a lot of quick thinking. For a gaming PC, 16 GB of dedicated RAM is standard, but 32 GB is where it’s at.
Storage: Any computer worth its salt these days should have a solid-state drive (SSD) for storing your files, meaning storing games. One terabyte is a pretty standard size, and this is one of the easiest components to upgrade.
Liquid Cooling vs. Air Cooling: Before liquid cooling, all desktop PCs used fans to keep those internals from overheating. Some computers still do. Fans are a reliable, simple, inexpensive way to keep your shit cool. But they can be loud. Liquid cooling is much quieter than air cooling. It’s more high-tech, too, using a liquid coolant to keep the inside of your computer at the ideal operating temperature. They are silent and save space, but they use more energy.
Design: Do you like how your PC looks? You’d better think it’s pretty damn cool, because you will be paying a few grand and looking at it for the next five years. Or you could tuck it away beneath your desk.
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