Being realistic here, ‘best’ nearly always comes down to money. So, get over the fact that the best will almost certainly be the most expensive.
Now be philosophical, technology moves fast, and today’s must-have is tomorrow’s has-been.
This means, for example, that even the most expensive PC setup for gaming will be relatively affordable sometime soon. And the pace of technology is such that telling the difference between the best of the best and the merely okay has never been so complex.
Also, the best PC set-up for playing casino slot games might not be the best PC set-up for Call of Duty, say. So, how are we going to tackle this six-million-dollar question?
We’re going to go right back to basics, so even those with a decent PC set-up can use the following information as a sort of upgrade cheat sheet. But, really, this is for people who want to build a PC setup from the ground upward without breaking the bank, so let’s begin with the beating heart of the matter.
Central Processing Unit.
Or CPU as it’s known, this will need to be a high-performance processor to optimise the base of your PC. Look out for AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 or an Intel Core i7 or i9 and you’ll be off to a flying start.
Graphics Processing Unit.
Or GPU, and you can’t go far wrong with NVIDIA RTX 40 series or an AMD RX 7000 series. That’s not to say the RTX 30, or even the 20 series (or AMD RX 6000) are poor, by the way, but right now it’s 40 or 7000, and tomorrow it’ll be something else…
In the meantime, you’ll need at least 6GB of DDR4 RAM, but many users will be on 32 just to allow for that extra bit of wiggle room. Also, ensure you include a fast Solid-State Drive (SSD): the highest speed is M. 2 NVMe SSD which allows you to rapidly transfer a 1TB folder.
And just before we leave the rig set-up side of things, make sure your motherboard has enough ports, slots and supports for all your auxiliary needs. As we’ve seen, and will see, you’re going to need them…
Monitors.
We could spend a day discussing just the monitor. Obviously, this is the most prominent part of the whole setup as the whole system is designed to focus on what you’re seeing/interacting with.
First off, choose a monitor with a high refresh rate, 144Hz or higher, with a low response time and the best resolution your GPU can withstand. Ideally, that’s 4K, but 1440p and 1080p are (just about in the latter camp) acceptable.
As for sizes and the question of curving or not curving the screen, this is down to you. Your decision will be based on how much room you have for your gaming set-up and, of course, budget.
You’ll be pleased to know, however, that you can get surprisingly good monitors for relatively little these days. The market is saturated with them so it’s pretty much a buyers’ market, just do your research based on what we’ve mentioned, and you’ll be just fine.
Sound.
There are several ways to achieve your ideal sound set-up, but the simplest and most cost-effective way forward is to go for a gaming headset. These have been specifically designed to handle the huge range of noises that are expected in a modern game, so, well, go figure.
In addition to that the 3D surround sound that’s typical in even budget headsets is crucial when it comes to combat/strategic style games. We’d argue you’re going to need noise cancelling as standard, but not everyone likes that feeling of being too enclosed in their space.
If you want to take the game online, you’ll need to do further research on the capability of the mic. Think about this in a wider context too, your fellow gamers won’t appreciate static and crackle from shoddy gear…
Connectivity.
Don’t mess about with wireless connections if you’re serious about your game, you’ll need a wired ethernet connection. Obviously, this isn’t always possible, in which case you’ll need to choose your supplier very, very carefully!
Odds and Ends.
- Get an aftermarket cooler. Ensuring your machine doesn’t overheat may require some additional research depending on your location.
- Just because they’re functional, don’t be cheap on the keyboard or mouse, a clunky/noisy keyboard will become very annoying very quickly, especially if you’re up for a long game. As for the mouse, the more ergonomic the better: Carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t to be laughed at.
- Get a UPS. A backup power supply to prevent surges or outages could save you a fortune.
- Finally, you’ll want a chair in which to destroy kingdoms and rule planets. Think about your posture, if you can’t afford what you need, the second-hand market awaits.
