I've decided to move from console gaming to PC, but I'm not sure where to begin. I don't know which components are required, whether I should build a system or buy a prebuilt one, or what features are worth paying for. I play a wide range of games, from Elden Ring to RimWorld, and I'm also open to playing older games from around a decade ago if that helps keep the cost down. I'm mainly looking for a reliable starting point and an explanation of what hardware I need. I haven't settled on a monitor resolution, frame rate, or total budget yet, so advice on how those choices affect the build would be helpful too.
5 Answers
A gaming PC needs a case, motherboard, processor, CPU cooler, memory, storage, graphics card, and power supply. You’ll also need an operating system and peripherals. For modern gaming, 16 GB of RAM is workable, but 32 GB gives you more room for newer games and multitasking. A fast SSD should be your main storage, and the graphics card is usually the most important part for gaming performance.
Look at the recommended system requirements for the games you care about, then build around those. Elden Ring is considerably more demanding than RimWorld, so use the more demanding games as your baseline. If you’re aiming for 1440p, prioritize a stronger graphics card and don’t buy a card with extremely limited VRAM. You can always add more storage or memory later, but replacing the graphics card is usually a bigger expense.
Buying used can be a reasonable way to get started, especially if you find a system with a graphics card from the RTX 3060–3080 generation or a comparable AMD card. Just verify the exact parts, power supply, temperatures, and condition before buying. A prebuilt can also make sense when component prices are high, particularly if it includes a decent processor, graphics card, and power supply rather than cutting costs on those parts.
Don’t feel pressured to spend thousands immediately. Recent component prices can be rough, but a sensible midrange system should handle older games easily and modern games at 1080p or 1440p with appropriate settings. Compare current prebuilts with individual parts, check recent build guides, and avoid choosing parts until you’ve confirmed they’re compatible. Local computer stores may also offer component bundles or assembly services.
The best place to start is with your budget, the games you want to play, and whether that budget includes a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. Also decide what resolution and refresh rate you want. A 1080p setup is the cheapest, while 1440p at around 120–165 Hz is a popular middle ground. Your monitor target determines how powerful the graphics card needs to be.
I’m mostly trying to figure out the basic parts first and what the system needs to run games reliably.
I was considering buying the parts gradually, but I’m new to PCs and wanted to understand exactly what I would need before doing that.