You don’t need to buy a build that has the most up-to-date generation of CPU. Processors released in 2021 are still viable components in 2024. There’s also the debate between Intel and Ryzen CPUs, but that’s another story. Just know that if you’re just getting started, both Intel and Ryzen are good CPUs for gaming PCs.

What is a Good CPU for a Gaming PC According to Gamers::

• Twitch streamer and YouTuber, Epicgamerdude54 said, “The CPU is something you shouldn’t cheap out on since if you bottleneck on the CPU… you cannot easily upgrade [it]….” He explained that upgrading the CPU relies on the pre-built motherboard platform. He recommended several CPU options for new PC gamers including the AMD 8600G, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and the Intel Core i5-13600K.
• Ryan Mayiras, CEO of Candid Studios and PC gamer in his spare time, said, “A quad-core processor should be the minimum, with something like an AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 being great starting points. I would highly recommend at least an Intel 12700K. A good processor will allow your computer to run faster and also allow for better frame rates.”
• PC gaming enthusiast, Founder and Chief Editor of Hardware Centric, Jim Eddy, said “For CPU, [you should] aim for an i5 or Ryzen 5600….” Eddy added that choosing either of these CPUs would allow new gamers to enjoy their PC without feeling the need for an immediate upgrade.
• Senior Technical Support Agent at Chicks Gold, Alberto Gruning, a PC gamer who also builds PCs, shared several CPU recommendations. For mid-range gaming, he recommended the Intel Core i5s and Ryzen 5 series CPUs. He said that those CPUs, “[offer] a balance of performance and price, suitable for more intense gaming and multitasking. Unlocked i5 12th gen (12600k or 13600k onward, or Ryzen 5/7 5th gen onward (5600x or 5700x).” Gruning also shared CPU recommendations for other tiers of gaming from entry-level to top-tier. He recommended the Intel i3/Ryzen 3 for entry-level, the Intel i7/Ryzen 7 for high performance, and the i9/Ryzen 9 for top-tier gaming.

RAM, or random access memory, stores data in the short term and indirectly affects gameplay performance. It also influences how well your computer can handle demanding tasks or multitasking.

How Much RAM Should A Gaming PC Have According To Gamers:

• Twitch streamer, Distal (@DistalsPlace) said, “32 is usually my minimum, but I find myself doing a lot of other tasks – or even multitasking – with my PC use outside of gaming.” When considering people who only want to play games, he added, “16GB would be a minimum, but I would upgrade once I had the chance.”
• Twitch streamer and YouTuber, Epicgamerdude54 recommended 16 to 32GBs of RAM. He said, “If you stream and use a lot of things at once while … gaming[,] [you’ll] get really close to 16GBs.” He explained that playing games, streaming, and using streaming software place high demand on your RAM. He also mentioned that video editing and using a browser with lots of open tabs can also be demanding. He said, “For those people[,] I recommend 32GB.”
• A Discord user and PC gamer who wished to remain anonymous said, “For casual gaming 16GB is definitely the new minimum, 32GB is optimal.”
• Another anonymous Discord user and PC gamer said, “16GB [is the] absolute minimum. You can’t even do modded Minecraft with 8.

Online, you might see people saying that 8-16GB is “the sweet spot” for PC gaming. But as you can see gamers see that 16-32GB is a better choice.

Most of the prebuilt PCs we carry are built with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics cards and up. This includes the NVIDIA 3070, 3080, 4060, 4070, 4080, and the 4090. You might think that higher numbers imply better performance, but only in some cases. 

What is a Good Graphics Card for a Gaming PC According to Gamers:

• Epicgamerdude54 explained that the GPU you need is influenced by what games you plan to play. He explained that if you plan to play relaxed games like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Terraria or indie games, an integrated GPU and CPU would be a good option. He said, “If you’re going to do more than one thing at once; edit, or play higher graphically demanding games, I’d recommend shelling out for [a prebuilt PC] with a dedicated GPU option like AMD (7600XT, 6700XT), NVIDIA (3060, 4060).”
• A PC gamer and Discord user who wished to remain anonymous said, “[The NVIDIA] 1660 TI (or similar) is a little older but still strong enough for most popular recent games on medium settings and more than enough for older games.”
• A different anonymous Discord user recommended, “[The NVIDIA] 2070 and up, or [an] AMD equivalent.”
• PC gamer and CEO of Kasra Design, Alex Safavinia said, “A mid-range GPU, like the NVIDIA GTX 1660 or the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, offers a good balance of price and performance for casual gaming. It allows for playing most games at 1080p with comfortable frame rates.”

As you can see there is a wide range of GPUs that gamers recommend. While all the different numbers can be confusing, these quotes were included to help you understand that just because the GPU has a smaller number in its title, that does not equal lower performance. To learn more about current GPUs on the market, visit AMD Ryzen™ Processors for Desktops or NVIDIA’s Compare GeForce Graphics Cards.

AAA games these days are massive, with file sizes starting around 50GB and climbing to over 100GB. Most gaming PCs come with at least 512GB of storage space, with 1-2TB storage becoming more prevalent in mid-tier builds and up. We recommend at least 1TB SSD as anything below that will fill up quickly. 

A computer with a sizable SSD boot drive and secondary HDD is a highly recommended storage combination; enjoy fast boot speeds while increasing total storage capacity at a lower average cost per gigabyte.

How Much Storage for Gaming PC According to Gamers:

• Twitch streamer, Distal said, “1TB [is a] minimum right now. 2 gives you a tad of a cushion.” For content creators and streamers he recommended saving non-essential, non-gaming content to an external hard drive to keep your HDD clear.

Recommendations from Gamers on Discord

• “1TB still seems relatively solid. I’ve had a 2TB SSD for…6 years now and I recently just went over 1TB.”
• “I’d say 2TB is the minimum for a new gaming PC, as game sizes keep skyrocketing. Looking at the AAA landscape, games range from 50-500 GB+.”
• “My desktop came with 3TB (1TB SSD, 2TB SATA) but I also have a 2TB external drive. I hate running out of space.”

PCs produce heat as electricity runs through their components. That heat needs to be dispersed or the components could get damaged. Gaming PCs are cooled by either a traditional fan cooling system or a liquid cooling system. Fan cooling is the most common cooling option for most modern PCs, but liquid cooling is an option if background noise and efficiency are important to you.

What Gamers Say About Cooling Systems for Gaming Desktops

• Twitch streamer Distal said, “Unless you are trying to push your CPU to the max, or [are] really into overclocking, a good heatsink can work just as well as a liquid-cooled system – and be more cost-effective. Based on the build and your use, you could just be paying more for aesthetics and quieter fans than any real performance changes.”
• YouTuber, DabbusVult said, “Fan cooling is best for casual gaming as it achieves the intended result if done correctly. Liquid cooling is mostly for benchmark thrill seekers and people who want a certain aesthetic with their build.”
• Twitch streamer Epicgamerdude54 recommends fan cooling for most use cases. He added, “Unless you overwhelm your PC and it’s decently hot in your room; I’d go with liquid cooling.”
• Tech writer, Faraz Khan of Direct Macro said, “Pre-built PCs usually have adequate air cooling for most components. Liquid cooling is generally not essential unless you plan on extreme overclocking or live in a very hot environment.”
• Alex Safavinia, said “Effective cooling, even with standard fans, is crucial for longevity and consistent performance. While liquid cooling is superior, it’s not a necessity for casual gaming unless you plan on overclocking.”

Considering this information, we feel confident recommending that fan cooling systems are perfectly viable options for prebuilt PCs. 

Helldivers 2

CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master – GMA9360CPGV2

PUBG: Battlegrounds

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Notebook – NH.QLZAA.001

Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition

iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh Desktop – TMA7N4601

Baldur’s Gate 3

CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Supreme Desktop – SLC10200CPGV8

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

ASUS TUF A15 Laptop – 90NR0EB5-M000J0

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

MSI Codex – R13NUC5081

Steam says the required size for Call of Duty is only 78 GB if you have Call of Duty HQ and Call of Duty: Warzone™ installed.

Cyberpunk 2077

ASUS ROG Strix – 90PF03W2-M01080

(Palworld can also run well on this PC according to recommended specs)

Rust

Skytech Blaze – BLAZE31097B

Last Epoch

MSI Katana 15 – KATANA1512439