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Tips for picking the best components for your new computer in 2020
PC gaming is becoming increasingly more popular, thanks to the explosive popularity of streaming, eSports, and competitive gaming.
New people, young and old, are entering the arena of PC gaming, and those familiar with the PC master race are looking to delve deeper by putting together the best battlestation that they can.
Wide-eyed gamers with dreams of being the next gaming sensation scour online pc retailers with the aim to build a formidable computer, capable of raining fiery vengeance on their foes, but it is here they hit the first stumbling block.
“Wait, where do I actually start?” they ask themselves, realizing that perhaps they should have taken the unnamed mans advice that it was dangerous to go alone.
Well, fear not, we are here to help make the journey a little easier and to help start you off on the right track with tips for picking the best components for your new computer build.
Start with a realistic budget
It is easy to jump in feet first and to start adding the latest and greatest PC components to your online shopping cart. The problem with this, however, is that the latest and greatest comes with a price tag, and it is a hefty price tag at that.
You need to decide what your budget is going to be, and you need to be realistic about it. There is no point in getting all excited about getting the latest hardware if you simply can’t afford it.
Come up with a price that you are comfortable paying and leave yourself a little bit of buffer just in case you would like to spend a little bit extra on that CPU or motherboard.
Now that the budget has been set stick to it. Don’t worry if you cant add an RTX 2080 Super to your build; there are bound to be options available that will give you the performance that you are looking for in a gaming PC without breaking the bank.
Intel or AMD, it's completely up to you
Now comes the question, are you going to represent Intel of AMD with your new build?
One of the oldest debates in PC gaming history has been whether to put your foot in the Intel or AMD camp when it comes to processors. For a long time, the unified answer has been Intel; however, with AMDs previous and current generation of Ryzen CPUs, you really do have a choice now.
Both companies produce amazing processors, and for the most part, it all comes down to personal preference. It is, however, important to decide which flag you are going to fly as this determines which motherboard you are going to need to purchase.
Whether you pick the current-generation Intel CPUs or AMD Ryzen CPUs, both companies are producing some amazing hardware right now, and you can’t go wrong with either.
And remember, you don’t need to buy the latest generation. Often you can pick up the previous generation processors on sale for a fraction of the cost, and these will set you up for several years of gaming.
Choose a motherboard that provides you the features that you need, but also keep your budget in mind
So, you have picked the processor that you want to go with, which means it is time to choose your motherboard.
There are many options when it comes to motherboards, and it can be a little confusing to pick the right one, especially with the varying socket types floating around.
Focusing on the current generation of processors, your two main types are X570 for AMD and Z390 for Intel.
Make sure that you purchase the correct motherboard that supports your processor. There is nothing worse than starting your new build to find that things don’t fit as they should.
Keep an eye on budget when purchasing a motherboard as they can vary in price a lot. Some people feel that the more expensive the motherboard, the better it must be. While this is not necessarily untrue, the fact is that you may not need to purchase the most expensive motherboard, and you may not even use these additional features.
If you are not someone looking to get elbow deep into the world of overclocking, then you will be completely fine purchasing a mid-priced motherboard such as the X570 AORUS Pro or the Z390 AORUS Elite.
However, if you are looking to get the most out of your gaming PC and you are comfortable with overclocking, then you are often better looking at the higher tier motherboards that provide you with some better overclocking potential such as the AORUS Master series of motherboards.
Choose what path you want to take when it comes to Graphics Cards
Now the burning question, what GPU do you get. We recommend that you decide on one of two paths when it comes to your graphics card.
Either purchase a high-end graphics card with the intention of making use of it for a couple of years, or purchase a mid-tier card with the plan to upgrade when the next generation launches.
If your budget allows, it is often recommended to get the best graphics card that you can, as this is going to be the primary driver on how many FPS you can rock in a game. This graphics card will last you several years before you truly need to upgrade again.
Sometimes, however, your budget may not allow for the newest AORUS RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card, in which case grab a mid-tier card such as the RTX 2060 or Radeon RX580 and then upgrade it on a more frequent basis when the next generation cards become available.
You don’t need to push a constant 120 FPS to have an enjoyable gaming experience.
Faster storage means a faster computer and improved gaming
The storage that you add to your computer doesn’t just determine how many files you can store on your system; it also determines your gaming performance. Having faster storage means quicker read and write times, all of which help improve gameplay.
It is highly recommended that you include at least 1 NVMe SSD in your gaming rig. Providing you with some of the fastest read and write speeds available, NVMe SSD storage such as the AORUS Gen4 SSD, really does help speed up your computer.
Your computer boots substantially quicker, file transfer speeds are faster, and more importantly, game loading time is greatly reduced.
With storage becoming more affordable every day, there is no reason why every new gaming PC shouldn’t have an NVMe SSD drive installed.
Pick the computer case that gives you plenty of wiggle room
All components of a computer build play are important, but none as important as the computer case. Gamers very often overlook computer cases in favor of spending more money on the internals of the rig. They cut a few costs by going for a cheaper case only to find that when it comes time to build the PC, it is a complete nightmare.
Not enough space to fit the hardware, no room to get your hands in and around the case, poor cable management options, and even worse, poor airflow.
These are all things that can greatly decrease the performance of your gaming PC. For the sake of a few dollars, it is just not worth the risk.
When shopping for a case, ensure that you stick with reputable brands and read up on all the features of the chassis.
You want to look for a case that provides multiple cooling configuration options for water cooling and air cooling, as well as great cable management. Ensure that the case provides enough airflow to keep temperatures at a minimum.
Once you have all the features that you need on the inside, it also needs to be a design that you like. Remember that the case is going to be the piece of hardware that everyone is going to see.
Something like the AORUS C300 Glass chassis provides you with multiple options when building your gaming PC, as well as a sleek design that is perfect for showcasing your new build.
No matter what PC gaming build you put together, it will surely be a great experience for you, provided you do a little research first. Stick with your budget, even if it means making a few compromises, and you will have a PC that will keep you going for years to come.
