How to Build a Gaming PC

Building your own gaming pc is the dream of most children and adults that love gaming. I built my own gaming pc when I was around 14 years old, back then it was a rather complicated process as there was a lot of bad information around, and a lot of heated debate about what components were the best with little to no evidence or source information. Nowadays however, it is more like building a LEGO set, and can be a fun challenge for both adults and their children. 

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • The essential components for a gaming PC
  • How much RAM is good for gaming
  • How much does a gaming PC cost
  • What is a good internet speed for gaming?

Let’s get started:


The Essential Components of a Gaming PC

Before you start assembling your gaming PC, you need to understand the key components that make up a high-performance gaming rig. Each part plays a crucial role in the overall experience, ensuring smooth gameplay and optimal performance.

1. Processor (CPU)

The CPU is the heart of your gaming PC. It’s responsible for executing instructions and running the games, operating system, and applications. A fast processor with multiple cores will ensure smooth performance during both gaming and multitasking.

  • Recommended Brands: Intel and AMD are the leading brands. Intel’s Core i5 and i7 or AMD’s Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors offer great performance for gaming.
  • Considerations: More cores are beneficial, especially for multitasking and future-proofing, but for most gamers, a quad-core or six-core processor is sufficient.

2. Graphics Card (GPU)

The GPU is arguably the most important component for gaming performance. It’s responsible for rendering the images and videos you see on screen. The higher the GPU, the better the gaming experience.

  • Recommended Brands: Nvidia (GeForce RTX series) and AMD (Radeon RX series) dominate the market. The Nvidia RTX 3000 and 4000 series or AMD’s RX 6000 and 7000 series offer excellent performance.
  • Considerations: If you want to play games in 4K or use high-end features like ray tracing, you’ll need a more powerful GPU.

3. Motherboard

The motherboard serves as the central hub that connects all your components together. When selecting a motherboard, make sure it supports your CPU (Intel or AMD) and has sufficient slots for your GPU, RAM, and storage.

  • Considerations: Look for a motherboard with good expandability, a reasonable amount of RAM slots, and compatibility with your chosen GPU and CPU.

4. Storage

There are two primary types of storage in a gaming PC: Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs). While HDDs are more affordable, SSDs offer much faster read and write speeds, which can drastically reduce load times in games.

  • Recommended Setup: A combination of a 500GB or 1TB SSD for your operating system and frequently played games, paired with a larger HDD for bulk storage, is ideal.

5. Power Supply (PSU)

The power supply unit (PSU) provides power to all the components in your gaming rig. It’s essential to choose a reliable PSU with enough wattage to handle the demands of your system.

  • Considerations: For a mid-range gaming build, a 650W to 750W PSU should suffice, but high-end builds with powerful GPUs may need 800W to 1000W.

6. Cooling System

Proper cooling is essential for maintaining performance and extending the lifespan of your components. You can opt for air cooling with a good heatsink or liquid cooling if you’re planning on overclocking your CPU or GPU.

  • Considerations: Ensure your case has good airflow, and consider adding extra fans or an aftermarket CPU cooler if you plan on pushing your system to its limits.

7. Case

The case is where all your components live. It’s important to choose one that offers adequate space and airflow. There are many options available in different sizes (ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ITX), so consider your budget, aesthetics, and required airflow.

  • Considerations: Look for a case with cable management options, sufficient cooling support, and enough room for your GPU and other components.

8. Peripherals

And of course a gaming PC without peripherals is not worth a lot. Get a good monitor with a high amount of refresh rate (HZ). That is essential especially if you are looking to play high pace action video games. Most monitors have a high refresh rate now, we would recommend getting at least 144 HZ monitors. 

Now don’t forget to get a mouse, keyboard and a good gaming headset. If the budget is limited, we personally would prioritise a good gaming headset over mice and keyboard. A decent mouse and keyboard can do, but an uncomfortable headset will make you crazy during those long gaming sessions. 


How Much RAM is Good for Gaming?

When it comes to RAM (Random Access Memory), the more, the better—but there’s a sweet spot for gaming PCs. RAM temporarily stores data that your CPU and GPU need to access quickly, which helps games load faster and run more smoothly.

4GB of RAM

4GB is the absolute minimum for a gaming PC. While it’s enough to run older or less demanding games, it will severely limit your experience with modern titles, especially if you multitask or use resource-heavy applications while gaming.

8GB of RAM

8GB is considered the baseline for modern gaming. It’s ideal for most gamers playing titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Minecraft, and others that don’t require huge memory footprints. 8GB also leaves enough headroom for background processes, like Discord, streaming software, or web browsing, while you game.

16GB of RAM

16GB is the sweet spot for gaming in 2025. This amount of RAM ensures smooth gameplay even in more demanding titles, and it offers flexibility for multitasking or running resource-heavy applications (like video editing software or streaming) alongside your game. It also provides better future-proofing.

32GB or More

32GB or more is recommended only for enthusiasts, professional streamers, or those who plan on heavy multitasking, like running virtual machines, video editing, or modding. For gaming alone, 16GB is usually more than enough, but 32GB could come in handy if you’re also doing intensive productivity work or content creation.


How Much Does a Gaming PC Cost?

The cost of a gaming PC can vary widely depending on the components you choose, the games you want to play, and how future-proof you want your system to be. Below is an overview of potential gaming PC costs at different performance levels:

Budget Build (Around $500 – $800)

A budget gaming PC is best suited for playing less demanding games at 1080p. Expect to play titles like League of Legends, Minecraft, or Fortnite on medium to high settings.

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 or Intel Core i3
  • GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 570
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 500GB HDD or a 250GB SSD + 1TB HDD
  • Power Supply: 450W – 500W

Mid-Range Build (Around $800 – $1,500)

A mid-range gaming PC will allow you to play most modern games at 1080p or even 1440p with high to ultra settings. It’s ideal for competitive gaming or more graphically intensive titles.

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Power Supply: 650W – 750W

High-End Build (Around $1,500 – $3,000)

A high-end gaming PC is built to handle 4K gaming, ray tracing, and VR, providing the ultimate performance for AAA games at the highest settings.

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7/i9
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
  • RAM: 16GB or 32GB DDR4
  • Storage: 1TB or more SSD, possibly NVMe for faster read/write speeds
  • Power Supply: 850W – 1000W

Custom Builds

If you’re building a custom rig with premium components, including a high-end CPU, top-tier GPU, custom cooling, and additional storage, the price can climb significantly. Expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 or more for the best components available.

We recommend checking out this quick video that summarises how to build a gaming PC in just two minutes:


What is Good Internet Speed for Gaming?

While building a gaming PC is essential for achieving great gaming performance, your internet connection plays a crucial role as well, especially in online multiplayer games. Try and keep a good balance between download speed and ping. If you can avoid a Wi-FI connection, a cabled connection is always better to lower the ping. You can check your internet speed here.

Minimum Speed

  • Download Speed: At least 3-5 Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 1 Mbps
  • Ping: Under 100ms

These speeds are typically sufficient for casual online gaming, like Fortnite, Overwatch, or Rocket League, but performance can be suboptimal with lag or latency issues.

Recommended Speed

  • Download Speed: 15-25 Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 3-5 Mbps
  • Ping: Under 50ms

This range will support most competitive gaming experiences, offering smooth gameplay without lag or packet loss.

Optimal Speed for Competitive Gaming

  • Download Speed: 50-100 Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 10 Mbps or more
  • Ping: Under 30ms

For serious online gamers who want the best performance, particularly for fast-paced games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty, or Valorant, having a high-speed connection with low latency is crucial. Fiber-optic internet offers the fastest speeds, but even cable or DSL connections can work well if your speeds are high enough.

With your new gaming PC built, you can check out our list of most anticipated video games releasing in 2025. There should be suggestions for any budget of gaming PC. We wish you lots of fun with your new build! And feel free to contact us should you have any questions.


Leave a Reply

Write what you are looking for, and press enter to begin your search!