Choosing Your Next Hardware Upgrade for Your Gaming PC
Gaming PCs are an entirely different animal from any other kind of PC. Sure, they may start out as a regular PC, but when you’re done with all your upgrades, that PC will be capable of much more than just typing up Word documents!
Many different computer games might need different things from your computer. Online table games will need a high resolution and refresh rate monitor. Online MMOs require that computers process fast enough to avoid lag in the game. All these different things can be achieved by upgrading different pieces of hardware with new, stronger, and better functioning pieces. If you’re unsure of what the best bet is, we’ve got a list of our top hardware upgrades for you right here! We’ll explain a little bit about each piece of hardware and then share our top pick for the creme de la creme available on the market this year.
RAM Upgrade
Adding more memory to your setup or replacing any that does not function at its peak is the most affordable way to give your PC the little boost it needs. It’s also the easiest for you to do yourself and does not require a lot of computer know-how. Adding more RAM immediately ups the computer’s performance because it provides more room for the computer to do more tasks without slowing it down. 4GB is the absolute minimum amount of RAM that any computer should have, but this will likely be too little for high-volume games. We recommend upgrading to 8GB to offer you a smooth experience. The more RAM you have, the more space your computer has to maneuver in and the faster it will be able to perform.
Best RAM of 2022: G Skill Trident Z5
Graphics Card Upgrade
Ah, the elusive new graphics card! We say elusive because the chip shortage that plagued the computer industry over the last few decades drove the price of all graphics cards up to an almost unattainable level. Scarcity was also a factor in the price rise, which has not reverted to pre-shortage prices again. This is concerning, but the fact remains that a graphics card is a necessity if you are a gamer. That said, a good graphics card is essential if you want to have a great gaming experience. The graphics card manages all graphics functions on the computer, and if you are a serious gamer, you can’t go without upgrading this every few years. The essential card is the make or break for experiencing a game at its very best. If you want the graphics in your game worlds to render the way they were designed, you need a graphics card that can carry the weight of a well-made game.
Best Graphics Card of 2022: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Hard Drive Upgrade
Your hard drive is storage, like your RAM, but it’s permanent storage rather than “at that moment” storage. There are two reasons to upgrade here: You’re running out of space or need your computer to perform faster. The current standard is the solid-state drive, so if you’re still using an old hard disk drive, it’s definitely time to change that. A solid-state drive uses flash memory and is far faster than the older models. A faster drive will impact your entire system in a positive way. Boot will be faster, games and programs will load and launch faster, and responsiveness will be more immediate. If space is the issue, the result will be the same as a slow drive but with the added misery of being unable to save anything. A full drive simply cannot function properly.
Best Hard Drive of 2022: 18TB Seagate Exos Enterprise
Processor Upgrade
This is a big upgrade, and you should only make it if the difference in the processor you’re looking at is radically different from the one you have already. It’s tricky to install, so if you don’t feel confident, we suggest you ask for help from a friend or professional who does. Only choose one with a newer generation than you already have, or you’ll be wasting your time and money- tests show that an upgrade of anything less than the next generation will show minimal improvement. If you upgrade here, you may also need to upgrade your motherboard. If you’re upgrading because the processor is causing a speed bottleneck, it might be worth looking at a complete system overhaul. This is the trickiest upgrade and is one we recommend you take the longest to think about because it could change a lot for your PC.
Best Processor 2022: Intel Core i5-12400
Wrap Up
If you’re considering an upgrade, these are the pieces of hardware we think will offer the most change if you choose the right replacement. There’s no rush; take your time and think about which items will serve you best!
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