April 4, 2023, 4:30 pm | Read time: 6 minutes

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Choosing the Graphics Card

Many people think that a gaming computer needs the best hardware in all areas. However, that’s not entirely true. Primarily, it’s important to have a strong graphics card–also called a GPU–as a foundation. Wherever you can save some budget, you should do so in favor of the graphics card.

Generally, you can’t go wrong with the high-end models from Nvidia and AMD. For Nvidia, these are the 80 and 90 series, such as the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090. For AMD, it’s the 800 or 900 series cards, like the Radeon RX 7900 XTX or RX 6800 XT. These models are suitable for gaming in 4K.

For gaming in 1440p, a mid-range GPU is sufficient. For NVIDIA, this includes the RTX 3070 or RTX 3060 Ti–and soon the RTX 4070. AMD, on the other hand, offers cards like the RX 6650 XT and RX 6750 XT. For Full HD resolution (1080p) and eSports titles, cards like the RTX 3050 and RX 6500 XT are completely adequate.

With Intel, a new player has recently entered the graphics card market. The products are promising but still struggle with lack of optimization and stability. At this point, TECHBOOK does not recommend their use.

Ideally, a graphics card should have at least 8 GB of video memory (VRAM). Especially for gaming in virtual reality (VR), even that is hardly enough. If you have a choice between two memory versions of a particular graphics card, you should generally opt for the larger one. The price difference is usually marginal, but the performance boost, especially at resolutions above 1080p, is significant.

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Processor and Motherboard – What to Consider

The processor–also called the CPU–should have at least four, preferably six cores today. Anything above that is good for productivity but offers little advantage in gaming. However, the clock speed is still very important. In turbo mode, the CPU should ideally reach 4.5 gigahertz or more.

While Intel was the dominant player in the CPU market for many years, AMD has now caught up and is often superior in gaming performance. However, the fluctuation is currently very high, as new CPU models are being released annually due to renewed competition.

In principle, the nomenclature hasn’t changed for years. The absolute high-end models are called Core i9 for Intel and Ryzen 9 for AMD. However, excellent performance is also offered by Intel’s Core i7 series and AMD’s Ryzen 7 series. Even Core i5 and Ryzen 5 shouldn’t be overlooked and offer a good price-performance ratio.

The choice of motherboard is largely dictated by the CPU. The CPU socket can only be compatible with either an Intel or an AMD model. However, there are certain gradations. Intel distinguishes between B, H, and Z series chipsets. Regardless of the generation, the letter indicates how capable the chipset is. “B” is a mnemonic for budget motherboards, while “H” marks the mid-range. “Z” boards are the most expensive but are the only ones that support CPU overclocking. It’s important that the socket and chipset of the board are compatible with the respective CPU. For example, a Core i9-13900K only fits on motherboards of the 600 or 700 series. If you also want to exploit the overclocking potential of the K-series CPU, you need to choose a Z690 or Z790 motherboard.

The situation is similar with AMD. The manufacturer’s motherboard chipsets are divided into A, B, and X series, with “X” offering the most features. Unlike Intel, the “B” series also supports CPU overclocking in addition to the “X” series. To fully utilize the current gaming CPU leader Ryzen 9 7950X3D, you need either a B650 or X670 motherboard.

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Memory in the Gaming PC

For the rest of the computer, two other aspects are crucial: fast RAM and storage. Newer DDR5 RAM is forward-looking but not yet essential. Instead, the RAM should have a high clock speed, with at least 3200 MHz recommended.

For storage, a modern SSD is a must. NVMe-type SSDs are preferable here, as they have the fastest transfer rates. Most modern motherboards already have integrated slots for NVMe SSDs in the M.2 format. But there are also connections for cheaper SATA SSDs available.

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More on the topic

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Nothing Works Without a Good Power Supply

Finally, when building your own gaming PC, you must ensure that the power supply unit–the PSU–can support all the hardware. Unfortunately, modern PC hardware is very power-hungry. It’s best to simply add up the Thermal Design Power (TDP) of the individual components and add about 20 percent. So if the hardware consumes, for example, 800 watts, the PSU should be able to output at least 1000 watts. Efficiency is also important; it should be at least 80+ Silver or Gold.

What Costs to Expect for a Gaming PC

Manufacturers of gaming PC hardware now know no bounds when it comes to new products. However, there is a good reason for this. After years of relative stagnation, Intel, AMD, and Nvidia are currently engaged in fierce competition. The positive effect is that the performance of the products continues to increase. Yes, a Nvidia Geforce RTX 4080 costs around 2000 euros–but the performance was unimaginable just a few years ago. The card can display games in 8K resolution (equivalent to four times 4K) with stable frame rates. However, with the appropriate components, a complete gaming PC can easily cost 3000 to 4000 euros.

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But even at the lower end, the rapid development is noticeable. For gaming in the popular 1440p resolution, gaming PCs can be configured starting at about 600 euros. Even PC gaming in 4K resolution is more affordable than ever today, with a starting price of around 1500 euros.