The majority of windows-based PCs found in stores such as Walmart and Best Buy do not have the capabilities to run newer video games. These "White label" computers sport boring designs and poor processing speeds making them unsuitable for the gaming world.
Personal computers from Walmart and Best Buy will always cost a few hundred dollars compared to gaming consoles, making them an unpopular choice among experienced gamers.
While going the console way might appear to be the best alternative, the truth of the matter is, console gaming is not everyone’s cup of tea. This is because games released for computers tend to come with computer settings, user-friendly content, and more customization capabilities. Basically, with a powerful PC, you will be able to attain a much higher graphics output in comparison with the graphics output that you could get from X-box 1 or PS4.
That’s why the customization of personal computers is a popular trend among professional gamers.
Technically, you have the opportunity of creating a personal computer that not only meets your gaming needs but one that will cost thousands of dollars on the market.
By upgrading your personal computer, you will be able to gain the additional features required to run high-end computer games at a much lower cost.
Before upgrading your computer, it is wise to create a budget for the project. On top of that, it’s also crucial to have a clear understanding of the basics, such as uninstalling or installing a computer program.
Before we dive into what you need to upgrade, it’s also vital to have a basic knowledge of specific terminologies so that you will be able to know what components we will be talking about during installation.
Gaming requirements can be found on the manufacturer’s website or the website where you purchased the gaming program. They can also be found on the program's pamphlet or the game's box.
If you cannot find the system’s requirements from any of the resources mentioned above, you can always check out online resources such as System Requirements Labs. After visiting the site, you will find an image that's tagged in the search.
Within the search box, you can type the name of any popular game that you can think of. After typing in the game's name, you should then click on the button located on the bottom right section of the game, which will initiate a search process.
Upgrading HDD
Many laptops these days come with SSD instead of HHD. These new computers not only have faster running speeds but also the boot time is quite tremendous. Thus, instead of just upgrading your HDD, you should focus on upgrading it with SSD. The main difference between HDD and SSD is that SSD relies on flash memory instead of the traditional spinning disk.
Since the main aim is to upgrade your computer for gaming purposes, you should purchase an SSD. You will then migrate the OS to the SSD without experiencing any data loss. Several tools can help you do this. One popular tool is the MiniTool Partition Wizard.
Upgrading the Graphics Card
Like the HDD, it's equally important to update your graphics card if you intend to have a great gaming experience. You should first check whether the frame rate is below 60FPs in titles. If the frame rate is below 60FPS, then it’s advisable to upgrade your graphics card.
On top of that, if your computer has an integrated graphics card, then it’s advisable to upgrade/switch to a dedicated graphics card for outstanding graphics performance. In addition, upgrading the graphic card of your computer will enhance your gaming experience.
Upgrading Your RAM
Unlike many years ago, when purchasing computer RAMs could be compared to buying a new computer, computer RAM can now be purchased at affordable rates. The easiest and simplest way of upgrading a computer is by upgrading the RAM. On top of that, upgrading a computer's RAM is not a complicated process, and thus you can do it by yourself. For gaming purposes, it's important to always go for not less than 16 GB of RAM.
Before upgrading your RAM, it's important to establish the type of RAM that your computer supports. You can always visit the manufacturer's official website to find out the type of RAM that your computer uses. On the other hand, you can always check certain information about the computer hardware from the Task Manager.
Upgrading the Processor
For improved performance with much lower power usage, upgrading the processor is the way to go. Nonetheless, it's important to point out that upgrading the processor is a delicate process that can be quite frustrating for anyone doing this for the first time. On top of that, processors are also quite expensive.
In many instances, replacing the processor also means replacing the motherboard. If the motherboard is compatible with the new processor, it might always require a BIOS update for it to work.
Generally, the SSD, GPU, Processor, and RAM are the most commonly upgraded components. Nonetheless, if you want to get an instant improvement on the overall performance of your computer, then the SSDs, GPU, and RAM will always be the simple and necessary way to go.
As mentioned earlier, if your PC uses an HDD, it's also critical to upgrade to an SSD. Upgrading to an SSD is a great and effective way of improving the running speed of your computer. In addition, if you are on a tight budget, you can always free up some space on your HDD.
On top of that, you should also clean up any unnecessary start-up and shut down processes. For example, certain programs might often be running in the background, thereby eating up system resources without your knowledge.
It's also vital to upgrade/customize your computer to your specific needs. For example, some gamers would prefer upgrading their RAM and a graphics card to run huge applications. On the other hand, other gamers will prefer switching to an SSD to increase their PC's running speeds. Therefore, when performing upgrades, it’s important to customize the process to meet your gaming needs.
Upgrading PC Software Can Affect Processing Speeds
On many computers, the programs are set to update automatically. If your computer is not set to perform automatic updates, you normally perform manual updates when notified by the system about new releases and updates. While updating the software is normally the right thing to do, it’s not advisable on many occasions.
For many software, the version number will be depicted in three forms, major, minor, and revision. Thus, it’s imperative to first establish the form of an update before proceeding. For example, if an update is in the form of 0.0.2, then the chances are that the update is likely to fix bugs. On the other hand, if the update is in the form of 0.2.0, this update may include new features and optimizations.
You should install minor and revision updates without any hesitation. However, when it comes to major updates, you should first take a moment and establish the new update addresses. This is because newer program versions tend to use more resources in comparison to older versions.
Just like new program updates, you should also exercise caution when performing updates on operating systems. While incremental updates are important for security and performance reasons, newer operating systems present a whole new challenge. Apart from having bugs, they might also cause your system to become slow.
If your personal computer runs smoothly, you should stay away from any major updates on the operating system.
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