The next console generation is, if reports are to be believed, just around the corner. With that in mind, what better time to start planning the construction of your new monstrously powerful gaming PC? While everyone else is off buying new Xbox and PlayStation consoles (very fine as they’re sure to be), you can boast that you were ahead of the curve and built yourself a juggernaut to match their strength long before they were released.
It’s not always easy to know where to start when it comes to constructing a mammoth gaming PC, though. Unless you’re experienced in the actual construction of the thing yourself, we think you’re better off going with a site like Overclockers or Chillblast for the legwork.
If you’re looking for unbiased reviews of pre-built PCs and components, as well as alternative avenues for building your machine, then you could try a site like BestGamingPC. For now, though, we’ll start you on the right path. Here are the things you should be looking out for when you’re building your beast of a gaming PC in 2019. Do note that some of these components will be quite pricey, but if you’re wanting to build a serious gaming PC then that’s a sacrifice you may have to make. There are always good budget options available, so we’re going for raw power here.
Graphics card – Nvidia Geforce RTX 2070
There are pricier options out there that will give you slightly more raw power, and there are more budget-friendly offerings with a bit less kick, but nothing balances performance and price like the RTX 2070. This card supports Nvidia’s fancy new ray tracing technology, as well as the deep learning super sampling that will, as time goes on, create flashier and more impressive lighting and texture effects than ever before. For our money, the EVGA Black RTX 2070 is the best iteration of this card that we’ve seen out there. Opting for this card means you’ll be able to kick back with some League of Legends when you’re relaxing, but you’ll also be able to run some of the most powerful and demanding games of the current era. 4K is a non-issue for this card, too.
Processor – Intel Core i5-8400
The 6-core Intel Core i5-8400 boasts some of the most impressive and consistent speeds around when it comes to gaming processors. This one has a built-in cooling unit which will come in handy when you’re really putting your rig through its paces, and it’s pretty future-proof too with clock speeds of 3.8GHz in multithreaded workloads. If you’re someone who likes to overclock your processor to really push it beyond its limits, then you’re probably better off aiming a little higher. For most people, though, including those who are looking to build unstoppable gaming rigs, the Core i5-8400 will more than suffice.
Power supply unit (PSU) – Corsair RM850x
The Corsair RM850x is the go-to power supply for serious gamers. Its 850W capacity is more than enough for even multiple GPUs, and its incredibly generous 10-year warranty shows how confident Corsair is that it won’t fail you. You’ll barely even notice that the PSU is running thanks to the RM850x’s low volume while it’s running. Many gamers neglect the power supply when they’re looking to build a great gaming PC, but the truth is this component is just as important as the others and could even be more integral to the construction of a powerful PC than more feted aspects like RAM and GPU.
Memory / RAM – G.Skill Trident Z RGB RAM – 16GB, DDR4
If you want to build a good gaming rig, you’ll need at least 16GB of RAM. Usually, the games you’re running probably won’t tax the RAM too much, since this is a feature that’s mostly focused on multi-tasking. Still, the more demanding, processor-intensive games out there will need to run alongside your OS and any other programs you have active, so RAM is crucial. DDR4 has solid performance and low latency, so this is what you want to aim for. 16GB will also come in handy if you ever want to run memory-intensive media editing programs like Adobe Premiere or Photoshop. The G.Skill Trident Z line comes with some fun RGB lighting, too, so you can actually see your memory at work if you have a transparent case.
Storage drive – Crucial MX500 2TB
Crucial’s MX500 SSD (solid state drive) is a real monster. 2TB is a ridiculous capacity for a solid state drive, and with read/write speeds upwards of 560/510MB/s you’ll struggle to find a better-performing drive on the market. Crucial is a reliable and solid brand, so you really can’t go far wrong with their products. Having an SSD in your PC is “crucial” (ha ha) since the read speeds mean you’ll rarely have trouble accessing files and programs quickly and efficiently. Traditional spinning hard drives simply can’t compete, although if you want one just to store files you won’t regularly access then the Seagate BarraCuda is where you want to go.
Casing – Phanteks Eclipse P400
So you’ve got everything sorted in terms of components, and now you just need somewhere to house your new gaming machine. Well, look no further than the Phanteks Eclipse P400. This tempered glass case is beautiful without drawing the eye too much – it’s minimalistic, chic, and perfect for the understated gamer who secretly wants to show off a bit (we won’t judge). The P400 has a huge amount of options for fans and can comfortably house GPUs of up to 395mm, making it perfect for even the most demanding graphics cards. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing their PC in action while it’s whirring away?
Optional components
These are the absolute essentials for building an incredible gaming PC, but you can always opt for more security or more power. Other things you could look into include better cooling units, PSU sound dampening, and peripherals like Bluetooth adapters (for wireless gaming controllers and keyboards). We’ve set you up with the basics, so from here on out the world is your oyster.
