Constructing a gaming PC is nearly as satisfying as truly taking part in video games on it—perhaps extra. The sensation of setting a contemporary CPU into its socket, the sensual snap of the RAM sticks, that second you realise you haven’t any screw for the freaking M.2 slot you simply crammed. Makes you need to construct one proper now, would not it?
There are an infinite variety of methods to configure and design a gaming PC, and so to encourage one another and our readers, we thought we might check out how members of the PC Gamer staff have approached the pastime.
Irrespective of the contents, there’s a whole lot of love right here. A love of all issues gaming, and of the tech that makes all these frames per second attainable. This is what PC Gamer is gaming on as we speak—you’ll be able to determine if the arrogance in our writing displays in our rigs, or whether or not we’re perhaps compensating for one thing.
Lauren Aitken – Deputy guides editor
Lauren’s PC specs
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700F CPU @ 3.00GHz
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Tremendous
Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX B360-H Gaming
RAM: VENGEANCE® LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4 DRAM 2666MHz C16 Reminiscence
SSD: Samsung SSD 970 EVO plus 500GB
HDD: Seagate BarraCuda 5TB 2.5″ Arduous Disk Drive/HDD
PSU: 850W Corsair RMx Collection RM850x
Case: Corsair Carbide 275Q Quiet Black Midi Tower Gaming Case
Shows: Dell U2415x2
Keyboard: Mountain Everest 60
Mouse: Logitech G305 Lightspeed wi-fi mouse
Headphones: Beats by Dr Dre on-ear headphones
Inform us about your pc
I attempted and didn’t get my paws on a 3070 halfway via the pandemic and was kindly despatched this pretty spectacular rig upon becoming a member of Future. I beforehand had an RTX 2060, so the soar to 2070 Tremendous was good and this dangerous boy is lightning quick for loading issues. The large HDD means I can horde many cat pictures, screenshots and questionable memes. The one draw back is that, not like my earlier PC, there is not a glass panel with a lot of RBG lights.
What are you taking part in?
Because the Deputy Guides Editor, I may very well be taking part in actually something, from Fortnite to Future 2 to Crusader Kings 3. I wish to hold it spicy.
What improve are you planning subsequent?
My screens are undoubtedly slightly outdated so want to improve these, in addition to set up a glass aspect and a few lights to maintain in with my RGB/ chaos theme of my workplace. I like having the 2 panorama displays although so will in all probability get two or presumably a 3rd since I am that sort of nerd.
Imogen Mellor – Options Producer
Imogen’s PC specs
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600X
Graphics card: RTX 2070
Motherboard: MSI X570-A Professional
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 32 GB (2 x 16 GB)
SSD: SanDisk Extremely
HDD: Toshiba HDWD130 3TB
PSU: I’ve forgotten and do not need to open my case lmao
Case: Cooler Grasp H400
Shows: An ASUS VG245 and AOC Gaming 24G2U5/BK
Keyboard: Logitech G815
Mouse: Razer Naga Trinity
Headphones: I do not need to speak about it
Streaming gear:
Elgato Ring Gentle
Elgato Stream Deck
Elgato HD60 S+ Seize Card
Elgato Wave 1 Microphone
RODE PSA1 Mic Stand
Sony a6000
Elgato Cam Hyperlink
Inform us about your pc
Let me take you again to Imogen at college. This younger, contemporary factor had desires of stepping into video games journalism, however had not ever owned a gaming PC. She determined it was time to spend the ultimate dregs of her scholar mortgage and private financial savings on a arrange so she may very well be taken severely, and so googled ‘how one can construct a PC’. I discovered a web site that beneficial a first rate arrange, and never figuring out something about PCs or what I wished from one, I purchased all of the elements and put it collectively. It isn’t good however actually, it has been an ideal workhorse all through my profession, my streaming, and even has a smidge of RPG inside. It sits on my desk proudly, although obscured by a PS5, and even with out figuring out a factor about PC constructing, the cable administration is fairly lush.
What are you taking part in?
Something I must for work. That is Elden Ring, indie video games, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Dying Gentle 2. Actually something besides horror video games. Oh and an embarrassing quantity of Overwatch.
What improve are you planning subsequent?
I am sort of hoping to construct a brand new PC completely quickly and run each as a part of a streaming arrange. Alternatively, I would like a nicer non-budget monitor in some unspecified time in the future, and doubtless ought to get a second exhausting drive.
Nat Clayton – Options Producer
Nat’s PC specs
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Graphics card: RTX 2070 Tremendous
Motherboard: ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 ATX
RAM: 2x8GB Essential Ballistix RGB 3600 DDR4
SSD: WD Blue SN550 1TB Excessive-Efficiency M.2 PCIe NVMe
HDD: No.
PSU: Corsair RM750
Case: NZXT H510
Shows: Acer, uh, one thing
Keyboard: Steelseries Apex [RAW]
Mouse: Steelseries Rival
Headphones: Logitech G432
Inform us about your pc.
I hate constructing computer systems. Nothing stresses me out greater than looking for PC elements and placing them collectively, so when tasked with changing my ageing scholar PC the opposite yr, I gave my smartest associates a funds and informed them to determine it out.
I lucked out on the timing, and whereas shopping for a 20-series card simply earlier than the 30-series got here out was a little bit of a ache, it additionally pre-empted the good GPU drought so I cannae be too upset. Apart from, it runs all the things I’ve thrown at it just about flawlessly, and the improve from a 1080 display to a 1440 was sufficient of a soar that I do not suppose my eyes might deal with 4K even when they wished it.
In any other case, I am not too fussed about making a press release with my setup. The rig sits in a white field underneath the desk with solely a pair unintentional RGBs. The displays and peripherals attempt to keep away from the jagged glowing gamer gear aesthetic as a lot as attainable. It really works, and that is sufficient.
What are you taking part in?
Actually solely Apex Legends.
What improve are you planning subsequent?
I suppose I ought to in all probability get a drive with some precise bloody cupboard space. 1TB would not go very far today.
Phil Savage – Editor-in-Chief
Phil’s PC specs
CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X
Graphics card: ASYS RTX 3080 Ti ROG Strix
Motherboard: MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS
RAM: 2x16GB Corsair DDR4 Vengeance
SSD: 1TB Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2, 2TB Samsung 860 EVO
HDD: WD Black 2TB
PSU: 850W Corsair RMx Collection RM850x
Case: Fractal Design Meshify C
Shows: Asus PG279Q 27-inch, Dell U2410 24-inch
Keyboard: Razer Blackwidow Chroma
Mouse: Razer Deathadder V2
Headphones: HyperX Cloud Alpha Professional
Inform us about your pc.
About midway via 2020, I made a decision I wanted a brand new CPU. My i5-6600K was feeling a bit lengthy within the tooth, and, with a brand new technology of consoles on the way in which, it appeared like time to organize for the inevitable soar in system necessities. The factor is: you do not simply improve a CPU. I additionally wanted a brand new, suitable motherboard.
And if I am doing that, I’ll as effectively exchange my more and more shabby Fractal Design Outline R3 case—its prime USB ports lengthy since damaged—with one thing a bit extra fashionable. By the tip of my spending spree all that remained have been the graphics card and the PSU. A yr later, they have been gone too. I nonetheless keep that this was an improve reasonably than a brand new construct, and never even Plato will persuade me in any other case.
The peripherals are principally older. Again in 2016 I invested in a 165Hz 1440p monitor, and I’ve no intention of transferring as much as 4K anytime quickly. My second monitor is older nonetheless: a 16:10 ratio Dell that does the job as a second display. I additionally lately augmented my Razer Chroma keyboard and mouse with the accompanying RGB mousepad. All of them flash in sync, which makes me happier than it ought to.
What are you taking part in?
Presently I am principally bouncing between Future 2 and Guild Wars 2, with imprecise plans to lastly begin Elden Ring someday quickly. “Neither of these video games want an RTX 3080 Ti,” you say? This can be true, however I might counsel that my choice to purchase one was neither rational nor good. However I used to be capable of finding one in the course of the worst of the GPU drought, and I wasn’t about to let purpose or frequent sense get in my means.
What improve are you planning subsequent?
I am not. Until one thing breaks, I will not be touching it once more for years.
Jacob Ridley – Senior {Hardware} Editor
Jacob’s PC specs
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
Motherboard: MSI MPG X570 Godlike
RAM: 32GB (4x 8GB) Corsair Vengeance DDR4 @ 2,666MHz
SSD: WD Black SN750 1TB, Samsung 870 QVO 1TB, Addlink SATA 1TB, Essential P2 500GB, Samsung PV128 128GB
HDD: None
PSU: EVGA 850W Gold G2
Case: Corsair iCUE 5000T RGB
Shows: Gigabyte M28U + Asus XG32VQ
Keyboard: Logitech G915 Wi-fi (clicky)
Mouse: Logitech G Professional Wi-fi Superlight
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 650
Inform us about your pc.
Being a {hardware} journo I have a tendency to seek out my PC construct is on a continuing rotation of elements. I obtain a gentle churn of recent headsets, keyboards, coolers, and different elements that require testing, and there is no higher trial by fireplace for overview than utilizing them your self for per week or two. It is a perk of the job taking part in with all the newest gear, although I’m operating out of cupboard space for cardboard packing containers at an alarming fee.
That mentioned, there are some PC peripherals I all the time return to. I am so used to typing on my clicky Logitech G915 wi-fi keyboard that I discover it bizarre to sort on something taller these days. I nonetheless have a smooth spot for the Topre Realforce, nonetheless. Equally, the Logitech G Professional is my go-to mouse, a lot in order that I am beginning to put on down its matt end to a shiny plastic.
For audio, I all the time have my Sennheiser HD 650 headphones on the prepared with my Schiit DAC and amp combo, although a set of Logitech G560 audio system are helpful in a pinch. I even have a Loupedeck readily available always and actually fee my trusty Rode PSA-1 increase arm.
What are you taking part in?
I am a Hunt: Showdown man and have been for over a yr now. That recreation takes up most of my time as I’ve often a good friend on-line eager to play a spherical or two. Although I typically dip my toes again into Future 2, and I commonly plug in a racing wheel for some F1 2021 motion.
What improve are you planning subsequent?
I might do with a sooner RAM package, as my 4 sticks are from two completely different units that must run barely slower than marketed for stability. Although I am additionally eyeing up a bigger 1000+ Watt PSU in order that I can slip this 850W one right into a take a look at machine.
Lauren Morton – Affiliate Editor
Lauren’s PC specs
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Tremendous
Motherboard: ASUS PRIME Z370-A II
RAM: 32GB (4x 8GB) G.Ability DDR4 SDRAM
SSD: 500GB WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD
HDD: 2TB WD & 6TB SanDisk
PSU: Some 1000w EVGA
Case: NZXT H710 White
Shows: 2x ASUS VN279QL 27″ and 1 Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQ 27″
Keyboard: Steelseries Apex 7 TKL Ghost
Mouse: Steelseries Aerox 3
Headphones: The earbuds that got here with my telephone, I am sorry.
Inform us about your pc.
My rig is comparatively flashy and new today, however I will all the time take into account it the shambling facelift of my first pre-built devoted gaming PC in 2013—which I handled myself to after struggling via the primary yr of Guild Wars 2 on a bootcamped Mac laptop computer.
I’ve by no means finished an entire rebuild, so though not one of the inside elements nonetheless exist from that first machine, I’ve all the time changed issues piecemeal (truly, one in all my displays was from 2013 till per week in the past). I’ve by no means been one for innovative upgrades, owing to an indecisive persona, so my system is ever a pair years behind the newest tech.
Aesthetically, I’ve lastly arrived at an nearly completely crisp white and black setup with all my RGBs (RAM, GPU, motherboard, mouse, keyboard) set to chill blues.
I’ve additionally lastly subscribed to correct cable administration inside and out of doors my machine after a couple of decade of being a chaotic cable jungle gamer. My major extravagance is my three displays. I do not know why I wound up right here, however I can not ever return.
What are you taking part in?
For the time being, principally Elden Ring. After the preliminary hype passes, I will probably be again to Crimson Useless On-line or no matter low-spec indie recreation turns into the brand new co-op hotness.
What improve are you planning subsequent?
I used to be planning to lastly ditch my two auxiliary displays, the a lot older, enormous bezel ASUS creatures I had earlier than. Then I went forward and did that proper earlier than writing in with my specs. I now lastly have a 140Hz and 2K monitor as my major show. The subsequent factor on my listing is eliminating the 2 hulking HDD storage drives I’ve so I can lastly be completely on SSD storage.
