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Posted 13th May
AMD ALT-F4 (ALT4) Gaming PC - AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D - 32GB DDR5 - ADATA 2TB + Seagate 2TB HDD - RTX 4080 16GB - Windows 10/11£2,099.99 Free shipping
jaz_chatha
Gaming PCs are the most powerful, fastest, and best-looking home computers in existence. A far cry from standard laptops and the desktops familiar from office environments, these souped-up devices are the sports cars of the gaming world.
Gaming PCs have a long history behind them, but specialist PCs for modern games are actually something new. As flat-screen monitors, Bluetooth headsets, and new Intel CPUs appeared, they found their way into gaming setups, and players began to refer to their builds as gaming PCs.
But what gaming PC should you go for? Read on to find out what makes a great gaming system and where to find a great gaming PC deal.
There are loads of outlets to get reliable gaming PC reviews. Your best bet is speciality PC gaming sites like PC Gamer or PCMag. These will review how well models perform with particular games. If you want to get more in-depth reviews into gaming components, you're better off going to Tom's Hardware. It tends to have more in-depth knowledge about how well particular CPUs, GPUs and RAM sticks perform.
Before we get into the details, you might be wondering what makes a gaming computer different from run-of-the-mill desktops and laptops. Do you need to invest more in powerful hardware and accessories, or will your gaming needs be met by off-the-shelf PCs with less impressive specs?
The answer depends on your passion for gaming. What's obvious is that picking up a gaming PC cheap from hotukdeals merchants can enhance your experience, whether you're into racing titles, RPGs, or Fortnite. Here's why:
Probably the most important difference between gaming PCs and regular systems, the graphics card (or GPU) is what allows these systems to manipulate complex visuals at lightning speeds. This is an area where costs rise relative to ordinary computers, but if you've ever tested gaming PCs in showrooms, you'll appreciate that the extra expense is worth it. Look for models with at least 8 GB RAM and processors speeds above 1.4 GHz.
It's not much use having a top of the range graphics card, without the CPU (or processor) required to put it through its paces. All gaming PCs max out on processing speed and core numbers, although the exact speeds vary, so don't get caught out. Anything around 4 GHz with a speed boost is a good yardstick to aim for. Look for “overclocked” CPUs as well – as these models can be forced to operate above manufacturers' guidelines.
For performance, RAM is one the most important characteristics to look out for. 16GB RAM is pretty much standard. Anything less, and many of the latest games will start to struggle. While memory is the most important consideration, be sure to pay attention to the DDR (Double Data Rate) type as well as the overall speed. Those looking for high-spec gaming shouldn’t do without DDR4 RAM or RAM that runs below 2400 MHz.
Gaming PCs are designed to remove heat efficiently via specially designed fans or water-based cooling systems. With so much going on in the CPU and GPU, gaming PCs generate an immense amount of heat. Ordinary PCs wouldn't be able to dissipate this heat, causing it to damage internal components over time. That's why Good fans keep noise to a minimum while ensuring that your motherboard and key components won't be zapped. Water cooling helps to target specific areas of the hardware which generate the most heat, offering as much surface area as possible to transfer heat to the external environment. Look for over 50CFM flow rates and integrated noise reduction.
Gamers need serious storage space for the games they play, but they also need the hard drives they use to be as fast as possible. This typically means using premium SSD drives that avoid lag and give plenty of capacity to add new titles as they are released. If you plan to keep multiple games on your hard drive at once, then you’ll want to be shooting for a 1 TB SSD, but with services like Steam allowing us to keep our libraries in the cloud, you can save big time by opting for a 250 GB model.
Gaming PCs look significantly different to normal PCs, with colourful, jagged and glass cut PC cases. Sometimes, this is purely decorative. Gamers tend to appreciate style and aesthetics more than business-oriented users. But a well-designed gaming PC case will have a functional aspect as well. They help to remove heat and dust from key components, and also provide easy access to the inner workings of a computer, making maintenance and replacements easy.
Sound is another core priority for most gamers, and ordinary soundcards won't always deliver the goods. That's why many gaming PC owners decide to go for specialist gaming cards like Creative's Sound Blaster Z. Some even go off-road with bespoke soundboards made with Nichicon capacitors – the type you'd expect to find in high-level stereo setups.
By now, another question has probably entered your mind. Given the prominence of the Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4, do you even need a gaming PC or will consoles deliver a better gaming experience?
In general, the consensus among gamers is clear: playing games on a good, high-spec gaming PC will ensure better performance than consoles ever could.
Consoles are developed at specific points in time (such as the PS4, which appeared in 2013). They may be advanced at the time, but after a few years, PCs always overtake them. So why choose consoles?
The main reason is convenience and brand loyalty. If you want easy access to Sony or Microsoft's download platforms, you can turn on the console, start a download, and play straight away. Most games have lively multiplayer platforms as well, along with well-designed controllers. And sometimes, great games simply don't appear on PC, such as Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In that case, it often makes sense to use PCs and consoles together.
Obviously you can build your own gaming PC, but if you don't have the time, you might want to consider looking a pre-built gaming PC. If you've already started looking for a Gaming PC, you've likely already come upon a bunch of brands. So, what makes them different? Let's take a look:
Nvidia – The industry leader in graphics processing is Nvidia, which manufacturers the GeForce range of cards. NVidia also leads the way in building gaming laptops with top-notch visuals<
AMD – AMD makes both graphics card and CPUs, with the Ryzen range of CPUs being particularly popular amongst gamers.
Intel – Intel remains the go-to brand for gaming CPUs, and its “Core” collection includes a wide range of possibilities. You can opt for simple dual-core processors or an octa-core beast.
Corsair – Corsair is a solid choice when it comes to sourcing components that aren’t a CPU or GPU. They have solid offerings when it comes to RAM, motherboards and PC cases.
So now you have got an idea of some of the main brands, let's look at some gaming PC models.
HP Omen Obelisk | Corsair One a100 | MSI Trident A Plus | |
CPU | Intel Core i5-8400 – i5-9600K | AMD Ryzen 9 3900X – 3950X | 9th-generation Intel Core i7 |
GPU | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – RTX 2080Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX RTX 2080 Super – 2080 Ti | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 |
RAM | Up to 64GB | 32GB DDR4-3200 | 16GB |
Storage | 1TB HDD – 1TB SSD, 3TB+3TB HDD | 500GB NVMe SSD + 2TB HDD – 1TB NVMe SSD + 2TB HDD | 512GB PCIE NVME M.2 SSD (512GB x 1) + 1TB 7200RPM – 1TB PCIE NVME SSD |
With so many gaming options available these days, including gaming laptops and consoles, it's important to know the advantages and disadvantages of investing in a high-end gaming PC. We've summarised the key points for you below:
Connecting an Xbox Wireless Controller to a gaming PC is easy. Simply follow these steps:
Turn your controller on using the central Home button on the controller.
Press and hold the Sync button on the top side of the controller. The Home button should now be flashing and the controller will be in sync mode.
On your gaming PC, go to the settings and choose Add Bluetooth & Other Devices.
The Xbox Wireless Controller should appear in the Bluetooth menu.
Simply select to connect the controller and it should connect.
No matter which way you decide to build your PC, it’s essential to have decent accessories for playing your games. While the low price tags of certain brands seem at first appealing, you could pay for it in the long run due to poor performance. Buying decent accessories doesn’t have to be cheap though – we even have a dedicated listing for gaming accessories.
With some gaming sessions continuing on the early hours of the mornings, protecting your posture and staying comfortable are vital when it comes to protecting your overall health. Gaming chairs are built for sitting in for an extended period of time, while also being more designed to suit the particular posture you might take while gaming.
When picking a gaming headset, you'll encounter plenty of options, which can represent a buying minefield. The Cloud Revolver from HyperX won't let you down, with Dolby sound and excellent comfort levels. But check out models from SteelSeries, Creative, and Logitech as well. All offer solid headsets, and prices vary significantly.
Building a gaming PC is a great way to cut the costs of a high-end machine in half. It's a lot easier than you might think, it's a simple matter of buying the individual components and then assembling them. There are a few small things you have to be careful of so you don't fry your new components but it's something that most people can do with ease.
This depends on your particular needs. If you travel around a lot and 100% need to game wherever you go, then get a gaming laptop. Just be aware that you won't get the same performance. For everyone else, a gaming PC is your best bet.
If you want to create your own games, then having a gaming PC to program and create games is a good idea. If you're doing web dev or making an app, a gaming PC will be massive overkill.
If you are playing games that are heavy on graphics and RAM then a gaming PC might well be worth it. But considering that gaming PC's usually come with a hefty price tag, they will be overkill for most gamers.
No gaming PC will be truly wireless as all PCs need a power supply, but most new gaming PCs will be able to connect wirelessly to keyboards, headsets and controllers.
If you've always desired a high-spec gaming PC, now could be the ideal time to make a purchase. But beware: gaming systems can become a money sink for poorly informed buyers, and it's essential to plan every purchase to ensure that it meets your needs.
There are plenty of ways to avoid spending thousands of pounds on the hardware you need. First up, you could take the easy route and choose a PC builder. But when you do this, be sure to compare retailers for discounts at hotukdeals. It should be possible to chip away at the total bill via promo codes and other savings, and bundle deals shouldn't be written off, either. Look for deals from merchants like Alienware, Nvidia, and CCL Online.
If you intend to go it alone, make a checklist of the components you want, and search for them regularly at hotukdeals. Merchants like Overclockers, Amazon or Currys, as well as manufacturers like Nvidia or AMD are good places to hunt down bargains.
Be prepared to wait for sales events like Amazon Prime Day, the New Year, or Black Friday. They often yield the lowest prices for computer components.
So, the takeaway is this. If you're worried about the question is PC gaming expensive, don't be. There are ways to build a gaming PC with all of the features you need, but a price tag that leaves room to buy some titles that will put it through its paces. Just shop smart and be prepared to be a little bit patient.
Why settle for bog-standard gaming performance with conventional PCs? These days, it's easy to build or purchase gaming PCs that outshine store-bought systems in every department. From precision controllers and surround sound to comfortable gaming chairs, super-fast processors, and huge cases, the gaming PCs available from hotukdeals will revolutionise the way you play.