The question of when you should upgrade your gaming PC is one that can leave many gamers scratching their heads. Fear not, let’s demystify the art of PC upgrades and unveil some things to keep in mind before you go upgrading your entire system or some of its components.
First and foremost, it might be time for an upgrade if there is a noticeable drop in performance, below what you find acceptable or enjoyable. If your once-speedy PC is struggling to keep up with the latest game releases, it’s time to start thinking about an upgrade. But where should you start? These four reasons, or better phrased, these are the 4 main things to upgrade in your gaming pc for better performance.
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Upgrade Your Gaming PC – Graphics Card (GPU)
At the heart of your PCs gaming performance is the graphics card. In general, leaps in graphics card performance come along every 2-3 years, sometimes less if an upgraded version of a card comes out, such as the RTX SUPER series. This ensures you’re ready to tackle the graphics-heavy demands of new game titles without breaking a sweat. Remember, a new GPU not only enhances visuals and performance but also provides support for emerging gaming technologies. But a strong GPU, such as the latest from NVIDIA GeForce, AMD Radeon, or Intel ARC can still encounter a bottleneck if you do not have a CPU that can keep pace.
Upgrade Your Gaming PC – Processor (CPU)
The central processing unit (CPU) is the unsung hero that keeps the show running. A bottleneck (in gaming terms), is when a component limits the performance of hardware due to differences in performance capability between the two. In the case of CPU bottleneck, the graphics card is rendering graphics instructions faster than the CPU can provide the, making the GPU remain idle until the next set of instructions is ready. This results in fewer frame being rendered, or a lower framerate than what the GPU is capable of producing.
Typically CPU upgrades are not as necessary as a GPU update, you can get away with upgrading every 4-5 years. A good diagnostic is to keep an eye on your CPU usage – if you notice it consistently maxing out during gameplay, it might be time to give your processor a well-deserved promotion or consider playing at higher resolution to shift more of the graphics workload towards the GPU. Another component to consider is RAM.
Upgrade Your Gaming PC – RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is component that helps your computer handle multiple simultaneous applications. If you’re like most PC users, you love having several programs running and multiple Chrome tabs open at once. Besides multitasking, RAM plays a role in the performance of your games. For most gamers, 16-32GB of RAM is the sweet spot, but as game requirements evolve, so should your memory capacity. Consider upgrading to 32GB if you find your system struggling to handle the multitasking demands of modern gaming. If you are someone who does streaming, or creative tasks like graphic design or video editing; you may even want to consider 64-128GB.
Upgrade Your Gaming PC – Storage
As we have noticed over the past few years, the install size of some games is ballooning. The rise of super-fast SSDs may have revolutionized load times, but SSDs are all but standard nowadays. If you’re running out of space it may be time to consider an additional drive that has more storage space. Another tip regarding storage space is to just keep the games you are currently playing installed. When you wrap a game, or no longer find yourself playing it, uninstall it and download your next game on to the now freed up space.
Upgrade Your Gaming PC – Conclusion
The world of technology can sometimes move at a dizzying pace, so it can feel hard to be “up to date” with current hardware. If you are enjoying games and find that they play at acceptable frame rates or with your ideal graphics, then there is no need to upgrade your gaming pc! FOMO can be a huge drive into dropping cash on upgrades that could be better reserved for saving up for a larger upgrade refresh, or even a whole new PC down the line. Stay informed about upcoming game releases, system requirements, and emerging technologies.
The frequency of upgrades depends on your gaming habits, the demands of the latest titles, and the pace of technological advancements. Keep an eye on performance indicators, stay informed about hardware trends, and remember – upgrading your gaming PC is not always a necessity. This proactive approach to being knowledgeable allows you to anticipate future upgrades and stay ahead of the curve.
When you feel like it’s time for a complete system overhaul, we got you covered. Our custom gaming desktops and laptops provide the perfect opportunity to build the exact system that fits your gaming needs and budgets. Our if you’re ready to hop in the game right this moment, our prebuilt gaming PCs from our website or retailers like Best Buy are ready to grab off the shelf, plug in, and play.