Why a future-proof gaming PC shouldn't cost a fortune.

A PC for all games without compromise - the ideal price-performance ratio

If you are looking for a gaming PC, it is not uncommon for the prevailing hardware prices to throw your hands over your head and wave you away in resignation. In the meantime, the selection in this regard is so gigantic that, as a consumer, you hardly have an overview of what is important when buying a gaming PC. The video games market is growing steadily year after year and the number of players is increasing accordingly, which is accompanied by an ever-widening range of articles. New technologies are being developed that offer the player an ever more immersive gaming experience and make graphics dreams come true - sometimes at horrendous prices. Wherever you look around, there is talk of high-end graphics cards and processors, which exhibit absurd achievements. Benchmarks and tests showing how expensive components squeeze the final frames out of a game while using as much power as a washing machine on the spin cycle.

But what is actually behind all this? Is "The Best" really always the best? Do you have to constantly adapt your hardware in order to be able to play new graphic hits like Call of Duty or Red Dead Redemption 2? Definitely not! In this detailed guide, we want to show that with a little research and a few facts in mind, you can put together a powerful and future-proof gaming PC. Gone are the days when it always had to be "the Ferrari among gaming PCs". The affordable mid-range models in particular show that the additional performance of high-end computers doesn't even begin to justify the corresponding additional price. 

A matter of priorities - resolution vs. frame rate

There was a time when the topic of resolution and frame rate was only of interest to absolute hardware nerds - those days are long gone. While a few years ago Full HD was still considered the universal resolution that everyone could agree on, today there is a much greater variance in the possible resolutions.

In the age of 4K and HDR, there are still some players who still swear by the good old Full HD and don't seem to want to be dissuaded from this path. Here the gamer's focus is not on the look of the game, but rather on how many frames per second (FPS) the corresponding game is displayed with.

The 4K camp, on the other hand, consists mostly of gamers who attach particular importance to enjoying games in the ultimate quality. And amidst these two extremes are some players who try to combine both aspects. WQHD offers stable frame rates in a very respectable resolution and is ideal for use on mid-range gaming PCs in particular.

For story fans and casual gamers: why a gaming PC with a focus on resolution and quality?

Ever since Pong & Co., video games have continued to evolve. The graphics are more realistic, the sound more immersive and the staging no longer has to hide from the big blockbuster films. In addition, a gripping story, well-written characters and a game world that takes your breath away.

Anyone who loves to be captivated by a game naturally wants to do so in the best possible quality. "Everything on Ultra" is the motto here! However, if you want to display all the controls on the limit and the highest possible resolution on your monitor, you need an extremely powerful gaming PC, especially for modern games. So, is it possible to build a PC for less than $1500 that can run current games at the highest quality settings and highest possible resolution? Sure, of course! For an optimal gaming experience, you do not need a graphics card that is as expensive as a used small car - quite the opposite: the advancing technological possibilities of game developers and graphics card manufacturers meanwhile also allow people with mid-range PCs to enjoy games in high quality.

With the right hardware and the right settings in the settings, you can easily play future-proof with a comparatively cheap gaming PC. 

For esports and core gamers: Why a gaming PC with a focus on frame rate?

ESport fans and lovers of multiplayer games and shooters take a completely different approach. It's less important to them that the game looks good, and more important to them is another factor: performance. Lightning-fast mouse movements are only as fast as the image displayed on the player's monitor. If the built-in hardware of the computer does not guarantee absolutely smooth image sequences, you have a considerable disadvantage in the multiplayer battles of Call of Duty or Valorant compared to other, possibly better equipped players.

In contrast to those that value the quality of the game, the controls here are turned down so far that the game runs with a stable frame rate of at least 60 frames per second in every situation. The resolution preferred by most gamers is Full HD - the game is therefore displayed in 1920 x 1024 pixels.

But can modern competitive games be played with mid-range gaming PCs in Full HD and at least 60 FPS without any problems? Just like that. With the right choice of hardware and setting the priorities, computers that don't even cost 1100 euros can display all games in frame rates suitable for eSports. 

The good middle ground for both factions - WQHD

Who wants to make a decision when the good middle ground is perfect? This is exactly what gaming enthusiasts who rely on WQHD think. A resolution that is somewhere between Full HD and 4K. WQHD means that the content is displayed in a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels.

With the use of WQHD, games can not only look beautiful but also be played with stable frame rates. It's sort of a compromise that doesn't require high-end hardware, nor is it backwards in any way.

While mid-range PCs already reach their limits when playing 4K content and get correspondingly warm and thus consume a lot of power, these PCs still run very quietly and stably when playing in WQHD quality. Carefully and cleverly assembled computers for less than 1300 euros are therefore made for this resolution. So if you're looking for a jack of all trades, you're guaranteed to be happy with a mid-range PC and the WQHD resolution. 

Nvida DLSS & AMD Fidelity FX

In the age of ever-evolving technologies and software solutions, new concepts are constantly seeing the light of day that turn the entire picture as we know it upside down, so that new innovative possibilities develop from it. For example, leading graphics card manufacturer Nvidia wondered how hardware-hungry games could be made accessible to people who don't have the best PC. The idea of ​​the so-called AI rendering technology was born. With the help of this technology, the graphics performance of the computer with artificial intelligence is increased without the hardware having to provide more performance. The name of this groundbreaking invention: DLSS – Deep Learning Super Sampling. It can double the number of frames per second in some cases! What sounds like magic at first is actually reality. This technology is now supported by many top games - and the trend is rising. 

Of course, such a breakthrough doesn't bypass Nvidia's biggest competitor, AMD. And so it was only a matter of time before the hardware manufacturer presented an almost identical concept. As of today, AMD Fidelity FX is not yet as prominent in major video games as the technology of its big rival Nvida, but one can assume that owners of Radeon graphics cards will soon be able to enjoy this achievement more and more.

Good and cheap - it all depends on the selection of the hardware components 

The performance-related nature of a computer naturally depends to a large extent on the hardware installed. From the mainboard to the power supply, all components should not only meet the requirements of a good mid-range PC, but also be ideally matched. Due to the fact that the market offers a huge range of options, it is important to take a closer look at the various components before making a purchase decision and to show what is important when buying the hardware. 

mainboard

The mainboard, also known as the motherboard, is the main circuit board of a computer. It serves to connect all components into one unit and at the same time as the basis for the entire gaming PC. Mainboards are usually selected according to which processor you choose. This is referred to as the support of so-called sockets - i.e. the slot device for the processor.

Based on the CPU socket that you choose, the mainboard should also be selected accordingly. However, before dealing with the different sockets, it is first necessary to find out whether it should be an AMD or an Intel processor. Although the mainboard is an important part of every computer, it is still a component where you can save the first few euros directly. Reasonable mid-range mainboards that are relatively well equipped are already available for less than 100 euros.

Especially expensive mainboard models are often equipped with features that are not necessarily interesting for most gamers. Some of the expensive mainboards have an above-average number of slots for hardware or are particularly well suited for overclocking processors. 

Price range for good mid-range mainboards: 80 - 169 euros

Processor / CPU

The processor is the heart of every computer. Without a CPU, no PC, smartphone, Tablet or laptop of this world. All processes that are done on the PC are first processed by the processor. Of course, how fast this ultimately happens depends on the potential performance of this component. For many years, two manufacturers have dominated the market when it comes to processors: Intel & AMD. Which processor It is never really clear what is the best for the respective application. The choice of manufacturer is often a matter of pure faith.

There are many great models from both manufacturers, especially in the mid-range range, which are easily suitable for playing modern games. There are now processors that are extremely expensive, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are particularly effective for playing video games. Because although the CPU is one of the most important components of the mid-range gaming PC, it does not have to be a high-end model. Processors with high clock rates and many cores, on the other hand, are more important for particularly CPU-related processes.

This includes, for example, programming or editing high-resolution video and image content. For this reason, you should not choose the most expensive product when buying the CPU, but rather look around in the middle segment and then look at various comparisons on the Internet. 

Price range for good mid-range CPUs: 180 – 299 euros

graphic card

And here we come to the most crucial element when it comes to putting together a good mid-range gaming computer: the graphics card. If you want to play 3D games in WQHD with good to very good graphics presets, there is no way around buying a high-performance graphics unit. While the CPU is often decisive for office PCs, this is not the case at all for gaming PCs.

For this reason, a large part of the invested budget should flow into the graphics card. With a powerful graphics card, many can also be compensated - for example, a processor that is not quite as powerful. Because if the graphics card does a good job, the CPU only plays a subordinate role at first. This is especially the case with shooters, action & role-playing games. With strategy titles like Anno 1800 or Age of Empires IV, things look a little different again. These video games usually also require a very powerful processor in order to be able to be played back in sufficiently good quality.

The two most popular graphics chip manufacturers are Nvidia and AMD, who then sell their chips to corresponding hardware companies such as ASUS, MSI or Gigabyte, which then build the various models for the end user. When buying a graphics card, the first thing to consider is the graphics memory. This is given in GB - the more graphics memory, the more capacity the graphics card has. The type of storage is also important. Nowadays there are cards with GDDR5 and GDDR6 memory. For modern games, however, you should opt for a graphics unit with a GDDR6 memory. 

Price range for a good mid-range graphics card: €549 – €799

random access memory

The main memory of a computer is, so to speak, a supplement to the processor. It is there to cache the various processes and free up the CPU, time and capacity so that it can work accordingly without lag and significant problems. Experts speak of the so-called cache memory. The more GB of RAM installed in a PC, the smoother and faster access to data is. High RAM is important for gaming PCs because it can reduce loading times between scenes and improve FPS values.

For modern video games, you should not go below the value of 16 GB of RAM. The small elongated modules are simply plugged onto the mainboard and then work without any problems. It is also worth mentioning the dual channel mode of main memory - here the total capacity of the memory is divided between several modules. The fact that the modules can then work independently ensures that some processes and games benefit from it.

So before you buy a single 16 GB bar, you should opt for two 8 GB bars if in doubt. However, it is important that the dual channel mode is also supported by the selected mainboard. 

Price range for good mid-range RAMs from 16 GB: 59 – 99 euros

hard disk

The hard drive is considered by most people to be the part of a computer on which all data is stored. In principle, that is absolutely correct, but in these fast-moving times, there have been some significant quality differences with regard to hard drives in recent years. The general tenor may still be correct, but gamers in particular should pay attention to how fast it is when choosing a hard drive.

More and more video gamers nowadays swear by so-called SSD hard drives. Unlike their predecessors, the HDD hard disks, these are not based on a mechanical storage mechanism, but on flash memory as is also known from various storage media such as USB sticks or memory cards.

With an SSD hard drive, the access speeds are many times higher than with the traditional models in the HDD segment. While you can get HDD hard drives with an extremely large storage capacity for relatively little money, SSD models with enough storage space for large video games are significantly more expensive.

In order to drastically reduce loading times, starting and ending the games, gamers should still rely on the use of one or more SSD hard drives. A combination of both technologies can also be useful. For example, the games can be stored on an SSD and all other data such as downloads, backups or media can be stored on the HDD. 

Price range for good mid-range hard drives with 1 TB of storage: 59 – 99 euros

Housing

The choice of case is actually a largely individual matter. While some go for colorful lights with glass side walls, others prefer a subtle and unassuming look. However, there are also a few points to consider when buying the case. For example the size. This should be dimensioned in such a way that all components fit well into the housing and there are no unnecessary traffic jams.

In addition, some cases now even have built-in fans that only have to be connected to the mainboard.

Many gaming fans swear by cases that are simple Cable Management make possible. A tidy and clean look can be achieved with slots, passages and hiding places for the cables that are located in the PC. 

Price range for good mid-range cases: 49 – 89 euros

Power Supplies

Of course, a powerful computer must be fed with the right power supply. The power pack is responsible for this use. To ensure that the individual hardware components receive sufficient power, the power supply is connected directly to the mainboard, the fans, coolers, graphics cards and hard drives. Especially in the gaming area, the parts sometimes require a lot of watts, which means that the power supply should have enough power.

In addition, the volume of the power supply can also be of great importance for some. With an output of up to 800 watts, it can get a little louder. The volume of the power supply is measured in dB. So it is best if you look at the guide values ​​in the product properties and then decide. The performance of power supplies for modern gaming PCs is around 500-800 watts. 

Price range for good mid-range power supplies: 49 - 79 euros

Bonus: fans & coolers 

If you still have a budget after putting together your dream PC, you could invest in additional components. First and foremost would be the CPU cooler and case Fans. Although most processors are bundled with a suitable cooler these days, in most cases these prove to be only a temporary solution, if at all. They are often not only relatively loud, but are not able to optimally cool the system down if it gets hot. The situation is similar with the fans supplied with the case. If you want to do something good for your PC, invest a small part of the money directly in sensible fans that guarantee a perfect PC climate.

All in all - the gaming PC with the perfect price-performance ratio

So if you now look at the prices mentioned in the previous chapter, you can roughly calculate how expensive a complete gaming PC would be according to modern standards. In the following we would like to show you the possible price ranges. 

Full HD with 60 FPS mid-range gaming PC in the lowest price segment: 

Approx. 1025 euros

Full HD with 144 FPS / WQHD with 60 FPS mid-range gaming PC in the mid-price segment: 

Approx. 1270 euros

Full HD with 165 FPS / WQHD with 120 / 4K with 40-60 FPS mid-range gaming PC in the top price segment: 

Approx. 1490 euros

Here's our recommendation - for anyone who wants solid hardware at a good price

BONUS	Significantly cheaper on Amazon than from the manufacturer
Operating system:	Windows 10 Home preinstalled
Housing:	Megaport Hunter RGB with 4 colored case fans and adjustable RGB lighting, 2x USB 2.0 / 1x USB 3.0
Processor:	AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6x4.20GHz Turbo
Cooler:	AMD standard CPU cooler
Motherboard:	MSI A320M-A PRO (4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5GB/s)/2x USB 2.0 (480MB/s))
Graphic card:	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB VRAM (GDDR5, HDMI and DisplayPort)
Memory:	16GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM (ADATA/Crucial/Teamgroup)

SSD:	240 GB (Needle, Patriot), read: up to 470 MB/s, write: up to 400 MB/s
Hard disk:	2 TB Toshiba, SATA III, 5400 rpm
Drive:	without
Power adapter:	600 Watt Xilence Performance (80+)
Fan:	4x fans with colored RGB LEDs, 120mm
WiFi	WLAN high-speed card type 802.11b/g/n for wireless Internet connection

Insider tips everyone should consider when buying a gaming PC

In order to round off this extensive purchase advice properly, we would like to summarize a few helpful tips that can help to find the right hardware at a fair price. 

Compare prices

An important point that many buyers do not pay attention to is comparing prices on the Internet. This is full of different shops and providers, whose prices sometimes differ drastically from each other. If you have found the right hardware in a shop, it is best to copy the name of the item or even the EAN number and search for it on Google. This is an ideal way to compare prices and possibly save a lot of money. 

View tests and benchmarks

It is often not possible to do much with pure article descriptions in various shops, because we all know: paper is patient. Unfortunately, as someone who does not work in the industry, it is not easy to get an idea of ​​​​the various hardware components. It's a good thing that there are busy testers and hardware experts all over the world who fuel their portals with detailed tests and benchmarks to make it easier for users to make decisions. Before you press the "Buy" button, it's definitely worth taking a look at the vastness of the Internet. 

Write down your favorite games and look on YouTube for performance comparison videos with your chosen hardware

This tip can be worth its weight in gold. What future games are you looking forward to? Which games do you absolutely want to play on the new system in the best possible quality? Willing buyers of new gaming PCs should definitely ask themselves this question, because in most cases this question is a great way to find out which hardware is the right one on YouTube. The video platform is now full of content creators who have made it their task to test many different games with many different hardware combinations and finally upload them in video form. Did a YouTube channel help you decide? Then the operator will definitely be happy about a Like and a nice comment that appreciates the work. 

Think about the other purposes for which the PC is used

If you want to do normal office work with your computer in addition to gaming, you can safely skip this point. However, for those who use the computer for various other purposes like cutting videos or editing pictures, this point could be quite helpful. The fact is that the various applications and areas of use require very different hardware resources. Music producers, for example, often have a lot of tracks running in their program, which puts quite a strain on the processor. Video creators also benefit from good CPU performance and large hard drives. The rule here is: it's better to think twice and then buy. 

Conclusion

A gaming PC has become a real prestige product these days. If you do some research on the Internet, you will quickly come across forum posts that suggest that you don't even need to start putting together a powerful gaming computer with a budget of less than 3000 euros. However, the reality is very different. The market offers the right solution for every type of gamer and anyone who deals with the matter a little will quickly realize that a good and future-proof gaming PC does not have to cost a fortune.