Highlights
- Upgrading your PC with a new storage solution, like the SAMSUNG 870 QVO SATA III 2TB SSD, can significantly speed up system startup and game launching.
- The Intel Core i7-13700K is a top-tier CPU that can beat many AMD competitors with the right cooling and overclocking. It's compatible with certain 600 series motherboards.
- The ASUS ROG Strix 850W White Edition PSU features an Axial-tech fan design and ROG heatsinks to lower temperatures and increase lifespan, providing reliable and efficient power for your computer.
A gaming computer is a collection of components that are responsible for important calculations, keeping the system cool, storing files, and much more. While some of these are more important to gaming, like a powerful gaming-grade CPU and GPU, a computer can't perform without all of its components. This also means that upgrading the PC, to get more performance and convenience out of it doesn't always have to be an expensive purchase, like a top-tier graphics card.
In this article, the focus is on some of the more affordable, yet important parts of a gaming computer. Upgrading your PC with a new storage solution can speed up starting the system and launching games, a new power supply can allow the computer to power high-performance components, and upgrading RAM is often essential for better multitasking capabilities. Here is a list of some of the best deals available currently for upgrading a PC.
Intel Core i7-13700K
The Intel Core i7-13700K absolutely dominates the top-tier sector for value. In fact, with the right cooling and overclocking, this top-tier CPU can beat most of the non-X3D AMD competition. Plus, those who have a 600 series motherboard from their previous CPU, this will work with a bios update.
The processor has 16 cores divided into 8 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 24 processing threads. The processor comes with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770, maximum clock speed is 5.2 GHz.
Intel Core i5-12600KF 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor
This 12th-generation Intel CPU has 10 cores and runs at 3.7 GHz base clock and up to 4.9 GHz boost clock speed. Of the 10 cores, there are 6 performance and 4 efficiency cores keeping the TDP fairly low at 125 W.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core 12-Thread Processor
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core 12-Thread Processor is an excellent entry from AMD into the budget CPU bracket that is marginally slower than the best-selling 5600X while considerably cheaper for it. It can be considered a lower-binned version of the same with base and boost clocks dropped 200 MHz each with 1MB less in L3 cache from the 5600X's 32MB.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC
Maximizing the power of the NVIDIA Ampere architecture, the ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC has 12 GB of high-speed GDDR6 memory for blistering performance. Gamers on a modest budget can enjoy the latest NVIDIA features like 2nd Gen Ray Tracing with this ZOTAC graphics card. The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC employs IceStorm 2.0 cooling for a wider cooling airflow. The card is constructed using a new more durable metal backplate, ensuring that it will last through years of grueling gaming sessions.
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
The PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT brings with it outstanding 1080p and 4K gaming support, capitalizing on the powerful RDNA 2 architecture. This powerhouse graphics card supports ray tracing, variable rate shading, and AMD FidelityFX for ultra-realistic lighting and the smoothest gameplay possible. Relying on 2 90 mm cooling fans and enlarged heatsinks, the PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT can keep the card cool during intense gameplay or near silent while idle.
SAMSUNG 870 QVO SATA III 2TB SSD
The Samsung 870 QVO is a second-generation QLC SSD that offers substantial storage capacity, with options ranging from 1 TB to 8 TB. This versatile SSD is compatible with both SATA 3 Gbps and 1.5 Gbps interfaces, ensuring seamless integration with various systems.
Boasting sequential speeds of 560/530 MB/s, the 870 QVO delivers enhanced random access speed and sustained performance, making it a significant improvement over its predecessors. The 870 QVO's 2.5-inch SATA form factor allows for easy upgrades in both desktop PCs and laptops that support this standard size.
Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB M.2 SSD
The Crucial P5 Plus M.2 SSD delivers remarkably fast speed with a transfer rate of up to 6600MB/s and excellent data protection. This drive is designed specifically for intensive workloads, like gaming and creative applications.
Although buyers will get the most performance using it with a Gen 4 slot, this drive is also backward compatible with Gen 3.0 slots.
WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe SSD
The WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe is a high-performance storage solution designed for gamers. It features incredible speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s, providing top-level performance and significantly reducing load times. The WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe comes with a dedicated dashboard that allows users to monitor the drive's health. This dashboard also enables users to control the RGB style of the drive.
Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX PSU
The Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX is a power supply unit that is designed to provide reliable and efficient power for your computer. This unit delivers 600 watts of continuous output. It complies with both Intel ATX 12V 2.31 and EPS 12V 2.92 standards, ensuring compatibility with many PC builds.
The SMART 600W ATX has received an 80 PLUS certification, indicating 80% efficiency under a typical load. This power supply supports two PCI-E 6 plus 2-pin connectors.
ASUS ROG Strix 850W White Edition PSU
The ASUS ROG Strix 850W White Edition comes with ROG heatsinks that cover important components. These heatsinks lead to lower temperatures, which in turn extends the lifespan of the unit and decreases noise.
The power supply features an Axial-tech fan design with a smaller fan hub. Longer blades and a barrier ring are part of this design, increasing downward air pressure. Dual ball fan bearings in the unit outlast sleeve bearing designs by up to two times.
FAQ
Q: How much RAM do I need for a gaming PC?
There is no set amount of RAM that is required for a gaming PC. However, 16 gigabytes is a good start for most games. Very entry-level gaming PC might have only 8 gigabytes and more advanced systems usually go for 32 gigabytes.
Q: What wattage should I aim for in a power supply?
The wattage depends on what type of other components the computer has. The more powerful components, especially GPUs and CPUs, require more power. In addition to choosing a powerful enough PSU, it is important to make sure it is a quality product since a malfunctioning power supply can damage other components.
Q: Why is SSD better than HDD?
SSD, or solid-state drive, is much faster than a traditional hard drive (HDD). When used as a system drive and for storing games, it can provide a meaningful boost in launching time for both the operating system and games. For bulk storage, HDD is still the more affordable choice.