Build Your Own Gaming PC In 2020

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:29

You want to put together your next gaming PC yourself, but are overwhelmed by the huge selection of components? Which processor fits which motherboard? Which graphics card is required for which resolution? So that you do not lose the overview, GIGA editor Daniel introduces several configurations and explains what else you have to pay attention to when putting together your own gaming computer.

Buying advice

Facts

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Almost every year, major hardware manufacturers release new processors, graphics cards and more. So far, Intel has been the pioneer in processors. In the meantime, however, AMD has become serious competition - and that primarily benefits consumers. So that you don't have to search for the optimal hardware yourself, we present a total of four configurations.

The entry-level PC for around 800 euros, the all-rounder for around 1,500 euros and our high-end monster for just under 3,000 euros. As a bonus, we also introduce a mini gaming PC, which despite its small size does not compromise on performance. In addition, we take a closer look at the individual components and explain to you why it is worthwhile to assemble your own gaming PC.

content

• The entry-level PC: Full HD enjoyment for little money
• The all-rounder: play every game with the best graphics
• The high-end monster: 4K gaming, VR, streaming and more
• The mini gaming PC: minimum size with maximum performance
• So the components were selected
• Configure gaming computers: there are some things to consider
• Why should I assemble my gaming PC myself?

Build your own gaming PC 2020: All configurations at a glance

The entry-level PC: Full HD enjoyment for little money

Note: The prices listed here are rounded and can change at any time. In addition, no operating system is included. (As of: 07.07.2020)
component	product	offer	price comparison
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (6x 3.60 GHz)	163 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
cooler	Air cooler included with the processor
Motherboard	MSI B450-A Pro Max (ATX)	88 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
Random Access Memory (RAM)	16 GB Corsair Vengeance LPX (DDR4-3200)	64 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
Graphics card (GPU)	Sapphire Radeon RX 5600 XT Pulse Active (6 GB GDDR6)	279 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
Storage	WD Green 120 GB M.2 (SATA 6 GB / s)	23 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
	WD Blue 1TB (7,200rpm)	37 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
power adapter	Corsair CX550M 550 watts (80+ bronze, partially modular)	76 euros at Alternate	At Idealo
casing	Fractal Design Meshify C (soundproofed)	82 euros at Alternate	At Idealo
total			812 euros

The heart of the entry-level PC is the Sapphire Radeon RX 5600 XT Pulse Active alongside the AMD Ryzen 3600 processor. According to the manufacturer, the graphics card is primarily designed for gaming in Full HD, but it also delivers respectable frame numbers in WQHD. Graphically demanding games with this configuration should run at maximum settings with 60 FPS and more without any problems. With less demanding eSport titles, however, there is more FPS in it.

Depending on how tight your budget is, the Gigabyte Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming OC 8G would be another alternative. The card costs around 100 euros more, but it brings significantly more power and 8 GB VRAM. The mainboard requires a BIOS flash because Ryzen 3000 processors are not natively supported. Here it is advisable to take a look at the manual beforehand. The included cooler for the CPU is more than sufficient, as long as you don't want to overclock your processor.

Note: Many retailers such as Mindfactory offer you additional services after purchasing the hardware. This ranges from the BIOS update to the complete assembly of the PC. These are associated with additional costs, but you can be sure that everything will work afterwards. Advantages:

• Good value for money
• Ideal for gaming in Full HD
• Soundproof housing

Disadvantage:

• Hardly overclocking potential
• BIOS flash from motherboard required
• No built-in WiFi module

You wonder what the BIOS is anyway? In our video we explain exactly this and more: What are BIOS and UEFI? - TECH facts

The all-rounder PC: Play every game with the best graphics without any problems

Note: The prices listed here are rounded and can change at any time. In addition, no operating system is included. (As of: 07.07.2020)
component	product	offer	price comparison
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (8x 3.60 GHz)	285 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
cooler	Thermalright Le GRand Macho RT	66 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WiFi, ATX)	203 euros at Amazon	At Idealo
Random Access Memory (RAM)	16 GB G. Skill Trident Z Neo (DDR4-3600)	103 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
Graphics card (GPU)	Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Gaming OC X3 (8 GB GDDR6)	529 euros for notebook cheaper	At Idealo
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo M.2 500 GB	97 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
	WD Blue 1TB (7,200rpm)	37 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
power adapter	EVGA SuperNOVA G5 650 watts (80+ gold, modular)	107 euros at Alternate	At Idealo
casing	Fractal Design Meshify C (Dark TG)	85 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
total			1,512 euros

As the name suggests, this configuration is a real all-rounder. The gaming PC is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X. It is an eight-core CPU that shines with its outstanding multicore performance. There is also a Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Gaming OC X3 8G in the all-rounder PC. So you have more than enough power to enjoy all games in WQHD resolution with at least 60 FPS. If necessary, you can also overclock the CPU to really get the maximum out of your PC.

Advantages:

• Ideal for WQHD gaming or Full HD with 144 Hz or more
• Overclocking of the CPU possible
• Mainboard with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth

Disadvantage:

Unsuitable for smooth 4K gaming

The high-end monster: 4K gaming, VR, streaming and more

Note: The prices listed here are rounded and can change at any time. In addition, no operating system is included. (As of: 07.07.2020)
component	product	offer	price comparison
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (12x 3.80 GHz)	409 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
cooler	NZXT Kraken X63 (AIO water cooling, 280 mm)	145 euros at Cyberport	At Idealo
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming (WiFi, ATX)	311 euros at Amazon	At Idealo
Random Access Memory (RAM)	32 GB G. SKill Trident Z Neo (DDR4-3600)	187 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
Graphics card (GPU)	Asus RTX 2080 Ti ROG Strix Gaming OC (11 GB GDDR6)	1266 euros at MediaMarkt	At Idealo
Storage	Sabrent Rocket PCIe 4.0 M.2 1 TB	200 euros at Amazon	At Idealo
	Samsung 970 Evo M.2 1 TB	168 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
power adapter	EVGA SuperNOVA G5 750 watts (80+ gold, modular)	111 euros at Alternate	At Idealo
casing	Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X (TG, RGB lighting)	196 euros at Proshop	At Idealo
total			2,993 euros

Do you want the crème de la crème when it comes to gaming hardware? Then you cannot avoid the Asus RTX 2080 Ti Gaming OC. Incidentally, this makes up almost half of the total price of our high-end monster. There is no other graphics card with so much power at the moment - except the Titan RTX. That alone would make up almost the entire budget of this configuration.

The computer is supplemented by the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X with a total of 12 cores and 24 threads. In particular in multithreading-optimized applications, such a large number of cores are advantageous - for example, video editing, 3D modeling or streaming. Finally, there are 32 GB of RAM and a total of 2 TB of NVMe storage in the high-end configuration. One of the two data carriers also has the PCIe 4.0 standard and is therefore slightly faster than its predecessor with a 3rd generation PCIe interface. Conventional hard disks have been dispensed with because SSDs deliver far higher read / write rates, work silently and take up less space.

Advantages:

• Future-proof
• High overclocking potential thanks to water cooling
• Ideal for 4K gaming, streaming, video editing and more
• Mainboard with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth

Disadvantage:

High price

Mini gaming PC: Minimum size with maximum performance

Note: The prices listed here are rounded and can change at any time. In addition, no operating system is included. (As of: 07.07.2020)
component	product	offer	price comparison
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (6x 3.60 GHz)	163 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
cooler	AIO water cooler included in the housing
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming (WiFi, ITX)	158 euros at Alternate	At Idealo
Random Access Memory (RAM)	16 GB Corsair Vengeance LPX (DDR4-3200)	64 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
Graphics card (GPU)	Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Gaming OC X3 8G (8 GB GDDR6)	529 euros for notebook cheaper	At Idealo
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo M.2 1 TB	168 euros at Mindfactory	At Idealo
power adapter	Power supply with 650 W (80+ gold, modular) included in the case
casing	NZXT H1 (13.6 L volume)	341 euros at Proshop	At Idealo
total			1,423 euros

The heart of this minimalist-looking computer is clearly the case. Specifically, the NZXT H1, which comes with a volume of 13.6 liters. For comparison: The interior of the Phantek Enthoo Evolv X of our high-end monster is a whopping 65 liters! The rest of the hardware is also perfectly coordinated, since every millimeter really counts in such a compact gaming PC. The included AIO water cooling and the 650 W power supply unit are also really practical.

We also assembled a mini gaming PC in the GIGA editorial team. In the following video you can see the process step by step:

The GIGA-TECH mini gaming PC

Thanks to the built-in Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Gaming OC X3 8G and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600, this machine offers despite its small size more than enough performance to be able to play all current games in the best graphics. This mini PC is therefore ideal for purists or those of you who would like to take your computer with you when you travel or the next LAN party.

Note: Due to the high popularity of the NZXT H1 housing, delivery bottlenecks can occasionally occur. It is worthwhile here to keep an eye on comparison portals like Idealo and, if necessary, to set up a price alarm.

Advantages

• Simple look
• A lot of performance in a small space
• Beginner-friendly assembly
• Easily portable
• Mainboard with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth

Disadvantage:

• Relatively high price
• Limitations in the choice of components
• Volume and temperatures not optimal

So the components were selected

If you put together a gaming PC, there are almost endless combinations when it comes to hardware. First of all, this is a big advantage. On the other hand, such a diverse selection can be completely overwhelming, especially since all components have to be precisely coordinated. For this reason, care was taken in each of the systems presented here that all components such as the processor, the mainboard or the graphics card fit together perfectly.

Of course, none of the configurations is carved in stone and individual components can be replaced by others if necessary. We refer here primarily to our own experience and have placed particular emphasis on selecting qualitative hardware that is also future-proof as possible.

Configure gaming computers: there are some things to consider

The price

If you put together your own gaming PC, the price of course depends entirely on you. You should always ask yourself the following question: What requirements do I have of my gaming PC? Do you only want to play with it or should it also be used for streaming or for other computing-intensive software? Then you should set your budget and plan about a third of it for the graphics card.

Another tip would be that you don't save at the wrong end, especially with less noticed components such as the mainboard or the power supply, and also opt for high-quality components here. You don't want to risk that all of your hardware is sizzled by a short circuit in the power supply, for example.

Finally, it is up to you to decide where to buy your hardware. In our case, we tried to limit ourselves to one dealer if possible. This may not always be the cheapest option, but it makes a lot more sense in terms of warranty and support.

The components

Processor: Intel vs. AMD

For a long time, Intel was the undisputed number one in terms of CPUs. Things are different now. With the introduction of the Ryzen processors, AMD has made a huge leap in terms of performance and has become the darling of numerous hardware fans. Nevertheless, both processors still have their right to exist. When choosing a processor, the most important thing is the area of application and the price-performance ratio.

In the latter, AMD is clearly ahead of the game at the moment. Coupled with the long-term compatibility between their mainboards and CPUs and the excellent multicore performance, they are an excellent choice. Especially if you use your computer for gaming purposes other than gaming, such as video editing.

In contrast, the Intel processors have unbeatable single- core performance. Since the majority of current games benefit from this, Intel also leads many of the benchmark lists in this area. However, the manufacturer can be compensated accordingly for this bonus.

Also interesting: what is a CPU? And how does it work? - easily explained

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the most popular processor in the whole country? Our picture series tells you:

Start photo gallery (11 photos)

Graphics Card: Nvidia vs. AMD

When choosing a suitable graphics card, you are once again spoiled for choice. The selection is then made even more difficult by the fact whether you want to benefit from a variable refresh rate (VRR) with your monitor. With FreeSync from AMD and G-Sync from Nvidia, both manufacturers have the aforementioned technology that synchronizes the refresh rate of your monitor with your respective graphics card.

This is to ensure the smoothest possible gaming experience without tearing or other artifacts. In the meantime, even Nvidia GPUs can benefit from Freesync monitors, which could make a purchase decision easier under certain circumstances.

Ultimately, it depends on how much power you actually need. Especially in the lower price segment up to the middle class, AMD usually offers the better price-performance ratio. However, if you want the absolute maximum in performance, then you cannot avoid Nvidia at the moment. In addition, features such as ray tracing or DLSS have so far only been reserved for Nvidia cards. All of these points should be considered before buying.

Watch this video and find out exactly what ray tracing is and how it is used:

Ray tracing from Nvidia: How it works - and this is how the developers use the feature

RAM: Which memory size and frequency?

Ideally, your gaming PC has at least 16 GB of RAM so that you are prepared for the next few years. If you use other computing-intensive applications besides gaming, you can of course also opt for 32 GB or even 64 GB RAM. In addition to the memory size, RAM also differs in the clock frequency (e.g. 3,600 MHz) and the timings (e.g. CL14 or CL16).

Roughly speaking, these determine how efficiently the main memory works in your PC at the end. Basically, Ryzen CPUs benefit significantly more from an increased clock frequency than Intel processors do. It is much more important which frequencies your motherboard actually supports. Most of the time, it is also much wiser to invest your money in a stronger processor or a more powerful graphics card than in overpriced RAM.

Also interesting: difference DDR3, DDR4 and DDR5? - Easily explained

Hard drives: The main differences explained

Basically, you have the choice between a conventional hard drive disk (HDD) or a solid state disk (SSD). The former are still the cheaper option and are therefore ideal as a medium for mass storage. The big disadvantage, on the other hand, is their low read and write rates. SSDs work much faster and should therefore not be missing in any modern PC. However, this storage costs significantly more and, due to its construction, also has a shorter lifespan.

SSDs in the 2.5 inch format were previously the standard, but the space-saving version in the M.2 format is gradually becoming established. However, it should be noted that Pattern 2 hard drives both the SATA - connector and via the PCIe interface (NVMe) may be attached. The latter is definitely recommended, since the data transfer rates are significantly faster and long loading times in games are a thing of the past. For comparison, the maximum read / write rates of different hard drives:

• HDD with 7,200 rpm: about 100 MB / s
• SATA SSD: about 500 MB / s
• NVMe SSD: up to 3,500 MB / s

Find out all the important facts about SSDs in our video:

All about SSDs - TECHfacts

Mainboard, case and co

As far as the rest of the hardware is concerned, the dimensions of the individual components must be taken into account. Do the CPU cooler and graphics card fit in the case? Is the RAM low enough to fit under or next to the CPU cooler? For this purpose, the dimensions of the respective components should simply be compared with one another. On the manufacturer's website you will usually find detailed dimensions that make this work easier for you.

Is the mainboard compatible with the processor? The first thing that matters is whether you are installing an AMD processor or an Intel processor. Both use different standards or bases. In the case of AMD, that would currently be the AM4 socket. Intel, on the other hand, uses the 1151 socket for current core processors. In addition, there are various series within the socket, which in turn fit the respective processor generations.

For example, Intel CPUs of the 8th and 9th generation use the 300 series, e.g. Z390. The counterpart for Ryzen 3000 CPUs from AMD would be the 500 series, i.e. an X570 mainboard. In many cases, older motherboards with the latest CPUs will also work if the BIOS has been updated beforehand.

Finally, your should PSU over enough power available to supply your PC with enough power. At least as important is the efficiency of the power supply, which is given in bronze, silver, gold, platinum or even titanium. As a rule, an 80+ gold certified power supply between 550 and 750 watts is more than sufficient. All these factors and more have of course been taken into account in our configurations, so that no bad surprise awaits you afterwards.

We'll tell you which mistakes you should best avoid when assembling your gaming computer:

Start photo gallery (23 photos)

Why should I assemble my gaming PC myself?

When choosing the right components for your gaming PC, you usually cannot avoid research. PCPartPicker can be of great help here. This is a website on which you can virtually put together your computer and which also draws your attention to incompatibilities of your selected hardware. You can also compare prices there, although Idealo is much more reliable here.

In addition, you can orient yourself on reviews of individual products at trustworthy online shops such as Mindfactory, Caseking or Alternate. Allow yourself enough time for research, especially since PC hardware tends to become cheaper over time.

Advantages:

• Numerous upgrade options
• Investment for the future
• Maintenance and repair possible without any problems
• Better value for money than with an off-the-shelf system

Disadvantage:

• Research takes a lot of time and patience
• Self-assembly can be daunting
• Targeted bug fixes are particularly difficult for beginners

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