Assemble or buy pre-assembled…

Even if you are not a passionate gamer, you should consider upgrading your player before your next PC purchase. why? The gaming computer is probably the most versatile device on the market. If we ignore playing computer games for a moment, a gaming computer can do practically anything. After the Apex Legends marathon, your gaming monster can be turned into a workstation, where you can easily edit videos, take photos, program and make a video conference call without any lag (if the hardware is good enough). With enough computer skills, you can also turn your gaming PC into an Android device. With the advent of Windows 11, this has become easier.

Below, we will focus mostly on desktop gaming computers. Why isn’t it also on laptops? Gaming laptops can do just about anything their desktop counterparts can do, but this portable device has some drawbacks in addition to its advantages. The most obvious is the resistance to aging or the possibility of promotion. With desktop computers, you can replace components, but not with laptops. In most cases, you can only replace system memory (RAM) and storage drives. The graphics card and processor are usually built into the motherboard, and the upgrade itself is financially useless in this case. You can choose an external graphics card, but then it’s hard to say this is a computer you’ll take with you on the go.

Then it is necessary to mention another common annoyance of laptop users – overheating. The exploits of the laptop manufacturers are commendable. They were able to “squeeze” even the most powerful graphics cards and processors (of course, mobile versions) into such a thin and portable form. No matter the cooling system and the number of hot air outlets, laptops always face a serious heat management challenge. Therefore, you will often notice and feel the temperature rise during heavy tasks.

Let’s go back to gaming desktops and the eternal question of whether to assemble a (custom) computer or buy a pre-built (already assembled) one.

Do you pre-build a gaming PC or assemble it by components?

What is the best? There is no simple answer, especially today, as the situation in the computer market remains volatile. However, there are some facts that can help you make the decision:

• Most pre-construction systems contain lower quality components, and therefore cheaper components.
• Most pre-build systems have proprietary components that are less expensive and at the same time not suitable for upgrade. A good example is motherboards, where you will have a hard time finding a compatible processor and graphics card.
• A component computer is often the cheapest in terms of components. A global shortage of raw materials and high graphics card prices have narrowed this price gap, but it still remains.
• With a computer assembled by components, you can choose the hardware yourself, as a result, the computer is better optimized.

Although we have listed several superlatives for custom PCs, pre-built PCs also have their advantages:

• pre-installed software (operating system, Office (),
• Technical support from manufacturer/seller,
• Avoid nightmares in case of warranty claim,
• Access to additional seller services.

So, in the end, it is an individual decision. In fact, many users want to build their own computers. This is the dream of every enthusiast who grew up with this technology. However, they are held back by fear or fear of installing something wrong, spoiling/damaging something, or purchasing incompatible hardware components. The PCPartPicker website or the computer forums on Reddit can help you with the latter, as similar enthusiasts advise, with a little experience.

If you are still not sure of your abilities, contact the company Venom PC. Their main activity is to let gamers build their dream computer for gaming. They will advise you to choose to get the best possible gaming computer for your needs and budget. If you only play Minecraft or Fortnite, it is not recommended to buy the new RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT. Simply put, the entire set of equipment will be customized to suit your use, ensuring that you don’t have to upgrade your gaming PC every two years.

We’ve teamed up with their experts and brought back some tips for choosing the right hardware.

How do you even start looking for the right gaming PC?

Put a budget first: 500, 1000, 1000 euros or more? For $500 these times, don’t expect a decent dedicated graphics card. In this range, you will rely on more integrated graphics solutions, which are still sufficient to play older and less graphics intensive games. For 1000 euros, two years ago we had a gaming PC with the latest graphics cards RX 5700 XT or RTX 2070 (Super). Today, this is an almost impossible task. The used graphics card market is also a real mess. Old graphics cards are selling for more than they were worth at the start of their sales cycle.

For more than a thousand euros, you already have more options.

What should you pay the most attention to?

Processor and graphics card

The processor and graphics card are among the most important components of a computer. You will spend 20-30% of the budget on the processor and 40-50% on the graphics. A processor-free computer is just a box with a few circuits, modules, and connectors. The processor is the part of the computer that takes care of all the operations, clicks, and requirements of the user. The faster it is, the more tasks it can perform simultaneously.

When choosing, pay attention to:

• Operating frequency
• The number of cores and threads
• Cache Capacity
• Consumption (TDP)
• price

The graphics card is responsible for displaying the image on the screen. They are essential for playing games, designing and also mining cryptocurrency. For many years, AMD and Nvidia were the only options for graphics cards. They will soon be joined by Intel with the Intel Arc graphics card family.

When choosing a graphics card, you should pay attention to:

• What screen will you be playing on (1080p, 1440p, 4K)?
• Nvidia, AMD or Intel?
• Memory size (VRAM)
• Overheating or cooling
• Graphics Card Size
• price

Don’t be intimidated by the current prices of the latest graphics cards. With Venum PC experts, you will definitely find a suitable graphics card.

RAM and power supply

In the world of computing, a sacred rule applies: avoid single-channel RAM or don’t use just one single-channel RAM, because you’ll slow down your computer dramatically. Also pay attention to frequency, especially with newer AMD processors that perform best at 3200+MHz. Many computer vendors and assemblers will forget to mention system memory latency. In practice, the lower the latency, the better and faster the RAM. So CAS14 (CL-14) is better than CAS16 (CL-16). If you intend to upgrade the RAM in the future, choose the same memory modules or modules with the same latency.

When it comes to memory, you have to pay attention to:

• Capacity (at least 16 GB)
• Buy 2 units of random memory (RAM)
• 3000MHz minimum (also for Intel)
• lower latency

The power source is a tricky component. why? Although it is one of the most major components in a computer, it is also the component that users save on the most. You can buy a cheap power supply that has enough power at least on paper. In this case, you saved a few tens of euros, but you exposed your computer to a potential disaster. When playing games or performing difficult tasks, the load on the power supply can be increased, which simply cannot withstand such sudden electric shocks. With power supplies, the rule is that you always have 20-30% more power available than suggested. Also pay attention to the certification of the power source. Labels such as 80+ Bronze, Silver, Gold, Titanium describe the efficiency of the power source at different loads. Aim to get at least 80+ gold.

We won’t stop at the can and tablets for long. Choose a case that is aesthetically pleasing to you, since you will see it daily for many years and do not want to have something ugly. At the same time, make sure that the casing has good air flow. For drives, choose an SSD drive to power your computer, an SSD drive for additional storage, or a larger capacity hard drive to save a few bucks.

Gaming computer assembled by components

However we come from a pivotal point. Should you assemble a computer to your liking at least once in your life? Yeah. What awaits you along the way?

• Exciting choice of ingredients
• You will learn something new about computers
• You’ll get a powerful gaming PC for less than a pre-built PC (there are exceptions)
• You will assemble a computer that will stand the test of time and serve you faithfully for a long time

As said, you can embark on the PC assembly path with Venum PC. It caters to both PC beginners and freelancers. By this we mean custom-made computers with water cooling (dedicated loop), RGB lighting, mod cables, dedicated power cables and the like.

To get started, take a look here at what they’ve all prepared for their clients so far.

What do they recommend for beginners?

Minimum specifications for an elementary gaming PC assembled in parts

• Processor: Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5
• Memory: 16GB (2 x 8), at least 3200MHz
• Drives: at least 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
• Graphics Card: GTX 1660Ti / Super, RTX 2060, 3050, RX 6600
• Power Supply: 600W at least 80+ Top Brand Bronze
• Motherboard: midboard assembly (B450 / B560M)
• Cooling: good cooling and air flow

Price: from 1,050.00 € – 1,300.00 €

In a similar range, they bundled a gaming PC with a Ryzen 5 3600 processor with an RTX 2060 and 16GB of client RAM. price at that time? 1178.99 €

What about the more demanding users who are tech savvy?

Minimum specifications for a real gaming computer made of parts:

• Processor: Intel Core i5/i7 or Ryzen 5/7
• Memory: 16GB (2 x 8), at least 3200MHz
• Drives: at least 500GB SSM NVMe + 1TB HDD
• Graphical abbreviation: GTX 2070 Super, RTX 3060/Ti, RX 6600XT, RX 5700XT/6700XT
• Power Supply: 650W at least 80+ Bronze Top Brand
• Motherboard: midboard assembly (B450 / B560M)
• Cooling: good cooling and air flow

Price: from 1350.00 EUR to 1750.00 EUR

In this category, they assembled a client PC with an AMD RX 6600XT graphics card, which easily powers games at a resolution of 1440p. The customer paid 1,470 euros for the gaming computer.

What about customers who know exactly what they want?

Minimum Specifications for Ultra HD Gaming PCs assembled in parts:

• Processor: Intel Core i7/i9, Ryzen 5 5600X, Ryzen 7/9
• Memory: at least 16GB (2 x 8), 32GB recommended (3200MHz+)
• Disks: at least 500GB SSM NVMe + 2/3TB HDD or 2x SSD and 1x HDD
• Graphics Card: RTX 2080 Super/Ti, RTX 3070/Ti, RTX 3080/3090, AMD RX 6800 and later
• Power Supply: 700W at least 80+ Top Brand Bronze
• Motherboard: The best set of motherboards (X570 / Zx90 series)
• Cooling: Excellent cooling and airflow – especially water

Price: from 1800.00 to 6000.00 euros

A real monster, isn’t it? An unknown customer happy (and satisfied) left the Venum PC store with a computer worth €6000. How can we best describe such a computer? A dream come true. In machine parlance, that means AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X, 64GB of RAM (3600MHz), RTX 3070 and more similar goodies for a PC.

You can see your computer’s configuration in the section below.

Summary

You’ve decided on a long read, but we hope we, together with the PC experts at Venum, have brought you closer to the world of PC assembly in an easy way. Ask yourself a simple question, what are you going to use your computer for? I entrust the answer to Venum PC enthusiasts, who will assemble your PC with the best possible components. Call them at 069993983, visit their website venum-pc.si or write to them at [email protected]

We wish you a lot of happiness while playing games, just like you always imagined.