Video game technology has advanced a lot recently – especially in the world of PC gaming. If you haven’t upgraded your hardware, your PC is probably feeling sluggish every time you click the play button. But don’t worry; I have an easy solution.
Here are the components that will have the greatest performance impact when you turn that old PC into a real gaming rig:
Motherboard
As noted in GameCrate’s Spring 2015 Motherboard Guide, “motherboards are the skeleton of your system and every other part is reliant upon this initial choice.” It only makes sense for gamers to upgrade this crucial piece of hardware first because it makes a huge difference. And if I had to recommend only one item to get you started on your upgrading journey, this is it.
Specs
- Intel Z97
- Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron (LGA1150)
- DDR3 3200(OC)/3100(OC)
- 2 for SSDs Drives with up to 10Gbps Data Transfers
- Killer™ E2200 and Intel Gaming Networking
More Options: MSI XPOWER, ASRock X99 WS, ASUS SABERTOOTH
Memory
You already know more RAM equals more power. But if you’re a serious gamer you’re going to need to do a lot more than simply increase the number of megabytes. These memory modules are strictly for hardcore overclockers because they’re available in configurations up to 64GB along with four great color choices.
Specs
- DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
- Timing 9-9-9-24
- Cas Latency 9
- Voltage 1.5V
- Compatible with all Intel® Core i3, i5 and i7 Processors
More Options: HyperX Savage, Crucial Ballistix, Mushkin Enhanced Blackline
Video Card
Do you want to supercharge your gaming while also improving image quality of your screen? Just install this video card to instantly boost the performance of your favorite games and daily applications. It’s also compact so it fits wherever you need it to be.
Specs
- 1280 Stream Processors
- 2GB 256-Bit GDDR5
- PCI Express 3.0 x16
- AMD Eyefinity Technology
- Based on 28nm GCN Architecture
More Options: MSI GTX Gaming 4G, GIGABYTE Radeon R9 280X, AMD Radeon HD 6990
Power Supply
PSU’s aren’t the most popular piece of hardware, but they can definitely add some serious horsepower to your video games. This premium power supply has all the features you need to keep your computer cool for all those resource-intensive games you like playing so much. It also looks pretty cool in matte black.
Specs
- ATX12V v2.3
- 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified
- 100 – 240 V 47 – 63 Hz
- +3.3V@25A, +5V@25A, +12V@46A, [email protected], [email protected]
- 600W of Continuous Power Output
More Options: Thermaltake PS-TPD, EVGA 220-T2, Antec HCP-1300
Hard Drive
One of the worst things you can experience while playing video games is running out of storage. Stop worrying about this and start enjoying your games by installing this hard drive. It has enough space for everything you need and also features Vibration Control Technology (VCT) which lets you game harder, faster and longer.
Specs
- SATA 6 Gb/s
- 7200 RPM
- 500 GB to 4 TB
- Designed to Intensify PC Experience
- Increased Data Accuracy, Performance and Reliability
More Options: Toshiba DT01ACA, Samsung Spinpoint M8
Want More?
If these components aren’t enough to take you to the next level, come back next week where I’ll highlight the best case, keyboard, mouse, monitor and headset you should consider. You can also shop at Newegg’s PC Gaming Store where you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for. And if you’re trying to save some money while upgrading, check out Newegg’s Mad March Savings where we’re tipping off an entire month of great gaming deals.
Visit GameCrate for more in-depth video game coverage.
