If you’re in the market for a new computer and feeling overwhelmed by specs, jargon, and endless options, you’re not alone. Whether you’re a gamer, content creator, student, or casual browser, figuring out what computer you should buy can be a daunting task. This PC buying guide from CyberpowerPC UK is here to help you understand what to look for when buying a computer and make your decision with confidence.
- Buying a PC: What to consider before you start
- What to look for when buying a gaming PC
- Building a custom gaming PC
Buying a PC: What to consider before you start
When it comes to buying a computer, the first question to ask yourself is simple: What will you be using your PC for? The answer shapes every other decision. You may just want a simple gaming rig that you’ll just use for casual gaming; or you may want something with a little bit more punch and get yourself a state of the art gaming rig that could power NASA’s satellites.
There are plenty of different types of PCs you could go for. Do you want to start streaming and need to be able to handle having multiple programs open at the same time? Well, the best recommendation is to directly look for streaming PCs. On the other hand, do you want to broaden your knowledge in 3D and editing? That’s where an editing PC would come in handy as they can handle heavy loads and demanding software. Last but not least, are you looking for a PC you can just use as your ultimate gaming machine, well then look no further — these gaming PCs have everything you could ever want!
Don’t forget that if you need power on the go, give gaming laptops a try. I’d swear by gaming laptops when I was studying at Uni, their portability was a lifesaver for being able to work on projects on campus and at home!
Remember these are the most popular PC types:
- Gaming PCs
- Streaming
- Editing PCs
- Gaming Laptops
So if you’re looking for the best place to buy a gaming pc in the UK, check out our full range of prebuilt systems and custom options designed for every type of person!
What to look for when buying a gaming PC
A PC is only as good as the sum of its parts. Here’s what you need to know about the core components when buying a new computer.
CPU
Think of the CPU as the brain of your PC. It’s the one that allocates the processing power to the programs that need it most! Do not get this confused with the GPU that helps you process the visuals of the PC. Like every component, the price scales with the chip’s performance. The better the performance, the more money the chip will cost. Each CPU also excels at different tasks; some are better at gaming, others better at workload, and then you have the all-around performers.
- Top-tier gaming: These are some of the fastest CPUs on the market Intel Core i9 / AMD Ryzen 9
- Mid-range: This is the perfect mid range CPUs for gaming. Both ranges have the perfect middle ground compared to price and performance. Intel Core i5 / Ryzen 5
- Casual users: These CPUs are the best when it comes to casual gaming . Despite the generational gap these still go strong if you don’t need too much power Intel Core i3 / Ryzen 3
If you want to know more about CPUs, make sure to check out our best CPUs for gaming
Motherboard
When you pick your motherboard make sure that you are future proofing it. Higher-end boards offer more connectivity for newer tech and you will be able to upgrade your components over time with them.
When choosing a motherboard, you need to make sure it’s compatible, it needs to match your CPU socket type, RAM, and case size. The higher end boards usually offer better power output for the components. On the other hand, low-end boards cover the basics and are great for budget builds but may lack support for overclocking or future upgrades.
- Budget: Basic chipset, fewer ports
- Premium: PCIe Gen 5, Wi-Fi 6E, more RAM slots
Cooling
Make sure that you’re keeping your PC cool at all times, as it does boost your PCs lifespan.
Cooling will prevent your system from overheating and having issues later down the line. There are several options, and we’ll walk you through them and their benefits, starting with the lowest price and going up to the most expensive.
- Stock Cooler: Fine for basic use, these coolers do the job but we would only recommend them for casual use, for example if you’re just using your PC as an office PC and not putting any heavy loads on it.
- Tower Cooler / AIO: These coolers have better thermal control, however these are the older style of cooling. Basically it’s a big fan that sucks air in and cools your CPU, then redistributes the hot air away.
- AIO Cooling: The standard for coolers nowadays. They have a copper block that is cooled with liquid and then uses a radiator to disperse the heat.
If you need a little more knowledge on which cooling system is right for you, make sure to check out our blog here: Cooling Systems Explained.
RAM
Why does the speed of your RAM matter? The faster the speed, the less amount of RAM that it needs to process the request from the processor and then read/write data. That is not to say that you can pair the fastest available RAM with any processor either. Like with everything with PCs, it is a case of compatibility, so discover how much speed that you will need by looking up CPU specifications to find out what it is compatible with. You can run higher speeds than are rated but, depending upon the motherboard that you are using, it will only do that to destabilise your system and crash.
Your minimum for RAM will be 8GB, which is perfect for daily browsing, working with documents, and casual gaming. And when I say casual I mean like Minecraft levels of casual. If gaming is the only reason you’ll be buying your system, then 32GB is the perfect quantity to handle any game with no issue at all. When you start dealing with editing, rendering, and other resource-intensive work in general, you will be needing more than 32GB; anywhere within the range of 64GB will be the perfect quantity.
We’ve also got a little guide on What Does RAM Do? feel free to give it a gander.
GPU
The GPU is the second most crucial component in your PC, especially for gaming or rendering images and video. It determines how quickly your game renders. In simple terms, the better the GPU, the better the performance for gaming and rendering.
There are many model and generation options for GPUs, but the two names you need to remember are NVIDIA GeForce RTX and AMD Radeon. To get the most out of AAA games, many gamers choose a GPU that supports Ray Tracing— emulating real light rays and using an algorithm to trace the path that actual light would take in the real world.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series
- AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series
Top AMD GPUs 2024 ?
Power Supply
Ratings
The rating is just a measure of the PSU’s efficiency; the higher the rating, the more efficient the PSU is. A high efficiency PSU will draw less power, generate less heat, and will be very reliable as compared to a low-rated PSU. The type of PSU is a function of your requirements. But a high-rated PSU is a preference irrespective of what your requirements are.
Wattage
Wattage is also a very important consideration while buying a PSU as it defines how much power the unit is able to draw. A high-watt PSU is not necessarily a high-quality PSU, while a low-watt PSU can be a very high-quality one. But the wattage is still an important factor because it will influence how much power is available that can be drawn by your system from the PSU. If you are building a high-performance gaming computer, then you will need a PSU that is higher in wattage and is able to draw every component.
You should always have a PSU with outputs higher in power than you will require for the following reasons.
- Reason 1: PSUs are most efficient below 50% to 75% loading.
- Reason 2: it gives you a buffer in order to be able to upgrade PC components at a later date without having to replace the PSU.
Case
With everything big ruled out, it’s time to talk about cases. There are four sizes: Small Form Factor, Mid Tower, Full Tower, and Super Tower. Each size has its pros and cons.
Small Form Factor (SFF)SFF is great for space-saving. These are usually the same size as a typical game console and are great for casual gaming and work uses. Hard-core gaming and demanding jobs will run hot as everything is crammed into a small space.
Mid Towers
Mid-tower cases are the most popular ones currently. You can place them easily on your desk because they are not bulky but they can handle larger GPUs. Please keep in mind that no part will fit in every case. But our website will alert you if you have chosen any part incompatible with a mid-tower case.
Full Towers
The full tower enables you to use any sort of component size with no space constraint. These are great to have at your desk but are space-intensive, so design the setup around how you can fit it into the space.
Super Towers
These cases are huge and are only suited with liquid cooling customization because you can pack the case out with the loops. With the size they are, they will look hollow with the components. These cases are too big and huge to sit at a desk with, and are a floor case only.
Storage
HDD
HDD storage is typically associated with the old-school approach to storing data but that is far from the truth. HDDs remain one of the most popular options for mass storage, especially for extensive games libraries and music and movies. And the beauty is that they are very cheap such that you can enjoy double or triple the capacity with the same price that you will pay for a 1TB NVME. So if you are looking for a reliable and cheap form of storage then HDDs are the right choice.
SSDs
SSDs have a lot going for them over HDDs. SSDs are faster, more reliable, and longer-lasting. If you are a gamer wanting to access the files quickly or a video editor wanting to write files to the drive fast, then SSDs are the ultimate. If you are after longevity then you should opt for SSDs. SSDs typically last an average 25% longer than HDDs and crash less often than HDDs. SSDs are the better option for anyone seeking speed, reliability, or longevity.
NVME
NVMEs are the God Tier storage drives. These possess mind blowing boot speeds, face melting read and write speeds and a larger life span amongst other storages. However, NVMEs are also more expensive than other storages, therefore we wouldn’t recommend an NVME as your main storage drive. However having an NVME as a boot drive is an excellent way to boost the performance of your pc.
If you need any more information on which storage is right for you make sure to check out our blog on SSD vs HDD for Gaming, this will put you on the right tracks!
Extras & Peripherals
- RGB lighting: Aesthetics matter too!
- Braided cables and extension: Braided cables are stronger and cleaner alternatives to standard cables. The braided cables are better at allowing airflow and maintain your hardware at a lower temperature. You can find braided cables and extensions available for anything from the motherboard and VGA cards to the hard disks and power supplies. You can bump up your standard PSU cables with the very best cables and give your build a little boost. And now you can even get an RGB cable extension that adds a little flair to the system.
- RGB: In a remarkably short period of time, RBG has become a phenomenon worldwide. What once was a simple way to inject a little pizzazz into gaming rigs is an obsession amongst PC enthusiasts. These days there are RBG versions of pretty much everything from fans and cables to GPU backing plates. You can change the colour scheme of the whole build with a single button press. CyberPowerPC UK have a range of RBG options available that range from budget-friendly right up to a complete Corsair’s iCUE RGB System.
- Gaming mouse, keyboard, headset: Last but not least make sure you have looked into your peripherals, you can’t use a PC without them as they are the essentials! The primary peripherals you should focus on are your monitor, keyboard and mouse. There are plenty of options to choose from, make sure you Browse Accessories and pick the peripherals that work for you!
If you’re still on the fence about what peripherals do, make sure you read the Gaming Setup Essentials as we go into more detail on what each component does for you.
Building a custom gaming PC
If you want complete control over your components, make sure to have a look at our custom PC builder. You can choose exactly what you want to the very last detail — you can even get your own custom engraving on your PC!
If that is still a little bit too complicated for you and you just want your life made easy, have a look at our EZPC builder for curated builds that still have that touch of customisation!
Should you require further assistance, our dedicated PC customer support team is ready to help.
You can send them a quick email: support@cyberpowersystem.co.uk
Or you can have a chat with them, just ring 0333 323 7776
Choosing the best PC to buy comes down to your goals and budget. Whether you’re gaming at high settings, working from home, or diving into video editing, there’s a setup that fits your needs. If you are ever stuck, have a look through our blog page as we cover a variety of topics!
From custom PCs to prebuilt gaming desktops, CyberpowerPC UK is the best website to buy a gaming PC tailored to your exact needs. We offer high-performance parts, expert support, and flexible build options. Ready to build your ideal PC? Get in touch and start your PC journey today!