Prebuilt gaming PCs are a great way to prepare for gaming. However, there are still some mistakes to avoid. The good news is that, for the most part, these pitfalls can be avoided with research and planning before you buy your new PC. The bad news is that sometimes you’ll find yourself stuck buying parts later on unless you do your homework beforehand. Here are some mistakes people make when buying gaming pcs prebuilt machines.
Avoid overclocking processors that have locked multipliers.
If you’re buying a prebuilt gaming PC and want to overclock your processor, make sure it has an unlocked multiplier. A locked multiplier means the CPU has been programmed so that the base clock speed cannot be changed. You’ll need to purchase a new processor if you want to change this setting.
Avoid buying more RAM than your motherboard supports.
Don’t buy more RAM than the motherboard supports.
If you get your hands on prebuilt gaming that includes memory, read the specs carefully to ensure it will work with your current computer. While most modern motherboards support up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM (though some older models may not), other factors must be considered before making purchases.
For instance, if your computer has an Intel Core i7-8700K processor, the maximum supported speed is 2666 MHz in dual channel mode—and most of today’s available memory kits don’t go above 3000 MHz anyway! So unless you’re planning on upgrading soon (or building an entirely new PC), it’s probably best to stick with what came with the machine to save yourself some money on extra components that won’t benefit from any upgrades until later down the road.
Avoid buying the wrong RAM for your computer.
Only buy RAM that is fast enough for your computer.
The type and amount of RAM you choose can dramatically impact how well your computer runs and how much you spend on it (more on this later). However, deciding what kind of RAM to buy isn’t always easy—and purchasing the wrong stuff can cause problems down the road. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you:
- Make sure the speed rating is suitable for your motherboard’s capabilities. Look up your motherboard’s specs online before buying any memory.
Avoid buying more storage than you need.
It’s easy to get tempted by the hype of gaming PCs and how much storage they come with. And while it’s true that many of us use our PCs for entertainment, playing games, and streaming movies or TV shows—all things that can be stored on the PC—there is no reason to buy more storage than you need.
If you aren’t using your computer for media-related purposes, then there’s no need to spend money on extra hard drive space. If all you do on your computer is play without downloading anything else from Steam or Origin (or whatever), then don’t worry about having an SSD with 1TB of space! Save your money!
Avoid buying a GPU that doesn’t fit your case.
It would help if you checked the graphics card size before purchasing. You don’t want to buy a GPU that doesn’t fit in your case, and this will save you from having to return it.
Also, make sure that any other fans needed for cooling can be removed for the new GPU to fit comfortably on your motherboard.
Finally, double-check whether you need to replace your power supply before installing a new graphics card for everything else in your build (like fans) to run smoothly and safely at maximum capacity.
If you buy a prebuilt PC, avoid buying an aftermarket cooler for your CPU.
Many prebuilt computers come with stock coolers, which are fine if you’re not planning to overclock your CPU. If you want to push the limits and overclock your CPU, buying a new CPU with a high-quality cooler in the box is best.
Avoid getting an underpowered power supply.
When looking for a power supply, look for one that is at least 80% of your PC’s total wattage. For example, if you have an Intel Core i5 processor with 6GB RAM and want to play games at low settings on your 1080p monitor, you’ll need anywhere between 300W-400W in power.
If you need clarification about the wattage of your gaming PC or what components it has, check the label on the back of it.
So, if you’re buying a gaming pcs prebuilt machine, look into these aspects carefully! Make sure to investigate potential sellers and compare their offerings when purchasing. If anything seems wrong, feel free to ask a question.
Ellen Hollington is a freelance writer who offers to ghostwrite, copywriting, and blogging services. She works closely with B2C and B2B businesses providing digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases their search engine visibility.