Since a good gaming PC build can be upgraded more frequently, they usually deliver high-fidelity visuals that other systems not designed for gaming don’t provide. Combined with the right peripherals, such as a good headset, mechanical keyboard, and a responsive mouse, a gaming PC build can provide you with everything you need for gaming.
Nonetheless, building a great gaming PC is not just about picking the right parts. Gamers also need to keep in mind the specific room they are going to place the gaming rig in. Matching the PC with the right room will not only enhance the comfort and aesthetics of your space but also your gaming experience. This guide shares the best tricks and tips on how to build a gaming PC for any room.
13 Steps on How to Find the Best Gaming PC Build for Any Gaming Room
Finding the perfect gaming PC build is vital for any serious gamer. The right accessories and components can significantly impact the gaming experience by providing immersive sound and the best possible visuals. Additionally, with a comfortable gaming setup, players can play longer and enjoy more games comfortably.
Set the budget
Match the Gaming PC Build with the Specific Room
Choose the graphics
Pick the right RAM
Choose the right hard drive for gaming
Pick the right CPU
Get the peripherals
Choose the gaming PC’s case
Consider the cooling system
Do Not Forget Aesthetics
Get the Right Monitor for Any Room
Buy an Operating System
Set Up and Test the PC in the Gaming Room
Step 1: Set the Budget
The first step towards buying a gaming PC for a gaming room is setting a budget and knowing the needed machine specs. The budget should be realistic and accommodate all the requirements including desired resolution, and the proper hardware components and graphics settings.
Ultimately, it boils down to what gamers need and how much they are able or willing to pay. The more one spends, the more likely they are to invest in top-quality components. However, even those who are on budget can still invest and get an excellent PC for gaming.
Step 2: Match the Gaming PC with the Specific Room
Here are tips on how to build a gaming PC for any room based on the following factors.
Room Size and Shape: Gamers who have a narrow or small room should go for a slim or compact PC build that can easily fit in small spaces such as on a shelf, behind the monitor, or under the desk. Also, consider a sleek or tempered glass case, to spice up the room. For those with a spacious or larger room, go for a mid-tower or full-tower gaming PC case with more powerful and larger components like an E-ATX motherboard, a larger cooler and graphics card, expansion slots, and drives. If the room is irregular, pick a gaming PC build that contrasts the room such as an angular or curved PC case.
Room Style and Color: Another aspect to keep in mind when building a gaming PC for any room is the color and style of the room. If the room is monochrome or neutral, choose a gaming PC build that is monochrome or has a neutral color like silver, gray, or black. Also, consider adding some fans or RGB lighting to create some interest and contrast in the room. If the room is colorful and vibrant, also go for a build that is vibrant or colorful such as blue or red.
Room Lighting: If the room is dark and less ventilated, choose a bright-colored gaming PC such as white, yellow, or purple to create some illumination. Also, choose bright-colored parts such as white or yellow graphics cards or a purple cooler. Go for more powerful fans and coolers to counter the ventilation issues in the room.
Room Furniture and Accessories: Gamers should go for a gaming PC case that matches the accessories and furniture of the room. For instance, if there is a table or desk in the room, choose a PC case that complements the shape and size of the table or desk. If there’s a couch or chair in the room, pick a case that complements the ergonomics and comfort of the chair or couch such as a PC with a mount or stand, or handle.
Now that you know the basics of matching a gaming PC build to a room, let’s dive into other important topics.
Step 3: Choose the Graphics
As one of the most critical components of any gaming PC, graphic cards can make or break the gaming experience for any build. It’s therefore important to choose a card that can play at least at 1080p resolution, depending on the budget. But one doesn’t have to purchase a PC with the latest RTX 40 series cards to have a great experience. The amount of VRAM it offers is more important than the particular chipset generation.
Step 4: Pick the Right RAM
Pick the Right RAM
When it comes to picking the best RAM, AMD and Intel are options worth considering. Since processors for gaming vary depending on the cost, the bigger the RAM, the better the processing power. This means the system will be able to improve speed, retrieve temporary information, and boost performance. While the average gaming PC with 8GB RAM can multitask well, a PC with 16GB RAM is more suitable for games that are much more demanding. A good example is the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC. It features Intel Core i9-13900KF 3.0GHz 8+16 Cores, Intel Z790 Chipset and 16GB DDR5 which makes it robust and ideal for any gaming room.
Step 5: Choose the Right Hard Drive for Gaming
Most PCs use Solid State Drives (SSDs) or hard disk drives (HDD) for storage. With a suitable hard drive, the gaming PC will be able to read files more quickly and improve performance regardless of the room. The best hard drive should also be compatible and offer high performance to ensure gamers enjoy a smooth gaming experience. For more in depth information about Sold State Drives, check out Game Rant’s list for the Best SSDs for Gaming in 2024.
Step 6: Pick the Right CPU
As the brains behind any PC, a CPU is responsible for executing instructions needed for programs to run. The CPU also affects every facet, including streaming, gaming, content creation, and multitasking. A good CPU for gaming should have a high Max Turbo Frequency that significantly impacts performance. It should also feature more threads and cores to allow players to do more at once, thus keeping the system smooth and functional.
Choosing a perfect CPU is, therefore, critical. Gamers who are mainly interested in a high-end gaming performance CPU ideal for any gaming room should go for a mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 CPU or Intel Core i5 with decent clock speeds.
Step 7: Get the Peripherals
A gaming PC for any gaming room needs a keyboard, mouse, game controller, and headset. To get more immersive sound, gamers need to upgrade. Many gaming mice come with programmable buttons and offer superior speed, significantly enhancing the gaming experience.
Instead of picking a regular keyboard, a gamer should opt for a mechanical gaming keyboard which is much more responsive, especially for fast-paced games. Regardless of the type of PC chosen, a keyboard and mouse play a significant role in perfecting the gaming experience.
Step 8: Choose the Gaming PC’s Case
Gamers should also consider choosing a suitable PC case. The PC’s final location will determine how big or small the case will be and what features the case should come with. If the gaming PC will be hidden under the desk, there is no point in buying a tempered glass side panel.
Coming in different sizes, there are full-tower, mid-tower, and mini-tower cases to choose from. While the cases are not standardized among manufacturers, they vary depending on the motherboard size.
Step 9: Consider the Cooling System
Not all gaming PCs are created equal; high-quality units tend to draw more power than their more affordable counterparts. This means they’ll need a more efficient cooling system, such as a liquid cooling system to allow them to run at higher capacities for longer. A good example is the ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360 ARGB CPU Cooler. The powerful liquid cooler features Noctua fans in the non-ARGB version plus Asus’s own ROG AF 12S ARGB fans. It is designed to handle even the fastest Intel and AMD while keeping them incredibly cool in any gaming room.
Step 10: Do Not Forget Aesthetics
Any avid gamer should not forget about the aesthetics. Instead of having a bland black tower of hardware, one can add RGB lighting and cool windows to allow them to make the gaming set up and room look more appealing for long gaming sessions. Players should look out for one that suits their personality and fits their aesthetic.
Ste 11: Get the Right Monitor for Gaming for Any Room
Since most gaming PCs don’t include a monitor, gamers need to buy the right one for any gaming room. They should therefore research the best gaming monitors they can afford while not focusing so much on the cost. While most regular monitor will work, a gaming one offers superior input lags and refresh rates, meaning players are unlikely to be faced with risks such as motion blur or an ugly-looking picture.
Here are some aspects that gamers should consider when choosing a gaming monitor for any room:
Resolution: Higher resolutions provide sharper images. However, they require more powerful hardware to run seamlessly. Popular resolutions for gaming monitors include 4k, 1080p, and 1440p.
G-Sync and FreeSync: FreeSync is compatible with AMD graphics cards, while G-Sync is compatible with Nvidia graphics cards.
Refresh rate: Higher refresh rates mean less motion blur and smoother motion. 144Hz or higher is ideal for most gaming rooms.
Response time: Gamers should go for a response time of 1ms or less if possible.
Panel type: Most gaming monitors come with TN, IPS, or VA panels. TN panels offer the fastest response times, however the viewing angles and color accuracy are not the best. On the other hand, IPS panels feature slower response times but with the best viewing angles and color accuracy. VA panels have worse color accuracy and response times but the best contrast ratios.
Step 12: Buy an Operating System
Once the gaming PC is ready, one needs to consider installing an operating system (OS). This can be done via a flash disk or downloaded and installed. What’s required is to plug in the USB flash drive that contains the OS, mouse, monitor, and keyboard, and turn on the PC. Windows is one of the best for gaming operating systems as it is compatible with most software and gaming hardware and has an extensive game library. Others include Linux, AtlasOS and Pop_OS
Step 13: Set Up and Test the Equipment in the Gaming Room
After picking the best PC, putting them together and testing is essential. Follow all the requirements and make sure all the components are functioning well. Gamers must also download the necessary software and drivers and test their performance while playing.
Since the test is much more difficult to perform, it’s very important to ensure everything is installed well. Once the GPU is installed, connecting it to the power supply is quite imperative for it to start working. The power supply should be connected to the motherboard, plugged in and turned on for it to provide everything needed for gaming.
What Maintaining A Gaming PC for Any Room Costs?
Like any other machinery, the best gaming PC needs regular care and maintenance to remain in the same condition and function well. Since dust build up can lead to overheating and eventual failure, it’s essential to keep it clean by blowing the dust occasionally. Repairing and replacing different components is vital once they become defective.
Should One Build or Buy A Gaming PC?
Many avid gamers prefer to build their gaming PC, something which is quite possible. However, with several electrical components involved, building a PC can be a bit complicated. For instance, things can get tricky when it comes to choosing the components that work together.
It therefore takes a bit of research to purchase all the correct parts from a retailer that can combine various components that work together. There’s also the issue of the costs of the components. While previously building a gaming PC was considered cheaper, those days are gone, with individual components like RAM, graphics cards, and monitors sometimes costing more than the whole gaming PC tower.
Wrapping it Up
Finding the best gaming PC for any room can help one have the best gaming experience. Alongside the budget, it’s essential to pick one based on the requirements and the kind of games that can be played, as well as the room they will be playing in.
Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler
Best CPU Cooler for Any Gaming Room
$115 $140 Save $25
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler is all about maximizing CPU cooling and doing so with as little noise as possible. Using the bundled dual Noctua NF-A15 PWM fans and low-noise adapters, the NH-D15 is a capable air-based CPU cooler that has a no-frills, all-business approach to its job of cooling some of the beefiest CPUs available in the market, assisted by the bundled high-end NT-H1 thermal paste.
The AMD Ryzen™ 9 7900X3D 12-Core, 24-Thread Desktop Processor is the 12-core version of its X3D refresh across 3 of the Ryzen 7000 series processors that see it stack 3D V-Cache on one of the two 6-core CCUs in a bid to repeat the success that was the 5800X3D on a resurgent Ryzen 7000 lineup
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series 32G x 2 Kit (CL32)
The Best RAM for Gaming for Any Room
The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series 6400MHz 32G x 2 Kit (CL32) offers excellent low latency 6400MHz (XMP) clocks that are in line with most AMD and Intel Enthusiast motherboard overclocking standards while improving on the looks of some of the best RGB lighting money can buy while keeping it subtle overall.
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 8TB SSD
The Best High Capacity SSD For Gaming For Any Room
The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 8TB SSD is an SSD that mixes excellent peak PCI-E 4.0 storage speeds with some of the highest capacity money can buy on a single NVME SSD currently. The Rocket lineup by Sabrent has been synonymous with pushing limits and with 8TB of fast SSD storage, the Rocket 4 Plus is no different, offering a sub $0.12-0.13 cost per gigabyte to end users for as much as 8TB of storage on offer on a module that will fit almost any setup with ease.
The Best Performance & Efficiency Processor For Any Gaming Room
$568 $700 Save $132
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 16-core, 32-thread desktop processor is AMD’s answer to a resurgent Intel 13th generation processor lineup as it attempts to wrest back the gaming crown with the same technology that made the last generation 5800X3D such a powerful CPU.
With 128MB of L3 cache on offer, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D leverages its 3D V-Cache muscle in gaming as well as its powerful new Zen 4-based cores in productivity to make for a potent enthusiast-grade CPU in the offing.
FAQ
Q: Do you need to buy a gaming PC?
Even though most gaming PCs cost a lot of money, the initial investment is justified by what the PC can offer compared to the console. For example, PCs can easily be improved by changing the components when needed. This means gamers have more control on what gaming hardware they are looking for, how they need to run their games and more options regarding compatibility. The most significant advantage of finding the best PC for the living room is that one can use it in several ways.
Q: Which is cheaper; buying or building a gaming PC?
While previously it was cheaper to build a PC from different components, the prices of some components such as graphic cards have increased, making it a bit challenging to create one. For example, building a full system piece by piece may require a lot of money that most gamers may need help to afford. While it may be cheaper to build a PC from scratch, this depends on the type of PC one wants and the GPU they intend to slot in their system. Going for a prebuilt rig could save most players in the long run.
Q: Do the best gaming PCs for any room boast high quality components?
Contrary to popular belief, not all gaming PCs are configured with high-end components. What ultimately sets them apart is their CPU and RAM storage capacity. This means even an older RTX 2070 and GTX 1660 Super can play some of the most demanding games.
Q: How can one optimize PC gaming for any room?
The best way to make a gaming PC more functional is to upgrade it. This involves improving the memory, replacing the drivers for big changes, and optimizing it without buying more hardware. Try ending cleaning up the startup, ending unnecessary programs in Task Manager, shutting down unnecessary items and shutdown items, andpreventing overlocking. By doing this a gamer can improve the performance using the hardware they already have.
Q: How does one stop a gaming PC from overheating in any room?
One of the most important things is to check whether the fans are working. Check that the fans are working. It’s also essential to improve the airflow for desktop PCs and avoid programs that use a lot of power. Moreover, cleaning the dust from your computer can significantly help prevent overheating.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
___
Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
