Computer parts

What computer parts does a gaming PC have?

Advice on building or upgrading your own PC

Make your computer faster with an SSD

NVMe M.2 SSD

NVMe M.2 SSD

Does the motherboard of your laptop or desktop have an M.2 connector with the same notch as the one on the photo? You'll need an NVMe M.2 SSD. These SSDs write and read much faster than SATA SSDs. So you create a lightning-fast storage capacity with very short loading times.

Sata M.2 SSD

Sata M.2 SSD

In addition to NVMe, there are also SATA M.2 SSDs. If your motherboard has the same notch as you can see here, install a SATA M.2 SSD. These are slightly slower than NVMe M.2 SSDs, but are still 10 times faster than a regular hard drive.

2.5 inch SSD

2.5 inch SSD

Newer laptops and desktops mostly require the M.2 SSDs, but older devices have a 2.5-inch connector for a 2.5-inch SSD. These are larger than an M.2 SSD. There are also laptops and desktops with both a 2.5-inch and an M.2 SSD connector.

Upgrade your PC and make it faster with RAM

RAM for your desktop

RAM for your desktop

RAM for your desktop is always the 'DIMM' type. Your motherboard determines whether you need the old version (DDR4) or the new version (DDR5), which maximum memory speed you choose, and how many modules you can install. You can find out by going to "Task manager" and selecting "Memory" under "Performances". You can see all the information at the top right here.

RAM for your laptop

RAM for your laptop

Want to make a laptop faster? You always need "SO-DIMM" RAM. Again, your motherboard determines whether you need DDR4 or DDR5, which memory speed you choose, and how many modules you can install. Usually, you can upgrade your laptop with 1 or 2 units. Just like with desktops, you can find out by going to "Performances"/"Memory" in the "Task manager" menu.

RAM for your NAS

RAM for your NAS

A NAS needs SO-DIMM. In addition to the DDR version (DDR4 or DDR5), brand-specific factors are also important. The RAM for a Synology NAS is different than for QNAP. Check the official compatibility list on the website of the NAS brand if you're not sure whether your RAM is supported.

FAQ about components

Which video card do you need to game in 4K?

Gaming in 4K requires a powerful video card if you want at least 60 fps. Suitable GPUs for NVIDIA are the RTX 3080, RTX 3080 Ti, and RTX 3090. For AMD, this are the Radeon RX 6800, RX 6800 XT, RX 6900, and RX 6900 XT. Is one of those terms in the name? You can game in high resolution without problems. Don't forget the CPU. This needs to be powerful enough to send 4K images.

How do you know if your processor and motherboard are compatible?

It's not always easy to compose your own computer. The socket of your motherboard should be exactly the same as that of your processor, or they won't work together. If you have an Intel processor with an LGA 1200 socket, your motherboard should also have an Intel LGA 1200 socket.

Which Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processor do I choose for gaming?

The processor is one of the most important PC parts. The speed of the processor is indicated with the code name. For gaming, an Intel Core i5 or i7 or an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 will do. These processors are powerful enough for the new releases and are extra future proof.

How much storage capacity do I need?

Do you want a fast and durable SSD? A 1TB one is enough for your operating system and lots of games. Choose 2TB if you never want to worry about capacity. If you want, you can expand the capacity with an affordable but slower 4TB hard drive, for example. This will definitely be enough for you.

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