Today, more and more individuals are jumping from gaming consoles to PCs, searching for the benefits only PCs can provide. From the ability to mod games to the huge numbers of indie games on PCs, playing games on PC has become the optimal way to enjoy games.
A gaming desktop is a serious purchase and investment, so it’s recommended that you do your research. There is a lot to consider when building or buying a gaming PC from your processor to your graphics card, storage, and RAM.
Specifically, your graphics card is the beating heart of your gaming PC. Choosing the right gaming GPU can significantly impact your gameplay and how well your computer performs.
Here are some thoughts that can help you make the right GPU decision.
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Why Is a Gaming Computer Different Than a Regular Computer?
If you want to buy or build a gaming PC, you may be interested to know how it differs from a regular computer. From the outside, you would say that the two computers are similar; they are built with the same components, have the same browsing functions, support watching videos and streaming, and run on Windows or Linux operating systems.
However, you can’t use a regular computer to play games designed for gaming computers. And according to Forbes, that’s because of one universal characteristic of a gaming PC not found in regular computers: the higher-end discrete GPU or graphics card.
High-end games like Call of Duty or Apex legends demand a level of graphics performance that regular computers can’t offer. Gaming PCs have GPUs that can handle more intensity; they emphasize graphics processing more than any other component.
Note: While the graphics card is the major difference between a gaming PC and a regular computer, gaming computers have more characteristics that make them unique. These include:
- Cooling systems
- Sound systems
- RAM
- Portability
- Display
- Price
Also, unlike most standard computers with graphics processing built into the CPU, gaming PCs usually have a dedicated part for displaying images.
What Is a GPU, and What Does It Do?
The Graphics Processing Unit, or GPU, is an electronic circuit used by computers to speed up the process of creating and rendering computer graphics. Popularly known as the graphics card, the GPU also enhances the quality of all videos, images, and animations (2D and 3D) displayed on your computer’s monitor.
The graphics card conducts quick math calculations and frees up the CPU to do other things. And unlike CPUs with only a few cores focusing on sequential serial processing, a GPU features thousands of cores for multitasking.
According to Tom’s Hardware, GPUs can be classified into two types:
- Integrated GPUs
- Discrete GPUs
Unlike the integrated GPU, which is found on your computer’s CPU and shares memory with its processor, discrete GPUs are standalone and have their own card and video memory. This makes them better performers than integrated GPUs.
Why Would a Gaming Computer Need a Faster GPU?
Generally, the GPU improves your computer’s experience by freeing up memory and increasing the frame rate, which leads to better-quality graphics.
Because of most games reliance on high-quality graphics, gaming computers need a faster GPU than regular computers. Most games demand more from the GPU than the CPU.
Rendering polygons, processing 3D and 2D graphics, and mapping textures require powerful and fast graphics cards. The more your video/graphics card can process information, the more frames you’ll get per second and the better the resolution of the games.
This translates to a better gaming experience.
How Is GPU Speed Measured?
High-quality GPUs aren’t hard to spot; they have a fast processing ability and a lot of memory. Moreover, great video cards are more visually appealing with heat sinks, and fans look great inside the computer case.
If you need your PC for basics like attending meetings, writing emails, browsing the internet, or word processing, a motherboard with integrated graphics fits your needs. However, graphic designers and high-end gaming lovers need computers with high-end discrete video cards.
There are two ways to measure your GPU’s performance: the frame rate and the hardware.
Frame rate
This measures the number of images a GPU can render or display on the monitor per second. And although the human eye can process 25 frames per second, most games require at least 60 FPS to offer smooth scrolling and animation.
The frame rate components include:
- Pixel per rate
- Vertices and triangles per second for 3D images
Hardware
Your computer GPU’s hardware directly affects its speed. Experts recommend that you look at the following hardware specifications when choosing a GPU:
- GPU clock speed (MHz)
- Size of the memory bus (bits)
- Amount of available memory (MB)
- Memory clock rate (MHz)
- Memory bandwidth (GB/s)
These measurements help differentiate the many different models of GPUs in the modern PC market. Looking into the recommended specifications for the game you desire to play is a great way to find a baseline to inform your purchase.
How Do I Choose the Right GPU for My Gaming Computer?
Choosing the right graphics card for your gaming computer is vital for the best gaming experience. It ensures you get the best visuals, sound, and display rate, which is key to the best gaming experience.
Unfortunately, finding the best graphics card for your computer needs can be challenging, mainly because of the cost and inability to try out different models. Certain websites, like Howmanyfps, make the work easier for you by estimating the performance of different games based on CPU and graphics card.
For the best gaming experience, it’s recommended that you balance the different computer components. It’s not a good idea to overspend on a single product and neglect the quality of a different one.
For instance, compromising your power supply or RAM for a higher-quality GPU will usually not result in a better gaming experience.
How Do I Keep My Gaming GPU Cool?
Electrical components heat up from usage, especially from intensive tasks like gaming, and GPUs are no exception.
Regularly cleaning and ensuring fresh air reaches your GPU will help keep it cool. Most GPUs come with cooling solutions that will allow the hardware to perform efficiently, but ensuring the component has enough space to cycle air and cool down during long gaming sessions will extend the life of the GPU.
So, Which GPU is Best for Gaming?
It’s important to note that having the best graphics card doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have a seamless gaming experience; however, finding the best product for your needs will.
There isn’t one best gaming GPU; instead, there are several GPUs from AMD to NVidia that will fulfill your gaming needs. However, you’ll need to pair the GPU with an appropriate cooling system, compatible RAM, and enough CPU for the best experience.
The Bottom Line
While there’s no one best GPU for your gaming computer, we hope you’ve learned enough to purchase a GPU that will best suit your needs.
Have you recently purchased a GPU or are you thinking about purchasing one? Let us know your thoughts and questions in the comments!
