How do I get the best value when buying a Gaming PC?

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This guide will cover some basic questions you may have when it comes to getting the best value when picking out a Gaming PC.  While this is not exhaustive, there are a number of questions that may come to mind when it comes to picking out a PC.  If you have any questions not covered by this guide, please feel free to reach out to our Customer Support team who will be able to answer most questions you may have.

How do I get the best value out of my Gaming PC?

This question can be difficult to answer, but mostly because everyone's wants and needs out of a PC are going to be different and not everyone is going to know the ins and outs of every processor, graphics card, RAM configuration, etc. that is going to go into a gaming PC, especially for a first-time buyer.

Should I go with an NZXT Prebuilt PC?

This question may be the very reason you've come to this guide.  For many people, the idea of a "Prebuilt PC" can bring up a mixed bag of responses such as people telling you to not bother with Prebuilt PCs for many reasons that include, but are not limited to:

  • Using proprietary parts
  • Extremely limited upgrade paths
  • Underpowered components

These particular issues lead to the image of Prebuilt PCs being something you use for a few years, then throw away and replace with a whole new computer which for many people is not ideal (especially for those of us looking to combat excessive e-waste).

NZXT's line of prebuilt PCs however stand in direct contrast to the traditional "big box" style prebuilt PC.  All NZXT Prebuilt PCs are built using standard off-the-shelf components like those you would purchase when building your own PC.  This means that there is no proprietary motherboards or power supplies to contend with that would otherwise restrict you from upgrading your PC down the line.  Because of our approach in using all off-the-shelf components, you can rest assured knowing your PC can stand up to a long life with minimal waste

In addition to this, all NZXT Prebuilt PCs come with a standard 2 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty.  This warranty covers any issues brought on by components failing within the first 2 years after the PC is purchased to give additional peace of mind.

BLD PCs come in two categories:  Custom and Pre-configured systems like our Player and Creator series to fit your needs.

Why should I go with a Player or Creator Series PC?

If you're new to PC gaming and are looking for a convenient way to pick out a PC and be ready to go then our Player and Creator Series of PCs may be your go-to when it comes to selecting your PC.  Our Player series are broken down into three groups that allow you to pick a PC that meets your needs for your budget:

  • Are you just getting into PC gaming and are looking to hit the ground running?  The Player: One series may be the best fit for you.
  • Are you an aspiring content creator looking to game and stream from the same PC without needing any additional hardware like a second PC and capture card?  The Player: Two series is here for you.
  • Are you looking for an absolute gaming powerhouse that will take everything you throw at it and then some?  Look no further than the Player: Three series.

For those who are looking for a powerful workstation PC, we also offer our Creator: One series of PCs equipped with server-grade processors and top of the line graphics cards for those looking for a system that will handle high end video rendering, 3D modelling, physics simulation, and complex scientific calculation with ease.

For more information on our Player and Creator series, please check out the guide linked below:

NZXT Support- What BLD System is Best for Me?

Why should I go with a Custom PC?

For those looking for a bit more flexibility in picking out their parts, we also offer the option to have a custom PC built for you through the NZXT BLD Configurator.

The biggest advantage of going through the configurator is that this will allow you to start off by selecting your preferred CPU brand and budget, then manually select each part you want to fit your exact needs.  Are you looking for something with the stunning look of the NZXT H9 Elite case but don't need the raw performance of the Player:  Three Prime?  Or maybe you're looking for a CPU and GPU combination not currently on offer through our pre-configured option.  This is where the configurator comes in.

Which parts should I pick?

When it comes to picking out the right parts, the best things to start with are to figure out your budget and your use case.  A use case means what are you intending to use the PC for?

  • Is this going to be primarily a work or school PC with light gaming on the side?
    • For a case like this, you may not need the latest and greatest CPU and GPU combo or a massive pool of RAM.  A strong mid-range CPU and GPU with a moderate 16 to 32GB of RAM and a single 1TB SSD may work out great for you.
  • Are you going to be doing content creation or livestreaming from the PC?
    • For a case like this, you may need some additional storage for recording playthroughs or clips to be used when uploading a highlight reel.  Putting your budget more towards the CPU, RAM, and Storage may be key.
  • Are you planning on doing heavier compute work such as CAD, 3D Rendering, or high resolution video editing?
    • For a case like this, check the specs needed for your software to decide where to allocate your budget.  Some programs love having strong GPUs with a ton of VRAM while others may prefer a stronger CPU or to have a massive pool of RAM.

These are the kinds of questions you need to ask before diving into selecting parts, however there are a few Do's and Don'ts we can cover before a deeper dive.

  • Do set a budget, and keep it realistic. 
    • Going into a build without a budget in mind can result in being overwhelmed by the staggering amount of options available to you.  A realistic budget with some flexibility can help keep you grounded in trying to figure out what you do and do not need.
  • Don't go overboard with your part selection. 
    • It may be tempting to pick out every part with the biggest numbers or biggest price tag, but what happens when you spend all your money on the highest end gaming PC and have no money left to play games?  Not everyone's going to be content with a $5000 USD gaming PC that can only play Solitaire.
  • Do get an SSD, do not rely strictly on a mechanical Hard Drive. 
    • This one catches a lot of people when doing a custom build, especially through our configurator.  Because SSDs utilize flash memory instead of mechanical spinning disks to store data, they are able to offer blazing fast load times by comparison.  It may be tempting to grab that 8TB HDD that's on sale for a quarter of the price of a 2TB SSD, but you'll definitely feel the weight of that choice when it takes upwards of 5-6 minutes just to get into Windows.
  • Don't select an ITX motherboard if you're going with an ATX case. 
    • ITX motherboards are a small form factor motherboard designed for use in smaller cases like the NZXT H1.  This small form factor however comes with compromises such as limited RAM and storage options as well as a severely reduced expandability when compared to mATX and ATX equivalents.  ITX motherboards also tend to carry a price premium for the size reduction.
  • Do select a power supply that is slightly above what you need.
    • Did you use a power supply calculator and got an estimated 600W usage?  Are you looking at that shiny RTX 4080 GPU with its 850W recommended power and think you can get away with just going with an 850W unit?  It's best to always go with something a bit more than what you need, as this will help the longevity of the power supply and can even improve stability of your system over time.
  • Don't skimp on your CPU cooling.
    • CPUs will reduce their performance based on their thermal load.  Did you purchase the highest end Intel or AMD CPU, but decided to save by going with a 120mm AIO liquid cooler or a smaller tower cooler?  Well, that shiny new i9 processor is going to throttle itself pretty quickly and get out-paced by your friend's previous generation Core i5 without issue.  Make sure you select a cooler that fits the thermal needs of your processor.
  • Do select the parts you need before the parts you want.
    • Are you looking at a set of new RGB fans for your new streaming PC, but you only selected a 512GB SSD?  It may be better to take that money going towards the RGB fans and instead up that SSD to a 1TB or 2TB option to improve your performance.  We all love having that photo ready gaming PC that people ooo and ahh over when they walk into your room, but looks mean nothing if the performance isn't there.

Do you have any questions not covered by this guide or need further assistance?  Please feel free to reach out to our Customer Support team and one of our friendly support agents will be there to assist you.

Are you looking to keep up on all things NZXT?  Go ahead and join the Official NZXT Community Discord to keep up to date on our latest products, upcoming sales, and join in on discussions on everything from PC hardware to gaming.

You can also follow us at the following links:

@NZXT on Twitter
@NZXT on Instagram
@NZXT on TikTok

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