The Ideal Gaming Rig: What Competitive Gamers Really Need

Some gamers enjoy open worlds, immersive stories, and accomplishing deeds worthy of legend. Others relish conquering real foes in online skill and reflex contests. However, they need the right kind of rig to do so.

This guide focuses on tips for building a PC specifically for competitive gameplay. Read on to discover which hardware and software you need to pay particular attention to and what to look for when choosing. 

CPU & GPU 

Whereas AAA games are constantly getting more detailed and require more computing power, the same isn’t true for competitive titles. If anything, the latter is intentionally designed to run seamlessly on older hardware, which gives new PC buyers a lot of breathing room.

Almost any current CPU and GPU combo can run competitive games like CS2, Valorant, Deadlock, etc., at more than 144Hz, even if you go for a 1440p monitor.

If you use your PC exclusively for competitive gaming, school, and work that doesn’t require video/photo editing or 3D modeling, a mid-range combo will be all you need and futureproof to boot.

Something like an i5-14600K or Ryzen 5 7600X paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 will be more than enough, even for AAA gaming. While not needed for competitive games, having a GPU with 10+GB of VRAM will let you enjoy more demanding upcoming titles for a good while. 

Monitor 

The monitor is the key component in every build centered on competitive gaming. You’ll want to research what’s on offer and get one with the best possible combination of resolution, refresh rates, and response times.

1080p remained the gold standard for this category long after other gamers moved on to higher resolutions. Still, you can now get 1440p monitors with 240 and even 360Hz refresh rates that won’t max out a modern CPU and GPU combo’s capabilities.

The higher the refresh rate, the more images the monitor can display per second, leading to a smoother experience. Low response times are equally important since they eliminate blurriness and ghosting, giving you the clarity to make split-second decisions that can make or break a match.

An OLED panel is nice to have due to its unparalleled contrast, but IPS will do just fine. Also, consider the brightness, measured in nits, if you plan on gaming in brightly lit areas.

Mouse & Keyboard

A mouse is an extension of your will. One geared towards competitive gaming needs to be light yet sturdy, allowing for equal precision whether you’re switching to a target across the screen or carefully lining up a headshot.

You’ll also want to ensure the mouse’s shape accommodates your grip style. Wireless mouse responsiveness is excellent now, so don’t be afraid to cut the cord.

With gaming keyboards, it’s all about the switches. Mechanical keyboards offer the best combination of quality, responsiveness, and tactility.

They’re also more durable, and individual damaged keys are easy to replace. Consider going for a tenkeyless version if you run the tournament circuit since it will be easier to store.

Miscellaneous Hardware

Your storage drive shouldn’t affect performance. That said, an M.2 SSD will offer the best loading times and is far less prone to failure than an HDD, so get one with ample space to cover your needs.

Competitive games don’t need much memory to run. 16GB is the minimum nowadays, but you can futureproof with 32GB since RAM is a cheap component.

Make sure to get a power supply with enough wattage to support your system that’s at least 80+ Bronze certified. Ensure adequate cooling for your CPU with an aftermarket cooler, and get a roomy case for better airflow.

Software Considerations

While the performance plateau in games depends on your hardware, having the right software can optimize performance and keep problems at bay. For example, you’ll want to uninstall bloatware that needlessly hogs resources. It’s also important to keep your games, launchers, and OS up to date to avoid security breaches.

Since your account is associated with your name – and possibly your brand – while also being proof of your skills and rank, protecting it is a must.

A complex, unique password will keep it from being stolen or compromised, especially if you use a password manager to set up unique credentials for all your other accounts.

Alternatively, you can consider using passkeys instead of passwords. This will eliminate the possibility of one hacked account affecting others further, giving you peace of mind.

Pro players are often on the go, meaning they may connect their PCs to unsafe networks. Securing your connection with the best VPNs will preserve your privacy while making it impossible for anyone spying on a network to track your actions.

Even if you only game from home, a VPN can reduce lag by reducing the distance from its servers to the game’s servers. 

Conclusion 

Even though hardware prices are steadily rising, building a competent, competitive gaming rig is neither difficult nor needs to be costly. Keep our tips in mind when selecting components, and you’ll be blasting away at the best of them in no time.

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