How to choose a computer
The performance of the entire computer depends heavily on the processor, so it is selected first. Processors are made by two large companies Intel and AMD.
Intel Core processors generally have higher core performance, which is ahead of AMD Ryzen processors in most modern games and more suitable for building powerful gaming computers.
AMD Ryzen processors, in turn, benefit from multi-threaded tasks, such as video editing, in principle, they are not much inferior to Intel Core in games and are perfect for a universal computer used for both professional tasks and games.
If your budget is limited, but in the future you want to have a powerful PC, you can first get an inexpensive model, and after 2-3 years, change the processor to a more powerful one.
All processors, regardless of manufacturer, differ in the number of cores, threads and frequency. In addition, the processor may have a built-in video core, which saves on the purchase of a separate video card, but is not suitable for gaming computers.
For working with documents, the Internet and watching videos, a 2-core processor with a frequency closer to 3 GHz or higher will be enough. A particularly advantageous solution will be a modern Pentium processor with Hyper-threading technology, which will allow a 2-core processor to process data in 4 threads, significantly increasing productivity.
With the advent of such models, more expensive Core i3 processors have lost their relevance, and Pentium can be considered as a temporary solution even for games, with the prospect of replacing it with a more powerful processor (Core i5, i7) in the future.
For a gaming computer, you need a minimum 4-core processor with a frequency closer to 3.5 GHz or higher (such as Core i3).
For a mid-range gaming PC, the 6-core Core i5 is suitable. Also, modern games have learned to use multithreading, so for a powerful gaming PC it is advisable to take Core i7 (6 cores / 12 threads).
For video editing and other multi-threaded tasks, the best choice for today is Ryzen 5/7 (6-8 cores / 12-16 threads) with a frequency closer to 4 GHz, which will also allow you to comfortably play modern games.
Recommended PC configurations (processor + video card + memory) for games and video editing can be downloaded in the “Links” section.
For more information, see the article on processors.
2. CPU cooler
To cool the processor, a cooler is used, which consists of a radiator and a fan.
Most processors with the word “BOX” at the end of the marking are sold complete with a cooler. But some more expensive boxed processors may not have a cooler in the kit. If at the end of the marking it says “Tray” or “OEM”, then there is no cooler in the kit.
The weakest processors such as Pentium are easier and cheaper to purchase complete with a cooler. But a mid- or high-end processor is often more profitable to buy without a cooler and separately select a suitable cooler for it. It will cost about the same in cost, but in cooling and noise level it will be much better.
The optimal price / efficiency ratio for today is tower coolers with a 120 mm fan and 4-5 heat pipes manufactured by Zalman and DeepCool.
More detailed information is in the article on choosing a cooler and a review of the DeepCool ICE WIND PRO cooler on our website, and recommendations on choosing a cooler for different processors can be downloaded here.
3. RAM
Modern computers use DDR4 memory with a frequency of mainly 2400, 2666 and 3000 MHz.
In games, the memory frequency has little effect and there is no point in overpaying, it’s enough to take it at 2666 MHz, this is the best option for today, as it is supported by modern processors and costs almost the same as the slower one at 2400 MHz.
For professional applications, especially paired with a Ryzen processor, you can take memory with a frequency of 3000 MHz. The difference in performance here will be larger, but this should not be to the detriment of the processor and video card. Please note that your motherboard must support the memory of the required frequency.
If one memory bar is installed, then it will work in single-channel mode, if two brackets are in dual-channel mode. This greatly increases the speed of memory, so it is advisable to take the memory with two slats. But for an office computer with a head, one 4 GB memory bar is enough.
For a multimedia PC, 4 GB can be considered as an economical option with the ability to add another 4 GB in the future. But it’s better to immediately put 2 strips of 4 GB each (for faster operation in dual-channel mode), this will be a minimum option for a gaming computer.
For a powerful gaming PC, you need 2 strips of 8 GB each, which are better and cheaper to buy in one set.
For professional video editing and other heavy tasks, it is advisable to have from 16 GB of RAM or more, again with two slats. But in principle, in any case, you can buy one bar now and one later.
