Powerful graphics and four cores: Tips to get started

Berlin (dpa/tmn) – For gaming beginners, the first question is where to play at all. At your desk with your computer, from your comfortable couch, with a console in hand or wherever and whenever with your smartphone? But it is also important to be clear about your budget.

Many may already have a computer. However, it may not be suitable for games without an upgrade. “The consoles can’t be upgraded, but they are cheaper,” says Alexander Kopf of GameStar magazine. “And the consoles are more accessible. You can turn them on and click games – that’s relatively intuitive.”

I need more

“If at some point gaming on a smartphone or console is very limited, it makes sense to invest in a better computer or increase the hardware you have at home,” Kopf says. Even if you want to play online games with friends or bigger games like League of Legends or World of Warcraft, it’s worth it. PC games will not run smoothly without powerful processors and graphics cards.

Alexander Köpf knows that the hurdle on a PC is a little bigger: “You have to learn something, install games, and perhaps the corresponding client, that is, software that uses server services, must be installed.” The advantage of a PC is that you get more performance and nicer graphics for the extra money. In general, a PC is more flexible than a console – and there are also more games on it.

Try it first

If you already have a computer, you better try what he wants to play. Can games be installed? Are load times acceptable? Are the games running smoothly? If not, you can try a lower resolution. Oftentimes this still looks very good. If not: Upgrade.

The prices of processors, especially graphics cards, are currently very high. If you buy these PC components individually, you sometimes pay more than a whole new PC. Therefore, Kopf advises looking for a powerful computer that is also suitable for gaming. Here you should plan for at least 1000 euros.

If you already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, you don’t necessarily have to buy a new one to start playing, says Benedikt Schlotmann, of gaming magazine MeinMMO.

microprocessor client

But how should a new computer be equipped? Specifically, your computer should have an Intel Core-i processor with a four- or five-digit model number starting with 8, 9, 10, or 11, advises Alexander Kopf. For example Core i3 8300. Or, if it’s an AMD processor, it can be considered Ryzen processors with model numbers starting with 2, 3, 4 or 5, such as the Ryzen 3 2200G.

Basically, if you just want to play, processors with 4 cores and 8 so-called threads are enough. If you want it as a receiver resistor, choose a model with 6 or 8 cores. Kopf says he definitely doesn’t need more.

For “Counter Strike” or “League of Legends” with its relatively less complex graphics, according to Köpf, processors’ built-in GPUs are often sufficient. If you want better graphics and want to play more demanding games like “Cyberpunk 2077” or “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” then you should look for an additional graphics card.

These should be the graphics cards

Here you can choose from manufacturers Nvidia and AMD. If you want to play in Full HD, Nvidia recommends cards from the RTX 2060, says Kopf. At AMD are the cards from the Radeon RX 5600 XT.

For complex images to run smoothly, the working memory (RAM) must be large enough. Very little RAM can be observed in the case of vibration, but it is actually not an issue these days, since most computers come with enough RAM. It is recommended to use RAM for games from DDR 4, 8 GB and above – 16 GB is better. And the hard drive must actually be an SSD, according to Köpf.