Technology: Tips to get started

Berlin
For gaming beginners, the first question is where to play at all. At your desk with your computer, resting on the 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 intuitive. You can turn them on and click games – that is relatively intuitive.”

Store hardware

But if at some point the games on your smartphone or console are very limited, it makes sense to invest in a better PC or increase the hardware you have at home,” says Kopf. It also helps to play bigger games like League of Legends. or “World of Warcraft” online with friends, because PC games cannot 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 possibly 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. Often times it still looks 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. So Kopf advises looking for a powerful computer that is also useful for gaming. Here you should plan at least 1000 euros.

If you already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, you don’t necessarily have to buy new hardware 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 resistor for the receiver, then choose a model with 6 or 8 cores. It certainly doesn’t have to be more than that, Kopf says.

For “Counter Strike” or, for example, “League of Legends” with its relatively less complex graphics, according to Köpf, the GPUs built into the processors 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.

In order to run complex images smoothly, the working memory (RAM) must also be large enough. Very little RAM can be noticed when stuttering is suspected, but it’s actually no longer a problem these days, given that most computers come with enough RAM. It is recommended to use DDR 4, 8 GB and above gaming RAM – 16 GB is better. And the hard drive must actually be an SSD, according to Köpf.