Experiencing lag while gaming? How to upgrade your gaming PC? [Beginner's Guide]

Your ultimate guide to upgrading your gaming PC is here! On this page, we present a detailed, beginner-friendly walkthrough to enhance your gaming computer's performance for an optimized gaming experience.

In this guide, we'll discuss upgrading the following four components in your gaming PC:

Page content:

#1. Upgrade to an SSD for Your Gaming Computer
#2. Upgrade the CPU of Your Gaming Computer
#3. Upgrade the RAM of Your Gaming Computer
#4. Upgrade the Graphics Card of Your Gaming Computer

Detailed instructions for heating will be included. Let's get started!

#1. Upgrading to an SSD on a Gaming PC

Hard drives function similarly to SSDs when it comes to loading a computer and its components, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. However, SSDs excel in terms of reading and writing data, as well as loading the operating system and its components. Also see: The differences between Fusion Drive, SSD, and HDD.

Furthermore, investing in a high-quality SSD is the best choice to ensure that your games run smoothly at the fastest possible speed.

Tips for Choosing an SSD (Solid State Drive):

• Capacity: It should be larger than the total capacity of your operating system and game drives. A 1TB or 500GB drive is a good choice.
• Interface: SSD interfaces are M.2, PCI-E, and SATA. Make sure your computer has the correct SSD slot for installation.
• Sequential read and write: The faster the read and write speeds of an SSD, the quicker your computer will load games and play videos smoothly.
• SATA is cheaper but slower. If your computer supports NVMe/PCIe or Optane drives, consider purchasing one of those. In most scenarios, an SSD will be at least three times faster than a hard disk drive.

Top Gaming PC SSD Recommendations:

• WD Black SN750 1TB (M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 | Sequential Read: 3,470 MB/s | Sequential Write: 3,000 MB/s)
• Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB (Samsung 3-bit MLC | Interface: M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 | Sequential Read: 3,500 MB/s | Sequential Write: 3,200 MB/s)
• WD Black SN850 1TB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen4 x4 | Sequential Read: 7,000 MB/s | Sequential Write: 5,300 MB/s)
• Crucial MX500 1TB (SATA 6Gbps | Sequential Read: 560 MB/s | Sequential Write: 510 MB/s)

Steps to Upgrade the Graphics Card on Your Gaming Computer:

1. Install or Add an SSD to Your Gaming PC

Step 1. Turn off the computer and unplug everything.

Step 2: Remove the side panel of your computer case and set it on its side.

Step 3. Install and connect the SSD to your computer properly.

Step 4: Put your computer case back together, screw it closed, and plug everything back in.

Then, you can restart your PC and proceed with the setup in the next section.

**2. SSD for Gaming**

A newly installed disk, including an SSD, will show up as unallocated space in Disk Management and won't be visible in File Explorer. To get the SSD running on your gaming PC, you can use a professional partition manager tool to migrate the OS and move the games to the drive following the tips below.

First, initialize the SSD and get it recognized by your gaming computer.

< strong > Step 1: Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard and enter the Partition Manager.

Step 2. Right-click the target disk - HDD or SSD, and choose "Initialize as MBR" or "Initialize as GPT." Click "Perform Tasks" and "Apply" to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize as MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize as GPT;

Next, we'll migrate the operating system and move games from the C drive to the SSD.

Note: If there is not enough unallocated space on the target disk, the OS migration to SSD or HDD operation will delete and remove existing partitions and data on the target disk. Backup important data saved on it to an external hard drive in advance if any.

Step 1: From the left-hand menu, select "Clone." Choose "Migrate the operating system" and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 2. Select the target disk that you want to clone. Click “Next”.

Step 3: After reviewing the warning, click “OK”. All data and partitions on the target disk will be erased. Make sure you have backed up your important data in advance. If not, do it now.

Step 4: Preview the layout of the target disk. You can also click on the Layout option to customize the layout of the target disk as needed. Then, click "Start" to migrate the operating system to the new disk.

5. When you see the confirmation message asking if you want to boot from the cloned disk, check the box next to "Adjust the boot order to boot from the cloned disk," then click the appropriate button to proceed based on your needs.

• Restart Now: Restarts the computer immediately and boots the operating system from the new disk.
• Finish Later: Completes the changes at a later time.

Confirm system clone to new hard drive

With the help of Partition Master, you can successfully move the operating system and all the games installed on the C drive to the new SSD.

Step 5: Set the SSD as the Boot Drive in Your Gaming PC

To make your gaming PC boot faster, set the new SSD as the boot drive in the BIOS by following the steps here:

Step 1. Restart your gaming PC and press F2, F8, F11, or Del to enter BIOS.

Step 2: In the Boot menu, set the cloned SSD as the top priority for BIOS boot.

Step 3: Save the changes and boot your gaming computer.

Your computer will boot the operating system from the new SSD. When your computer starts up, you'll have successfully upgraded your hard drive to an SSD.

#2. Upgrade the CPU for a Gaming Computer

The CPU is central to a computer's performance, and a more powerful one will run games better and work more efficiently with your graphics card. So how do you choose?

Tips for Choosing the Right CPU for a Gaming PC Upgrade:

• The CPU needs to be compatible with your PC's motherboard.
• For gaming, clock speed is more important than the number of cores.
• If you have a higher budget, go with AMD – it runs faster for video editing and other tasks.
• Make sure your CPU's performance matches your RAM, graphics card, and storage.

Recommended list of top gaming CPUs:

• Intel Core i5-11600K
• AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
• AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
• Intel Core i5-11400
• AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
• AMD Ryzen 5 3400G

Steps to Upgrade Your Gaming PC's CPU:

Step 1: Open the side panel of your gaming PC.

Step 2: Find and remove the CPU cooler – the fan on your computer.

If the fan is dusty, clean it while you're at it.

Step 3 Clean the thermal paste off the CPU cooler's contact surface.

Step 4: Lift the CPU socket's retention arm.

Step 5: Remove the old CPU and insert the new one.

Step 6. Apply thermal interface material and mount the CPU cooler.

Step 7. Replace and secure the side panel.

#3. Upgrade the RAM

Good RAM will ensure your gaming computer performs at its best. You can learn more about specific RAM options in the sections below.

• Speed
• Timing
• CL (CAS Latency)
• Voltage
• DIMM Slots

Tips for Choosing RAM Modules:

• The new and old RAM sticks should be the same speed.
• The timings should also be the same.
• RAM from the same manufacturer will offer better compatibility.
• A 16GB or 32GB 3200MHz stick works great on Intel or AMD.

List of Top RAM Recommendations for Gaming Computers (UTF-8 encoded):

• TEAM XTREEM ARGB 16GB DDR4-3600MHz C14
• Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB DDR4-3200MHz
• G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32GB DDR4-3600MHz
• Colorful CVN Guardian 16GB DDR4-3200
• G.Skill Trident Z Royal 16GB DDR4-4000MHz
This is a list of RAM modules: 1. TEAM XTREEM ARGB 16GB DDR4-3600MHz C14 2. Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB DDR4-3200MHz 3. G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32GB DDR4-3600MHz 4. Colorful CVN Guardian 16GB DDR4-3200 5. G.Skill Trident Z Royal 16GB DDR4-4000MHz

Steps to Upgrade the RAM on Your Gaming Computer:

Step 1: Turn off your gaming computer and let it cool down.

Step 2: Remove the side panel of your computer case and unplug all cables and peripherals.

Step 3: Locate the RAM slots on your computer and gently insert the new RAM into them, locking it into place with the clips.

Step 4: Put your computer case back together and plug in all of your cables and connectors.

Step 5: Restart your gaming computer.

#4. Upgrade the graphics card for your gaming computer

The graphics card directly determines the smoothness and visual quality of games, and only when it works in harmony with the CPU can you enjoy the best gaming experience.

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Tip for selecting a graphics card:

• Resolution: The higher the resolution you want to play at, the more powerful your card needs to be. Choose a card based on the resolution you'll be gaming at most.
• Power supply: Make sure your power supply is beefy enough and has the correct 6-pin and/or 8-pin connectors.
• VRAM: Aim for a card with 6 or 8 GB VRAM, rather than just 4 GB.
• FreeSync or G-Sync: These variable refresh rate technologies can sync your GPU's frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate.
• Ray tracing: Look for a card that supports ray tracing for enhanced visual effects.
• Make sure your motherboard has the correct slot for the GPU.

List of Top Gaming Graphics Cards Recommendations:

- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 (152.7 fps) - AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (148.1 fps) - AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (142.8 fps) - Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 (142.1 fps) - AMD Radeon RX 6800 (127.3 fps) - Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 (116.6 fps)

Steps to Upgrade the Graphics Card on Your Gaming Computer:

Step 1: Turn off the computer and unplug all cables.

Step 2: Remove the side panel of the computer case and set it aside. Lay the computer on its side.

Step three: locate the video card, unplug its power cable, and set it aside.

Step 4: Unscrew the graphics card and set it aside.

Step 5: Carefully grip the card and pull it straight up out of its slot on the motherboard.

Step 6: Slot the new card into the motherboard, secure it with screws, and connect all the cables.

Step 7: Put your computer case back together.

Congratulations! You've successfully upgraded your gaming computer. Now, it's time to enjoy gaming on your new hardware. Have an exhilarating gaming experience!

When it comes to upgrading your gaming computer, here are some suggestions for the editor in UTF-8 encoding: 1. **处理器(CPU)**: 选择最新的Intel Core i9 或 AMD Ryzen 9 系列，它们提供了卓越的多线程性能，对于处理复杂的游戏中表现优秀。 2. **显卡(GPU)**: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 或 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 是目前市场上顶级的游戏显卡，可以提供极致的游戏体验和光线追踪效果。 3. **内存(RAM)**: 至少16GB DDR4 RAM，如果预算允许，32GB 会更佳，确保游戏运行流畅无阻。 4. **存储(SSD)**: 选择高速的NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD，至少1TB，这样可以快速加载游戏和其他大型应用程序。 5. **主板(Motherboard)**: 根据你选择的CPU来选择兼容的主板，确保有足够的插槽来扩展内存和显卡。 6. **电源供应器(PSU)**: 选择一个高效且稳定的80+金牌或白金认证电源，确保所有硬件都能得到足够的电力。 7. **散热系统(Cooling System)**: 如果你打算进行超频，那么一个强大的水冷或高端风冷系统是必要的。 8. **显示器(Display)**: 一台支持高刷新率(如144Hz或更高)和低响应时间的电竞显示器，可以提升游戏体验。 9. **外设(Peripherals)**: 不要忽视高质量的键盘、鼠标、耳机和音响，它们也能显著影响游戏感受。 10. **预算(Budget)**: 在升级前，确定你的预算，并根据此来平衡各个组件的选择。记住，有时投资在关键组件（如CPU和GPU）上比全面升级更为划算。 请根据个人需求和预算进行调整，这些只是基本的建议。

There are many ways to upgrade a gaming PC, both in terms of hardware and software. On this page, we provide tips and guides for hardware upgrades, including replacing the CPU, RAM, graphics card, and SSD.

In short, when in doubt, upgrade your computer's CPU and RAM.

1. Prioritize upgrading the hardware that gives you the most trouble while gaming, especially within a limited budget. 2. When upgrading for gaming, RAM and a graphics card should be at the top of your list. 3. Tailor your gaming setup according to the requirements of the games you intend to play.

Upgrading a gaming PC isn't easy, but it's not as complicated as it seems. As long as you identify the real problem or area for improvement with your computer, choose the right components, and follow the advice above, you'll be good to go. Hopefully, this article has either helped you out directly or given you some inspiration.