Gaming PC buying guides
Straight answers to the questions we are asked in the shop every week. Written by Stephen at Sandbox Computers, Worcester.
By budget
Best gaming PC for under £500What £500 really buys for gaming, and when to spend a little more.
Best gaming PC for under £800The sweet spot for Fortnite, Valorant and most popular games at 1080p.
Best gaming PC for under £1,000A strong 1080p PC that plays almost everything, with room to grow.
Best gaming PC for under £1,500High settings at 1080p, or a first step into 1440p.
By game
Fortnite
Minecraft
Roblox
Valorant
Call of Duty: Warzone
GTA V
Rocket League
Apex Legends
Counter-Strike 2
EA Sports FC
Cyberpunk 2077
Understanding the parts
AMD or Intel for gaming?Which processor to choose, and why it matters less than the graphics card.
How much memory (RAM) does a gaming PC need?16GB or 32GB? What the numbers mean.
1080p, 1440p or 4K: which screen for gaming?How your screen decides the PC you need.
What is an X3D processor, and is it worth it?AMD's gaming chips explained simply.
Gaming PC jargon busterEvery word on a gaming PC advert, explained in plain English.
Frame rate and refresh rate (FPS and Hz) explainedWhy "smooth" matters, and how the PC and screen work together.
GTX, RTX and Radeon: graphics cards explainedWhat the letters and numbers on a graphics card mean.
What size monitor is best for gaming?24, 27 or 32 inch, and why size and resolution go together.
Buying advice
Is it worth upgrading my old PC, or buying new?When an upgrade makes sense and when it does not.
Buying a refurbished gaming PC: what to knowHow refurbished PCs save money, and what to check.
Buying a gaming PC for a child: a parent's guideWhat to buy, what to spend, and how to keep it safe.
Gaming PC or console: which is better?PlayStation, Xbox or a PC: the honest differences.
Buying a gaming PC as a Christmas presentWhat to ask, what to buy, and buying in good time.
PC only, or a complete gaming setup?When a bundle with monitor, keyboard and mouse makes sense.
Once you have it
Setting up your new gaming PC: the first hourPlug in, switch on, update, and start playing.
Keeping your gaming PC cool, clean and fastSimple care that keeps it running well for years.
Not sure where to start? Try the Which gaming PC? helper: four quick questions.