Assembling a gaming PC: Tips on possible configurations and graphics cards

Assembling a gaming PC

Assembling a gaming PC: tips and four ideas

As an exception, we haven't had a special for assembling a gaming PC for a long time. An important reason for this is the situation on the graphics card market. We will summarize these in a moment. The main point of our special are configuration suggestions for gaming PCs. Because of the graphics card crisis, we will proceed a little differently than usual. After we have given some general tips for assembling a PC, we are proposing four hardware configurations without a graphics card.

Table of contents

Page 1 Gaming PCs: Introduction and graphics card market 1.1 Graphics card market: Review and present Page 2 Gaming PCs: Compensate for graphics card price increases 2.1 Compensate for graphics card price increases by adjusting Page 3 Gaming PCs: General tips for assembling 3.1 Putting together a PC: General tips Page 4 gaming PCs: four gaming PCs without graphics card 4.1 four gaming PCs from 485 euros (without graphics card) 4.1.1 two PCs for 485 and 750 euros (without graphics card) 4.1.2 two PCs for 975 and 1225 euros (without graphics card ) Page 5 Image gallery for "Compiling a gaming PC: Tips on possible ... Unfold There will be four basic structures, so to speak, with the cheapest solution in all respects a kind of minimum for one en gaming PC in terms of CPU, drives, case and more. The most expensive PC will again have a top CPU and everything that enables decent overclocking, plus things like a top case and ample storage space on the SSD and hard drive.

The Nvidia RTX 3080 (a model from MSI in the picture) cost from 700 euros to release - the cheapest model is now more than twice as expensive at over 2000 euros. Source: MSI The other two PCs will be placed between the entry-level and high-end base. We then also give an assessment of suitable graphics cards that fit well with the basic framework - it is up to you whether you install one of the above, another new or used or your current graphics card in the PC. Now let's start with the current situation on the graphics card market.

Graphics card market: retrospect and present

Since autumn 2020 it has become more and more difficult to get a graphics card that is suitable for games. Since then, prices have risen by over 80 percent from the entry-level Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, and some graphics card series have even increased prices by more than 150 percent. The increase also affects the models that have been newly released since autumn 2020: These were sold out immediately and then only available occasionally and at significantly higher prices. Because of these new graphics card series, i.e. Nvidia's RTX 3000 series and AMD’s RX 6000 series, the older graphics card series in particular, which served the price range from 300 euros a few months ago, have expired and are no longer available as alternatives. Due to the corona pandemic, however, the demand for graphics cards has increased significantly, as gaming as a leisure activity has increased. In addition, some of the graphics cards - albeit a very difficult part to assess - are apparently very lucrative for mining. Although special mining hardware is available, miners also seem to be buying up some series of graphics cards. This can be seen from the fact that some model series are sold significantly more expensive than others, graphics cards that are actually better for gaming.

Much more serious is the fact that problems in production mean that the demand for graphics cards cannot be served well enough. The problems are diverse and to a large extent also have to do with the pandemic, as both the production and the delivery of chips and components have to take place under greater precautionary measures. It was not possible to set up new plants within a few months, let alone find the necessary qualified staff. The following table shows how expensive graphics cards suitable for games are currently and what they still cost in autumn 2020 or for the new graphics card series when they were released Release Currently from surcharge Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 120 euros 200 euros 76 percent Nvidia GXT 1650 154 euros 300 euros 95 percent Nvidia GTX 1650 Super 149 euros 400 euros 169 percent Nvidia GTX 1660 215 euros 460 euros 140 percent Nvidia GTX 1660 Super 243 euros 530 118 percent AMD RX 5600 XT 279 euros ne n.e. Nvidia RTX 2060 320 euros 550 euros 72 percent AMD RX 5700 XT 407 euros n.e. n.e. Nvidia RTX 3060 329 euros 890 euros 171 percent Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti 399 euros n.e. n.e. AMD RX 6700 XT 479 euros 900 euros 88 percent Nvidia RTX 3070 499 euros 1300 euros 160 percent AMD RX 6800 579 euros 1300 euros 125 percent Nvidia RTX 3080 699 euros 2200 euros 186 percent AMD RX 6800 XT 649 euros 1500 euros 131 percent Some graphics cards are Since our last special on the subject of graphics tuning, where we also took a close look at the graphics card market, the price has risen by a further 10 to 15 percent. The values ​​make it clear that when it comes to price-performance issues, it is currently wise to continue to use a graphics card that is hopefully still available and that is sufficiently powerful. An alternative can be used graphics cards, although these, of course, have also become significantly more expensive. But in relation to what they can do in games, they can be better value for money than a brand new graphics card. A few weeks ago we also published a special on the subject of used graphics cards - prices have, however, moved up a little since then.

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