Upgrading Your Gaming Setup: When and What To Upgrade

Does your gaming setup feel like it needs some extra kick? Perhaps your machine’s a little sluggish, or the visuals don’t pop like they did before. There’s an exhilarating feeling involved with upgrading a gaming rig, but knowing when and what to upgrade is the hard part. Don’t worry though—we’re here for you!

In this article, we will walk you through the best time to upgrade your setup and, more tellingly, which components will boost your performance the most for the same amount of investment. Want to take your gaming experience to the next level? Let’s dive in!

How to Determine Whether You Should Upgrade Your Gaming Setup

There are some indications that it may be time to upgrade. If your gaming rig is starting to show any of the following symptoms, it’s time to consider your next steps:

Long Loading Times: If you’re spending more time looking at loading screens than playing, that’s something’s gotta give.

Lag and Stuttering: If you are experiencing lag that disrupts gameplay (particularly in online games), your rig may not be fully equipped.

Screen Tearing: You know, those obnoxious little graphical glitches that make the game look like it’s tearing itself in half — yeah, no, don’t want.

Old Hardware: If your rig is a couple years old, it’s probably lagging in the dust. Newer games require more power, and that old graphics card ain’t gonna do it anymore.

What Do You Upgrade First?

Now that we know we need to upgrade, let’s discuss where to begin. Here’s a breakdown of the best upgrades for your gaming desktop/personal computer depending on your setup and desired outcome:

Upgrade from Low-End to High-End Graphics Card (GPU)

Graphic Card The heart of the gaming experience If you’re not using the best PS5 monitor in India or a 4K monitor for PS5, you may be wasting the full potential of a new shiny GPU. Lag? Gone. Screen tearing? Not anymore.

This is why a good graphics card can elevate your gaming experience — especially when gaming on a 4K 120Hz monitor for your PS5 or the likes. Just be sure to make sure your PSU will be up to the new card. Some of those bad boys chew through power!!

Get a New Monitor (Or Two!)

If your existing monitor seems a bit outdated, it’s time to upgrade to a display that’ll keep up with your GPU. The best monitors for PS5 need to be 4K, with high refresh rates to allow smoother graphics.

If you’re gaming on PS5 or Xbox you’ll want to pick up the best gaming TV or a 4K monitor for PS5 to enjoy your console to the fullest. If you want the smoothest gaming experience, aim for a 120Hz refresh rate.

Quick tip: If you want twice as much fun, get a second monitor for streamers or if you are multitasking. Best budget 4K TV for gaming — Gaming on a budget? Your second screen doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg!

Add More RAM

If your PC is struggling to cope with the latest games, then more RAM may well be your savior. More RAM will afford your games extra-buffer to ensure smooth real estate. If you’re running 8GB on your current system, think about going to 16GB or higher. You will notice a difference, especially if you’re Twitch streaming or running other apps during gameplay.

And don’t just buy any RAM! Current RAM is DDR4 and DDR5, and if you want to feel fancy, your optimal RAM will likely be Crucial Pro Overclocking DDR5.

Storage Upgrades: Move to SSD

If you’re still using an old-school HDD, drop it already. Replacing your Hard Drive with a Solid-State Drive (SSD) will not just make boot times faster, but also make your games load faster. No more sitting there while your game loads slowly — unless you’re talking about Massive Game Files，then perhaps some patience is required — on the best gaming TV for Xbox.

To have it work its best, install your games on the SSD and use the rest of your space for storage. You will absolutely notice the upgrade.

Power Supply Upgrade

Adding more storage or upgrading your GPU could increase your power usage. You do not want your new components going up in smoke, as your PSU simply failed to hold up. Check how much power your current power supply unit (PSU) delivers and ensure it can supply the kind of power your new hardware requires.

What is the best PSU for your gaming build? — Pro Tip: A good PSU ensures your rig is up and running. Don’t skimp on this one; it’s the lifeblood of your setup!

Consider Upgrading Your CPU

Motherboard/CPU upgrade — this one takes more work. It can be a big difference, but not necessarily unless you’re seeing performance bottlenecks. But if your processor is a couple of generations old, you should consider upgrading, especially if you play games on a high-performance monitor or in 4K.

You can’t slap a CPU in there and be done with it, so expect to upgrade your motherboard (and maybe the RAM too) to make sure everything is compatible. Nobody has to do this, but it’s a bullet-proof option if you’re putting together an absolute beast of a PC.

Everything Else: The Clicky Bits, the Sitty Parts and Cushy Things

Upgrading your peripherals is one of the least expensive ways to make the overall experience of using your setup — especially if you use it for work or gaming — even better. For your tense gaming sessions, a gaming mouse with adjustable DPI and a mechanical keyboard will have the responsiveness you need.

Don’t forget to bring your gaming chair. If you are going to spend hours in your setup, comfort is key. Believe me your back will love you after a long night of gaming.

There you have it: Don’t upgrade everything all at once

The secret to leveling up your gaming setup is to focus on what you care about most. For example, if you are playing with a good mid-high range GPU on an old 1080p 75Hz monitor, your first step may be to upgrade to a 4K 120Hz monitor. But, if your GPU is limiting you, that should be a priority.

Go slowly, and watch your wallet — there’s no requirement to buy everything at once. With the right upgrades though, you’ll be gaming like a pro in no time!

So, are you ready to step up your game? Grab your best monitor for PS5 UK and get that gaming TV upgrade! 🎮