When it comes to building or upgrading a gaming PC, understanding game requirements is crucial to ensure you have a seamless gaming experience. Knowing what you want your PC to do is the first step to deciding your specification and formulating a budget. Steam, the popular digital distribution platform, provides detailed information about the hardware specifications required to run games. This blog post will guide you through the process of checking a game's requirements on Steam and explain what each computer part means, and how we can use this information to build your ideal gaming rig at Compufixni.

Checking Game Requirements on Steam: First, open the Steam application or visit the Steam website. Use the search bar to find the game you are interested in. Once on the game's store page, scroll down to the "System Requirements" section. Here, you'll find both "Minimum" and "Recommended" system requirements. The minimum requirements indicate the least powerful hardware that can run the game, while the recommended requirements suggest hardware for an optimal experience.

Understanding Computer Parts:

Processor (CPU): The CPU is the brain of your computer. It executes instructions and processes data. Game requirements will often list the necessary CPU in terms of brand (Intel or AMD), model, and clock speed (measured in GHz). A higher clock speed and more cores usually mean better performance.

Graphics Card (GPU): The GPU handles rendering images, videos, and animations. It's crucial for gaming, as it determines how well your system can handle graphics-intensive tasks. GPUs are listed by their brand (NVIDIA or AMD), model, and VRAM (Video RAM) capacity. More VRAM allows for better performance at higher resolutions and settings.

Memory (RAM): RAM is temporary storage that your CPU uses to store and access data quickly. Games typically require a minimum amount of RAM to run smoothly. The requirements will specify this in gigabytes (GB). More RAM can improve multitasking and overall system performance. Storage: Games need somewhere to be installed and run from, which is where storage comes in. Requirements will specify the type (HDD vs. SSD) and amount of storage needed. SSDs are faster and reduce load times, providing a better gaming experience compared to traditional HDDs. We would recommend 1TB (equivalent to 1000 GB) to start, if gaming is your goal, as you will find modern games will fill your storage quickly.

Operating System (OS): The OS is the software that manages hardware and software resources. Game requirements will list compatible operating systems (e.g., Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux). Ensure your system runs a supported OS to avoid compatibility issues. Most gaming requires a Windows PC.

Building Your Gaming PC and how OMNI by compufixni can benefit you: Once you understand the requirements, you can start selecting components that meet or exceed the recommended specifications. Aim for a balance between performance and budget. Consider future-proofing your build by choosing slightly better components than currently required, allowing you to enjoy upcoming games without immediate upgrades.

Whether the above made complete sense to you or it was complete goblideegook - we can help. Our experts can talk you through the process and if you need, help you spec out the machine that is right for you. We never do a pushy sales pitch, and always provide honest advice about where you need to be with your budget and specifications. We are equiped with our in store PC builder, which allows you to select the parts and filter based on compatibility. Just pop int our store on Granges Street, Ballyclare for your free quote today.

When you are happy with your dream PC, our experts will get started on building it for you. You can expect to be gaming within 48hrs (excluding days that we are closed).

Why choose us to build it?

• Expertly built by experts with over 40 years of combined computational experience and a passion for gaming.
• 1 year, no quibble warranty.
• We aren't going anywhere! We are happy to continue supporting throughout your gaming journey. We can provide both repairs, upgrades and gaming accessories, all in one place. Hopefully this helps you make a more informed choice when crafting your PC requirements.

Happy gaming!

-Team OMNI