PC gaming guide

If you want to get started right away, you may want to consider a gaming laptop as they're easy to set up and ready to use straight out of the box. They're also, of course, a lot more portable than desktops.

It's worth noting that laptops are not easy to upgrade, as components are built-in. To futureproof, you may want to choose a laptop with a powerful GPU and CPU than you currently need. Also, consider size: a larger screen may mean a heavier laptop.

If portability and set-up isn't an issue, a gaming desktop may be right for you. They are traditionally more powerful than gaming laptops, but may require a little more hardware know-how.

A benefit of a gaming desktop is the ability to easily change components. You can add RAM or a new graphics card later down the line, have your choice of monitor, keyboard and speakers, and customise til your heart's content.

RAM (random access memory) affects speed and performance. 8GB is the minimum needed for most modern games, but 16GB will offer greater speed and multi-tasking - all the better for competitive gaming. Basic games require less RAM than mainstream titles, whilst more RAM may be needed for good performance with high end games and virtual reality.

Gaming PCs are likely to have both HDD (hard disk drive) and SSD (solid-state drive) storage. Data saved in an SSD is typically fast to access and can speed up the performance of your PC whilst HDDs are able to store vast amounts of data, such as your games library.

These PCs need built-in features like fans or water cooling systems to keep cool and optimise gaming experience, especially if you plan to 'overclock': run components at a higher speed than they're designed to. While this can add to performance, it's important to ensure your PC has the right care and cooling to handle a higher level of performance or you may risk components overheating.

Your display is an important consideration - it's where you'll be looking after all! Most laptop screens are 15 to 17 inches from corner to corner, but there's some variance. Remember that the bigger the screen size, the heavier the laptop. Also take a look at resolution: a 1920 x 1080 display is considered the recommended minimum for gaming.

You can of course, link your laptop to a monitor at home, if you later want a larger screen or richer resolution.

A full HD resolution of 1920x1080 is considered the minimum - higher resolutions are available, but this comes at the cost of refresh rate speed. The faster the refresh rate, the smoother your experience will be.

Also, consider motion blur: blur reduction decreases the amount of time a frame appears on screen, meaning you should see fewer colour streaks and blurring for more stable gameplay.

For an immersive experience, you could connect your desktop to more than one monitor for multi-display gaming, allowing you to see more than on a single display.

With Argos Care, you can save yourself the hassle and pay nothing for replacements. Ts&Cs apply.

Make sense of the specs and get all the help you need.

The biggest releases right now and on the horizon.