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Agaming computer, also known as agaming PC, is a specializedpersonal computer designed for playingPC games at high standards. They typically differ from mainstream personal computers by using high-performancegraphics cards, a high core-countCPU with higher rawperformance and higher-performanceRAM. Gaming PCs are also used for other demanding tasks such asvideo editing.[2] While often indesktop form, gaming PCs may also belaptops orhandhelds.
TheNimrod, designed byJohn Makepeace Bennett, built by Raymond Stuart-Williams and exhibited in the 1951 Festival of Britain, is regarded as the first gaming computer. Bennett did not intend for it to be a real gaming computer, however, as it was supposed to be an exercise in mathematics as well as to prove computers could "carry out very complex practical problems", not purely for enjoyment.[3]
Few years later,game consoles like theMagnavox Odyssey (released in 1972) and theAtari 2600 (released 1977) were the basis of the future of not just gaming consoles, but gaming computers as well with their increasing popularity with families everywhere.[4] The first "modern" computer was made in 1942, theAtanasoff–Berry Computer (ABC for short). Unlike moderndesktops andlaptops, the ABC was a gargantuan machine that occupied "1,800 square feet… weighing almost 50 tons",.[5] When theApple II and theCommodore 64 were released in 1977 and 1982 respectively, personal computers became more appealing for general consumer use.[6]TheCommodore 64 was an affordable and relatively powerful computer for its time in 1982,[7] featuring anMOS Technology 6510 CPU with 64 kb ofRAM. It could display up to "40 columns and 25 lines of text" along with 16 colors on its 320x200 resolution screen.[8]The Apple II cost around US$1,298 in 1977 ($5,633 adjusted for inflation in 2021) and the Commodore 64 cost aroundUS$595 (equivalent to $1,939 in 2024), making it expensive for most consumers.[9][10] However, their overall computing power, efficiency, and compact size was more advanced from even the most advanced computers at the time.[11][12]
IBM PC-compatibles have been the dominant types of PCs globally, both mainstream and by extension in gaming, since the 1990s. During that decade a number of special PC product lines were created byOEMs that focused on pre-built gaming desktop computers, such asAlienware, formed in 1997; andHP with theirOMEN division, whose lineage dates back to 1991 under the defunct brandVoodooPC; and both of which continue to be marketed today.
From the mid-1990s as3D gaming was taking off, companies like3dfx (with their Voodoo) andNvidia (with theirRIVA 128) advanced the market with their new graphical processing units.[13]
More manufacturers started making gaming PC lines (or were started for this purpose) during the 2000s and 2010s, such asToshiba's now-defunctQosmio;Asus's ROG (Republic of Gamers) and TUF;Acer'sPredator line;Lenovo'sLegion; andRazer. During this time, gaming laptops started to gain popularity.[14] More recently in the 2020s, portable handheld gaming PCs have started to gain traction that run on full desktopx86 (thede facto standard) platforms. These began with GPD'sWin and Alienware's UFO concept, inspired by theNintendo Switch (which is not a PC), and have been popularized byValve Corporation'sSteam Deck.[15][16][17]
65.1 million gaming products have been sold overall as of 2021, of which 27.9 million are gamingnotebooks, 19.7 million are gamingmonitors, and 17.5 million are gamingdesktops.[18]
Technically, any computer can be considered a "gaming computer"; however the most common ones are typically based around anx86-basedCPU with agraphics accelerator card, a sufficient amount of high-performanceRAM, and faststorage drives.
In adesktop configuration, acase is also needed, and gaming cases are often modified or manufactured with extraLED lights or see-through panels for aesthetic reasons.[19][20] Individual components are typically attached to amotherboard through differentbus slots, including the CPU, RAM, and graphics card, or wired to it withSATA orIDE cabling (for hard disks oroptical drives).[21]Laptops also share a similar format, but with smaller and less power hungry components.
Gamers and computer enthusiasts may choose tooverclock their CPUs and GPUs in order to gain extra performance. The added power draw needed to overclock either processing unit often requires additional cooling, usually byair cooling orwater cooling.[22]
These configurations mostly dates back to the 1990s whenIntel andMicrosoft first began todominate the PC marketplace, and has not changed significantly since then.[23] Hardware specs continue to improve over time due to the graphical demands of games, especially with architectural and other changes within CPU andGPU designs.
Senior editor ofTom's Hardware Andrew Freedman says that "Gaming rigs aren't one-size fits all", and that there are certain instances where a gaming desktop will be more appropriate than a laptop and other circumstances where a laptop is more appropriate than a desktop.[24] Each platform has its pros and cons, which may change depending on a person's needs. For example, someone looking for maximum portability may choose a laptop over a desktop since it is all self-contained in one unit, whereas a desktop setup is split up into multiple components: a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and the desktop itself. Freedman states that laptops are ideal candidates forLAN parties, especially ones equipped with "Nvidia's Max-Q GPUs" which "can easily fit into a backpack and don't pack outrageously large chargers".[24]
Gamingdesktop computers are the most versatile types of gaming computers. People usually buy gaming PCs because they want the performance that is expected of them. The majority of this potential lies in the parts of desktops, which can be overclocked for more performance, as well as being able to withstand abuse thanks to their higher durability.[24] The large chassis on a desktop also allows for morefans, for improved cooling and heat dissipation, which would ultimately lead to improved gaming performance.[25]
Pre-built desktops, may use "proprietary motherboards that aren't standard sizes". These uniquely shaped motherboards can limit the owner's capability to upgrade components in the future, but they can still generally change out "the RAM, GPU and… CPU".[26]Razer Inc.'s project Christine (2014) proposes the use of modules to allow for fast replacement of computer parts.[27]
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Laptop gaming computers give the ability for gaming on portable computers. The usable space inside a laptop is much more limited compared to a desktop. There are also fewer items that can be changed out on a laptop than a desktop, like RAM and storage, compared to a desktop where almost all the components, including motherboards and CPUs, can be swapped out with the latest technology available at the time.[24]
Handheld PCs built for gaming are a relatively recent form factor. Due to their mobile chassis, they are the most limited types of gaming computers as components generally can't be upgraded. Handheld gaming PCs may come with a physical keyboard or may discard it entirely to be styled like ahandheld gaming console.[17]
As stated before, there are options PC gamers take into account when deciding to build their own unit versus buying a pre-built one. There are not many options when it comes to the laptop configuration but they do exist. Jason Clarke, a contributor to Chillblast, mentioned that there are a number of builders that deal specifically with laptops, with some adding configurable features that were not originally there, such as being able to change CPUs and GPUs.[28] These PC builders build from scratch, and the possibility to change out CPUs and GPUs after they have been installed is unlikely. Clarke also advised that people should and cannot build their own laptops because of how complex and compact everything is.[29]
Many PC gamers and journalists, like Clarke and Freedman, advise people to start with gaming desktops as they are the way to go when seeking pure performance. Pre-built desktops like Alienware'sAurora R11 are ready-to-go systems with a history behind them, but some claim that their systems are over-priced. This is mainly due to the cost of building the PC and ease of access for components for the consumer. Marshall Honorof, a writer for Tom's Guide, explains that the steps on how to build a gaming PC from scratch "can be a daunting process, particularly for newcomers" but it could be one of the best technological decisions someone can make. According to his research, Honorof found that $1,500 is enough to buy a "powerful, but not quite top-of-the-line" computer and one can choose his or her own components.[30]
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