How to Create a Gaming Computer

The PC remains the best platform for gaming, whether it be for esports, graphics fidelity, and even massive multiplayer experiences. There are hundreds of thousands of titles available and digital distribution services like Steam and GOG make it easier than ever to build a game collection without leaving the house. We’ll run you through how to set up and configure your PC, get started with said digital stores and get the most out of Windows 10 for all things games.

Hardware ready

Before you begin with gaming on a PC, you first need to buy or build one capable of running whatever you wish to play. Unlike consoles, games released for PC have different requirements, some are more demanding than others. Depending on what kind of power the PC you’ll be using packs, you’ll need to adjust graphics settings accordingly, which allows you to reduce the look of a game slightly to improve performance. It’s a delicate balancing act but offers more control than a console.

There are many pre-built options out there but building your own can cut some costs but you’ll need to troubleshoot everything yourself. Generally speaking, you’ll want to aim for at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia GTX 1070 GPU. This will allow you to enjoy even more demanding titles at 1440p resolution and a comfortable 60 frames-per-second at the very least.

And unlike a console where a TV and living room are usually an ideal combination, for PC gaming it’s all about the gaming den and smaller monitor. 25-inch panels are generally considered the sweet spot, especially when you consider 1440p. 4K isn’t quite ready, regardless of what console makers and others would lead you to believe. Even a pricier GTX 1080 struggles to push content at that resolution — give it a few more years.

You’d be hard-pressed to build a PC that matches the Xbox One X for 4K gaming at the X’s price point, but a PC offers so much more and is well worth the added cost.

Preparing Windows 10

Microsoft’s latest OS is a solid piece of kit. Windows 10 not only offers excellent levels of performance in games but also comes pretty well-optimized out-the-box. You should be good to go as soon as you complete the initial OS installation but one of the most important tasks you’ll need to complete is to update your GPU drivers, depending on which vendor you’ve chosen to go with (AMD or Nvidia):

Another good idea is to ensure you have the latest updates for Windows 10 itself and you have all drivers installed for other PC components — this aids in keeping everything working together in harmony. We compiled some other useful tips, which while aren’t as important as keeping drivers up-to-date may help extract even more performance from your setup.

Lastly, you’ll want to download Discord, which is the go-to app for gamers who wish to communicate with friends. In order to talk with them, you’ll need a headset.

Full Steam ahead

Now that your PC is all configured and ready for action, you need to install some games. There are two major storefronts that are popular right now — Steam and GOG. As well as these two, you also have the choice between some publisher stores like Ubisoft’s UPlay, Blizzard’s Battle.net, and EA’s Origin, not to mention Amazon and retailer websites for physical copies.

For digital downloads, each of the available storefronts work in similar ways. You download and install the software, create an account and attach necessary payment information, browse the catalog of games and make purchases. Any games you buy can subsequently be downloaded and installed. GOG is unique in that it allows for you to run games without DRM protection, meaning you don’t have to be logged in to play games, nor do you need to have the GOG suite installed.

Shop around. You don’t need to rely on just one platform.

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For me, I simply prefer the trusty keyboard and mouse, and I can’t get used to controllers for first-person-shooter games. Plus, games can look better on PC than they do on consoles, and you can use it as a computer for work, or whatever else.

For those looking for ideas on what parts to get, I’ve compiled a list for a powerful gaming PC that’ll handle pretty much any game now and for the next few years at high graphics settings and frame rates.

You can certainly look at less powerful parts, but I included higher-end components for future-proofing reasons, hence the leaning towards quality over value for this build.

Check out the parts I’d pick if I were to build a high-end gaming PC right now:

The first thing you should think about is the processor (CPU).

Why? Because it’ll dictate what motherboard you get, as both the CPU and motherboard need to be compatible. Don’t worry, I’ll suggest a good motherboard soon.

When you’re buying parts for a new gaming PC, you generally want to get the latest generation CPU. While most games aren’t super CPU-intensive, it’s a good idea to get a powerful CPU that’ll last you a long time if your goal is to keep this gaming PC for several years. With that in mind, avoid getting a Core i3.

The Intel Core i5 6600 is a great, mid-to-high end CPU that’ll serve your gaming needs now and for years to come. It’s part of Intel’s latest line of CPU that are available to buy.

Its “socket” type is LGA 1151, which means it’ll fit in motherboards that support the 1151 socket.

Learn how to become a gaming programmer. Research the education requirements, training, and experience needed to start a career as a gaming programmer.

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Should I Be a Gaming Programmer?

Gaming programmers help write and code the software for video games. In your job, you’ll typically be part of a collaborative creative team that includes game designers and artists. Your work will primarily be in the area of coding, which tells the computer or system what to do for the game to be played.

As a gaming programmer, you might design core game features, oversee game testing and conduct design reviews. You could also work in production, artistic concept, and game play. This career allows for great creativity, but the competition for jobs is intense.

Career Requirements

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerBuilder.com, Payscale.com

Steps to Be a Gaming Programmer

Step 1: Develop High Level Math Skills

Because coding is by definition the creation of a mathematical equation that directs the computer to perform in certain ways, game programmers need high level math skills in order to be successful. Northeastern University recommends that incoming freshman seeking a degree in video game programming have had high school coursework in trigonometry, physics, and calculus. It is also important for game programmers to understand linear algebra and basic algorithms. If you are lacking in some of these courses, be prepared to take them early in your college years.

Step 2: Get a Bachelor’s Degree

Gaming programmers may have a general background in computer science or they may have completed a formal education program to become a video game designer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes computer programmers most often have bachelor’s degrees. These degrees are often in computer science or computer engineering. A bachelor’s program in video game programming will typically include classes in C++, calculus, object-oriented design, game algorithms, computer graphics, and network fundamentals. Degrees in computer game programming can be earned on campus or online.

Step 3: Build a Portfolio

The most effective way to get noticed by gaming studios is to create games and put them in a portfolio. According to senior technical staff from Blitz Games Studios, a successful portfolio should include several small games that can be played to completion. The portfolio should offer the viewer links to all the installation software needed for each game to work. As a backup, there should be screenshots of crucial game scenes so the games can be evaluated even if the support software products required are not readily available at the time of the portfolio review. The portfolio should have source code for all the games. The notes should give credit to any collaborators who might have helped with elements of the game’s design, programming or presentation.

Step 4: Find an Entry Level Position as a Game Programmer

Entry level programmers often have difficulty breaking into the video game industry because most major studios require experience. Some new programmers find their first professional positions at smaller studios, making short, simple games for mobile devices and social media sites. One way to gain an advantage in the competitive job market is by networking on the blogs, forums, and websites most often visited by game developers. Sometimes the professional contacts gained through these sites will ask for portfolios or advertise available positions not found on traditional job boards.

Success Tip:

To increase the chances of finding an entry level position, get an internship first. One of the most effective ways for new programmers to gain the experience needed for an entry level position is to get an internship. Some of the companies that offer positions for interns include Volition Inc, EA Games, Insomniac Games, and LucasArts. Companies seeking interns typically require that their recruits have skills in C++, 3D graphics, artificial intelligence, and physics as well as strong problem-solving skills.

Step 5: Advance to Become a Software Developer

With enough experience, programmers may become software developers. While some duties between these two positions overlap, developers typically spend more time designing and conceptualizing games, rather than coding them.

Gaming programmers face stiff competition in the job market, so they must prepare themselves with high-level math courses, programming courses, bachelor’s degrees, portfolios, and internships hoping to land entry-level positions that will lead them to higher positions in the programming world.

Expert Contributor: Edward LaBarge Edward is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional & digital forensic examiner. He’s taught cyber crime courses & worked in the US Army.

With some 30 years of video gaming history now behind us, there’s never been a greater choice of retro games to dig back into, whether it’s on your smartphone or a classic console rebooted for modern times . For the more serious seekers of gaming nostalgia, there are plenty of hands-on projects you can attempt yourself, and these are some of the best we’ve found. So prep your wallet, brush up on your coding and handyman skills, and get ready to build.

1) Turn a Raspberry Pi into an all-in-one console

The Raspberry Pi is a retro gamer’s dream and there are all kinds of ways to relive your gaming youth with one of these mini computers. One of the easiest and most comprehensive is via the RetroPie software, which lets you emulate everything from a PlayStation to a Game Boy. You can even pack it all into a tiny 3D printed case. We’re especially fond of this one that looks like a SNES that we used in our guide for building your own RetroPie system .

2) Turn a Raspberry Pi into a Game Boy

If you really want a retro-gaming project to get your teeth into then this Game Boy one on Adafruit fits the bill. As well as getting familiar with emulators on the Raspberry Pi, you also need to build some custom electronics of your own and find a 3D printer to create a case to fit everything into, but the end results are should be worth all of that time and effort.

3) Turn a Raspberry Pi into a NES Classic

For those of you who can’t get your hands on a NES Classic or just want to get creative by building your own, there are several DIY options to pick from. Over at Howchoo you can find a detailed guide for stuffing an entire Raspberry Pi emulator setup inside an original NES cartridge (you’ll need to take the game out first) and hooking it up to your TV set.

4) Build an arcade cabinet

If you like to think a little bigger than a Raspberry Pi then there’s always the option of building your own arcade cabinet and instantly transporting yourself back to the 80s. This informative Instructables guide takes you through the process of modding an old cabinet and control deck, though it doesn’t cover configuring the PC that ultimately runs it all. For that you should probably check out the next project.

5) Build the guts of an arcade cabinet

For help with the electronics inside your arcade cabinet, few guides are as detailed and as comprehensive as this one from I Like To Make Stuff (it’s actually part 3 in a series). In this case an Arduino Uno is used to run the actual emulator and its retro games, but there’s a lot of other electronics to think about as well, including speakers, lighting, and controllers.

6) Build a mini arcade cabinet

Maybe a smaller arcade cabinet would suit your living space better and thanks to the shrinking size of modern-day electronics that’s possible too. This Porta Pi project is powered by the Raspberry Pi, as the name suggests, and can sit easily on top of a desk. You can buy the kit required from the links in the description and then put it together yourself.

7) Put a retro games console inside a controller

Games consoles of years past were nowhere near as powerful as the electronics of today, which means you can cram old-school systems into very tiny spaces— as this guide demonstrates. You won’t actually need to track down an old NES or Atari to cannibalize. Instead you use the MAKERbuino system, based around Arduino and compatible with the open source Gamebuino platform. Besides building a cool GameBoy like device you’ll also learn some basic coding and electronics skills.

8) Build your own arcade coffee table

If a full-size arcade cabinet won’t fit in your living room then you can convert your coffee table instead, and even add charging ports for your regular gadgets. You can use a basic PC system or a Raspberry Pi to run the emulator software, and of course customize the table to suit your needs. Lifehacker has a comprehensive guide on how to get it set up.

9) Put a retro console inside an original console

Many of us have outdated consoles lying around the house and some of them can be upgraded to meet modern-day audio and video standards. Again, the emulator-friendly Raspberry Pi can act as the hub of the whole operation, or you can build your own mini PC inside the casing you have, depending on how ambitious (and wealthy) you’re feeling.

10) Turn any PC into a retro emulator

The Raspberry Pi is a powerful system for emulating games, but some games need more than the processor punch of the Pi. Building a custom PC, or re-configuring an old one lying around is a great alternative and Lakka is evidence of that. The Linux-based OS combines two popular emulators and can run on almost any normal PC—with that done, you can then put your computer components inside any kind of housing you like, from an arcade cabinet to a 3D-printed Mario case and play the latest and greatest emulated games.

11) Use an old TV as a retro gaming console

There’s a lot of room inside old CRT TVs—plenty of room for a Raspberry Pi running RetroPie, for example. This useful guide from the Element14 community shows you how to fit the Pi and get the video and controller connections sorted, and if you’ve got an old television lying around the house then this is a great way of bringing it back to (retro) life.

12) Build a mechanical Donkey Kong

You can’t actually play this mechanical version of Donkey Kong, but you can build it yourself and marvel at its ingenuity . The designer behind it has put together a number of posts on the various bits that go together to make the finished product, but of course the beauty of any do-it-yourself project is you can tweak the instructions as you like.

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DISCUSSION

Mine’s a combination of 9 and 10. I spent a lot more than if I’d gone the Raspberry Pi route, but I wanted to make sure I had the oomph for PSP/PSone/Dreamcast emulation.

I basically gutted an NES and stuffed in a microITX mobo with built-in wifi and bluetooth, low-wattage Core i3, 4GB of RAM, low profile CPU cooler, and 128GB SSD. I crimped some wires into a mobo header and soldered them to the NES’s original power switch and power LED. I used Lakka for the OS, and I paired it with an 8bitdo NES30 Pro so I’d have something that looked like an appropriate match with the NES but have enough buttons and sticks for the aforementioned PSP/PSone/Dreamcast emulation.

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Buying a gaming PC used to be only for people with more money than time (or sense), but times have absolutely changed. Prices have come down to the point where building your own doesn’t save you as much as it once did. Even if you do pay a price premium, you get perks like support, warranties, and discounts by buying prebuilt. But before you whip out your credit card, here are some things you should think about first to make sure prebuilt is right for you.

When is it ever really the right time to get a gaming PC? They can cost as much as a used car, without the getting-to-places utility, and can prove as finicky as a large houseplant (without the air-cleansing benefits). Hear us out, though. We’re not really going anywhere right now, and unlike most houseplants, gaming PCs can last you about a decade if you invest time and money.

Gaming PC retailers really bury the lede on why gaming PCs are worth anywhere from $700 to $3,000. You don’t drop all that money just to play next-gen games with 4K resolution or to get the competitive edge with mouse-and-keyboard shooter accuracy. Gaming PCs are a social play environment. They offer access to an ecosystem of multiplayer games, in which you, friends, and strangers occupy the same digital space—in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, competitive shooters like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, MOBAs like League of Legends, and in the infrastructure of PC gaming apps, including Discord and Steam.

Gaming PCs are channels for passive socializing, a way to stay in touch with homies or make new ones. A lot can be said before “Where we droppin’, boys?” and today’s online avatars are as expressive as ever. It’s hard not to feel lonely in quarantine, and for a lot of people, their gaming PCs form the heart of their daily online bonds.

“We’re seeing tens of digits of percentage increase in the amount of time people are playing at home, and tens of digits of increase in the amount of people playing,” says Intel’s GM of desktop Frank Soqui. “Gaming keeps people connected. Although you feel isolated at home, it’s extremely social—you can do things like stream your game, social media elements for voice and text in-game. Sometimes, people don’t use the game to game. They use it to hang out and connect again.”

Covid-19 has thrown much of the manufacturing world into flux. A lot of PC component manufacturers are based in China, which was hit hard by Covid-19. PC shipments have fallen 8 percent this year, according to analytics firm Canalys—the largest drop since 2013.

On the other hand, both AMD and Intel described PC and PC component prices as stable in interviews with WIRED. “We haven’t seen much volatility outside of the typical pricing competitiveness that we’re used to in our industry,” says Frank Azor, AMD’s chief architect of gaming solutions.

“We’ve seen prices fairly stable, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see one pick up here and there, depending on the manufacturer,” says Intel’s Soqui. Data on PCPartPicker.com corroborates this; although prices for video cards went up last year, they’ve remained mostly stable ever since. Monitor and power supply prices are a little up, and CPUs have had small ups and downs. Overall, nothing major.

PCPartPicker.com owner Philip Carmichael echoed this sentiment in an email: “Prices have remained fairly stable. However, we’re seeing a significant decrease in availability. With so many parts out of stock, getting the specific brand or model of components you want can be challenging.”

The obvious answer is, “You play videogames, you dork.” But gaming PCs have a lot of unappreciated range.

Let’s talk about gaming first. If you want to spend quarantine looming over a rainbow-lit mechanical keyboard in a dark room playing League of Legends and eating frozen pizza, we are completely behind that. That is a respectable existence. It’s the face of PC gaming—hardcore hardware running a hardcore game. Most top-level competitive gamers and esports pros play on a gaming PC because it generally means more accuracy, more fidelity, and less lag.

The online multiplayer gaming lifestyle is more inclusive than it ever was. (Although that’s not saying much.) Game companies have realized, finally, that by making their games easy for newcomers to understand, they can sell more games and in-game items. That perhaps cynical financial calculus has benefited countless newbie PC gamers, curious to check out what all the fuss over Overwatch or Fortnite was about. Barriers to entry are getting lower, with a lot of games going free-to-play and offering free trials, so if you want to dip your toe into the competitive multiplayer games your friends can’t stop raving about, now is a great time. Plus, when you’re playing alone, you’ll be sorted into a skill tier and matched with other newbie players until you git guud.

With a gaming PC, you can also really spec out your Witcher 3 play-through, but before you take the plunge and buy one, consider what sort of games you might want to play and where they’re available for less money. Basically everything is landing on PC eventually, except Nintendo games, and there’s a huge and vibrant PC indie game market on Steam and Itch.io. Yet if you’re mostly playing AAA single-player games, a gaming PC may not be a worthwhile investment. Although they go out of date much more slowly than a Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft console, the initial buy-in price is pretty high. The pitch for playing demanding single-player games on a gaming PC is that you can update your hardware as game tech improves, although Intel’s Soqui says that, on average, gamers change in new systems every two years. That’s a lot of money!

Because the image of a gaming PC user is so focused around games, it’s easy to forget that gaming PCs are bigger than their marketing pitch. They’re whole-ass entertainment systems. You can keep one in your living room and watch Netflix off it. At parties, you can toss up “lofi hip hop radio – beats to relax/study to.” You can connect controllers and play couch co-op or local multiplayer games, like Gang Beasts, Sonic All Stars Racing, or Wizard of Legend. Gaming PCs are versatile pieces of technology.

Gaming PCs double as excellent and reliable home offices too. (Unless your employer asks everyone to use Apple hardware.) If you can ignore the temptation to catch a game of Magic: The Gathering Arena during your morning Zoom meeting, a powerful gaming PC might help boost your productivity. Plus, with peripherals, your setup may be a lot nicer than what your actual office supplies.

Whenever someone talks about buying a gaming PC, the first response they get is “Why don’t you build one instead? It’s probably cheaper and you can get better specs.” Here’s the thing: That’s probably true. You could probably do the research yourself as to which video card can really max out the settings on the games you like to play, which case would look just perfect on your desk, and which color LEDs would totally match your gaming chair. If all of that sounds right to you, and you don’t mind putting in the time and energy, you should absolutely do that.

Whether you love first-person shooters or hunting for treasure in pixelated paradises, there are times when you’ve wanted a little more from your gaming experience.

Maybe you want to experience your virtual worlds in higher definition, or you’re curious about exactly what makes your computer run the way it does.

Building your own computer is the answer. Not only do you have complete control over which components you choose, you also get to peer under the hood and see what makes a PC run.

If that sounds intimidating, take a deep breath and relax. There’s no need to break out the soldering iron. All you need to build your first gaming computer is the right set of parts, a screwdriver, and some patience.

Here are the components you’ll need to build your first gaming PC.

Processor

Your central processing unit, or CPU, is often referred to as the computer’s brain. It controls the number of tasks your computer can accomplish at once and how quickly it can complete said tasks.

While there are a lot of specs you can use to compare central processing units, for your first build it’s OK to find one that’s a little cheaper but gets the job done. Ask friends who game what processors they have and how they like them. Research their recommendations and pick the one that seems best for you.

The motherboard houses the various components of your gaming PC. Like a flesh-and-blood mother, it takes the disparate pieces, sits them down in their proper places, and helps them behave well together.

Take some time to think ahead about the other members of your PC family—like the video card, memory, and other components you want to use—to choose a motherboard that accommodates them.

Memory

While many of us struggle to think of what we ate for lunch yesterday (fish tacos, maybe?), computers equipped with the right memory sticks have rock-solid short-term memories. Random access memory, or RAM, allows computers to access files quickly and run multiple processes at once without lagging.

You’ll want at least 4GB of RAM for your computer. Anything less than that and many games won’t run. As an upper limit, most online enthusiasts agree that 16GB of RAM is more than enough for your gaming needs.

Check out the motherboard’s specs to determine how many RAM sticks you need and what speeds and types are available.

Graphics processing unit

The graphics processing unit, also known as the GPU, graphics card, or video card, is a pretty flashy component. Not only does it look cool, but it makes your games appear photorealistic without crashing your computer or slowing your gameplay.

There are sites that stress-test graphics cards and publish reviews pointing out flaws in aesthetics and execution. Reading these is a great way to figure out what card to buy.

Storage

It can be tricky to know exactly how much storage you’ll need. Make your best informed guess. Look at how much space your current list of games requires and use this number as a benchmark.

Then there’s another choice you have to make. You can buy either a hard drive or a solid-state drive (SSD). Some sources recommend combining a lower-end SSD with a hard drive for the best of both worlds. But if you can cover your storage needs with an SSD alone, it may be helpful to go this route, as these drives can halve loading times, no problem.

If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. It’s possible to add storage to your PC in the future.

Power supply

You’re going to need to harness the power of electricity to bring your PC to life. This is where a quality power supply unit, or PSU, comes into play.

Avoid settling for the cheapest PSU to plug into your new machine. If you buy nice components, but penny-pinch for your power supply, you may find that you’ve literally torched your investment.

The computer case is where everything comes together. Like a good power source, a nice case can last you multiple rebuilds over many years.

To invest in your “forever” case, look for one that’s made of metal rather than plastic, with plenty of space on the inside to keep your current components ventilated while leaving room for future replacement parts.

And, of course, always check the reviews. It can be tricky to tell from an online photo how well a piece will perform when you have it under your desk.

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The Goal amounts listed in this post are estimates. The actual cost of this gear may vary based on the specs of the parts you decide to purchase.

Windows 10 has a built-in tool called Game Bar to help you record your screen during PC and Xbox gaming sessions. But this tool can also be used to record non-gaming apps.

Taking a screenshot in Windows 10 is fairly quick and simple. You can easily snap your screen using the handy Print Screen button on your keyboard and fine-tune it via the Snip & Sketch tool. Capturing video of your screen activity is more challenging, but Microsoft makes it possible through the use of a built-in video capture tool called Game Bar.

Game Bar was designed to record games you play directly on your PC, or those you stream from an Xbox One, but it can just as easily capture video of screen activity from your web browser, Windows applications, and many other programs. Any screen activity you record is automatically saved as an MP4 video file.

Game Bar does impose certain system requirements, including the right type of graphics card. If you try to use Game Bar and your PC isn’t up to snuff, you may receive an error telling you that your PC doesn’t meet the hardware requirement for recording clips. But fear not, as there is a way around this limitation.

Enable Screen Recording

First, make sure that Game Bar is enabled. Open Settings > Gaming > Game bar and turn on the switch to Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game Bar, if it’s not already on. If you have an Xbox One controller, or Xbox 360 controller with the right driver, you can even trigger Game Bar through the Xbox button on the gamepad. From this screen, you can also change any of the keyboard shortcuts associated with opening the Game Bar, taking a screenshot, and recording video.

Open what you wish to record. You can start a recording from most applications and windows, but there are exceptions. You can’t kick off a capture from the Windows desktop, File Explorer, or certain Windows apps such as Weather. Otherwise, the field is pretty wide open.

Record Your Screen

Press Win+G to open the Game Bar. Several Game Bar widgets pop up with options for capturing screenshots, controlling your video and audio, and viewing your Xbox social account. The pane also displays the name of your current app, file, or window as the source for the video capture.

Click the camera icon to take a simple screenshot or hit the Start Recording button to capture your screen activity. Instead of going through the Game Bar pane, you can also just press Win+Alt+R to start your recording.

The first time you choose to record screen activity from a specific application or window, Game Bar needs your permission. Click the checkbox to “Enable gaming features for this app to record gameplay.” Click the Start Recording button again, and the video capture starts.

You can now perform whatever screen actions you want to capture. The Game Bar widgets vanish, replaced by a small floating bar in the upper-right corner of the screen through which you can control the recording.

To stop the recording, click the Recording button on the floating bar. A notification appears telling you that the game clip was recorded. Click the notification, and File Explorer opens to the specified location. Just double-click the video file to play it in its associated application.

If you don’t like where video captures are being saved by default, you can always change the location. Go to Settings > Gaming > Captures. Click the Open folder button and choose a different folder.

Recording in the Background

Have you ever done something on your computer and then suddenly wished you’d captured the moment? With the Windows 10 Game Bar, you can record the last several seconds or minutes of screen activity after you’ve already performed it.

To do this, you first need to grant permission for the computer to record your activities in the background. Open the Game Bar and click the Settings icon. Scroll down the Settings screen and check the box to Record in the background while I’m playing a game. While here, you can click the drop-down menu for Record the last and change the interval to anywhere from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.

Now you need never miss a moment again. Just click the Record last 30 sec button, and a video is generated based on the number of seconds or minutes you set.

Customize Game Bar

You can view your video captures, control which widgets appear, and customize an array of settings directly through Game Bar. Press Win+G to open the Game Bar. In the Capture widget, click the Show All Captures link to see a list of all your captured videos. Click the video you want to play.

Windows allows you to set which widgets pop up when Game Bar is activated. From the Game Bar display, close the window for any widget that you don’t want to see. In the top widget toolbar, click the Widget menu icon to the right of the time, then select the widgets you want to use. You can also turn certain widgets on or off by clicking the appropriate icon on the top widget toolbar.

Click the Settings icon at the right end of the top widget. Here, you can view and change the accounts, shortcuts, theme, recording options, notifications, and other controls for Game Bar.

If you bump into problems with Game Bar, or the tool won’t let you capture your screen activity, your best bet is to check Microsoft’s web page on “Troubleshoot Xbox Game Bar on Windows 10.”

Game Bar Workaround

But what if you receive an error that your device doesn’t meet the hardware requirement for recording clips? Assuming you can’t change your PC hardware or video card, there is one trick you can try courtesy of a third-party utility called Game DVR Config.

If you’re looking to equip yourself with a killer gaming PC, you have the option of building your own computer from scratch. The obvious benefit of your own build is that you get to determine what goes into the PC.

Plus, you will have a better understanding of how your PC works, something you wouldn’t necessarily know if otherwise. That’s not even mentioning the amount of money you are likely going to save.

If you are looking to build a gaming PC with enough horsepower to run games like Monster Hunter World, then you should aim for a machine that focuses on graphics performance. This is what you will be focusing over the next few paragraphs. Build a pure gaming machine that you can use even with the best virtual reality headsets on the market!

However, use the general gist of this guide to improve on any areas you feel necessary for you as an individual.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Choose Your Components

The first step to creating your very own perfect gaming PC is selecting these fine ingredients:

• Intel Core i5-4590 CPU – More and more games on the market are making use of multiple core architectures. This processor turbos up to 3.7GHz from the base 3.3GHz, and offers you a 6MB L3 cache.
• Asus H97M-E Motherboard – This versatile motherboard offers you room for improving your build using USB ports and SATA interfaces.
• AMD Radeon R9 290X Graphics Card – This card will easily play GTA V at its highest settings.
• Crucial MX100 512GB SSD Storage – You need to consider the space the OS itself will take as well as space required for a few games.
• XFX Core Edition 550W Power Supply – Modern motherboards, chipsets, processors, and SSDs are not as power hungry as devices of a few years ago. The only piece of equipment likely to tax this power supply is the graphics card.
• Corsair 8GB (2 X 4GB) DDR3 Memory – Modern games are more exacting at the memory front, while speed is not important, capacity matters.
• Chassis – It’s always a good idea to go with a bigger case for extra cooling space. In addition, look for a chassis with a tool-free design that makes building more of a pleasure than a pain.

Before you start putting everything together, it’s worthy to note that a few assumptions have been made. For instance, these instructions assume that you already have a screwdriver, screen, keyboard and mouse.

In addition, you have an Internet connection; you might have noticed that the PC build doesn’t have an optical drive. Most people don’t use them any more – not unless they are looking to rip old music CDs!

Step 2: Start Inside Out and Grease Up

Remove your motherboard from its antistatic bag and drop the processor in place. Drive the two memory sticks into their slots and gently slide the graphics card in place.

Before attaching the CPU cooler to the board, dab a blob of thermal grease on the processor to ensure good contact. The ideal size of the blob should be at least a few grains of rice worth, once you attach the cooler, it will spread out the blob into an even layer.

Connect the Power Supply Unit (PSU) ATX cable and CPU power cables to the motherboard. Attach the 6-pin and PCIe connectors to the graphics card.

Step 3: Carry Out a Naked Boot Test

Without attaching the drives, connect your screen to the graphics card and plug in your keyboard. Power up your PSU and start the bare machine by shorting power pins on the front panel connector using a screwdriver – check the motherboard manual for its power button location.

What you are checking for is that the unit starts, fans spin, you get the POST screen, and that you can get into the BIOS. Ensure that the motherboard is indicating the right CPU and RAM.

Now that the core works, shut down your machine and unplug the PSU from the mains. Remove power cables leading to motherboard and graphics card, but leave the CPU, cooler fan and RAM in place.

Step 4: Install into the Chassis

Before dropping the motherboard into the chassis, install the PSU in place, and orientate it in such a manner that it sucks air from outside. Pulling the mass of cables out of the way, attach the motherboard into the chassis and screw it into place.

Next, add your SSD drive into one of the front facing racks in the case and attach the SATA cable. Now install your graphics card into a primary PCIe slot and screw the bracket to chassis.

Step 5: Panel Power and Cable Management

Use the motherboard manual to locate connectors that you attach to the chassis front panel components like audio and USB headers. Connect the reset switch, power and storage lights, and secure the cables.

Plug in the long motherboard power cable first followed by GPU, CPU and drive power connectors, finish by ensuring that the cables do not obstruct any of the fans. Once you have taken care of all the essentials, connect your screen, keyboard and mouse to the appropriate ports – leave the chassis side open when booting up for the first time to ensure that all fans are spinning.

Step 6: RAM Your Speed

Press the power button once and watch as your creation springs to life. Enter the BIOS screen and check that CPU temperature is below 40 to 50 degrees Centigrade, and ensure that you can see your storage drive as the primary boot option.

Check also the RAM settings and ensure the sticks are running at rated frequency on relevant profiles. Save BIOS and exit.

Step 7: Install OS in Your Just Built Gaming PC

Fortunately, you can install your preferred Operating System (OS) from a USB device. Choose your USB media attached and boot OS using BIOS.

Once you’ve completed installing the OS, make sure that you have an Internet connection. Now, all that remains is updating the graphics card drivers.

A PC for Running Games to Come

You’ve just put together a great gaming PC without breaking the bank. Using the specs above, you have created a machine that offers you the perfect combination of great performance at fantastic value for money. This machine is likely going to last you a few years of running cutting-edge PC games!

If you are reading this, you are interested in how to get sponsored for gaming. In this very quick article, we will exclusively describe gaming sponsorships for beginners and the easiest sponsorships for beginner gamers to secure and manage.

For a complete A-Z guide on gaming sponsorships including more advanced information for larger streamers and eSports teams, refer to our industry-leading article on the topic, The Ultimate Guide To Gaming Sponsorships .

Why You Want A Gaming Sponsorship

The goal of gaming sponsorships is to gain legitimacy for your brand, earn some income, and receive additional perks in the form of discounted gear! If you are trying to make money on Twitch , gaming sponsorships are an important component.

Easy Sponsorships For Beginner Gamers

As a beginner gamer or small streamer, one thing you are unlikely to have is a large audience. The sole reason businesses sponsor anyone (i.e. paid endorsements) is to use their large audience and their influence to increase the awareness of the brand and ultimately to sell more products. Although you might be an “up and coming gamer or eSports team”, it’s more than likely you are still working on your audience and are not quite influential enough for a large sponsorship payout or to receive tons of free care packages from a business each month. Deals like Fnatic partnering with AMD are few and far between.

Don’t worry, there is a solution for new and smaller gamers and streamers! The best gaming sponsorship for beginners is an affiliate sponsorship program . With an affiliate sponsorship program , you work as an ambassador for the business while receiving benefits from the business when you are successful. You will receive a discount code that you promote to your growing fanbase and that you yourself can use. When your discount code is used to make a purchase on the business’s website, you receive a percent of that sale. Additional benefits might include earning free items after a certain number of purchases.

The great thing about affiliate sponsorship programs is that all 3 parties involved win; the customer gets a discount on a great product, the business gets a sale, and you get rewarded with money and items for promoting the product. Additionally, unlike traditional sponsorships that involve lengthy and exclusive application processes, affiliate sponsorship programs are open to the public so no application is required. Just signup and begin to use the code to purchase discounted items yourself and to promote to your growing audience!

Here at Rogue Energy, we manage one of the largest and most successful affiliate-style gaming sponsorships in the industry. We strongly support small streamers and gamers of all skill levels and welcome you to join our program here .

Now take the knowledge you have acquired in this very quick article and the other guides we have provided and use it to secure several affiliate-style gaming sponsorships for your brand. Good luck! We also welcome you to try our industry-leading gaming drink products by getting a sample pack Starter Kit below.

If you are an avid gamer, you really need a setup that accommodates your gaming performance. While store-bought gaming desk cannot meet your demands and characteristics, building DIY gaming computer desk is the best option. You can personalize the desk to get the best out of it.

Thankfully, lots of gaming computer desk ideas are available to inspire you.

Whether you are a professional DIY-er or a beginner, the following desk ideas are easy to tackle. Feel free to customize the computer desk as desired in order that you can feel comfortable even during a prolonged gaming session. Get ready for the inspiration below!

Curvy Desk for Cozy Gaming

Make your gaming experience more engaging with this curvy gaming desk. The desk top is made of fiber to ensure its durability, at the same time adds visual interest to your room. This modern gaming desk comes with extra shelving to keep your gaming devices.

U-Shaped Gaming Desk

When planning a gaming desk, it’s important to make sure that everything is within reach. U-shaped desk keeps everything reachable so you can grab anything in a second.

Thanks to the cabinet that keeps the station neat and tidy. If you have advanced DIY skills, this desk is worth trying.

Fantastic, Fully-Equipped Desk

Adopting gothic style, this gaming computer desk is great for your small space. The furniture piece is fully equipped, thanks to stereo shaft, headphone holder, and foot rest to redefine your gaming experience. Glass desk top makes this computer desk looks unique.

Good for Your Niche

If you have a small space issue, this corner computer desk can be a great alternative to enjoy gaming with a proper setup.

The desk fits nicely to the niche so you can use the rest of the room for other purposes. Stereo and PC vault makes the desk organized.

Space-Saving Computer Desk

This space-friendly gaming computer desk is what you need in the small bedroom. The DIY desk is pretty simple with standing cabinets to support the desk top.

Overhead shelves keep everything organized aside from adding visual interest to the wall. Backlighting creates dramatic effect to the space.

Be Creative with Pipe

Pipe is often used to build a sturdy and durable computer desk. You can combine this material with wooden desk top for a unique and affordable DIY furniture piece. This pipe gaming desk is suitable for intense gamers who need a comfortable and stylish game station.

Custom Gaming Desk

This is a space-saving and creative gaming desk that combines industrial pipe and dark-finished wood top. The custom computer desk look simple yet functional to make your gaming experience more engaging.

Coming with additional floating shelves, this furniture can ensure your comfort. More importantly, it fits your small space.

Now that you know inspiring ideas for DIY computer desk, it’s time to build your own gaming station. Before choosing a specific idea, know your DIY skill level so you can find the right inspiration that fits your capability.

Be creative with available materials so you can make an affordable, one-of-a-kind gaming desk. Happy trying!

@lowellheddings
Updated March 25, 2020, 2:06pm EDT

Have you ever needed to press a key every couple of seconds, or every few minutes? Perhaps you’re playing a video game and you’re waiting for an item, or you’ve got some other reason. Either way, here’s how to make your PC do it automatically.

You’ll need to start by downloading and installing AutoHotkey, which is a simple scripting language that allows you to create easy scripts. Once you do that, right-click anywhere and choose New –> AutoHotkey Script.

Once you’ve done that, paste the following into the script:

#Persistent
SetTimer, PressTheKey, 1800000
Return

This simple script will wait every 30 minutes and press the Spacebar. You can adjust the 1800000 number above to the amount of milliseconds required. So, for example, if you wanted it to run every 2 minutes, you’d use 60 seconds * 2 minutes * 1000 milliseconds = 120000 total milliseconds.

(Warning: Don’t set a very low number of milliseconds. For example, if you set the time to 10 milliseconds, the script will press the Spacebar one hundred times per second, which could cause obvious problems.)

Save the file name as whatever you’d like, and then double-click on it to run it.

You can also send another hotkey or any number of characters just by changing the Send, line to something else—you can literally type out some letters you want to send, or you can use some of the special keys on the AutoHotkey documentation page. For example, to make it send the word “lazy” and then press the Space bar, you could use:

I’m not entirely certain what you’ll want to use this for, but that’s what makes scripting so much fun.