In the desktop gaming environment there is a lot of tech that’s involved in running and displaying the game visuals. Whether it’s the graphics card, the processor or the system memory, all the components cost quite a bit when you get to the total price of your gaming desktop. In general, you want to get the best bang for your buck, so there is a bit of research you should be doing when trying to figure out which desktop is right both for your gaming needs and for your pocket.

Gaming desktops can vary a lot when it comes to price. They can be packed with the latest technological advances into them and bear a huge price tag to go with them. Since most of us aren’t really made of money, it can get a bit difficult when trying to choose how to set up your gaming rig spec-wise.

In a gaming desktop you will need a powerful CPU, a decent amount of RAM and a dedicated graphics card. Now, depending on what type of games you actually play, and what quality you demand from your gaming experience, the price can fluctuate from affordable to extremely high. One good idea is to search for gaming computers that have good specs and fall right into the price range you’re willing to pay.

Easier said than done, right?

Since you’ll need a powerful processor that doesn’t cost much, your best bet would be a CPU made by AMD. AMD is the main competitor of Intel in the central processing unit industry, and while Intel brings an additional price with their logo, AMD processors are usually far less expensive and more affordable than their Intel counterparts.

But with Intel you get better reliability and more flexibility in the computing environment. It’s all up to you to choose the brand you’re willing to go with.

System memory is another spec that you need not neglect in your gaming machine. Too little RAM, and you’re lucky if the game will run at all. Too much RAM, and your price tag can get inflated in no time. Unlike the processor, which relies heavily on the socket it’s mounted on, you can always add additional RAM to your system if you feel you have to little. The best amount you should start with is in the 3-4GB range and upgrade whenever you feel like the system gets slow for your needs.

The graphics card is one of the most important components in your system. The better the model, the more detail you can see in your gaming environment. Just like with processors, there are two competitors in the video card industry which are nVidia and ATI. Out of the two, if you intend to build your gaming rig on a budget, the ATI cards are usually less expensive. With nVidia you can get SLI enhanced performance where you can hook up more than one graphics card to the system.

This means you’ll have to get minimum two identical cards at the same price to make SLI possible, while with ATIs CrossFire solution, the cards models can be different, so you won’t have to get the same cards to properly run your game.

Finding the perfect balance between power and price in gaming desktops can be pretty time consuming. Take your time and explore the Best Gaming Desktops page to see if any of the prebuilt options fall in your price range.