Expert Consulted: Adrian Gardiner. With 30+ years in the IT industry, I still get frequent requests to repair, upgrade and build new Gaming PCs. This experience has given me useful knowledge which I can share to answer questions like: ‘Can a desktop computer be used for gaming?’
I’m sure we’ve all probably started off with a simple gaming computer, or at least we probably did many years ago, nowadays, those new to computers are often lucky enough to start off with a basic gaming PC.
If you were like me and started out with a basic desktop PC, the first thing you probably wanted to do was get gaming and quickly started to wonder about the possibilities of upgrading.
So can a desktop computer be used for gaming?
Absolutely, a desktop computer can be used for gaming. With the right hardware components such as a powerful CPU, a high-end graphics card, sufficient RAM, and a fast SSD, a desktop can provide an excellent gaming experience. Its upgradability also makes it a preferred choice for many gamers.
My article goes into all the detail you need to be able to understand the pros and cons of using your desktop PC for gaming and what you can do with it, upgrade-wise.
Can a Desktop Computer Be Used for Gaming Or Should You Just Upgrade to a Gaming PC?
There’s a lot to unpack before we answer that question and so I’m going to cover the groundwork first about the capabilities of both types of computers and what’s possible.
Understanding the Basics
Before going too deep into this subject, I think first we need to quickly clarify some of the basics about desktop and gaming computers.
What is a Desktop Computer?
A desktop computer is designed for versatility, handling a wide range of tasks from browsing the Internet, dealing with email, and running a wide range of software applications such as:
- Working with the creation and editing of documents, like letters and spreadsheets
- Creating multimedia like graphics, videos, and music
- Streaming video content like YouTube and similar platforms
- Keeping up with the news and social media.
The list is endless.
The hardware in a desktop PC, like the processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), RAM, and storage are enough to carry out everyday tasks such as those listed above but would likely struggle with the more demanding requirements of modern computer games.
What Does Gaming Require?
A gaming computer requires more capable, beefier components rated for the higher demands that come with playing today’s modern and competitive computer gaming.
Typically, this would mean a better CPU, more RAM, a separate and more powerful graphics card, and a faster storage drive (with increased space) like an SSD.
Desktop vs Gaming Computer
So basically, a gaming PC is effectively a desktop computer running on steroids and designed specifically to play games at the highest settings possible.
It’s a computer that can pretty much handle anything you can throw at it, all of the run-of-the-mill stuff a desktop PC can do plus the demanding nature of competitive gaming all handled in one machine.
Key Components of a Gaming Computer
These are the essential components that are required to give a decent gaming experience:
| Component | Description |
| Central Processing Unit (CPU) | Probably the most important part of your PC, handling all of the complex instructions needed to run your games. The higher the specification the better. |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) | The GPU handles the display side of things, providing all the lovely visuals you see on screen to ensure a fast and smooth result. |
| Random Access Memory (RAM) | RAM is your computer’s short-term memory, storing data that your PC may need to access quickly. Gaming requires a lot more RAM than a desktop. |
| Storage (HDD or SSD) | Games today take up a huge amount of space (75 GB+ is not uncommon) and so a decent amount of storage space would be needed together with the latest type of drive – SSD. |
| Power Supply Unit (PSU) | Everything is powered from the PSU which needs to be carefully sized to match your gaming PC components so that it can run for long periods of high demand during extended game sessions. |
| Cooling System | Adequate cooling is essential, especially for a gaming PC which will inevitably produce more heat from all of the higher specced components. |
| Gaming Peripherals | Although not essential, the right gaming peripherals will make your gaming experience that much more enjoyable, from a high-quality display, to a light and responsive mouse and keyboard. |
Can a Regular Desktop Computer Be Used for Gaming?
Yes, you can definitely use a regular desktop for gaming but don’t expect stellar results as (depending on the specification of your desktop) you’ll most likely need to upgrade it with more powerful components to comfortably play today’s demanding PC games.
Upgrading Your Desktop Computer for Gaming
If you want to upgrade your desktop, what’s actually possible will really depend on what type of PC you have.
The process of upgrading is not that complicated these days, so long as you’re comfortable with getting inside the case and taking things apart and you take your time, you’ll have few problems with current computers which follow a very modular approach.
Often, branded computers from major manufacturers like HP, Acer, Lenovo etc. have less upgrade potential than say a more versatile and flexible custom build computer, either built by a company or by a knowledgeable friend.
From experience dealing with upgrades for many clients over the years, I’ve found the following options are possible depending on the computer type:
- Branded Computers (i.e., HP, Acer, Lenovo, etc.): These are not usually as upgradeable and are often limited to just adding more RAM and better storage options, like swapping an HDD (hard disk drive) for a new and faster SSD (solid state drive)
Branded computers often have bespoke motherboards and PSUs that are designed especially for a particular build which means that off-the-shelf parts are not usually compatible.
- Custom Built Computers: These computers are usually put together with more readily available off-the-shelf parts which makes upgrading so much easier with most components upgradeable, depending on the age of the machine.
Buying a Pre-Built Gaming Desktop vs Building Your Own
If you’ve exhausted the upgrade possibilities for your desktop PC and are now thinking of getting a purpose build gaming PC the options are to either purchase a pre-built PC from a store or build your own.
If you’re happy to spend the time researching the necessary parts and then assemble a computer yourself (it’s really not that difficult at all, especially with all the help available online) then I would always recommend going the build-your-own route.
It’s so much more satisfying to build your own gaming computer, you get to choose exactly what goes into the system and you can customize it to your liking with a fancy LED color scheme for example.
You could choose a cool gaming computer case that none of your friends have or color code all the internal components and show it all off with a clear glass panel. There are so many amazing choices out there and in addition, you’ll likely save money too.
I can of course see that it wouldn’t be for everyone and some of us won’t have the time to self-build.
There are now many companies that offer excellent custom build gaming computers with many options to choose from so you have a great alternative.
I would just say just try not to go down the route of mass-produced gaming computers from the big names – mainly because of their future upgrade limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here I have a few questions with answers that often get asked:
Q1 Can I play any game on a regular desktop computer?
Probably not. Unless your desktop computer has already has an excellent specification suitable for playing the best AAA games at high settings I would say you’ll struggle with a lot of the latest games.
Older games maybe, newer ones less so.
Q2 What’s the most important component for gaming?
This is a tricky question that everyone seems to have a different opinion about. I would say the GPU is pretty crucial as without good graphics capability your gaming will really struggle.
However, you also need a good and capable CPU with plenty of RAM and fast storage.
So, in answer, I would say all of these components are really equally as important as each other.
Q3 Is it cheaper to upgrade my desktop or buy a new gaming PC?
Another tough question as it really depends on the specification of your current desktop PC. It also depends on what games you plan on playing. Not all games require the most powerful specification.
If you can get away with just adding a decent graphics card to your desktop PC then you will have saved yourself a lot of money.
If however, you find yourself having to upgrade the graphics, ram, storage and probably the PSU as well, you might as well buy a new gaming computer as it will probably be cheaper in the long run.
Conclusion
So you can definitely use a desktop computer for gaming, depending on what games you wish to play and so long as the specification is up to the job.
If you have to upgrade your desktop to game comfortably, consider whether the cost of doing so is worth it when compared to the cost of just buying yourself a brand new gaming PC.
Whichever direction you go with your choice of computer, I wish you well on your gaming journey.
Image Attribution and Licencing
#1 Key gaming computer components by PatrikSlezak (Canva)
#2 Gaming PC by Chiradech (Canva)