For many gamers, a powerful gaming computer complete with a glowing RGB keyboard and mouse is the ultimate dream.

But when you’ve finally saved up enough to buy such a costly setup, you might find yourself hesitating, and even asking yourself if you really need it. Will it actually improve your gaming experience, or could your hard-earned money be better spent elsewhere? Let’s look into it.

How do we define a gaming computer?

There is no objective standard for determining what is or isn’t a gaming computer. In this article, we’ll simply be referring to a computer specifically developed with the gamer as the target customer.

These computers often come with RGB-lit fans, futuristic cases with see-through glass sections, a dedicated graphics card, and loads of computing power. There is a range of cheaper to more expensive gaming computers, but the higher range includes some of the most powerful computers on the market.

The specs you really need

To determine if you need a gaming computer, we need to talk about the specifications that you realistically need for your gaming purposes. We’ve divided this section into 3 different categories – light gaming, moderate gaming, and intense gaming. Each section will mention a few example games and the recommended specs for each level of gaming.

We’ll be looking at the following:

  • CPU. The central processing unit will have the biggest impact on how quickly your computer responds and how well it can process large amounts of data and run complex programs.
  • RAM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory and essentially handles several tasks at the same time through short-term memory. If your computer has a lot of RAM, you’ll be able to keep lots of tabs, programs, and processes running at the same time.
  • Graphics card. When playing graphics-heavy games, a dedicated graphics card may be in order. This piece of hardware improves visual performance thanks to a unique GPU and memory used just for processing graphics.

Light gaming

When we say light gaming, we’re mainly talking about causal games like Minecraft, The Sims 3 and Plants vs Zombies. This level also includes pretty much any browser game.

To enjoy this level of gaming, you really won’t need a gaming computer. Almost any laptop or PC you can buy will already be good enough. You might not even have to purchase a new computer. If you don’t mind a smaller screen, your phone will work just fine for many of the games you might want to play.

According to this list, all casino sites let users play on their phones as well. “All of our recommended sites have responsive sites that you can use from any mobile device,” writes Liliana Costache, iGaming expert.

Of course, you might simply prefer a larger screen, and then buying a computer will still be worth it. As for the specs, you’ll do just fine with 8GB of RAM (although more is nice – especially if you have a habit of leaving lots of tabs and programs open) and a processor on the level of Intel Core i3-4150 or better. Not sure how to tell if a CPU is more powerful? Use this free tool to compare different processors.

A dedicated graphics card won’t be necessary for this level of gaming.

Moderate gaming

Some of the common games you play might include CS: GO, Valorant and Half-Life. You might also play some more demanding games occasionally, but when you do, you’re fine with sacrificing frame rate and resolution to some extent.

Perhaps the majority of gamers will fall into this category, as it covers lots of great games. This level might also include people playing non-demanding games like Minecraft, but using heavy mods.

If this is you, a gaming computer might be a good choice. But you’ll get away with getting one of the less powerful ones if you do. There are also lots of non-gaming computers that will be good enough for moderate gaming. You’ll do best with a computer with at least 12GB RAM, but preferably 16GB RAM. You’ll want to look at computers with a CPU on the level of Intel Core i5-750 or higher.

You won’t need a dedicated graphics card, but if you’re looking for the ultimate experience, it certainly isn’t out of the question. A dedicated graphics card is especially important to consider if you want to experience the game in the highest possible resolution.

Intense gaming

If the games you’re playing really are demanding – we’re talking realistic flight simulators and games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077, and you like to turn up the frame rate, graphics, and effects all the way up, you’ll need a computer suitable for intense gaming.

Many gaming computers on the market will be perfectly suited for this level of intensity. The specifications you’ll want to be looking for are as follows.

You’ll want at least 16 GB RAM, but preferably at least 32 GB. You want to be looking for a processor along the lines of Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, or better.

Finally, you’ll want to get a computer with an integrated graphics card.

Gaming laptop vs gaming PC?

If you’re unsure whether a gaming laptop or a gaming PC is what you really need, it helps to compare the two. Each offers its own advantages over the other.

You might have had a gaming PC in mind because they offer better performance, but if you’ve realized your gaming habits really don’t call for that level of power, you might want to reconsider getting a laptop. The clear advantage of a laptop is that it’s portable and that the battery life will let you use it even when you’re without an external power source. A gaming laptop will also waste less energy than a PC.

But it can get noisy. The fans of a laptop are usually less discrete, and laptops have a tendency to overheat when being pushed to the limit.

Other uses of gaming computers

Don’t want a device dedicated to just gaming? You might feel better about investing a hefty sum of money into a computer if you can use it for more than just one thing. A gaming computer will usually be perfect for almost anything you want to do, as these types of computers offer the best performance. Whether it’s writing, programming, digital art, or anything else, a gaming computer will be more than qualified for the job.

One thing gaming computers especially excel at is video editing tasks. Video editing is a very demanding task, but a powerful gaming PC with lots of RAM, a powerful processor, and a dedicated graphics card is perfect for the job. 

Another scenario where a powerful CPU and dedicated graphics card will come in handy is if you’re looking to work with complicated 3D models and rendering 3D graphics.

Using other devices for gaming

A gaming PC is not necessarily the best tool you can use for gaming. You might want to consider the following alternatives.

A game console

If you really want a device to game on rather than a computer specifically, a gaming console might be an option to consider.

If you’re looking for a device that lets you play in many different ways, the Nintendo Switch is it. With this little device, you can play on the TV screen in great quality, but you can also bring it along and use it as a portable gaming device.

But if you want something more powerful, both Xbox and PlayStation offer multiple consoles for more intense gaming. Whether the Xbox or the PlayStation has the best range of consoles is still a hot debate by the gaming community, but there is no denying that both offer users cutting-edge technology and the best gaming experiences consoles can offer.

A mobile phone (or tablet)

In 2025, mobile phones do a great job of offering gamers a huge variety of games and decent performance. You can use both an iPhone and an Android for gaming, and really, this might be the best option if you’re trying to stay on a budget. You probably already own a decent smartphone, and if you don’t, you need one anyway.

Conclusion

For many, gaming is much more than a hobby; it’s an identity. Having the right computer when gaming is an important part of the experience. If that’s you, there’s no reason not to invest in a gaming computer, even though you might not take advantage of the full range of its power.

But if you decide to follow through, it should be an educated decision – you know where you’re overinvesting, and you’re okay with it – rather than just a blind assumption that gamers need gaming computers.