Careful component selection is only one part of the gaming PC equation. You’ll also need the right tools to access, run, and enjoy games with friends in the best way possible. Here are the essentials no gaming PC should go without.
Gaming Platforms
Nothing has streamlined PC gaming as much as gaming platforms! They’ve become the central hubs from which you buy, review, update, and play games with just a few clicks. It’s easy to share screenshots and discuss the games in their respective community hubs. Some gamers love achievement hunting and card collecting. Others revel in their gigantic libraries and backlogs that would take several lifetimes to complete.
Communications Platforms
Gaming wouldn’t be nearly as sociable without dependable communication. Platforms like Discord provide this, whether through voice channels, text, or built-in video streams. They make it easy to organize play sessions and keep the chatter going even when you’re hopping from one game to another.
Don’t underestimate the community aspect, either. You can join communities dedicated to specific games with thousands of active members or create a private hangout space where you can just chill and share memes with a few close online friends. The downside is that Discord isn’t available everywhere. Countries like Iran, Turkey, and mainland China have restricted or blocked the platform for various reasons, making it inaccessible within these countries. If you’re in one of these places (or traveling there) and Discord won’t load, a VPN can help you get around those restrictions.
GPU Drivers
Having up-to-date graphics card drivers is essential for peak gaming. On the one hand, having the latest drivers ensures you’re getting the best possible performance in newly released games. On the other, it lets you tweak global display settings and make individual titles run better.
Optimization Tools
There’s always room for improvement, both on the hardware and software levels. For example, MSI Afterburner lets you take manual control of aspects of your GPU like its clock frequency and fan curves. This makes for better or quieter performance or can prevent GPU overheating.
System optimization is also important to keep things running smoothly. Optimization tools exist that let you regularly scan the PC for redundant files and registry errors or let you remove unnecessary programs from startup.
Cybersecurity Tools
Gamers are more likely than the average user to be exposed to online threats, so current and comprehensive cybersecurity tools are a must.
Password managers and two-factor authentication ensure gaming and other accounts can’t be exploited during data breaches. Anti-malware and Windows Defender scan mods, torrents, and other potentially suspicious files you get online and quarantine harmful ones before they can cause harm.
Though it’s understandable if you don’t want to splurge on cybersecurity tools right after building your rig, with recent RAM and GPU prices, security software probably isn’t your top priority. That’s where deals and discounts help. A lot of people use promo codes from big YouTubers and Twitch streamers to get a gaming VPN coupon, for example.
Peripheral Configuration Software
There’s a world of difference between a gamer’s keyboard and mouse setup and the basic stuff you’d see in an office. So much can be configured, like the extra keys, buttons, macros, sensitivity, and RGB lighting.
While indispensable for making your peripherals look and perform at their peak, keep in mind that their configuration tools can be resource hogs. It’s best to set your preferences and then keep the software from starting up with the PC for maximum benefits.
Streaming & Recording Tools
Some gamers take their hobby to new heights and go on to become streamers or content creators. Even if that’s not your thing, you may want to record raid boss attempts or LoL matches to spot and improve weaknesses.
Either way, the right software can turn your PC into a streaming and recording workstation without impacting game performance.
Mod Managers
Mods are the gamers’ ultimate labor of love. Some fix minor annoyances or get 15-year-old games to work properly. Others add fresh content to games or use them as sandboxes in which to create unique worlds of their own.
Installing and synchronizing mods used to be tedious. Nowadays, managers take care of launch order, compatibility problems, and other issues, leaving players better equipped than ever to get hundreds more hours out of their favorite games.
Emulators
No other gaming system holds a candle to PC when it comes to longevity. Thanks to GoG, you can flawlessly run classics from as far back as the MS-DOS era on a modern computer. Better yet, emulation lets you relive your folks’ PSX glory days or Gameboy Advance adventures on a large screen and with modern conveniences like quicksaving. While emulation is contentious, it’s perfectly legal if you own an original copy of the game.
