One of the real pleasures of modern day tech infrastructure is the ability to enjoy a gaming experience that would’ve been unthinkable even 10 years ago. Amazing graphics, rapid streaming in HD, responsive controls and powerful gaming engines have combined to make online video games and casinos one of the fastest growing elements of the entertainment sector. Uninhibited by hardware, software or supporting broadband infrastructure, the gaming experience just gets better and better – even giving rise to gaming as a professional sport, with more than enough spectator value to pack arenas around the world.
All this is fantastic news for gamers, who continue to enjoy their favourite franchises and casino classics in an ever-improving technical environment. But the gaming experience is only ever as good as the technology sat in front of you. With more gamers than ever before choosing to wholly customise their setup, everyone has an opinion on what’s best for maximum game value. Here’s our take on the best PC setup for online gaming, particularly for those who enjoy a high quality casino gaming experience.
The award for best operating system goes to Windows 10. Windows 10 picked up from where Windows 7 left off, in terms of being specifically tailored towards the needs of gamers. Windows 8 was OK, and it did a job, but generally Windows 7 is considered to have been a resolute enough platform for gaming, with little in the way of added extras creeping into the Windows 8 platform. With Windows 10, DirectX 12 comes as standard, and performance-wise, there’s a marginal improvement over earlier iterations.
Don’t get me wrong – it’s not as if Windows 10 is going to feel like a revolutionary upgrade on Windows 8. But for those who want the best platform, even the incremental gains delivered by Windows 10 make it the one you want to choose.
This is a close fought contest, and a notable mention goes out to Intel for their K-series i5 processor, which is still a might warrior of gaming performance. But just pipping it to the post is the AMD R5 1600x, a processor that has been specifically designed with high-powered gaming in mind. By the way, this is more than enough to run most casino platforms at lightning speed and responsiveness – you’re taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut here, and it’s worth it.
Beyond that, the AMD processor can handle all manner of online games like nothing else, and you’ll notice your system is completed on top of the technical side of running even the biggest of gaming titles.With 6 cores, 12 threads, and a 3.6-4GHz clock, this processor is going to hands-down beat anything else on the market when it comes to giving you the gaming experience you crave.
Choosing graphics cards for gaming is another tricky one, particularly when there are now so many that excel in terms of gaming performance. It’s almost difficult to pick one from the bunch that beats the others, but since you’re twisting our arm, we’ll come down in the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 camp.
It’s HD-grade performance and 2GB memory means that you can enjoy virtually any game in stunning definition, not to mention at a speed that reminds you why you took the time to think about your setup. Its relatively low power consumption is a bonus too, giving you efficient power that doesn’t skimp on performance, without guzzling up too much of your electric bill. Win/win, but it’s a close-run thing. Alternatively, check out the AMD Radeon RX 570, which is also pretty sweet.
The Acer XF270HUA is one of the most advanced monitors on the market, firmly designed with maximum gaming performance in mind. It’s panel is the star of the show, with vibrant, high-contrast visuals meeting a rapid refresh rate for a lightning response that will show your games in their best light. Whatever you’re game of preference, whether you’re a Dota 2 nut or you enjoy playing live blackjack, this Acer is everything you could hope for and more – plus it looks stylish into the bargain.
So not all things setup are technical, and if you want the best possible PC combo, you might want to think about getting your hands on an amazing gaming chair. The Vertagear SL4000 gets our vote here, and not just for its supercar feel. The aluminium base provides a solid foundation so you can move about easily, while the in-built lumbar support and padding make this as comfy as you’ll find. It’s not exactly the cheapest chair around, but it looks and feels incredible – and when you’re sitting on it for hours on end playing your favourite casino games, you’ll be glad you made the investment.