The Best PC Parts for a Gaming Build (UK): 13 Components We Recommend
Building your own PC? The best processors, motherboards, memory, SSDs and coolers in the UK, with simple advice on what goes together and what to spend.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (6-Core, AM5)
A fast, affordable gaming processor.
- Great value
- Modern AM5 platform
- Strong gaming speed
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (8-Core, AM5)
8 cores for gaming and creating.
- 8 cores
- Efficient
- AM5 upgrade path
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (LGA 1851)
Intel's strong multi-core option.
- Lots of cores
- Great for multitasking
- Unlocked
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8-Core, AM5)
A gamer favourite with extra cache.
- Excellent gaming performance
- AM5 platform
- Efficient
Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX V2 (AM5, ATX)
A great-value AM5 board with Wi-Fi.
- Good value
- Wi-Fi built in
- DDR5 support
Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX (LGA 1700, ATX)
A feature-packed board for Intel LGA 1700.
- Strong features
- Wi-Fi
- DDR5
Kingston FURY Beast 16GB DDR5 5200MHz
16GB of fast DDR5 memory.
- Reliable brand
- DDR5 speed
- Easy upgrade later
Kingston FURY Beast 32GB DDR5 5600MT/s
More memory for heavy multitasking.
- 32GB capacity
- Fast 5600MT/s
- Reliable
Kingston NV3 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Fast storage at a good price.
- Fast loading
- Good value
- Compact M.2
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB M.2 SSD
2TB of fast storage from Samsung.
- 2TB capacity
- Trusted Samsung quality
- Fast
be quiet! Dark Rock Elite ARGB Air Cooler
A quiet, premium air cooler.
- Very quiet
- Strong cooling
- No liquid to worry about
Phanteks Glacier One 360 M25 RGB AIO
A 360mm liquid cooler at a great price.
- Great price for 360mm
- Strong cooling
- RGB
NZXT Kraken 240 Elite V2 AIO
A premium liquid cooler with a display.
- Pump screen
- Premium look
- Good cooling
Building your own PC is a great way to get exactly the performance you want, and it's easier than it looks. You need a processor (CPU), a motherboard, memory (RAM), storage, a cooler, a graphics card, a power supply and a case.
We've picked 13 core parts from Laptops Direct that work well together. For the graphics card, see our best graphics cards guide.
Ways to save
- Memory prices are high right now, so 16GB is a sensible starting point and you can add more later
- A previous-generation AM4 build is cheaper if you're on a budget
- See all PC components at Laptops Direct
Parts that work together
| Part | Budget build | Gaming build |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX V2 | Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX V2 |
| Memory | Kingston FURY Beast 16GB DDR5 | Kingston FURY Beast 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage | Kingston NV3 1TB | Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB |
| Cooler | be quiet! Dark Rock Elite | NZXT Kraken 240 Elite V2 |
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What to check before you buy
- Socket. The CPU and motherboard must match. AMD AM5 CPUs need an AM5 board, and Intel LGA 1851 CPUs need an LGA 1851 board.
- Memory type. AM5 and newer Intel boards use DDR5. Older AM4 boards use DDR4.
- Case size. Check your case fits the motherboard size (ATX, Micro ATX or Mini ITX) and the cooler height.
- Power supply. Make sure it's strong enough for your graphics card.
Common questions
Which CPU is best for gaming?
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a favourite for gaming thanks to its extra cache. The Ryzen 5 9600X is a great-value choice.
How much RAM do I need?
16GB is enough for most games. 32GB helps if you stream, edit video or run lots of apps at once.
Is an NVMe SSD worth it?
Yes. An M.2 NVMe SSD makes Windows and games load much faster than a hard drive.
Do I need a liquid cooler?
No. A good air cooler is enough for most CPUs. Liquid coolers can be quieter and look great, but cost more.
Related guides
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- We researched popular options sold by major UK retailers.
- We compared features, specifications and verified buyer reviews.
- We checked prices across several stores so you can see where it is cheapest.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (6-Core, AM5)
The Ryzen 5 9600X is a 6-core AM5 processor that's great for gaming at a sensible price.
✓What We Like
- Great value
- Modern AM5 platform
- Strong gaming speed
✕What to Keep in Mind
- 6 cores for heavy multitasking
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (8-Core, AM5)
The Ryzen 7 9700X has 8 cores, so it handles gaming, streaming and creative work well.
✓What We Like
- 8 cores
- Efficient
- AM5 upgrade path
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Costs more than the 9600X
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (LGA 1851)
The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has lots of cores for multitasking and creative apps. It needs an LGA 1851 motherboard.
✓What We Like
- Lots of cores
- Great for multitasking
- Unlocked
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Needs an LGA 1851 board
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8-Core, AM5)
The 7800X3D uses AMD's 3D V-Cache, which gives a big boost in many games.
✓What We Like
- Excellent gaming performance
- AM5 platform
- Efficient
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Less suited to heavy productivity
Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX V2 (AM5, ATX)
This ATX motherboard supports AMD AM5 processors and DDR5 memory, with built-in Wi-Fi.
✓What We Like
- Good value
- Wi-Fi built in
- DDR5 support
✕What to Keep in Mind
- B650 has fewer extras than X670
Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX (LGA 1700, ATX)
The Z790 AORUS Elite AX supports Intel 12th to 14th gen processors, DDR5 memory and Wi-Fi.
✓What We Like
- Strong features
- Wi-Fi
- DDR5
✕What to Keep in Mind
- LGA 1700 only (not Core Ultra 200)
Kingston FURY Beast 16GB DDR5 5200MHz
A single 16GB stick of DDR5 memory from Kingston's popular FURY Beast range. Memory prices are high right now, so starting with 16GB keeps costs down.
✓What We Like
- Reliable brand
- DDR5 speed
- Easy upgrade later
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Memory prices are high
Kingston FURY Beast 32GB DDR5 5600MT/s
32GB of DDR5 is ideal if you stream, edit video or keep lots of apps open while gaming.
✓What We Like
- 32GB capacity
- Fast 5600MT/s
- Reliable
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Expensive right now
Kingston NV3 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
The Kingston NV3 is a fast M.2 NVMe SSD, a big upgrade over a hard drive for Windows and games.
✓What We Like
- Fast loading
- Good value
- Compact M.2
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Not the fastest PCIe 5 drive
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB M.2 SSD
Samsung's 990 EVO Plus gives you 2TB of fast storage, enough for a big library of games.
✓What We Like
- 2TB capacity
- Trusted Samsung quality
- Fast
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Higher price
be quiet! Dark Rock Elite ARGB Air Cooler
be quiet! coolers are known for being quiet. The Dark Rock Elite adds RGB lighting.
✓What We Like
- Very quiet
- Strong cooling
- No liquid to worry about
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Tall: check your case
Phanteks Glacier One 360 M25 RGB AIO
This 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler keeps powerful CPUs cool, at a much lower price than most 360mm coolers.
✓What We Like
- Great price for 360mm
- Strong cooling
- RGB
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Needs space for a 360mm radiator
NZXT Kraken 240 Elite V2 AIO
The NZXT Kraken Elite has a screen on the pump to show temperatures or images, and a 240mm radiator.
✓What We Like
- Pump screen
- Premium look
- Good cooling
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Expensive
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