Configuring Your Custom PC: Every Decision Explained
Not sure where to start? This guide covers every decision in the right order: platform, graphics, use case, and the rest of the spec. Browse online and configure via the product page dropdowns, or call Kevin directly and he will configure it with you.
Configure online via the product page dropdowns, or call Kevin on 01902 714533 and he will walk you through it. Both routes reach the same result.
AMD or Intel: Which Platform for Your Build?
Platform is the first choice because it locks in your motherboard, socket type, and memory generation. AMD and Intel components are platform-incompatible. You choose one or the other, not both.
AMD Ryzen
AMD Ryzen X3D processors use 3D V-Cache technology: extra cache stacked directly on the die. Most games access CPU cache constantly, and the larger cache delivers 10 to 20% higher frame rates than equivalent Intel processors in gaming benchmarks. High-core-count Ryzen 9 also serves workloads that benefit from multi-threaded throughput. The AM5 platform is AMD's current socket with stated multi-generation support.
Choose AMD if: gaming performance is your primary goal, or you need high core-count for rendering or simulation.
Browse AMD Builds →Intel Core
Intel Core Ultra is the stronger choice for mixed workloads. If you game and also stream, edit video, or run several demanding applications simultaneously, Intel's multi-threaded architecture handles the combined load without the frame rate penalty you get when the CPU is also encoding a stream. Core Ultra processors include integrated Intel Arc graphics, relevant for home office builds that do not need a dedicated GPU.
Choose Intel if: you combine gaming with streaming or editing, or need a home office build without a dedicated GPU.
Browse Intel Builds →Still unsure? Call Kevin on 01902 714533. Tell him what you want to do with the machine and he will give you a straight recommendation.
Dedicated GPU or Integrated Graphics?
Gaming, Creative, and Professional Builds
A dedicated graphics card has its own VRAM, its own cooling, and its own processor for graphics tasks. For gaming at 1080p, 1440p, or 4K, a dedicated GPU is required. The GPU determines your resolution target and frame rate ceiling more than any other component.
Video editing, 3D rendering, and professional creative software also require a dedicated GPU for hardware acceleration. For AMD Ryzen desktop builds at Ginger6, a dedicated GPU is always required.
- ✓ 1080p, 1440p, and 4K gaming
- ✓ Video editing and rendering
- ✓ Professional creative software
- ✓ Required on all AMD desktop builds
Home Office and General Use Only
Intel Core Ultra processors include integrated Intel Arc graphics built into the processor die. Integrated graphics share system memory rather than having dedicated VRAM. They handle home office tasks reliably: web browsing, office software, video calls, and standard video playback.
When a dedicated GPU is fitted to an Intel build, the dedicated card replaces the integrated graphics entirely. Products with a dedicated GPU do not list integrated graphics because the dedicated card takes over. This is by design.
- ✓ Web browsing and office software
- ✓ Video calls and streaming video
- ✓ Intel builds only
- ✗ Not suitable for gaming
- ✗ Not suitable for video editing
Where Does Your Build Go?
Your use case determines the right GPU tier, CPU tier, and memory configuration. Select the category that fits what you will actually do with the machine.
Gaming
The GPU sets your resolution target and frame rate ceiling. AMD Ryzen X3D for maximum gaming fps. Intel Core for gaming alongside streaming or editing. Dedicated GPU required on all gaming builds.
Custom Gaming PCsHome and Office
Reliability and quiet operation. Intel Core Ultra with integrated graphics is practical for office use and lowers cost and power draw. Ryzen 5 or Core i5 for buyers who want a dedicated GPU for light gaming alongside office work.
Home Office PCsProfessional and Workstation
Sustained heavy workloads: video editing in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, 3D rendering, simulation, data processing. High core counts and large RAM configurations matter more here than GPU frame rates.
Professional WorkstationsEverything Else: What Goes Into the Spec?
Once platform, GPU, and use case are settled, four components complete your build. Each is configurable via the product page dropdowns.
CPU Tier
Within your platform, the CPU tier affects how fast the machine handles simultaneous tasks. For gaming, Ryzen 7 or Core Ultra 5 is the sweet spot. For sustained high CPU load: rendering, simulation, or heavy streaming alongside gaming, step up to Ryzen 9 or Core Ultra 7 and above.
Memory (RAM)
16GB DDR5 covers gaming and standard office use. 32GB for streaming, video editing, or running several demanding applications simultaneously. 64GB for professional workstation builds. Buying more RAM than your workload uses does not improve performance.
Storage (SSD)
Every build uses an NVMe M.2 SSD. 1TB for gaming and home office. 2TB for large game libraries, video editing, or simulation. 4TB for workstation builds with large project files. NVMe storage eliminates slow application and game load times that older hard drives produced.
Cooling
Quality air cooling handles most gaming and office builds quietly. Liquid cooling (AIO) is worth specifying for high-end CPUs running sustained heavy workloads, or for builds where minimal noise is a requirement. Kevin selects cooling that matches the thermal profile of the CPU tier chosen.
Case
Mid-tower ATX is the standard format with the most cooling options and upgrade room. Smaller ITX cases suit buyers with limited desk space. Cases affect airflow, noise, and the physical size of the build. Glass panel cases let you see the interior. Kevin chooses cases with appropriate airflow for the build's thermal requirements.
Windows and Peripherals
Windows 11 Home is included as standard. Windows 11 Pro is available for business buyers who need network domain joining or BitLocker encryption. Peripherals are configured separately. Call Kevin if you need advice on monitor selection for your GPU tier: resolution, panel type, and refresh rate all affect which monitor suits the build.
Unsure about any option? Call Kevin on 01902 714533 before configuring.
Configure Online or Call Kevin
Both routes reach the same place: a hand-built, stress-tested custom PC with a 3-year warranty. Choose whichever suits you. Next-day pre-built PCs ship as configured and skip this process entirely.
Start at ginger6.com/custom-pcs. Filter by platform (AMD or Intel) and use case. Each product page shows a base configuration: a starting point you then adjust with the dropdown options. Alternatively, call Kevin on 01902 714533 and tell him what the machine is for. He will open the right product and configure it alongside you on the call.
On the product page, use the dropdowns to select CPU tier, GPU, memory, storage, case, and cooling. The specification updates as you configure. If you are uncertain about any choice, call Kevin on 01902 714533 before completing the order. He will confirm the right option for your workload without pressure to spend more than is needed.
Place the order online and your build enters the queue. It is assembled by hand in Wolverhampton, stress-tested for 24 hours, and dispatched within 5 to 7 working days. If you configured on the phone with Kevin, he will confirm the order details before you pay. Either way, the 3-year warranty and lifetime support start from delivery.
Call Kevin. He Will Configure It with You.
Have these four things ready:
- The games you play most often
- Your monitor resolution and refresh rate
- Whether you stream, record, or edit alongside gaming
- Your approximate budget
No charge for the conversation. No pressure to buy.
Questions About Configuring Your PC
AMD Ryzen X3D processors lead for pure gaming frame rates, delivering 10 to 20% higher fps than equivalent Intel processors in most games. Intel Core Ultra is stronger for mixed workloads: gaming alongside streaming, video editing, or sustained productivity work, where Intel's higher thread count handles the combined load more effectively. Intel Core Ultra also includes integrated graphics, relevant for home office builds without a dedicated GPU. AMD desktop processors do not include integrated graphics.
For gaming, video editing, 3D rendering, and professional creative work: yes, a dedicated GPU is required. For home office and general use, Intel Core Ultra integrated graphics are sufficient. AMD Ryzen desktop processors do not include integrated graphics, so all AMD custom PC builds at Ginger6 require a dedicated GPU.
Call Kevin on 01902 714533 as quickly as possible after placing the order. If the build has not yet started, specification changes are straightforward. Once the build has begun, changes are harder to accommodate. The best approach is to finalise the configuration before ordering: call Kevin, confirm the right options, then order with confidence.
Every custom PC at Ginger6 is configurable on processor tier, graphics card, memory, storage, case, and cooling. Windows 11 Home is included as standard, with Windows 11 Pro available as an upgrade for business buyers. If the configuration you want is not listed on the product page, call Kevin on 01902 714533 and he will confirm whether it is available.
Call Kevin on 01902 714533. Tell him what you want to do with the machine: the games you play, your monitor, and your budget. He will recommend the right configuration in plain language. The product page dropdowns suit buyers who already know what they want. If the options feel unclear, a call is faster and produces a better result.
Call Kevin on 01902 714533 or email [email protected] with the specification you have in mind. Ginger6 builds custom PCs outside the standard range when components are available. If what you want is achievable, Kevin will confirm it. If it is not, he will tell you honestly and suggest the closest alternative.
Ready to Configure Your Custom PC?
Browse the AMD and Intel ranges and configure via the product page dropdowns, or call Kevin on 01902 714533 and he will configure it with you on the call. Either way: hand-built in Wolverhampton, stress-tested 24 hours, 3-year warranty.