Just bought a new GPU? Don't forget these 5 components if you want to make the most of it

While the GPU is doing the heavy lifting during your gaming sessions, there are many more factors to consider. From the visuals and audio to storage and even the input method, having the right parts can take your gaming setup to another level.

1 Capable gaming monitor

The runway your GPU needs to fly

Your monitor is the canvas on which your GPU paints your gaming masterpiece. Hyperbole aside, it's perhaps the most crucial piece of hardware you should focus on if you're buying (or have already bought) a new GPU. Without the right gaming monitor, all the sweet frames and stellar images delivered by your graphics card will be useless. A 60Hz monitor or even a high-refresh one with a mediocre screen is simply incapable of displaying your games the way they're supposed to be experienced.

Investing in one of the best gaming monitors will go a long way towards getting the most out of your fancy new GPU.

A capable gaming display needs to excel in a couple of different areas — a large enough screen, high resolution, high enough refresh rate, low enough response time, and decent brightness and contrast. With a small screen and low resolution, you'll not be able to appreciate the amount of pixels your GPU is driving. And without sufficient brightness and contrast, the image you'll see will be bland and unimpressive. Investing in one of the best gaming monitors will go a long way towards getting the most out of your fancy new GPU.

2 Fast NVMe SSD

Don't compromise on loading times

With your GPU and monitor out of the way, you might think everything's peachy. But slow storage can get pretty annoying, pretty fast. Despite having a high-end graphics card and monitor, if you're still chugging along on a hard disk (gasp!) or even a slow SATA SSD, you're going to have to cultivate a lot of patience. Slow loading times in games might not seem like a huge deal, but it can quickly get on your nerves. Besides, you shouldn't use obsolete storage on a modern system in any case.

Anything rated close to 3,000 MB/s to 5,000 MB/s will be more than enough for your gaming PC.

This is where a reasonably fast PCIe 3.0 or PCIe 4.0 SSD comes in. Anything rated close to 3,000 MB/s to 5,000 MB/s will be more than enough for your gaming PC. Faster Gen4 drives or the newer Gen5 SSDs won't give you an added advantage as far as gaming performance is concerned, so you can safely go with the budget SSDs for gaming.

3 Immersive headphones

The audio is as important as the visuals

Gaming is the most immersive medium we have today. And how your games sound is just as crucial as how they look. Great soundtracks and sound effects are key pillars of the storytelling. And without decent headphones, you're doing your games a disservice. Sure, a high-end surround sound system can be just as immersive (if not more), but it isn't as personal as a solid pair of headphones cutting you off from all distractions and letting you absorb the fictional world you're in — making it feel that tiny bit more real.

Relying on your monitor speakers or a 2.1-channel speaker system will keep you from enjoying your games to the fullest.

Relying on your monitor speakers or a 2.1-channel speaker system will keep you from enjoying your games to the fullest. The best gaming headsets not only delight you with a premium soundstage but also excel at noise cancelation (passive or active) and lightweight materials. Plus, you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a decent pair either. You can spend as little as $50 for one of the cheap gaming headsets that still deliver a good audio experience.

4 Optional: CPU upgrade

Your old CPU might hold you back

Upgrading your CPU isn't always as easy as installing a new graphics card. Unless the new processor is compatible with your existing motherboard, the upgrade will involve buying a new motherboard, and maybe even a new type of RAM. But, in cases where your CPU is more than a few years old, it can become a bottleneck for your system, preventing your GPU from spreading its wings.

You should aim to replace an ancient CPU with a modern one, so you're not leaving performance on the table.

If possible, you should aim to replace an ancient CPU with a modern one, so you're not leaving performance on the table. This is obviously a hassle and involves a significant investment, but it'll be worth it. And you can mitigate the problem a bit by opting for a cheap gaming CPU that will still provide you with modern performance, and will also save you on motherboard and memory costs.

5 Bonus: Wireless controller

Some things are simply better with a controller

Being a PC gamer, you're awfully familiar with a keyboard and mouse. And for the most part, you don't need to think about anything else as far as your input devices are concerned. But, after using a controller on the PS4 and PS5, I can confidently say that there are some PC games I prefer playing with a controller instead of a keyboard and mouse. Racing sims, sports games, fighting games, and side-scrollers always feel better with a wireless controller — leaning back on my chair with my feet on the desk.

If you already have a console, you can simply connect your existing controller to your PC. If not, the best PC controllers have something for everyone — costing as little as $40. This is not a must-have but you stand to enhance your gaming experience nonetheless by opting for a controller for some of your gaming sessions.

A complete gaming PC setup needs more than a beefy GPU

The immense computing power of modern GPUs is impressive, especially considering the progress in the field in just a few years. But to get the most out of your gaming PC, emptying your wallet on just a GPU isn't the right way. Without hooking your setup with a decent gaming monitor, some immersive headphones, and a fast SSD, you'll be ignoring crucial elements of the gaming experience.

A well-rounded gaming setup needs capable hardware all the way through. Otherwise, you're just wasting your money on generating top-notch performance that you can't fully experience.