How Much Power Do You Really Need? (My PC Specs and Tips)

My Devlogs:
My character art sucked, so I fixed it.
My Game Lost it's G Rating

Description:
In this video I discuss computer hardware requirements for Game Devs, and what it actually takes to get started and be productive. I also reveal my own computer stats and upgrade cycle.

#gamedev #indiedev

[TechBoxNorth]

I'm all too familiar to the thought process: "My pc is too weak for whatever" but that is only a justification to spend money on new parts and upgrades. One day I just sat there looking att all the new stuff: two expensive synthesizers, sound mixer, audio interface, a top tier pc etc etc and I said to myself "this is just nuts!" So I sold off everything and bought a normal pc, regular desktop speakers, a simple small midikeyboard along with a much cheaper audio interface. I could still do everything I wanted like gamedev, making music and so on but with gear fitting my skill level AND I got enough money over to get a drivers license and a used but fairly nice car and even some to put back into the bank.

[jamesderaja]

I absolutely agree with you. If we really wanted to make games you will definitely find a way to do it. If we keep on listing reasons which is obstructing you from making one it will never end. It’s all about starting one day (game dev or anything tbh) one day and sticking to it constantly.

[GlasTaibhse]

building games on an older rig is kind of a blessing in disguise. you'll be more limited, sure, but your game will probably be able to run on just about anything. not everyone has a powerful gaming rig, so building a game designed for lower-spec machines simply means that you have a lot more people who'll be able to run your game.

[WARTORNFPS]

You’re a really down to earth sort of person. I have worked the last 6 years in the flat rolled steel industry and now as a machinist. I have constantly held a full time job to afford things in life and for the last 2 or 3 years I have been solo developing an FPS game in unity. Some days I feel as if it will never get anywhere, and some days I’m so pumped to even be making “anything”. I have recently fallen into the trap of wanting to upgrade my system so that I would at least have current generation hardware to help support my dreams of being a game developer or at least make my efforts more enjoyable and productive so I guess I could understand why most people think they need the latest and greatest. I’m still working with a system built in 2011. I think the moral of the story is do what you can with what you have, and if you can make yourself happy then you’re doing something right.

[_nickthered]

The way, I see, it is that working on minimum specs means my game should run well on many more machines. And I make sure to optimize when the experience degrades, which means my game should have no problems running anywhere.

I work on a broken down old laptop with a 2 core CPU and I don't even know how little memory it has as I ignore that. Working on Linux with Love2d affords efficiencies to the low specs.

Consider choosing specs similar to your audience. Optimize for the GENERAL experience! Just my $.02

[synchaoz]

On the distraction part, can confirm so much. Most of my actual code and systems for my current games was "written" while taking a walk in the woods with my dog. In fact I still do that when I need to figure out some new programming conundrum; remove myself entirely from the rest of the world, go out into nature with no technology on me, and just mentally work my way through the problem, visualize the code in my head, and then write it down when I get home. It's far, far, FAR more productive and efficient for me to do than to sit down at the computer and actually solve it in real-time, because I will get distracted and be unable to focus on the specific problem at hand.

[sebastianpotts]

Also just wishlisted realised I hadn't done so yet even though I've been following you for a while now.

[rambot]

Came here for a spec sheet. Left with a motivation boost and clear head.

I tip my hat to you sir. Excellent work and thank you for sharing !

[alpheusOne]

Going down a rabbit hole of this topic and so glad you shared this advice. Thx.

[rakhu]

I have learned so many things from you Sir. When I was beginner I watch your videos to get started in game development 🙂

[Konitama]

When I was a kid with no computer I also wrote out games in a notebook. When I got a TI-85 calculator I used that to program very simple adventure games. I actually still have a notebook where I wrote out every line of code for my TI-85 game, including drawing all the artwork just to have a "hard backup" since I had no way of backing up my game if it got deleted on the calculator. Just in case I ever wanted to make it again I had all the written code and picture reference of the art, lol.

[RickyWiild]

I can relate towards the conversation at the end of this video. I've too had a lot of lousy jobs. I'm currently working on my 2nd game, as a (almost solo indie dev) and have been so very close to landing gamedev jobs due to my portfolio. As it stands, i'm still working not the best jobs whilst working away/maintaining my ambition goal. Great video.

[vast]

The problem with powerful PCs when used in game development: ending up with slow games. Its easy to add resource demanding systems and assets to a game, and not notice a slowdown at the moment of implementation. Could be just a simple bug that does unnecessary work every frame for example. And if you dont test in parallel on a low average consumer PC, you can end up with a game that has much to high demands on minimum specs.

[adamabera]

The main hurdle for me growing up was access to the internet, WiFi is pretty common nowadays but it was super expensive in my country until a few years ago. Game dev or development in general requires a good internet connection whether it's for looking up questions, docs or just watching a tutorial. The WiFi I work with only goes up to 2Mb/s (not 2MB/s) but it is a blessing. So yeah, internet is something that is taken for granted but is very crucial.

[supercyclone]

I'm currently developing on a laptop with i3 integrated graphics and 8GB of ram. This has worked just fine for developing my big 2D metroidvania in Unity 2020, and I've even done some low-poly 3D on this thing!

This $300 laptop is the only expense so far on my 3+ year game dev journey, and only now am I upgrading! I realized I was losing a lot of unnecessary time to compile times and prefab updates. I just bought a laptop with an 11th gen i5, an RTX 3060, and 16GB of ram for $899 (I missed an even better sale for $849) and that should last me a long while for game dev and now pc gaming! If it weren't for gaming, I probably would've settled for the same laptop with a RTX 3050 for only $679! You really don't need that much money to get comfortably into serious game dev.

[ochremoore]

Thanks for this video, I’m in the process of picking parts for my first pc and i am definitely in this trap of thinking I don’t have good enough hardware.

[critio]

Dang
I was thinking about getting a pc in a few months and this topic suddenly coming up from you just blew my mind haha
Perfect timing

[Mrjononotbono]

I started learning game dev stuff about 3 years ago and I've been learning game dev with Unity and started with my shitty Mac Pro 5, 1. Very painful experience 😂 Then I started using my old 2600k PC (still using it) but finally upgraded my GPU from a 970 to a 1080 Ti and that really helped. But the whole experience has been kind of rubbish with horrible frame rates. It wouldn't let this stop me though. So I've been saving up and buying parts for a new build gradually (I also have moved to UE5) and today I just ordered an i9 13900k (and last month I bought a 3090). So excited to finally be on the way to having a good computer.

Your comments about being more productive with shitty equipment is so true. I wanted to use UE5 but my 15 year old computer just wouldn't allow it. And people do make so many excuses about equipment. Its nonsense. If you wanna do game dev, you find a way to do it!

[EnTilSeksten]

I've been developing 3D mobile games in unity on a 10 year old i3, 16gb ram and a gtx 1060. My hardware never limited my work flow or creativity. Tho I started out on a i7 laptop with no dedicated gpu and it was hell.

[АлександрВиниченко-лз]

Thank u for this video) I have put off some interesting projects many times because of a weak PC or lack of a graphics tablet. I found hundreds of refusals to not move forward. Such videos help to look at the situation from the other side and move forward. P.S. sorry for my English