If you've decided to switch from your trusted console to a gaming PC, you obviously know some things will be vastly different. You'll have to research components and know how to assemble them, or figure out which pre-built gaming PC to buy instead. You'll also know that a PC will cost much more than your console if you want a mid-range machine capable of 60+ FPS gaming at high settings in the latest titles.

You might even know that you'll miss out on some console exclusives, even though many of them are now on PC. And your PC friends might have told you that you'll enjoy better game sales and tons of mods on PC, and will be able to emulate any old game, something not possible on a console. That said, there are things nobody tells you about making the switch from consoles, especially related to the day-to-day matters of using a gaming PC.

5 You'll be updating your machine a lot more

Not just games or Windows updates

On a PlayStation or Xbox console, you would be used to occasional system updates and regular game updates, but things work differently on PCs. While the frequency of game updates is more or less the same, you'll have to get used to frequent Windows updates, driver updates (especially for the GPU), and even multiple BIOS updates.

While most of these updates are necessary to maintain maximum performance and stability on your machine, that doesn't make it any less annoying. Consoles have standardized hardware, hence the manufacturer doesn't need to push driver updates like you get on PCs. And due to the growing trend of buggy and unfinished PC components launching left and right, BIOS updates have grown from rare to almost periodic.

Being a new PC user, it'll take you a while to get used to multiple interruptions to your gaming sessions. Your moments of winding down will often be underscored by a critical Windows update, a launch-day GPU driver update, or an Nvidia app update.

4 You'll be anxious about temps and airflow

Remember this on consoles? Exactly

An unexpected trait you'll develop as a PC user is the incessant obsession with the CPU temperature, fan noise, and optimizing fan curves. Unlike consoles, where you don't even open the thing once in its lifetime, unless you want to replace the SSD, you'll constantly fiddle with your fan placement on your PC. During the first few weeks, at least, you'll relentlessly tweak your fan curves, repeatedly check system temps with HWiNFO, and worry about the slightest uptick in fan speeds.

As time passes, you'll also need to clean your PC every few months if you want to avoid dust deposits. They can not only ruin the esthetics of your PC, but also affect the cooling performance. On a console, you've probably never had to worry about cleaning the dust, replacing the thermal paste, or experimenting with different fan placements. Everything works as intended right out of the box.

On a PC, however, tinkering comes naturally, at least to those who've switched platforms for better performance, graphics, and customization.

3 You'll miss the controller features you take for granted

It'll work, but not in the same way

If you've used the DualSense controller on the PS5, you're probably used to the advanced haptics, adaptive triggers, and motion controls that make a world of difference to the immersion. While you can connect and use many of the features of the DualSense or any other controller on PC, the experience isn't exactly the same. Many of these advanced features don't work wirelessly; you need to be connected in wired mode.

Many PC games don't support these features; just because your controller has them doesn't mean they'll automatically work on PC. In addition to that, you need to jump through a few hoops to connect the DualSense controller to a PC, figure out how to map controller actions to PC inputs, and deal with some Bluetooth connectivity issues on Windows. In a nutshell, you might be able to replicate most of your controller experience on PC, but it'll take some effort, and some features might not be supported at all.

2 Troubleshooting errors can be frustrating at first

Accept the new normal

Troubleshooting is a necessary evil for any PC user, and while consoles aren't immune to errors, a restart or support desk query is often enough to resolve the issue. On a PC, however, there are many more points of failure for any support desk (if you have a pre-built machine) to solve an issue in a reasonable amount of time. You'll be forced to take matters into your own hands, and learn the ways of the PC.

For starters, you'll need to pick up basic troubleshooting steps by browsing Reddit forums, reliable tech sites, and YouTube videos. Next, you'll have to develop an insight into the inner workings of your machine to apply your new learnings to your unique situation. Lastly, if you don't want to wait for hardware-level support from the pre-built PC vendor you bought from, you'll have to become comfortable with opening up the PC and getting your hands dirty (if needed).

You'll also need to incorporate built-in Windows troubleshooting tools to scan your drives, check event logs, and monitor the hardware. It can be a lot at first, but you'll gradually accept the new normal.

1 You're in for a bit of a learning curve

The only way is through

The enhanced PC experience that made you switch from a console demands a learning curve. Unlike consoles, where changing settings and managing different programs is straightforward, a PC can feel like it's needlessly complicating things. Plus, you'll need to accept that PC gaming isn't always as stable as console gaming; the lack of optimization is a huge problem on PC.

You'll need to get used to more advanced in-game settings (if you want the best performance), deal with multiple game launchers, and learn more elaborate key binding customization. Even playing with a keyboard and mouse can be difficult in the beginning if you've never used them for gaming. Next, customizing BIOS settings (at least once) to enable XMP/EXPO, Resizable BAR, and CPU overclocking (if you're up for it) is also something new that you never had to do on your console.

Once you're set up, you'll also need to know the best programs to install for optimum gaming performance, figure out how mods work (if you're interested), and disable unnecessary background programs stealing system resources. A lot of these necessary tasks are a one-time thing, sure, but together, they can feel overwhelming to a console user transitioning to PC gaming. You can take heart in the fact that there are many more in the same boat, and you always have a solid community to ask for help.

If you're ready, PC gaming is a huge upgrade over consoles

Consoles are geared toward convenience, stable performance, and a hands-off experience. PCs, on the other hand, demand a certain level of technical know-how if you truly want to maximize the superior experience they promise compared to consoles. You'll need to develop a thick skin to deal with more frequent errors, BSODs, or simple performance issues. Updates will be more frequent, you'll miss universal support for advanced controller features, and you'll have to do some hardware optimization for the best results.