Saturday, June 5, 2010

Hardcore Computers

What to Look For in a Gaming Computer

Gaming computers have high–end graphics cards, processors, and lots of RAM—the components needed to enhance your gaming experience. When considering a gaming computer you should carefully evaluate your needs. Most manufacturers provide individual customization, so you can get a desktop that will fit your gaming style and budget.
Below are things you should look for when buying a gaming PC
Processor
A fast CPU, or processor, will aid the video card in drawing up to 51 billion polygons per second in first person shooters and MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games), alike. Some systems include powerful quad-core processors.
Memory
Large amounts of memory allows the computer to quickly access frequently used information or programs; a critical component for gaming. A gaming PC should have at least 1 GB of RAM and sufficient hard drive space to have multiple games installed at a time. Some games can occupy over 12GB of hard drive space.
Video/Audio
A game is only as good as the graphics card supporting it. Many games have life–like, real–time images that require a powerful graphics card. ATI and nVidia graphics cards are the most common amongst gamers, and at least 256MB of proprietary video RAM is needed for most current games. A gaming PC sound card, integrated or not, should be capable of reproducing 5.1 or 7.1 channels of sound so you can know where your enemies are approaching from.
I/O Device
Some computers come with various peripherals including a mouse, keyboard, speakers and a monitor, while others don’t. This may or may not be important depending on your needs. Additionally, some gaming systems come with uniquely designed towers with custom paint and neon lights.
Value/Price
  The leading companies are value oriented—providing a lot of computer for a good price.
Support/Warranty
The first–class manufacturers provide quality help and support through email, phone and online chat. They also provide up to three-year warranties at no additional cost.