Things to Remember When Buying a Gaming Computer

* RAM-Ram or Random Access Memory is one of the biggest problems that many people face when trying to create a PC that can run high end video games. The good news is that RAM is probably the least expensive hardware cost that you will spend, being about $150 at most. Make sure if possible that the RAM you buy is DDRM3 and not 2 because DDRM3 will be faster. It’s important to have at least two gigabytes of ram if you’re running Vista, but you should shoot for four.

* Graphics Card-Your GPU or graphics card is probably the most important part of your purchase when buying a gaming computer. It’s important to note what memory associates your GPU. You should ideally shoot for about 512 MB along side of your card, but it’s completely acceptable to buy a 256 card. It’s extremely important to realize that you should never buy any computer utilizing an integrated graphics card if your purpose is playing high-end 3D games.

* Processor-Processing data and multitasking is very important for gaming computers because it plays a part in determining the speed of your computer. If you get a duo or quad core processor you’re splitting up the work done by your computer making it much more efficient. Processor speed is measured in Ghz and a 3.0Ghz duo core processor is probably the most value you can get for your money. While quad core processors are new and flashy, they aren’t fully utilized in gaming yet, though you may want to purchase one for the future.

* Hard Drive- Making sure that your computer has enough hard drive space is very important when you’re playing video games since many games now can cost you up to 10 gigabytes in hard drive space. This isn’t as important for in-game performance, but hard drives are still a important part of your computer that is required.

When buying your new gaming computer be sure to question your needs while trying to minimize your cost. If you consider the above parts carefully you can construct a very powerful computer that can last you for the years to come.

Photo Credits: Steve Crane

Originally posted 2009-12-03 03:23:07.

Time for an Upgrade?

RAM

Random Access Memory or RAM is one of the first computer components you should look to upgrade when your computer is bogging down. A lack of RAM is often the diagnosis of many computers speed issues, and can also be the deciding factor in whether or not you can run certain software. Luckily for you, RAM is one of the most inexpensive pieces of hardware, only running about $30 per gigabyte. One gigabyte is more than enough for a Windows XP machine, and if you’re running Vista you will really only need two.

CPU

Your processor or CPU is one of the most important parts of your computers technical specifications. The CPU splits the workload of the applications you’re running up between cores so that your computer can run more efficiently. CPU’s come in single, duo and even quad cores now giving you a large array of possibilities for your upgrade. A duo core CPU is way more than enough for most users but it’s also important to note the speed of your CPU. CPU speed is measured in GHz, and obviously, the bigger the number the better. A duo core 2.4-3.0 speed is the ideal range if you’re looking to upgrade your old machine.

GPU

The GPU or graphics card is really only important to multimedia users such as video editors and video game players. Your video card as it is often called is usually the limiting factor for these two groups because of the ever advancing technology. Video games and editing often are using the most recent technology, and as such, require you to also be using top of the line technology causing you to upgrade your video card. When buying a video card aim to buy one with over 256MB of memory and read reviews to make sure that the particular model doesn’t overheat commonly.

Upgrading a computer can seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite easy if you know what parts you need to look for. Do a little research and figure out the technical specs of your computer and it should be easy to figure out what part of your computer is bogging the rest down.

Photo Credits: maebmij

Originally posted 2009-11-02 03:02:33.