(PRINTWORDS NEWS)- Not everyone buys a computer with the same reason. It is true that computers have become almost an indispensable part of our lives but we use them for different reasons. For a lot of people computers are the work companions and machines that are used for calculations and office productivity.
However, for a lot of others computers double up as entertainment devices and gaming devices too. Yes not everyone is into console gaming and they prefer killing the virtual enemies in front of a PC. The gaming computers are mainly desktops though you can buy a number of gaming laptops these days. Most people prefer buying desktops for gaming because they can be easily upgraded and cost less than a typical high end gaming laptop.
If you want to buy a gaming desktop PC there are certain things you will have to consider. It is easy to get floored by the tech jargons used by the manufacturers and end up buying a PC that has mundane spec to run the games you love. You need to know what your requirements are.
There are various types of gamers and not everyone needs a higher end and expensive computer for gaming. Yu also need to ensure that the computer you buy is quite upgradable and reasonably future proof. However, the latter aspect is subjective given the fact that computer hardware technology changes very fast these days. Some of the gaming PC manufacturers offer plenty of customization options and you can specify exactly what components you want in your PC.
The first component you need to consider before buying a gaming PC is the CPU. There was a time the CPU handled the games but now that task is done by GPU. Still, the CPU plays a vital role in aiding the GPU with the support it needs to run a game smoothly. The days of single core CPUs are over and present generation games are designed to take advantage of dual or more cores of the CPUs.
If you are on a budget you can go for the AMD’s Phenom quad core CPUs. They may lag behind the Intel counterparts by a small extent but they are suited for gaming. If budget is not an issue definitely opt for the Intel Core i7 CPUs. The Sandy Bridge CPUs are out and pick one of them. These CPUs come fitted with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology which means that they can hike the stock speed when you run demanding apps and games.
Nowadays even entry level PCs come with at least 2GB of RAM installed and for a gaming PC you will need 4 GB of RAM. Make sure there are room for future upgrades aka free RAM slots when you buy the PC. If you buy a PC that comes with 64 bit edition of Windows you can merrily buy more RAM.
The present generation games require a lot of storage space. It would be wise to go for a 640 GB or 750 GB hard disk. Remember that you will have to store your music and movie collection on the hard disk as well and they do need a lot of space. A 7200 RPM SATA hard disk is required for a gaming PC and if you can afford a more expensive and faster 10000 RPM one that would be really nice. It is also fine if you can arrange a couple of fast HDDs in raid setup.
You will have to select from the GPUs offered by AMD and Nvidia. Go for a GPU with 1GB of RAM and support for Direct X 11 games. It is nice if the GPU has a robust cooling mechanism as these cards tend to get hot. Some GPUs come with over clocking utilities. The tower or the cabinet of your gaming PC need to be kept cool and dust free. Install at least a pair of fans to vent out the hot air. Some motherboards also offer cabinet temperature monitoring apps and you get warning when the temperature goes beyond the safe limit. It is a useful feature.
You will also need to invest in a good mouse and keyboard set for a gaming PC. It is ideal to buy a pair of wireless combo. If you prefer playing in night buy a backlit keyboard. Some of the gaming mouse and keyboards have dedicated and programmable keys as well. Laser mouse offers you excellent precision levels for FPS games.
If you do not want to disturb others when you play games buy a good pair of headphones with noise isolation technology. For a gaming PC a set of speakers with subwoofer is a must. Only then you can expect to get a nice and immersive gaming experience. Preferably go for a 5.1 speaker set and make sure it has THX certification. Logitech and Creative has some very good models.
The monitor you buy for a gaming PC should preferably be a LCD widescreen monitor. LED LCD models have better black level performance and consume less power too. A 21 to 23 inch monitor would suffice. It would be nice if the monitor has HDMI and DVI port. That way you can hook it up with your existing gaming consoles. Some monitors also come up with USB ports thereby allowing you to connect a number of USB devices. You may prefer glossy or matte coating on your display according to your choice.
If you are into multiplayer gaming you also need to have a fast internet connection with unlimited data plans. The games also get updates and patches from time to time and they are often in GBs in size.
Hardcore gamers also register themselves into online gaming forums where they share their tips and even game cheating codes with fellow gamers. Some gamers also require you to register online at the manufacturer’s site for earning the eligibility for updates and other goodies.
