[Enter]

This is an introduction to building your own custom gaming computers.

Building your own computer is the way to go if you want a high performance, good value-for-money gaming PC.

And despite what people say, it's not hard to do. All it takes is basic knowledge of the computer parts, which you will learn about on this site, and a little free time

Building your own custom gaming computers simply involves buying all your computer components separately, and then putting them together yourself to build your gaming PC.

You will end up with a fast, cost-effective gaming computer suited for your own gaming needs because you chose the parts yourself. Besides saving money and having a great gaming PC, building custom gaming computers can also be a lot of fun!


Advantages to Building Your Own
Let's have a closer look at the advantages of building your own custom gaming computer, as opposed to buying a ready-built, complete gaming system:

* Better performance. If you want a high-performance gaming PC tailored to your gaming needs, building your own machine is the best way to go about it.

* You will save money. By shopping around for the best quality components at good prices, you will end up with a better gaming PC for less cost.

* You will gain experience. Whilst choosing your components and building your gaming computer, you will learn a lot about computer hardware, and how computers work in general.


As you can see, there are good reasons why someone would want to build their own custom gaming computer. Building a computer can also be fascinating, and empowering.

You will feel 'in control' of your machine by knowing how it was put together. Completing your very own computer is a real achievement and something to be proud of.

How to Choose Your Components
Perhaps the biggest challenge of building gaming computers is choosing the right components for your needs. How do you know which component is best for you? How do they all work together?

We provide you with the information you need to know about choosing each component for your gaming computer. Reading these guides will save you time and money, and you are bound to learn a lot about computer hardware in the process:

Components You Need

* CPU
* Motherboard
* Memory
* Hard Drive
* Video Card
* Computer Case
* Power Supply
* CD/DVD Drive
* Monitor
* Keyboard
* Mouse

Extras/Accessories

* Sound Card
* Speakers
* Headphones
* Desk
* Chair

Plan For The Future
Computer technology advances at an amazing rate. So it's a good idea to choose your components with a view to upgrading in the future. For example, you are better off choosing a motherboard that supports a faster processor than the one you are putting in now and that has enough RAM slots for you to be able to add more memory at a later date.


Conclusion
Having read this introduction to building custom gaming computers, you are now ready to start choosing your components and building the ultimate gaming computer! Feel free to read through all the buying guides on this website to help you make the right decisions.

[Enter]

Choosing the Best CPU for Your Gaming Computer

Choosing the best CPU for your gaming needs can be a tough decision.

The CPU market is indeed confusing. There are many different models to choose from, all with different features and speeds.

The following information will help you understand the world of CPUs, and will assist you in choosing the best CPU for your gaming needs.

Picking the latest, fastest or most expensive processor on the market won’t always result in the right CPU for your particular system. Some processors are designed to work with certain motherboards, so the CPU you choose will limit the type of motherboard you can get.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is one of the most important components in any computer system. The CPU could be described as the brains of a computer. It contains the logic circuitry that performs the instructions of the software you run. The performance of your games and other applications will be directly related to this tiny little microprocessor.

The Major Players: Intel and AMD
Two companies dominate the CPU market, Intel and AMD (Advanced Micro Devices). Both companies make a range of different processor models. Intel make the Pentium and Celeron processor models, while AMD have the Athlon and Sempron series.


The Best CPUs for Budget Gamers
If you’re a basic computer user and you don’t require all that much power, you may want to consider a budget-line processor. Intel and AMD both offer budget processors. Intel have their Celeron range of budget processor models, which has been around for years. The Celerons of today have dramatically different inner structures than the first Celerons that hit the market years ago.

As for AMD, you have their Sempron models to choose from. AMD hasn’t always used the Sempron as their budget-line though. In the beginning they had the Duron, which they dumped. They then decided to sell cheap Athlon XP models as their budget range, but they were dumped too. So now the Sempron is their budget-line processor.


The Best CPU for Gaming
For gaming, you will need a more powerful CPU. If you wish to play the latest 3D games with good performance, you’ll want to invest in a capable CPU. Currently, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 is the most popular processor and is also the one that I recommend for gaming. If you want to go with Intel instead, consider the Intel Pentium 4 models.

Deciding between AMD and Intel can be a difficult decision. Although, if you’re a gamer I would recommend an AMD processor simply because they have been proven in the past to perform better in games than their Intel counterparts. They are also cheaper than Intel processors. But in the end it’s up to you.


Understanding the Speed of CPUs
The speed of a CPU is measured in either megahertz or gigahertz, and is referred to as the CPU’s clock speed. It’s not very easy to compare the performance of Intel and AMD processors. An Intel processor running at 3 GHz is not equivalent to an Athlon processor running at 3 GHz. This is because AMD processors can run at a slower speed and yet match the performance of faster-clocked Intel processors.

As a result, AMD has named its CPUs on an equivalent Intel rating, not based on their actual MHz value. This helps to compare AMD and Intel processors. For example, an AMD Athlon XP 2100+ runs at 1.73 GHz, yet it matches the performance of a 2.1GHz Pentium 4.


Cooling Your CPU
These days, the best CPUs produce so much heat they require a cooling system. Processors commonly run with a fan attached to the top to cool them down. Check whether the CPU you are buying comes with a fan or not. Or if you're looking for a budget-line, less powerful processor, you may not need such a fan. Be sure before buying your CPU.


The Future of CPUs
Competition in the CPU market is tight between Intel and AMD, both are working hard to release the fastest and most powerful chips. The new trend in CPUs are 64-bit chips, and AMD and Intel both have competing 64-bit processors on the market.

Dual-core processors are also relatively new on the scene, and these types of processors aim to increase performance when running multiple programs at the same time. With time, dual core CPUs will be the norm.


Conclusion
Choosing the best CPU for gaming can be a confusing task. Hopefully this article has shed some light on how to go about choosing the best gaming CPU for your needs. You can find great deals on the best CPUs .

[Enter]

Choosing the Best Motherboard

This article will help you choose the best motherboard for your gaming computer.

The motherboard is one of the most important components in any computer, it can make or break a system.

We will look at the various factors you should take into account when choosing your gaming motherboard, to ensure that you choose the best motherboard for your needs.

If you think of the processor as the brain of a computer, then the motherboard could be described as the central nervous system, responsible for relaying information between all the internal components.

In other words, it’s the hub of the computer, where all other components connect to. Since the motherboard is so crucial to your system, buying the best motherboard you can afford is a good investment.


Select Your CPU First
Before choosing your motherboard, you should have already chosen your CPU.

A motherboard will generally only support one type of processor, such as a Pentium 4 or Athlon 64. Different CPUs have connectors that vary physically from one another. So you can’t accidentally plug in the wrong processor into the wrong motherboard.

Also, take note that many motherboards will only support up to a certain speed of a certain processor model. In this case, the maximum processor speed allowed would be quoted in the motherboard specifications. So, when buying the best motherboard for you, be sure to check whether it will support the speed of your CPU.


Check the CPU Socket Type
To be sure that your processor is compatible with a particular motherboard, you need to check the socket type. The socket type is basically the processor interface for your CPU.

For example, if you have a Pentium 4 processor the socket type will usually be either Socket 423 or Socket 478. So you would check the motherboard to see whether it supports this type of socket.


What Memory and Drive Format?
The motherboard you choose will dictate the type and amount of RAM you can have. You will want to get either DDR SDRAM or RDRAM, and at least 1 Gig worth, for good gaming performance. So ensure your motherboard will support this type and amount of memory. Find the best computer memory with this memory buying guide.

Motherboards also have different types of connections for your hard drive. Common drive formats are ATA and SATA. For more information on selecting the right hard drive for you, see the best hard drive guide.


PCI Slots and USB Ports
The PCI slots on a motherboard are there to accommodate add-on cards such as a sound card, Ethernet card, or modem. Make sure you have enough PCI slots for your needs. You should also consider the number of USB ports you need, and whether you need a Firewire port (used for video capturing and editing).


AGP or PCI Express Graphics Card?
When choosing the best motherboard for your needs, you need to think ahead and decide on what type of Graphics Card you will be using. Reason being, there are two different ways to connect a Graphics Card to a motherboard, through an AGP slot or a PCI Express slot.

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) has been the standard for a long time, but now the new PCI Express technology is slowly taking over the scene, as it is much faster than AGP. See the gaming video card guide for more detailed information on this.


Built-in Video, Sound, or Networking
Some motherboards come with built-in video, sound, or networking capabilities. This can save you time and money because you won’t have to buy the separate cards for these functions. If you want decent quality graphics you will definitely need to avoid on-board video and get a separate graphics card. On-board video simply doesn’t cut it for the good 3D games.

On the other hand, getting on-board sound is a much more appealing option. You can get decent quality sound with it, and most people won’t notice the difference between on-board sound and a separate sound card for basic audio functions such as listening to music and playing games. But, if you’re into producing music or you want the very best sound quality from your games, you will want to invest in a separate sound card. See the best sound card guide for more information.


Plan to Upgrade
Choosing the best motherboard for your needs should also include you looking to the future. Will you want to upgrade in the near future? Make sure your motherboard will allow you to upgrade, whether it be more RAM, or a new graphics card. If you plan to upgrade your processor, be sure your motherboard will support a faster processor.


Conclusion
The motherboard is such a crucial component to your gaming computer. You should consider all the features that are important to you, and buy the best motherboard you can afford.

Some well-known and trusted motherboard manufacturers are ASUS, ABIT, MSI, and Gigabyte. You can start by browsing the range of the best motherboardsicon from these trusted names, and continue on your way to choosing that perfect gaming motherboard. Happy shopping!

[Enter]

How to Choose the
Best Computer Memory

This article helps you choose the best computer memory (RAM) for your gaming computer.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the memory in a computer used to store running programs. The more RAM you have, the faster your games and other programs will run.

Firstly, let's take a look at the different types of RAM available to you.

Investing in a decent amount of RAM from one of the best computer memory makers is a smart idea. The performance of your gaming computer will be greatly affected by the type and amount of RAM you have onboard.

Types of RAM
These days there are three main types of memory you can buy for your computer, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and RDRAM. The memory type you select will depend on that supported by your motherboard.

* SDRAM. This is an older form of memory that has now been superseded by DDR SDRAM. Although it’s not the fastest memory available, they are still trusted memory chips that you can find for a very cheap price.

* DDR SDRAM. The most common type of memory used today, DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM performs faster than its predecessor. There’s no reason not to get this type of memory for your system.

* RDRAM. Also known as Rambus, RDRAM is the latest type of memory that was originally designed for the Pentium 4. It’s the fastest, and consequently, the most expensive type of memory.


How Much RAM Do You Need?
You might be asking “How much RAM do I need?�. The simple answer is “as much as you can afford�. Adding memory to your system will show real results, and RAM prices are forever getting cheaper.

Windows XP needs at least 128MB of RAM just to be usable, although with such little memory you are bound to have problems. Add a few applications and you’ll quickly find that 256MB, and even 512MB, becomes necessary. And that’s just for normal computer users.

If you’re a gamer, and I assume most of you are since you’re visiting this site, then you will require even more RAM. 512MB is the absolute minimum these days to play decent 3D games, but you should really look into buying 1 to 2 Gigs worth. It’s really worth your money, especially if you’re interested in upcoming releases which will require even more grunt from your system.


Buying Your RAM
Buying the best computer memory for your gaming computer involves knowing which type you need, and then choosing how much you want.

One thing to watch out for is the brand of the memory you buy. I recommend that you buy from a quality manufacturer, such as Kingston, Crucial, Corsair, or Samsung. Buying cheap memory from an unknown manufacturer is risky.

[Enter]

Choosing the Best Hard Drive

In this article we look at the different things to look for when buying the best hard drive for your computer.

The hard drive is where all your files and programs are stored. The three main features to look out for in a hard drive is the speed, size, and the type of interface.

But first, let’s take a little look into how hard drives work.

How Hard Drives Store Data
In a nutshell, hard drives store information by manipulating magnetic fields over the moving surface of a disk coated with a magnetic material. This use of magnetism to store information is very similar to how tape or video recorders work.

A hard drive stores digital data as magnetic variations on the surface of the disk. A bit (binary digit, the building block of all data within a PC) represents a 0 when magnetized in one orientation, and a 1 when magnetized in another.

Each individual disk inside a hard drive is called a platter. Large hard drives contain several platters and use both sides of each platter for storage. The drive contains a motor that spins the platters at speeds from 5400 to 15,000 rotations per minute (rpm).


The Speed of Hard Drives
So basically, the faster a drive spins, the faster you can access and transfer data. Most of the best hard drives these days have a speed of 7200rpm. You don’t want anything less than this, as you will notice annoying delays between reading and writing data.

If you want a faster hard drive you can find drives with 10,000rpm. The best hard drives available have speeds reaching 15,000rpm, although you probably won’t need such a drive for home computer use. The faster you go, the more you are going to pay, so I would just recommend sticking to a 7200rpm hard drive, it’s fast enough for most people.


What Size Do You Need?
Hard drives come in all different sizes, ranging from 40GB to 120GB, to even 200GB and more. Purchase the largest hard drive you can afford, but also take into account what you will use it for, as you don’t want to waste money on space you don’t need.

For normal home use you will probably need around 80GB to 120GB. If you are going to store lots and lots of software and data (perhaps large games), you might need more. So the size you choose all depends on what you need.


What Hard Drive Interface to Choose?
The hard drive interface is the hardware that manages the exchange of data between a computer and the hard drive. The most common interface is ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment). ATA comes in two forms, the original ATA (also known as Parallel ATA, or PATA) and the newer, faster SATA (Serial ATA).

Then there’s the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), which is mainly used on servers and high-end workstation PCs. SCSI is the fastest and consequently the best hard drive interface available, but it’s also considerably more expensive than SATA. It’s also fairly safe to say that you won’t need a SCSI hard drive.

So with SCSI out of the equation for most users, I would consider getting a hard drive with an ATA interface, preferably SATA if your motherboard supports it.


Conclusion
This article has explained the different considerations you should be aware of when buying your new hard drive. Choose a hard drive that is large enough for your needs, fast enough for your liking, and has an interface type that is efficient and is supported by your motherboard.

[Enter]

How to Choose the Best Gaming Video Card

Choosing the right gaming video card for your needs can be a tough decision for many.

There are so many different graphics cards out there, all with different specs and features, it's hard to know what is best for you.

This article will discuss the various factors you should consider when buying a video card, so you can make a better buying decision.

Your gaming video card will be responsible for producing the dazzling 3D graphics and effects seen in the latest computer games. A better graphics card makes for a better 3D gaming experience, so gamers should choose the best video card they can afford.

AGP or PCI Express

There are two ways to connect your graphics card to your motherboard, via an AGP or PCI Express slot.

Generally, a motherboard will only support one these slot types. So you need to make sure which it is before looking for a video card.

AGP has been the norm for a long time now, but it is old technology.

PCI Express is the new kid on the block, and it’s only a matter of time until it completely takes over from AGP. The benefit of PCI Express is that it can handle a greater data throughput than an AGP slot.

PCI Express offers performance of up to 4X faster than the fastest AGP slot. It’s relatively new technology, and it isn’t being used to its full potential yet. Although, we predict that games released in the next 1-2 years will make full use of PCI Express technology.

Another advantage of PCI Express is you can connect more than one video card to your computer. This is impossible with AGP, a motherboard can only ever have one AGP slot.

If you’re simply upgrading your gaming computer with a new video card, you should check whether your motherboard supports AGP or PCI Express, and then choose a card accordingly. Don’t worry if your motherboard has an AGP slot. Even though it’s not the latest technology, AGP is going to stay around for a long time. Many of the best video cards come in AGP versions.

On the other hand, if you’re building a new system from scratch, you have the choice. We recommend choosing a gaming video card with PCI Express, and a motherboard that supports it. As we said before, the games of the future will soon harness the power of this new technology, leaving AGP in the dark. So by choosing PCI Express now, it will save you the upgrade later when AGP becomes obsolete.

Also, don’t confuse PCI Express with PCI. A long time ago you would connect your graphics card through a PCI slot on your motherboard. This is very slow compared to todays standards, and is completely outdated.

ATI or nVidia
Very much like the CPU market, there are two companies that dominate the world of gaming video cards, ATI and nVidia. They make the best video card chips in the world. ATI is responsible for the Radeon series, while nVidia is behind the GeForce line of cards.

Although ATI and nVidia make the graphics card technology you see in all the latest cards, they don’t actually sell them themselves. They license their best video card chips to companies such as GeCube, Saphire, Asus, and ABit (just to name a few) who then sell their own variants on the original technology.


Understanding the Specs
Below are some brief explanations of the different aspects of a graphics processor. If you get caught up in all this technical talk, do not worry. You don’t need to understand all the details in order to make a wise purchase on your gaming video card.

Clock Speed
The clock speed of a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) determines the number of pixels it can process per cycle. But just like CPUs, the numbers can be a little misleading. A faster clock speed does not always result in better performance.

Onboard Memory
Video cards come with on-board memory to be used solely for graphics operations. The minimum on a graphics card these days is 128MB, although 256MB is becoming quite common. Some of the best gaming video cards have a huge 512MB of on-board memory.

But be aware that ‘the more the better’ isn’t always true. If the software you run doesn’t need huge amounts of memory, then you shouldn’t spend money on more memory. If you compare a card with 128MB against one with 256MB, you would only see a performance improvement if you play a game such as Half Life 2, or Doom3, which requires lots of memory for its many large textures.

Memory Bandwidth
Memory bandwidth is the speed at which the GPU can talk with the on-board memory. It’s more important than the amount of memory you have on the card. The more bandwidth, the better. Graphics card memory comes in two types, GDDR3 and DDR. The former is the fastest type of memory.

Fill Rate
The fill rate of a video card is the speed at which pixels are drawn onto screen memory. It’s usually measured in millions of pixels per second, and is an important measure of a graphics processor’s performance. The best gaming video cards on the market have fill rates as fast as 15 billion pixels per second.


Rendering Features
The speed and efficiency of the GPU isn’t the only thing that counts. The latest 3D games and software make use of advanced 3D rendering effects such as anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, bump-mapping, pixel shaders and much more.

If you run a game that was written with such features in mind, and your graphics card doesn’t support them, you will experience a significant performance loss, or at worst the game won’t run at all. The best gaming video cards on the market try to keep up with all the latest 3D rendering techniques in the software world.

Other Functions
Video cards provide other functions apart from rendering 3D graphics. For example, you can have high-definition output, output to a TV screen, or to multiple monitors. If you want such features, be sure to check if they’re listed on the box.

* DVI: This is a higher-definition output used with newer monitors and some high-end TVs. Connecting to your monitor via DVI offers better image quality than the standard VGA connection. If you want to take advantage of DVI, buy a graphics card and monitor that supports it.

* TV-Out: If you wish to display the output of your video card onto a TV screen, you will need a graphics card that supports TV-Out. Many of the best video cards on the market have this feature, aswell as budget-line cards. You connect your graphics card to a TV using an S-video connection. If you have an older TV with an RCA input instead of S-video, you will need an S-video to RCA adaptor.

* Dual Monitor Support: If you want to split your video output across two monitors, you will need dual monitor support on your graphics card. This feature is useful for developers, engineers, designers, and multi-taskers who wish to view many different windows on their desktop at once. Usually, one output will be VGA and the other DVI.


Choosing Your Gaming Video Card
Now that you have a little background information on the features of a video card, you can start to make your decision on what is the best gaming video card for your needs.

Unfortunately, choosing a gaming video cardicon is no easy task. There are so many different models and different varieties of each model, it can be overwhelming. ATI and nVidia also have different naming conventions that can cause added confusion. We will attempt to clear everything up so you can focus on making the right decision.

ATI Cards
ATI’s current mainstream and top-end line of video cards is the Radeon X series. From the cheap X300 for the budget-conscious buyer, to the latest X1900 boards for demanding gamers, the X series has a range of models suited for different users. Cards from this series come in either AGP or PCI Express forms.

Prior to the Radeon X series was the Radeon 9000 range of cards. Although the 9000 series has now been completely replaced the X series, the best cards from this era such as the 9600 and the 9800 can outperform some of the lower X series cards.

ATI cards come in multiple varieties, and have their own naming system which has caused much confusion for buyers in the past. For example, there’s the Radeon 9800, Radeon 9800 SE, Radeon 9800 XT, and the Radeon 9800 Pro. The Radeon 9800 without any suffix is called the base card. But what do all the suffixes mean?

SE - A cheaper version of the base card. Usually has half the bandwidth.

Pro - A faster version of the base card. It can mean either the GPU or memory is faster, or perhaps there are more pipelines for improved rendering speed.

XT - This indicates a faster GPU than the Pro or base card.

XT PE - An even faster version of the XT.

So in order from slowest to fastest, it goes the SE, then the base model, the Pro, XT, and finally the XT PE.

NVIDIA Cards
NVidia’s latest line of video cards is the GeForce 7 series, currently consisting of the GeForce 7900, GeForce 7800, Geforce 7600, and the Geforce 7300. These cards are in the market against the top offerings from ATI’s Radeon X series. They also come in AGP and PCI Express varieties.

Much like ATI, nVidia has its own naming conventions. Let’s take a look at what the different suffixes mean for GeForce cards:

LE - A cheap version of the base card, running at a slower clock speed.

XT - Much like the LE, an XT runs at a slower speed than the base card. This is confusing because ATI uses XT to label a top-end card.

GT - Means that the card uses the faster GDDR3 type of memory, instead of DDR memory.

Ultra - A faster version of the base card.

Ultra Extreme - An even faster version of the base card.

The Best Gaming Video Cards
Selecting a gaming video card all depends on your needs and budget. If you prefer ATI over Nvidia, you will want to get at least a Radeon X800 or above. Preferably a Radeon X1800 or a X1900.

On the other hand, for Nvidia enthusiasts, the GeForce 6800 models should be your minimum. If you have the cash, go for a GeForce 7900GTicon which is currently one of the best gaming video cards available on the market. It's a great value card, you get a lot for your money. Owning a GeForce 7900GT will allow you to play the latest games on high settings for a while to come.

The graphics card is perhaps the most important component in a gaming computer. Gamers should purchase the best video card they can afford. We have looked into the important issues that surround buying a gaming video card, so you should be ready to make a good decision based on your needs as a gamer.

[Enter]

Gaming Computer Cases

This article provides you with information on choosing good gaming computer cases.

The computer case is an important yet often overlooked part of any PC.

The computer case houses and protects all your expensive, high-performance components so you shouldn’t skimp on getting a good case for your needs.

Size Matters
The first thing you need to know about computer cases, is that they differ in size. You will need a case that is large enough to store all your components, with room for future upgrades. It is wise to choose all your components before buying a case. You will have an idea of how big your case has to be to fit all your components comfortably.

An important thing to look out for is the number and size of bays. Computer cases come with a differing number of bays. You will need 3.5� bays for floppy drives and hard drives, and 5� bays are required for your CD and DVD drives. So make sure you have enough bays for all your drives.


Motherboard Compatibility
Your case must be able to fit your motherboard. All motherboards and cases have what is known as a ‘form factor’, which is a size standard that the manufacturers follow. The most common form factor is ATX. So if you have an ATX motherboard, which is more than likely, then you must choose a case that supports an ATX motherboard.


Power Supply
Without power your computer would be useless. You will need a large enough power supply to handle all the components in your system. For most gaming computers, I recommend at least 500W, or more if you have many extra components.

Some gaming computer cases come with their own power supply. Although, if you're building a gaming computer I would recommend buying a seperate computer power supply to make sure you get a quality one.


Cooling Issues
Your case should hold enough fans to cool down your gaming computer. You don’t want your precious components to overheat and risk getting damaged. The best gaming computer cases are equipped with multiple fans to effectively cool your system.

If you have many components, or you like to overclock them, you will need more fans than the average user. Also, be sure your case is properly vented in the front and back.


Customizing Your Case
Some people are happy with a basic, plain looking case. Others take pride in their gaming case’s appearance, and customize them with extras such as glowing lights, fancy colors, see-through sides, and a number of other features. It is usually passionate gamers who do this sort of customizing to their gaming computer cases.

So if you have the extra money to spend, consider buying a custom computer case or customizing one yourself if you know what you're doing. However, if you’re building your gaming computer on a tight budget, you should consider investing your hard-earned cash on something more important, such as a better CPU or graphics card.


Conclusion
In this article we have looked at the various factors you should consider when choosing good gaming computer cases. The size, motherboard compatibility, power supply, cooling, and appearance are all important things to take into account whilst choosing the best computer case for your gaming computer.

[Atmosphere]

whats with all the reserverd posts o.O

[Enter]

How to Choose Your Computer Power Supply

The computer power supply is vital to the operation of any computer, yet it is an often overlooked component.

Without a power supply, your computer would just be a box full of plastic and metal.

This article takes a look at why the power supply is important, and helps you choose the best computer power supply for your needs.

What the Computer Power Supply Does
In a PC, the computer power supply is the metal box usually located in the corner of the computer case. In many systems the power supply is visible from the back of the case because it contains the power-cord receptacle and the cooling fan.

The main purpose of the power supply is to convert AC power from the mains to usable low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer.

The power supply gives out three different DC voltages to your computer, 12VDC, 5VCD, and 3VDC. These three voltages are used for different components in your system. For example, the 5VDC voltage powers the motherboard, voltage regulators, serial and parallel ports, and PCI and AGP ports.


How Much Power Do You Need?
Each power supply has a certain wattage based on their maximum output power. Common wattages range from 300W to 500W, although for a high-end gaming power supply wattages of 500W to 800W are common. Some units even go up to 1 kW of wattage, but this amount of power isn't neccessary for normal users.

For a typical gaming computer I would recommend at least 500W of power, although you may need more or less depending on your system. It would be wise to research into exactly how much power your various components will require, and then get a power supply with at least that amount of power.


Conclusion
The computer power supply is a vital part of your computer. It provides the power to the components in your system, and also cools your computer with a fan. Make sure you don't skimp on buying a decent power supply, otherwise your whole system will suffer.

When choosing your power suppy, keep in mind the amount of wattage you will need. A typical gaming computer will require an average of at least 500W power.

[Enter]

Buying the Best DVD Burner

This article takes a look at the factors you should consider when buying the best DVD burner for your computer.

A CD or DVD burner is an important part of the storage and backup of data on your computer. Without one you won't be able to read and write CDs or DVDs.

DVD drives are fast becoming a standard feature in any computer, and are forever coming down in price..

What Drive Speed?
One factor you consider when buying a CD or DVD burner is the drive speed. This refers to the speed that the drive can read and write data. For a CD writer, aim for a drive speed of at least 48X. 8X should be your minimum for DVD burners, although if you want the best dvd burner possible get 16X or higher.


Drive Compatability
There is a range of different types of DVD media available out there, for example DVD+R, DVD-R, and DVD+R DL. You need to consider what formats your DVD burner supports, as not all DVD drives can read all types of DVDs. I would recommend getting a DVD drive that supports both DVD+R and DVD-R, as these are common formats.


Internal or External?
CD and DVD burners come in two different forms, internal or external. Internal drives are suited for desktop PCs and are the cheaper option. But if you're after portability you should consider paying a little more for an external burner.


Conclusion
A CD or DVD burner is pretty much a vital part of any computer system. DVD burners cost a little bit more than CD burners but are very much worth it in the long run, DVDs can store much more data than CDs.

[Enter]

Choosing the Best Gaming Monitor

Are you stuck on choosing the best gaming monitor for your needs?

The monitor will likely be one of the most expensive parts of your computer, so you'll need all the advice you can get on making your purhase.

This guide will explain the different factors you should consider when buying your gaming monitor.

The biggest decision you need to make when choosing the best gaming monitor is whether to get an LCD or CRT monitor. CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors have been around for a long time, and are the standard displays for desktop computers.

LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors are fairly new to the desktop computer world, although they have always been used on notebook computers. LCD monitors have many advantages over their CRT counterparts, and are slowly taking over the desktop display market.


LCD Monitors
Let’s take a look at some of the more important factors you need to look out for when choosing an LCD monitor.

Native Resolution

Each LCD monitor is designed for a certain resolution, known as the native resolution. If you change the resolution on an LCD screen, the image will be scaled and the quality won’t be as good as with the native resolution. The native resolution of an LCD depends on the size. Here are the typical native resolutions for common sizes:

* 17 inch: 1024x768
* 19 inch: 1280x1024
* 20 inch: 1600x1200

Viewing Angle

If you look at an LCD monitor from an angle, you will notice that the image appears dimmer and the colors can look weird. At extreme angles the entire image can even disappear. The viewing angle of an LCD monitor is the angle at which you can still view the screen clearly.

So, the greater the viewing angle, the better. Manufacturers are known to exaggerate their specifications, so be sure to evaluate the viewing angle yourself before buying an LCD monitor. Also, keep in mind how you will eventually use the monitor. If you need to show presentations with your LCD, the viewing angle will be a critical factor.

Response Rate

The response rate of an LCD monitor refers to how quickly each pixel on the screen can change color. The faster the response rate, the less ghosting you will experience. Ghosting is when the previous image displayed on the screen can still be seen as a blur for moments after the image has changed. Ghosting can be seen in fast-paced graphical applications such as games and videos.

When choosing an LCD monitor for gaming, the response rate is perhaps the single most important factor to consider. If you’re playing a fast-paced action game such as a first person shooter, when you look around quickly you will experience ghosting. This can ruin your overall gaming experience, depending on how severe the ghosting is. The faster the response rate, the less ghosting you will see.

CRT monitors don’t suffer from ghosting and blurring effects, and this is the reason they have historically been recommended as the best gaming monitors. But the truth is you can find an LCD monitor that is good for gaming, the trick is finding one with a fast enough response rate.

I would say that an LCD with a response rate of 8ms (milliseconds) is the minimum for good gaming. Lower than 8ms is better if you can afford it. The very best gaming monitors on the market have extremely fast response rates (even as low as 2ms), completely avoiding ghosting altogether.

Manufacturers are continually producing LCDs with faster response rates, so in the near future the argument that CRTs are the best gaming monitors will be non-existent.


CRT Monitors
Although LCDs are slowly taking over the aging technology of CRT monitors, you can still get a let for your money if you purchase a CRT these days. And manufacturers are continually evolving CRT monitors so they aren’t dead just yet.

One area of improvement for CRT monitors is ergonomics. Some CRT monitors come in flat screen models which reduces glare and eyestrain. Let’s take a look at some important factors to think about when purchasing a CRT monitor.

Dot Pitch

The dot pitch indicates how sharp the images will be displayed on a CRT monitor. It’s measured in millimeters (mm), and the smaller the dot pitch, the better the image quality.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate, also called the vertical refresh rate or frequency, is the speed at which the monitor can draw the screen. Measured in hertz (Hz), the refresh rate is an important specification of a CRT monitor. The higher the refresh rate of your monitor, the faster your screen is updated.

If you’re on a low refresh rate you will notice your screen flickering, which can cause headaches and eye strain. To prevent such symptoms, make sure to set your refresh rate to 85 Hz or above. Any less and the flickering will become a health hazard.

The refresh rate depends on the resolution that you’re running, and higher resolutions will support lower refresh rates. So choose a monitor that can display the resolution you want at an acceptable refresh rate (85 Hz and above, remember).

Maximum Resolution

Pretty self-explanatory, this is the highest resolution that a CRT monitor supports. As I said before, CRTs can display multiple resolutions without problems, unlike LCDs. So for example, if the maximum resolution of your CRT monitor is 1280x1024, then it will support all smaller resolutions: 1024x768, 800x600, and 640x480 etc.


What Size Should You Buy?
Choosing the size of your gaming monitor depends on your needs, and your budget. Sizes for both CRT and LCD monitors range from 15 inches up to 23 inches. Prices vary greatly between sizes, so choose a size that you can afford and that is big enough for you.

17 inches is big enough for most people, but if you’re a hardcore gamer or you plan to watch lots of videos or TV on your monitor, you should go for something bigger as it will increase your viewing experience.

Also, be aware that CRT and LCD screen sizes are measured differently. For some reason, the plastic edging around a CRT screen is included in its screen measurements, so a CRT screen size doesn’t actually tell you the size of the screen. For example, if a CRT monitor is said to be 17 inches, the actual screen size would probably be closer to 15 inches. This is not true for LCD monitors, as the stated size is the actual size of the screen.


LCDs vs CRTs
Here is a list of the main advantages of both LCDs and CRTs. When deciding between the two, choose the type that best suits your specific needs, the applications you use, and your budget.

Advantages of LCD Monitors

* Less power usage – An LCD monitor require less power than a CRT model, although CRT power usage is steadily coming down after lots of improvement from manufacturers.

* Smaller and lighter – LCD monitors are much thinner and lighter than CRTs, and they weigh less. This makes LCDs easier to move around, and they take up less room on your desk.

* Easier on the eyes – Because of the way LCD displays work, they don’t flicker like CRT monitors and so they reduce eyestrain and headaches. Also, LCDs tend to display text better since they can produce sharper images than CRTs. So if you’re going to read a lot of text with your monitor, consider an LCD.


Advantages of CRT Monitors

* Cheaper – CRT monitors are generally less expensive, although prices for LCDs continue to fall.

* Better color range – CRTs are known to more accurately represent different colors than LCDs. However, LCDs continue to evolve and soon this won’t be a concern.

* Faster response – CRT displays also currently have the upper hand in displaying fast-paced graphics and video. They don’t suffer from LCD-specific problems like ghosting and blurring, and so have been recommended as the best gaming monitors. Although, keep in mind that newer LCDs with fast response rates are good enough for gaming.

* Multiple Resolutions – As said before, CRT monitors handle multiple resolutions without problems. An LCD is only meant for a single resolution, so don’t get an LCD if you need to change resolutions often.

* Less Fragile – CRT monitors are rugged and are harder to damage.


What is Best for Gaming?
As stated before, CRT monitors have traditionally been recommended as the best gaming monitors due to their higher response times. But this can be seen as old advice, because the newer LCDs on the block can very much handle fast-paced games with their good response rates.

But buying a good enough LCD monitor for gaming might not be in your budget. Even though they are forever getting cheaper, they can be quite expensive. So in this case you are better off sticking to a CRT display, which will give you a lot of bang for your buck. In the end, choosing between an LCD or CRT depends on your budget and your gaming needs.

I highly recommend TigerDirect.comicon to find the best gaming monitorsicon at the lowest prices. They have a huge range of products and are a trusted name for selling quality computer parts online.


Conclusion
This article has explained the important factors you should consider when buying the best gaming monitor for your needs. With this information you are in a good position to make a wise purchase on your gaming monitor.

[Enter]

How to Choose the Best Gaming Keyboard

Are you looking for the best gaming keyboard to get ahead of the competition?

Then you've come to the right place. Using a custom built keyboard designed for gaming will give you the edge in battle.

This article will help you choose the right keyboard for your needs so you can play at your best.

What makes the best gaming keyboard is all a matter of preference. Different gamers have different needs, some require more control options with their keyboard than others.

Gamers also have varying styles of play, posture, and wrist anatomy, so there is no such thing as a gaming keyboard that is best for everyone.

There are several purpose-built gaming keyboardsicon available on the market, all with their fair share of cool features designed for more effective gaming control. But ask yourself, do you really need all these extra features?

Casual computer users might want to consider a normal keyboard with basic functions. On the other hand, hardcore gamers who want the most effective control to get ahead in their games will want a special gaming keyboard.

Another thing to consider when buying your keyboard is how much you type. If you do a lot of keyboard work, or you have experienced wrist strain in the past, you might want to consider an ergonomic computer keyboard. Ergonomic keyboardsicon are specially designed for healthy typing, and can prevent injuries.


One of the Best Gaming Keyboards
Arguably one of the best gaming keyboardsicon around at the moment is the Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard. Custom-made to meet the needs of gamers, some useful features of the Logitech G15 gaming keyboard include:

* An adjustable, backlit LCD screen which shows important in-game information during gameplay
* Timer controls to keep track of game events
* 18 programmable “G Keys� used to execute macros
* Backlit keys to play in the dark or low-lit areas

These great features, plus many more, allow for the best control during gameplay to give you the edge. And the good thing is, the Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard is very affordable.

I would highly recommend the Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboardicon to other gamers. Once you start using such a great keyboard, you will never want to go back to a standard keyboard.

[Enter]

How to Choose a Gaming Mouse

Choosing a good gaming mouse is important to gamers.

Using a specially designed mouse for gaming will allow you to play games at your best, with the best accuracy and control.

If you’re stuck on which gaming mouse to buy, or just want general information on choosing gaming mice, you’ve come to the right place.

The computer mouse is perhaps the most important input device used in games, and using a mouse well-suited to gaming will allow you to play at your best. It can be the difference between winning and losing.


What to Look For in a Gaming Mouse
Computer mice come in different types: optical, laser, or ball mice. Ball mice are old and are pretty much dead, and will not be discussed further. Optical and laser mice are much more precise and have better tracking, allowing for more accuracy.

The quality of a gaming mouse is determined by a number of factors. One of the most important aspects is the resolution. Measured in dots per inch (dpi), the resolution is the number of pixels per inch that the mouse’s optical sensor and focusing lens can see when you move the mouse around. Simply put, the higher the resolution of a mouse, the better the accuracy and precision will be.

Another important thing to look for is how many megapixels per second the mouse can process. This determines the responsiveness of the mouse, and is especially important in fast-paced games such as first person shooters where you look around with the mouse a lot. The more megapixels per second your mouse can process, the more responsive it will be, meaning faster and more precise control in your games.


Wireless Gaming Mice
Having a wireless mouse can be more convient than a corded one. But wireless mice have a bad reputation with gamers because of lag problems. Mouse lag occurs with wireless mice because of the added time it takes to send information to the receiver from the mouse.

Although newer wireless mice are becoming faster and faster, and don’t suffer from lag as much. The best wireless gaming mice on the market even avoid lag problems completely. If you intend to buy a wireless mouse, be sure that it’s fast enough to avoid lag.


One of the Best Gaming Mice
The Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouseicon is one example of a great mouse for gamers on the market today. Featuring in-game sensitivity switching, adjustable weight and balance, the Logitech G5 is an extremely fast and precise gaming mouse.

[Enter]

All the Article above credits goes to 2007 Build-Gaming-Computers.com


thanks for reading , hope u guys would find this helpful.

[Atmosphere]

here are some recommendations of parts incase you still didnt have enough info
these are just examples and there are many more then just these.

Originally Posted by Atmosphere

well i can list some parts that are nicer then most ( might cost a little more)

Processor
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.0 GHz 8MB Cache 1333 MHz FSB

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Processor
(2.2GHz, 512KB, 1GHz Bus, Socket 939 - MPN: ADA3500BPBOX)
Price Range: $79.95 - $124.00 from 7 Sellers

AMD Barton Athlon XP 3200+
(2.17GHz, 512KB, 400MHz Bus, Socket A - MPN: AXDA3200OEM

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Processor -
2.40GHz, 4MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Conroe, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket 775, BX80557E6600

CoolingSystem:

go with any liquid cooling system because they run much better then any fan built computer and allow for a more steady temperature so its safer to Over clock

War Machine Quad Core Liquid Cooling
War Machine Quad Core Extreme Liquid Cooling
Kingwin Aquastar Socket A/754/939/478/775 Liquid Cooling System
Vantec StingRay All-in-One Water Cooling Kit
Corsair Nautilus 500 Watercooling Kit

MOTHERBOARD:
EVGA Nvidia 680i SLI Motherboard (i love this, its amazing, recommended)
abit AB9 QuadGT Motherboard
ECS NF650iSLIT-A Motherboard
EPoX Optimus EP-AD580 XR Motherboard
XFX 680i LT SLI Motherboard

Memory:

dosnt really matter just make sure you use 1-4 gb's

Graphics Card:

personally i am a HUGE Nvidia fan and i always will be...

EVGA Nvidia Dual 768MB 8800 GTX
EVGA Nvidia Dual 768MB 8800 Ultra
eVGA e-GeForce FX 5500 256MB
The XFX GeForce 7800 GT

HARD DRIVE

just a get one with a decent amount of space on it or just reuse your old one

POWER SUPPLY
Silverstone 850Watt SLI Certified Modular
Silencer 310 ATX
Silencer 360 ATX
Silencer 470 ATX
Silencer 610 EPS12V
Silencer 750 Quad-Blk
Silencer 750 Quad-Cpr
Silencer 750 Quad-CF
Turbo-Cool 1KW-SR
Turbo-Cool 300 1U
Turbo-Cool 510 AG
Turbo-Cool 510 ATX
Turbo-Cool 510 SLI
Turbo-Cool 510 ASL
Turbo-Cool 510 XE


The power suply is important so choose wisly =\

um if you think if anything else just ask

[ant123]

Nice Guide , deserved to be sticky + 1 :wink:

[Quest]

Whoa this is a great guide I'mma think of building up myself of a new computer. My vote goes for sticky

[Enter]

haha thanks but not written by me :lol:

if any of you have question , don't hesitate to ask. we will try and answer all your query.

[Atmosphere]

i used this to build my brother and best friend computers (they bought/picked the parts) i just pushed them in the right directions, kinger you should sticky this and move into global chat so more ppl see it