That may sound a bit simplistic. Doesn’t anything else count when it comes to extreme gaming computers? Bottom line, the difference between your finger moving and your computer responding is the difference between winning and losing. Let’s take a look at some of the things that make a computer extreme.
For a gaming computer, the look and response time of the graphics leads the list. It’s all about seeing and responding to the graphic images on the screen. And they have to be good looking graphic images. One of the top rated video cards is the BFG Ge Force GTX 295. It’s a multi-GPU card that’s bridged internally. You’ll have to make sure that adequate cooling’s available because this high performance card is a heat generator.
The amount of memory that your computer has will be another factor in having it perform at a high level. For high level gaming, 512MB is the minimum that you should use; 1GB or more is better. RDRAM is the latest type of memory and the fastest. Intel is using it in their Pentium III XEON processors. Again, this generates a lot of heat, which is supposed to be dissipated with a built in heat spreader.
To get the most out of your computer a good soundcard is a must. Creatives has developed something called EAX technology. It is purported to create a true 3D sound experience. Creatives licenses this technology, but they do make their own sound cards as well, such as the Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fata1ty Pro. You’ll also need a monitor that’s capable of displaying what your graphics card is doing. Look for a monitor that’s at least 19″ or wider. For gaming, a monitor with a fast response time, 5 milliseconds or faster, is best. This should give you a good crisp picture. As far as to which is better, LCD or CRT, most knowledgeable players will go with the old fashioned CRT monitor. As a rule, it has a faster response time and better color range.
The last two components to consider are the mouse and the keyboard. One of the primary qualities to look for in a keyboard is one that’s easy to navigate on and that doesn’t have keys that stick. A couple of critical factors to look for in a mouse are that it not be too small or too large for the players’ hand, and the weight of it. Another good thing to look for is an optical, rather than a mechanical mouse, and thumb buttons.
These are just a few guidelines to use when you begin looking at extreme gaming computers. Enjoy the hunt.
