NOTE: All here are explained in basic term to give you an easy picture. PC can be build in many different ways. There are more to explain but all these are some basics for all newbies out there. All things explained are based on my experienced.
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| Processor |
Processor
- Recommended to get the latest Intel socket LGA1155 processor. This will ensure you will have more time on it for few more years. Also latest PC games now require more work from the processor. So the latest processor is the best choice. The logic here are Intel are older than AMD. Which also mean more experience which result a better product. Even if the AMD claim their latest processor can produce less heat, if you see AMD processor cooling fan, its more larger than any Intel processor cooling fan. For best stability and long use, Intel is the best choice.
*Minimum requirement for gaming PC today are the Intel Dual Core LGA775 2.6GHz.
- Gaming today require more power and memory from graphic card. Even with 1st generation Dual Core processor (LGA775) with 2.1GHz speed, you can play any new PC-Games available today with maximum settings.(Require good graphic card for this to happen.)
- Dual Core LGA1155 are same socket as i3-i7. This is the 2nd generation Dual Core created by intel which are more fast than the first generation Dual Core (LGA775).
*LGA775 - Dual Core 1st Generation, Core2Duo, Core2Quad, Duo & Core2Extreme.
- More cache on the processor mean more speed it process something. Also mean it can take large amount of data in one go to process.
- In gaming, usually processor speed will determine the installation and game loading speed. More speed on processor mean faster install and loading.
- More Core in processor mean better multitasking. Which also mean you can do your work and play game at the same time.
- Some new games doesn't even need end product like i7 processor or gaming RAM to play it with maximum settings. Even if you use it, you can't see much difference unless you mod the game and use Sli/Crossfire. But still, better processor mean better performance.
Buying Tips: Socket type, Speed & Cache
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| Power Supply |
- 'True watt' in power supply mean it can reach maximum 70% of watt from it total power. Depend on brand & model, some can reach even more than 70%.
Example: True watt 450watt power supply can reach maximum to 300watt.
- More hardware in your PC mean more power it consume.
- What's important is the 'true watt' the power supply can produce. If the power supply have 500watt, doesn't mean it can reach 500watt. Always check for it 'true watt' on the specification sticker on the power supply.
- Power supply with big cooling fan also a good choice since it can reduce the heat that power supply produce and avoid it being overheat and make it faulty.
- Always check if the power supply have the power pin require for all your hardware. A good power supply usually have the 6 pins head since it will be use on the latest graphic card that require its own power.
- Latest power supply now have extra 2 pins head for future upcoming card.
- Keep in mind that all latest power supply have 24 pins connector to motherboard.
- Overclocking on processor or graphic card also consume more power from power supply.
Buying Tips: True watt, Pin connector to motherboard & Pin connector to hardware.
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| RAM |
- For PC RAM, it recommended to use DDR3 4GB (Any type) for fast & stable performance specially when you use a really high graphic settings on the game. You can use DDR2 RAM but will loss a tiny bit of performance for gaming. RAM also have an effect on graphic and window multitasking.
- This is the recommended choice of memory needed for your OS:
*Windows 7 - 4GB DDR3 RAM
*Windows XP - 2.15GB DDR2 RAM
- You will need to get the info on your motherboard and see which type and maximum speed it can handle. Wrong type of RAM put on the wrong motherboard can break both parts and make it faulty.
- Example:
Type Speed Memory
DDR3 1333MHz 4GB
Buying Tips: Type, Speed and Memory.
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| Motherboard |
- Same as processor, bigger cache mean more speed it produce.
- Recommended to get the one with Graphic, Sound and LAN builded in. This will save you some cash. Also less power it will consume since all are build in on the motherboard. Build in display also a good backup if your graphic card become faulty since you can use the build in display while waiting to get a new graphic card.
- Build in Nvidia/Ati display on the motherboard took lots of memory from your RAM. So you will need huge RAM memory when playing PC games specially in high graphic settings.
- Always choose the right hardware that are suitable for the motherboard. Check motherboard info for what type of hardware it can support.
- Nvidia Sli/Ati Crossfire dual graphic card system require 2x slots PCI-e 16x on the motherboard. For Dual graphic card, both PCI-E slots must have same speed (example: pci-e 16x). The price for this type of motherboard usually are double than normal motherboard price.
- A motherboard with good heatsink is good but the price is way too expensive. You can save money by buying heatsink parts at any PC accessories store and put it on a regular motherboard. Don't forget to apply thermal compound for each heatsink you put on the motherboard.
Buying Tips: Socket type, Power slot pin, RAM type & speed, Graphic card slot type, Harddisk power slot and other related hardware your require.
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| Graphic Card |
- Please note that the latest graphic card today use PCI-E x16 slot on the motherboard. You can't use the old AGP graphic card since the maximum speed it can produce is x8.
- Most games today use PhysX and Cuda to produce high quality visual. Only cards that use PCI-E can handle these settings.
- PhysX created by Nvidia require Nvidia card to avoid any problem. This is why you can see some people having trouble with their game display when they use Ati graphic card.
- Highest graphic settings in PC-Game require high speed clock & memory with bigger RAM on graphic card. Better graphic card you use, better display you will get.
- Gaming today require more power and memory from graphic card but still, many games developer set a medium set of graphic in their games because they know not many people can afford a high price graphic card.
- Even with 1st generation Dual Core processor (LGA775) with 2.1GHz speed, you can play any new PC-Games available today with maximum settings.(Require good graphic card for this to happen.)
- It is recommended to use Nvidia graphic card to avoid any problem with the graphic in gaming. The logic here are Nvidia are older than Ati. Which also mean they have more experience and more fund for research which result a better product. This is why Nvidia cards are more expensive than Ati.
- If you are more into big gaming company like Electronic Art, Dice, Activision or Ubisoft, Any Nvidia (DX11) Geforce GTX model graphic card will be efficient.
- For normal free online games like mmorpg and other, Any graphic card that can support DirectX11 should be enough.
- Powerful graphic card require 6pin power cable from the power supply. It is recommended to use 450watt-600watt (true power) for this type of graphic card.
Buying Tips: Slot type, Memory, Core clock speed, VRAM speed, Bit.
Conclusion
- It doesn't matter what brand you choose, it all depend on how you use it and what specifications your PC have. If you care your PC right, even with all weird and cheap products could produce a powerful gaming PC. How long you can use it are base on how you use it. Overpower usage can make your PC lifespan low.
Extra Tips:
- The way to see the real gaming PC performance is by trying it first hand. Best place to do this is by visiting a cybercafe that use a really good PC. Ask the worker there what type of PC specification they use on all their PC there. Play around with the settings in all heavy games there.
Signs That You Need To Change To Latest Graphic Card
- Graphic are lag at high settings but smooth and stable at really low settings.
- Screen become blank when launching the game and this not happen when playing old games.
- Game have buggy graphic for example the character have invisible body or not appear on the screen.
PERSONAL TEST
Games Tested:-
I Am Alive, Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, Resident Evil 5, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood & Revelations, Bad Company 2, Modern Warefare 2, Modern Warfare 3, Batman Arkham Asylum, Batman Arkham City, Saints Row The Third, The Sims 3, GTA IV, Dragon Age 2, The Witcher 2, Skyrim
*Some were tweked based on Geforce.com (optimize section) and some were from my personal settings. Gain 32-60fps without making the graphic ugly and mmorpg look alike lol...)
Played with maximum settings without lag with 1920x1080 HD resolution with following specs:
- Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
- Intel Core2Duo 2100 2.13GHz Processor
- HP DC7600 Intel Motherboard (V/S/L)
- 4GB 667 DDR2 RAM (mixed brand 3 units)
- EVGA Nvidia Geforce GTX460 OC 786MB (Mini HDMI)
- Western Digital 1TB 32MB 7200 SATA Harddisk
- Cooler Master Extreme 480watt (true power) Power Supply
- Samsung Slim 22" LED 2ms (HDMI) Monitor
*Also include 1x Samsung SATA DVD-Writer & Another 1x Seagate 120GB SATA Harddisk.
P/S: For those who came from my PC selling thread in LYN forum, this is a prove that all my Desktop PC packages can play all PC games available today without any problem.If specs above can play any games, than my customize Desktop PC that I'm selling will definitely can go better. (^_^)y
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