Dell, HP, Alienware, Compaq, Gateway, Falcon Northwest, iBuy Power, and so many more computer manufacturers tout their computers as top of the line. How do you know what is the best PC for computer Gaming? If you make your decision based on the CPU and memory like so many people do you are going to be sorely disappointed. There are many more components that are as important if not more so than the CPU. To get you started here are 3 of the most important components you should evaluate when purchasing a Gaming Computer.
1. The video card
The video card is probably the most important component of a gaming computer. Many lower priced off-the-shelf systems use integrated video cards. What this means is that the graphics are handled by a chip that is integrated into the motherboard. You may wonder what the difference is. To try to use an integrated graphics solution for a gaming computer is like putting a little 4 cylinder engine in a Corvette. It might look great but the performance is going to be extremely disappointing.
You don't need the absolute top of the line video card, but you certainly want to get a card that will perform well. Currently the ATI Radeon HD 5850 is a great choice. It isn't overly expensive but it will give you great performance. Other video cards with similar performance are the Nvidia GTX 280, GTX 285, and the GTX 470. There are many other options at verying price ranges so do a little research. If someone tries to present a computer with an integrated or on-board graphics solution you are getting ripped off. Shop somewhere else.
2. The CPU
As mentioned, don't make your decision based solely on the CPU. With that being said it is very important that we get a PC with a CPU that will not bottleneck our video card. We don't want a budget processor. Look for a Core i5 or Core i7 processor if you are buying an Intel based machine. For AMD platforms look for a Phenom II X3 or X4 processor.
3. Power Supply
If you have a dinky power supply you won't have enough juice to run your components. Symptoms of an inadequate power supply include your computer randomly shutting down and lag during game play. Issues stemming from power supplies are often misdiagnosed as other problems. Make sure your computer has a large enough power supply. You can find power supply calculators online. Enter your components and it will calculate how much power you need. Keep in mind that not all power supplies are created equal. Make sure you purchase from a quality manufacturer such as Antec, Corsair, Silverstone, etc.
If you really want to be sure you get the most computer for your money you may want to consider building your own gaming computer. It's actually not very difficult and it allows you to select all of your own components. One of the problems with off the shelf computers is that you have no way of knowing what they use for some of the components. When you build a gaming computer you choose all of your own hardware. It will allow you to get a higher performing computer for the same price if not less than the name brand computers.