In those good old days, we used to play video games on our television. Thankfully that era has come to an end and now we’re in 2011 and we’ve got a variety of gaming solutions, thanks to the development in technology. We now have in our hand different gaming consoles like PlayStation 3, XBOX 360 and Nintendo Wii, all these three being the popular ones. If we want any of this gaming consoles, we don’t need to think much about it, as we can just head out to a shop or order them online and buy it. But assembling a custom gaming PC is not that easy.
We need to wisely choose each and every part and arm ourselves with the latest knowledge in this tech world. New and new models of processors, motherboards and graphic cards keep on releasing regularly and this really makes it confusing and hard for an end user to select the right components. No doubt an end user may just end up buying not so useful gaming peripherals which can last just a year or so. So is there anything we can do to assemble a gaming PC that can last at least 2-3 years? Yes, just read on.
How about starting a new year, with a new gaming rig. To play next-gen games, you need next-gen gaming machine. Assembling a gaming PC can seem to be a daunting task at first, but fear not, all we need to do is to just select the right components for our gaming machine. To make things easy, here are the bet gaming PC configurations, within a specified budget.
Low End Gaming Configuration
Want to build best cheap gaming PC? This is possible, just go for the below configuration.
Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 (3.2GHz)
Motherboard: ASUS M5A88-M (AMD 880G chipset)
RAM: Corsair 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz
Hard Disk: 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 (7200 RPM)
Graphics card: MSI R6770-MD1GD 1GB GDDR5
Monitor: Benq G2220HD – 21.5-inch LED
Cabinet: NZXT Gamma
Power supply unit: Cooler Master GX-450W
Keyboard and Mouse: Logitech G1 Gaming Desktop
Optical Drive: Lite-On 22X SATA DVD-RW
Speakers: Altec Lansing 2.1 BXR1221
This should be a true VFM (value for money) gaming rig. The processor used in this config is a true Quad Core 3.2Ghz, that gives optimal performance for demanding applications and games. The monitor may be regarded as somewhat old model, but that doesn’t diminish its value. This is a Full HD LED (and not LCD), with 1920 x 1080 resolution and within our budget limit. Logitech G1 gaming desktop is a combo, which includes keyboard and mice and priced attractively.
If NZXT Gamma cabinet is not available at your place, then you can also go for Cooler Master Elite 311. Regarding power supply, Cooler Master GX-450W is a mid-range power supply, reasonably priced. Don’t settle for any cheap/unbranded PSU, as that can be dangerous for your gaming system.
Mid End Gaming Configuration
Now coming to the mid end gaming PC, this configuration can be suited perfectly for medium budget gamers.
Processor: AMD PhenomII X6 1055T (2.8GHz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-USB3L
RAM: Corsair 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz
Hard Disk: Western Digital Caviar Black – 1TB
Graphics card: MSI Cyclone OC HD6850 1GB GDDR5
Monitor: Benq G2220HD – 21.5-inch LED
Cabinet: NZXT Gamma
Power supply unit: Corsair VX450
Optical Drive: Lite-On 22X SATA DVD-RW
Keyboard and Mouse: Razer Cyclosa Bundle
Speakers: Altec Lansing 2.1 BXR1221
Gamepad (Optional): Logitech F310 Gamepad
For mid-end users, R6850 Cyclone 1GD5 Power Edition/OC will be perfect, it comes with AMD 860MHz core and 1GB GDDR5 4400MHz Memory.
Buying a Gamepad is an optional step. Some games can be enjoyed in a different way, with a Gamepad. This Logitech F310 can work with new titles and also old titles. It is equipped with profiler software that helps in configuring 10 programmable buttons and 8 way programmable D-Pad. Just plug this into a USB connection and start playing your favorite game. This device is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7.
High End Gaming Configuration
High end gaming doesn’t in any sense mean that we have to purchase the most expensive processors and graphic cards available. Getting the best bang for money is what everyone should look out for, by seeing the fact that any configuration will become obsolete in 2-3 years. That’s why always invest taking into consideration all these factors.
Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K (3.3 GHz)
Motherboad: MSI P67A-GD55
RAM: Gskil RipJawsX F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL 1600MHz
Hard disk: Seagate 1 TB 7200.12
Graphic card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950
Monitor: Samsung P2350
Power supply: Corsair TX750 V2
Keyboard and Mouse: Razer Cyclosa Bundle
Optical drive: Lite-on 22X SATA DVD-RW
Speakers: Altec Lansing VS4621
Gamepad (Optional): Logitech F310 Gamepad Price: $25
Processor Intel Core i5 2500K is the latest from Sandy Bridge platform. For a high-end gaming PC, its essential to opt for a good quality RAM. Check out more info on Gskill RipJawsX.
Samsung P2350 is a 23-inch LCD with 1920 x 1080 resolution and fast 2ms response time. It looks superb and performs great.
Now that you’re armed with the information, you can go ahead and assemble a gaming machine. If you’re not comfortable of assembling all these components together, then you can also hire a professional to do this. First buy these components and then just ask that professional to assemble the PC. If you’ve never done this any time, there’s no need to try this out yourself.
Apart from these mentioned components, if something else catches your eye and is within the budget, then feel free to go for it, just don’t forget to check its tech specs first. It may also be possible if that shop doesn’t have this exact model, he may try to force you some different model, therefore do your homework, be smart and compare both the components performance first and then buy.
Also see: Holiday Gift Guide 2011