A lot of water has flown into the sea since my previous post.
I hope to get back online with some reviews on the latest hardware for computer gaming...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Computers for Computer Gaming
I have recently been asked: "What is the best computer to buy for computer gaming?"
I had a very simple answer: Buy the computer with the largest hard disk, the fastest processor, the best graphics card, the most ram possible, the best possible sound card and the best screen you can afford.
The largest and fastest Hard Disk possible.
The recent developments in the computer gaming industry requires the biggest hard disk with the fastest data link possible. The reason for this is that a lot of the games have to be installed on the Hard Disk and require high data transfer rates. In this case look for something with bigger onboard cache memory and prefer to use Serial ATA or SCSI disks rather than parallel ATA.
The Fastest processor you can afford.
Here you can not really compromise: The requirements of the latest games is that the processor really will work very hard and to prevent the game from running smooth and not in a stop - go - stop - go fashion you need to have a real strong processor. At least a 3.0 GHZ processor and if you can afford a multi-processor system with 2 x 2,4 GHZ processors go for it.
The Graphics card of your Gaming computer is real important.
The reason is that most of the newer games run in 3D mode and therefore requires the best possible graphics card for the computer. I personally suggest a 3D graphics card with at least 256 MB to 512 MB of onboard ram. The computer will only operate well when the processor and the graphics card operate optimally.
The most RAM available.
Very few games will run with less than at least 256 MB of ram. I would say that it will probably be better to use between 512 MB and 1024 MB of ram as it will definitely assist you to play the games you really want.
The best sound card possible.
The sound card should at least be ASIO 2.0 compatible with a sampling rate of at least 96 kHz that ensure that the system will always offer you the optimum performance. If you have the funds and you can afford a 7.1 surround sound system it will definitely be worthwhile for the best gaming experience.
Best screen resolution possible.
The screen should preferably have at least 1600X1280 pixels with a very high refresh rate to really enjoy the latest game technology to it true capacity.
Enjoy your computer gaming computer.
Written by JD
21 December 2006
South Africa
I had a very simple answer: Buy the computer with the largest hard disk, the fastest processor, the best graphics card, the most ram possible, the best possible sound card and the best screen you can afford.
The largest and fastest Hard Disk possible.
The recent developments in the computer gaming industry requires the biggest hard disk with the fastest data link possible. The reason for this is that a lot of the games have to be installed on the Hard Disk and require high data transfer rates. In this case look for something with bigger onboard cache memory and prefer to use Serial ATA or SCSI disks rather than parallel ATA.
The Fastest processor you can afford.
Here you can not really compromise: The requirements of the latest games is that the processor really will work very hard and to prevent the game from running smooth and not in a stop - go - stop - go fashion you need to have a real strong processor. At least a 3.0 GHZ processor and if you can afford a multi-processor system with 2 x 2,4 GHZ processors go for it.
The Graphics card of your Gaming computer is real important.
The reason is that most of the newer games run in 3D mode and therefore requires the best possible graphics card for the computer. I personally suggest a 3D graphics card with at least 256 MB to 512 MB of onboard ram. The computer will only operate well when the processor and the graphics card operate optimally.
The most RAM available.
Very few games will run with less than at least 256 MB of ram. I would say that it will probably be better to use between 512 MB and 1024 MB of ram as it will definitely assist you to play the games you really want.
The best sound card possible.
The sound card should at least be ASIO 2.0 compatible with a sampling rate of at least 96 kHz that ensure that the system will always offer you the optimum performance. If you have the funds and you can afford a 7.1 surround sound system it will definitely be worthwhile for the best gaming experience.
Best screen resolution possible.
The screen should preferably have at least 1600X1280 pixels with a very high refresh rate to really enjoy the latest game technology to it true capacity.
Enjoy your computer gaming computer.
Written by JD
21 December 2006
South Africa
Computer Gaming - Why?
Why do people play Computer Games?
"Why would people sit for hours in front of a computer screen and play a game with a mouse, keyboard, joystick or other type of control?" This is a question I have often heard. In the next few paragraphs I am going to try and get into the head of a computer gamer and try and analyze why it becomes virtually addictive if not completely so.
The computer game draws the gamer into its plot!
First of all there are different types of computer games and each game has its own ability to draw the computer gamer into its plot.
Let’s start with the classic card computer game. Here the developers have basically designed the game to challenge a known classic card game skills of the computer gamer to the point where it is often easy to win the computer game's strategy but very soon as the computer gamer starts to think it is becoming easy the computer transcends to a "next" level where the algorithm of the game just becomes a bit more challenging. Soon the computer gamer has to start using all the options and tricks available in the rules of the game just to survive in a sense.
At first strategy games as they are known in the computer gaming community were purely text based. Everything the computer game wanted the computer gamer to know was displayed as text on the screen and everything the player of the computer game wanted to do was also coded in text commands for the computer to analyze and react. In a sense this was very boring for the player after a while - especially because people were bombarded with so much stuff from especially the movie industry. However computer games have developed into an industry with the availability of all sorts of newer hardware.
The realism of computer games is also drawing the gamer into the plot!
Soon the manufacturers of computer games realized that the key to selling computer games is the realism that can be experience in the game. There was a sudden explosion in the development of the reality type of computer games. The more real the manufacturer can get a computer game the more effective it would be in drawing more customers.
The computer game becomes an excuse to have a newer and better computer?
The effect of this development in the computer gaming industry has put a lot of strain on the hardware side of the spectrum. It is often possible to get a game on the shelf requiring at least a 2.4 GHz processor and 512 MB of ram and a hard disk with 4 - 15 GB of available space. The hardware component that usually has the highest workload in the computer gaming world is more often than not the graphics card. I remember using a 256k graphics card in one of my earlier computers and thinking and even commenting to someone how "fast" it was to operate under Win95. These days with the requirement of 3d graphics in computer games we often hear of graphics cards having 256mb or more of on board memory just to handle the graphics while the computer has up to 4 GB of ram just to maintain the levels of processing power required from the latest computer games.
The challenge an computer game poses also draws the gamer!
Now again why do people like to sit at the computer for hours on end playing a game? I believe it is the challenge. To play against an enemy that will probably win you 7-9 times out of 10, really offers a challenge.
Apart from that the fact that the computer gamer will probably not be able to win the computer game two times in succession if the game is one that is well written by the programmers. This mere fact has to do with the idea of gambling where the rate of success is unpredictable and that in it self is addictive.
Another reason for computer gaming is because I can. I have the equipment, the time and the game so why not? It is a terrible waste of expensive equipment and time to just sit around during holiday time while the expensive equipment with an addictive computer game on a CD / DVD is just lying around in the home.
Computer games is also used in training of people.
The development of simulation games also has a lot to do with the amount of time people spend at the computer playing games. Especially the realism of some of the "flight simulators" and "war games" are so good that it is even used in real life training of pilots and commanders in armed forces.
Why don't you play a computer game? or tell me what you think why do people play computer games for hours on end?
Written by J D
21 Dec 2006
"Why would people sit for hours in front of a computer screen and play a game with a mouse, keyboard, joystick or other type of control?" This is a question I have often heard. In the next few paragraphs I am going to try and get into the head of a computer gamer and try and analyze why it becomes virtually addictive if not completely so.
The computer game draws the gamer into its plot!
First of all there are different types of computer games and each game has its own ability to draw the computer gamer into its plot.
Let’s start with the classic card computer game. Here the developers have basically designed the game to challenge a known classic card game skills of the computer gamer to the point where it is often easy to win the computer game's strategy but very soon as the computer gamer starts to think it is becoming easy the computer transcends to a "next" level where the algorithm of the game just becomes a bit more challenging. Soon the computer gamer has to start using all the options and tricks available in the rules of the game just to survive in a sense.
At first strategy games as they are known in the computer gaming community were purely text based. Everything the computer game wanted the computer gamer to know was displayed as text on the screen and everything the player of the computer game wanted to do was also coded in text commands for the computer to analyze and react. In a sense this was very boring for the player after a while - especially because people were bombarded with so much stuff from especially the movie industry. However computer games have developed into an industry with the availability of all sorts of newer hardware.
The realism of computer games is also drawing the gamer into the plot!
Soon the manufacturers of computer games realized that the key to selling computer games is the realism that can be experience in the game. There was a sudden explosion in the development of the reality type of computer games. The more real the manufacturer can get a computer game the more effective it would be in drawing more customers.
The computer game becomes an excuse to have a newer and better computer?
The effect of this development in the computer gaming industry has put a lot of strain on the hardware side of the spectrum. It is often possible to get a game on the shelf requiring at least a 2.4 GHz processor and 512 MB of ram and a hard disk with 4 - 15 GB of available space. The hardware component that usually has the highest workload in the computer gaming world is more often than not the graphics card. I remember using a 256k graphics card in one of my earlier computers and thinking and even commenting to someone how "fast" it was to operate under Win95. These days with the requirement of 3d graphics in computer games we often hear of graphics cards having 256mb or more of on board memory just to handle the graphics while the computer has up to 4 GB of ram just to maintain the levels of processing power required from the latest computer games.
The challenge an computer game poses also draws the gamer!
Now again why do people like to sit at the computer for hours on end playing a game? I believe it is the challenge. To play against an enemy that will probably win you 7-9 times out of 10, really offers a challenge.
Apart from that the fact that the computer gamer will probably not be able to win the computer game two times in succession if the game is one that is well written by the programmers. This mere fact has to do with the idea of gambling where the rate of success is unpredictable and that in it self is addictive.
Another reason for computer gaming is because I can. I have the equipment, the time and the game so why not? It is a terrible waste of expensive equipment and time to just sit around during holiday time while the expensive equipment with an addictive computer game on a CD / DVD is just lying around in the home.
Computer games is also used in training of people.
The development of simulation games also has a lot to do with the amount of time people spend at the computer playing games. Especially the realism of some of the "flight simulators" and "war games" are so good that it is even used in real life training of pilots and commanders in armed forces.
Why don't you play a computer game? or tell me what you think why do people play computer games for hours on end?
Written by J D
21 Dec 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
The ultimate sound system for your game computer
Sound in computer games is all about realism.
Computer sound systems has developed from a simple single speaker in the old XT's that literally was used as a warning device to the user when he made an error to a basic 2 speaker system that was mostly used just to listen to normal sounds to a point where we can now simulate the best theatre systems on our computers.
The realism available in computer sound has improved so much over the last 10 years that it is virtually unthinkable that a computer these days could be working without at lease a 2 speaker system with 3D sound imitation. Many a motherboard comes with up to 6 channels of sound on board.
What to look for in a sound system for your gaming computer?
- First of all you want something with surround sound - my suggestion will be at least 6 channels also called 5.1 where one channel is used for the sub-woover producing the base sounds and the rest are literally utilized in a similar fashion to the standard surround sound home theatre system.
- Secondly you would want a unit with the highest sample rate possible - as the developments are really happenning on a daily basis check the specs and ask the guys what is the sample rate something in the order of 128k or better is awesome quality at the time of writing this. Some cards go up to 256k but it is probably out of the average guys budget?
- Thirdly check the interfacing of the card - ASIO is an industry standard and it defines the ability of a card to interact with software without additional drivers. The latest standard in this regard is ASIO 2.0. In other words if your Sound card is ASIO 2.0 compliant you will probably not need any other software or drivers to use it with any software that has the same compliancy. Sometimes you will find a fascinating system but it will only work with its own software and that limits the usefullness of such a system. It restricts you and that is one thing I hate and I believe most others feel the same.
Speakers- selecting the system for your experience.
Once you have the sound card sorted out - it is now time to start looking at the speakers - it is often easy to purchase a set of speakers for your system - A 5.1 system ready boxed and it is often very good systems. My suggestion will be to use powered speakers as the average sound card only sets out very limited power and the computer sound system's performance like the performance of most of our equipment in life depends on the excess or surplus power available to the speaker. It is not a good idea to drive a speaker to it's maximum capacity for normal use - the reason for this being that when you get those peak sounds it will be overdriven with the distortion of the sound and poor quality. In other words get speakers that can handle 200 watts if you want to normally drive them at 100 watts - this will mean that you can hardly ever overdrive them and the sound quality will nearly always be superb.
Again I want to stress my point once you have the computer get the best sound system you can afford if you want to have the best experience possible in your computer game.
JD
Pretoria
21 January 2006
Computer sound systems has developed from a simple single speaker in the old XT's that literally was used as a warning device to the user when he made an error to a basic 2 speaker system that was mostly used just to listen to normal sounds to a point where we can now simulate the best theatre systems on our computers.
The realism available in computer sound has improved so much over the last 10 years that it is virtually unthinkable that a computer these days could be working without at lease a 2 speaker system with 3D sound imitation. Many a motherboard comes with up to 6 channels of sound on board.
What to look for in a sound system for your gaming computer?
- First of all you want something with surround sound - my suggestion will be at least 6 channels also called 5.1 where one channel is used for the sub-woover producing the base sounds and the rest are literally utilized in a similar fashion to the standard surround sound home theatre system.
- Secondly you would want a unit with the highest sample rate possible - as the developments are really happenning on a daily basis check the specs and ask the guys what is the sample rate something in the order of 128k or better is awesome quality at the time of writing this. Some cards go up to 256k but it is probably out of the average guys budget?
- Thirdly check the interfacing of the card - ASIO is an industry standard and it defines the ability of a card to interact with software without additional drivers. The latest standard in this regard is ASIO 2.0. In other words if your Sound card is ASIO 2.0 compliant you will probably not need any other software or drivers to use it with any software that has the same compliancy. Sometimes you will find a fascinating system but it will only work with its own software and that limits the usefullness of such a system. It restricts you and that is one thing I hate and I believe most others feel the same.
Speakers- selecting the system for your experience.
Once you have the sound card sorted out - it is now time to start looking at the speakers - it is often easy to purchase a set of speakers for your system - A 5.1 system ready boxed and it is often very good systems. My suggestion will be to use powered speakers as the average sound card only sets out very limited power and the computer sound system's performance like the performance of most of our equipment in life depends on the excess or surplus power available to the speaker. It is not a good idea to drive a speaker to it's maximum capacity for normal use - the reason for this being that when you get those peak sounds it will be overdriven with the distortion of the sound and poor quality. In other words get speakers that can handle 200 watts if you want to normally drive them at 100 watts - this will mean that you can hardly ever overdrive them and the sound quality will nearly always be superb.
Again I want to stress my point once you have the computer get the best sound system you can afford if you want to have the best experience possible in your computer game.
JD
Pretoria
21 January 2006
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