Custom Gaming PCs - Where to Find Affordable Computer Builds

Gaming computers are usually much more powerful than regular home use PCs. They are made for handling high graphical requirements and video needs, and tend to be more expensive as the components are higher end and cost more. However, it is possible to have a custom gaming PC put together for you at an affordable price. It's a good idea to do thorough research before choosing a company to build your computer.

Some of the most well known PC retailers include Dell, HP, and Gateway. All of these companies offer well built computers at typically affordable prices, especially if you can snag a deal. They also offer customization options, but rarely to the degree that gaming computer specialists will have. If you plan to use your computer for more than just gaming (video editing, photo viewing/editing, basic computing tasks, internet use, etc.), a generic PC from any of these retailers is a good bet. You can also find pre-built PCs at Best Buy, Fry's, and pretty much any electronics store, online or locally.

However, if you want a custom built gaming PC tailored specifically to your gaming needs, it's best if you can choose specific components. Companies like iBUYPOWER and Velocity Micro offer more customization options. Depending on whether you're an FPS gamer or an MMO enthusiast, your computer requirements will probably vary. For example, if you don't need intense graphic power for games like Crysis, you can get by with a cheaper video card. Onboard (also known as integrated) graphics cards are not a good idea for gamers, though. This is because most games require at least a 512MB nVIDIA or ATI graphics card. Plan to invest in a good video card.

In terms of budget, a good PC can run anywhere from $600-5000. If you are on a budget, getting a custom PC can be even better, as you can choose cheaper components as opposed to the ones already installed on a pre-built computer. Some retailers offer free shipping and no tax, like Amazon.com, but at the sacrifice of customization. If you don't mind having your gaming PC already built, that's a good place to start.

Whatever company you choose to get your computer from, make sure you do your research ahead of time and know what specific components you need to get the most out of your gaming experience. This way you can make an educated decision that will make the least impact on your wallet.

To learn more about affordable gaming computer builds and requirements and decide what company is best to get your PC from, visit http://makeyourgamingcave.blogspot.com

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World of Warcraft Gaming Computer Recommendations - Build Custom WoW Gaming PC

More than 12 million players worldwide play World of Warcraft - are you one of them, or would you like to try it for yourself? Then you will need to know what computer is good (or better) to play it the way it was meant to be. We are not talking about an average PC where you set settings to low-mid and run around, we look at the computers that let you maximize WoW display settings and resolutions. World of Warcraft may be quite an old game but it still does shine when you turn all of the settings to the max. Have you ever caught yourself on top of the Stormwind Harbor enjoying water view? With the right computer you definitely will!

A lot of people play WoW on regular basic computers or cheap laptops, and World of Warcraft actually lets you do that because it has really low minimum system requirements. It can be even run on netbooks on low settings. And we can't blame you, at the end there are people who don't care about graphics but just enjoy the gameplay itself, storyline, communication, dynamics and atmosphere. But ask yourself why some old black and white movies had been rebuilt in color? Because they are interesting too and probably they look better in color! Same goes for World Of Warcraft - it looks and plays so much better on powerful computers with maximum settings and resolutions. You will catch yourself simply enjoying beautiful scenes, landscapes, sunsets - you will see this game in completely new perspective.

Now what is it about a computer that will let you enjoy WoW as we have indicated above? First of all it should be a gaming computer - not some regular desktop from popular retail store or cheap notebook. And gaming computers are really different from all that no matter how many times you hear the opposite. Regular computer manufacturers try to lower the costs by installing cheap hardware, crappy onboard graphics, stock coolers, even those cases they use do not inspire anyone let alone hardcore gamers. Gaming computer is built and optimized for maximum performance, that comes at a price sometimes, but so do Mercedes and BMW compared to well known minivans:O) It pays off to have a great custom built computer what it comes to PC games.

Lets start from the beginning - most important hardware parts that will affect your gaming and WoW experience in particular - CPU (central processing unit - processor for short) and videocard (or GFX, graphics accelerator, video adapter). These two parts will have the greatest impact on FPS (frames per second) when resolution and all settings are set to maximum.

CPU - processor affects speed of the computer overall, no matter what you do. There are some processor intensive applications like video editing and gaming, so it pays of to have the best CPU you can afford. I general any modern dual core processor will be good for World of Warcraft, but we have some recommendations as to what would be more efficient and will not hit your pocket hard. Right now you can select between great AMD and Intel offerings.

AMD has many dual and quad core processors that are really cost efficient and will be a great option for WoW. For example Athlon II X2 240 with 2.8Ghz would be our minimum recommendation, it's great for mid-high settings and monitors up to 22", and it's really cheap, can be paired with inexpensive motherboard and either DDR2 or DDR3 memory - lots of options to build low priced computer. If you want to really play on max settings in any WoW game zone and biggest raids - you will need one of the Phenom II processors, and while there are some dual and triple core editions we would recommend Phenom II X4 945 or better to stick with. Those quad cores are not expensive and can be a base for really great gaming machine under $1000 that will play any game.

Intel - still offers Core 2 processors that are great for WoW but are a little outdated. If you want really cheap computer - stick with AMD, if you want something little more expensive - go for new i3/i5/i7 CPU line. Most affordable would be Core i3 530 that can be paired with mid range H55 motherboard and DDR3 memory. It is just a dual core but has hyper threading making it virtual Quad and Turbo-Boost that increases CPU frequency based on the load, works especially good with single threaded applications and WoW. To make sure you will never see FPS drop below 30 you can pick i5 750 which is less than a $100 more but it's a real Quad Core processor that will not let you down in any scenario (get P55 chipset motherboard with it). And finally Core i7 - the king, excellent performance in all applications and games, probably an overkill for WoW but it's a great investment since it will not be outdated for quite some time.

Videocard - second in importance, sometimes first, depends on the game you play. Videocards create picture you see on your monitor, more complicated images require more power form your videocard. Some integrated adapter is fine for Windows and internet browsing but it will not play any real game the way it should be. You will need separate videocard to use high resolutions and settings. There are many popular videocards on the market, for WoW you can pick one of the older ones since thay can be cheap and still offer excellent World Of Warcraft gaming experience. From bottom to top our recommendations are:

ATI Radeon 4650 512Mb DDR3

Nvidia GeForce GT 220 512Mb or 1Gb DDR2 or DDR3

ATI Radeon 4670 1Gb DDR3

Nvidia GeForce GT 240 512Mb DDR5 (better than 1Gb DDR3)

Nvidia GeForce 9800GT 512Mb DDR3 (older but with super performance - your best pick for now)

ATI Radeon 5670 1Gb GDDR5 (can have some issues with drivers but good performer)

Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 1Gb DDR3

ATI Radeon 5750 1Gb GDDR5

Anything more expensive would probably not give you much of a benefit for the money you pay. When you set Shades to the Ultra it will stress even most expensive videocards so everyone plays with High anyways, all other settings can be set on maximum as well as resolution with up to 28" monitor if you pick one of the last cards on the list.

Memory - If you have at least 4Gb of RAM you don't have to worry about too much. Even if you have only 2Gb and still using Windows XP you are good to go if you are on a tight budget. Windows Vista or "7" will be much better with 4Gb RAM if you want to have something left for WoW. Just watch for the memory type that is compatible with your CPU and motherboard. Like all i3/i5/i7 will require DDR3 memory, some AMD processors work with DDR2, they are about the same price now so you'd better pick DDR3 since it's newer and faster. Memory varies be speed, like DDR2 can be 667Ghz, most popular 800Mhz and faster 1066Mhz which does not work with all processors and motherboards. If you get DDR3 then you'd better go with 1600Mhz as the most cost efficient, popular, supported RAM. If you are thinking about 6 or 8Gb, then keep in mind that WoW does not need it, you have some other apps that will use that much - go for it. Of course if you pick i7 CPU with X58 board then you should get 6Gb triple channel memory kit for the best performance.

Motherboard - not so important as long as it's more or less modern. Just watch for CPU and RAM compatibility. For AMD processors better pick some AM3 board with DDR3 memory support, good chipsets are 785G, 790GX, 890GX, 790X. Some cheaper ones are GeForce 6100/6150/7025, or AMD 740, 760, 780G. For Intel - it all depends on CPU you pick. For Core 2 you better go with P55, or if you don't have a lot to spend you can get P43 or G41 - really cut down in features but will do for now. Core i3 and i5 Dual core better work with H55, Quad Core i5 and i7 LGA1156 need P55, Socket LGA1366 Core i7 need X58 chipset. Some motherboards like AMD 785G or 890GX have pretty good onboard video that can play WOW but don't expect too much from it, it can be fine for some time if you are saving for the new videocard for example.

Hard Drive - modern drives do not differ too much, get one with SATA interface and 7200RPM speed, and it will be fine. There are some "green" HDDs with 5400RPM but they are better for storage not for gaming. SSD (solid state) are still too expensive and not popular. WD VelociRaptor model with 10000RPM is an excellent choice if you can afford it, really cuts down loading times.

Power supply - depends on you CPU and videocard. Always make sure that you get reputable brand, or at least read some reviews if you are not sure or want to save some money. There are good cheap PSU out there but you have to be careful picking one. More expensive ones are usually better, some good brands are: Antec, Corsair, Thermaltake, Cooler Master. If your videocard does not require extra 6pin PCI-e power connector then you should be good with 400-500W minimum, better videocards work good on 500-600W power supplies. For all videocards listed above you do not need more than 600W even with i7 CPU but you can surely pick any PSU you like with more power if you think you may need it.

Case - some think it's not important - they didn't see real gaming cases. Advanced chassis for gaming computers not only looks good with LEDs and side windows, but it also cools good. There are usually bigger than average fans (120-200m), there are more of those fans, perforated panels for better ventilation, advanced PSU and fan placement, hideouts for professional cabling and much more.

CPU Cooler - one more thing that makes gaming computers different - use of aftermarket coolers. Good CPU cooler works quieter and more efficient than stock ones. Aftermarket cooler will prolong life of your processor making it work on lower temperatures and will allow overlocking - speeding up CPU without harm to it as long as temps are within limits. For example Core i7 920 with cooler Xigmatek Dark Knight can work on 3.6Ghz frequency instead of 2.66Ghz default. It makes a lot of difference!

DVD, Blue-Ray, Wireless, card readers - all those parts do not affect your WoW gameplay, unless of course your wireless adapter drops connection all the timeï

www.CentaurusPC.com Alex Raven - senior engineer @ Centaurus PC. Custom gaming computers with unmatched performance, speed, reliability and customization built by professionals. 3 year warranty on every computer, free FedEx shipping, fastest building times and lowest prices. Dominate the game with Centaurus Computers gaming machines! www.CentaurusComputers.com

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Playing Halo Online With Your Custom Mod Controller

Microsoft has made it big with Halo; nobody would have thought that this game would strike gold in the market especially because the storyline is not new. As a skilled soldier, you travel from planet to planet fighting monsters with different powers. The multiplayer mode has received laurels from critics in the sense that it not only supports a large number of players but the online gameplay is smooth and balanced. It tends to get boring after a while if you get too good at the game or if you keep losing frags all the time.

How do you improve?

Unless you are a natural FPS gamer, the skill cannot be really be cultivated but with long hours of play. If you are looking to get good immediately, one of the best ways is the custom modded controller. Not only can you change the appearance of the controller the way you want it, but you can alter the controller configuration to cater to your requirements. Irrespective of the number of hours you play, your fingers need not get tired if you have altered your controller keys settings that makes you feel comfortable. You can buy Xbox 360 modded controllers from most services; the rapid fire mod lets you fire normal weapons at the speed of semi-automatic weapons. This gives you a definite edge over other players in the game.

Game mods

It is an obvious fact that you're modding your controller to cater to a certain game or set of games. It would be better if you can find pre-customized mods for your modded controller for PS3 instead of designing the mod specifications from scratch. For instance, Halo Reach has been reported to have a low firing rate with a generic controller, while it can be significantly improved with a custom modded controller. Most websites understand the requirements of gamers through information gathered from forums or through previous mod requests.

What else can you do with the mod?

The gamut of Xbox and PS3 controller mods is not limited to just gameplay. If you are bored of the way your controller looks, you can choose to alter the color combination of the casing and the buttons. Further, you can even change the LEDs and the light bulbs of the buttons and the triggers and make them rumble-sensitive. The shape and size of the casing and buttons can be changed too, giving your PS3 modded controller an overall facelift.

Kashif Wild is the manager of http://www.einsteinmodz.com who promotes its products throughout Australia. You can find a large range and variety of modded controller for PS3 and custom modded controller. at his website --> http://einsteinmodz.com/

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