Considerations When Buying LCD Monitors 

Choosing a LCD monitor requires different knowledge from choosing a standard CRT monitor. It is just different technology that cannot be compared in one way. Here are some features that you should look out for when choosing an LCD monitor.

Resolution
LCD monitors work differently from its CRT counterpart in that its screen display is based on a fixed matrix of horizontal and vertical pixel. The effect is that LCD monitor works best only at the resolution they are designed for, which is known as the native resolution. If you change the resolution settings, the image and quality will be negatively affected.

If you are looking for an LCD monitor, choose one with a native resolution that suit your needs, but if you change your resolution regularly, it’s best you get a CRT monitor.

Response Time

The response time is the measurement of how fast each pixel can change color. It calculates whether or not LCDs can clearly show full-motion video without ‘smearing’ or ‘ghosting’.

In some faster paced games, ghosting may occur on slower monitors due to the action being faster than the monitor can keep up with. In that case, it is more desirable for gamers to get an LCD monitor with a fast response time to prevent any ghosting effect that might take place.

The price of the LCD monitor usually increases with a faster response time. Currently in the market, the fastest response time for LCD monitor is 2ms and it costs 50-70% more than the standard 8ms LCDs.

Generally, an LCD monitor with 20ms response time or less is sufficient for normal daily use; however for gamers, it is preferable to get an LCD monitor with a response time of less than 8ms.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio measures the differences in brightness levels between the brightest white and the darkest black pixel. A strong contrast ratio of 120:1 easily displays vivid colors, while ratios as high as 300:1 support superior gray-scaling.

A high contrast ratio amounts to the image colors being more distinct and more details on display. Typically, contrast ratios range from 450:1 to 600:1, anything lower is unacceptable.

Viewing Angle

A disadvantage of an LCD monitor is that it has a limited viewing angle. Viewing angle refers to the degree of angle at which you can view the screen and still see defined and accurate images. When you stand off center to view the LCD screen, it is more than likely that you can only see faded images. CRT monitors do not run into this problem.

Choosing an LCD monitor with greater viewing angle will be more desirable in this case. For gamers who are getting an LCD monitor, it is best to get one with 2ms response time, 1280×1024 resolution and contrast ratio (650:1 will be great.) A strongly recommended LCD montior is the Niko 1920W 19 Widescreen LCD . It has a clear and bright display and the image quality is excellent. Not only that, but it’s a good value for money as well.

★★Car 7 TFT LCD Color Monitor for VCD DVD GPS Camera★
★★Car 7 TFT LCD Color Monitor for VCD DVD GPS Camera★
Paypal   US $9.57
HANNS G HG216D 22 1680 x 1050 WIDESCREEN LCD MONITOR
HANNS G HG216D 22 1680 x 1050 WIDESCREEN LCD MONITOR
Paypal   US $79.23
AddThis Social Bookmark Button



Choosing A CPU For Your Gaming System 

Often referred to as the processor, the CPU is one of the most essential components of a computer system. It’s the brain of the system, handling a wide range of tasks from maintaining data calculations to ensuring that video game applications are processed in the fastest possible time.

Knowing how your computer will be used will help to determine what type of CPU is required. For instance, if you’re into video games, a CPU strictly suited for word processing will not work well. Video games require much more processing power in order to function properly. While you may not have the money to purchase the best and fastest CPU on the market, purchasing the cheapest one isn’t the way to go either.

When selecting a CPU, you basically have the choice between AMD or Intel. AMD tends to be the less expensive model while Intel offers better performance. Furthermore, you can refer to online forums and reviews to find out which model suits your system best.

NEW Sony Vaio VGN SZ SZ110 SZ430 CPU Fan MCF 519PAM05
NEW Sony Vaio VGN SZ SZ110 SZ430 CPU Fan MCF 519PAM05
Paypal   US $20.00
NEW AMD Socket 754 939 CPU Fan Retainer Bracket Module
NEW AMD Socket 754 939 CPU Fan Retainer Bracket Module
Paypal   US $.01
AddThis Social Bookmark Button



Choosing A Motherboard For Your Gaming System 

The motherboard plays a critical role in the functioning of an entire computer system, a factor that ultimately impacts your gaming experience as well. It acts as the spine, connecting all other hardware components and enabling them to function as a unit. Considering the level of importance, choosing a motherboard is essential as it is the last thing you need to go wrong.

The first step in choosing a motherboard begins with the processor. If you go with an AMD CPU, your system will require a motherboard with socket AM2/AM2+ that supports DDR2 RAM.

Motherboard Brands

It is important to choose a motherboard from a known manufacture. Companies like ABIT, ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI are manufacturers that produce motherboards of the highest quality.

Be sure that the motherboard supports your CPU model and that you’ve invested in the latest type of RAM on the market.

Last but least, you need to determine what type of expansion slot is required. It may be a good idea to choose a motherboard with at least 1 IDE, 2 PCI-E, 3 PCI and 4 SATA slots. This should provide you with enough capacity for current usage and future upgrades as well.

Dell Latitude D410 Motherboard w 186Ghz 512MB U6119
Dell Latitude D410 Motherboard w 186Ghz 512MB U6119
Paypal   US $37.99
AddThis Social Bookmark Button



RAID Overview: Super High Speed Hard Drives For Gaming 

RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) is a technology that enables you to increase the speed of your hard drive. It does this by utilizing multiple hard drives to exceed the performance of a more robust or expensive hard drive, allowing the system to write and retrieve data at a much faster rate.

There are many different forms of RAID, each which have the ability to add a different level of speed and functionality to your hard drive. RAID 0 simply divides data evenly between multiple drives so that the workload is equally divided among the drives.

RAID 1 is what provides the mirror backup feature for a hard drive. When two hard drives are configured in RAID 1, the exact data is written to both hard drives.

RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 0 and 1. It utilizes 4 identical hard drives, two from RAID 0 and two from RAID 1, allowing you to achieve speed and stability. For some, the cost of two additional hard drives not be worth it. Therefore, the choice of whether or not to go with a RAID 0 or RAID 10 configuration boils down to your computing needs.

Hard Drive Data Migration Transfer Cable For Xbox360 B9
Hard Drive Data Migration Transfer Cable For Xbox360 B9
Paypal   US $.99
AddThis Social Bookmark Button



The Importance Of RAM In Computer Gaming: RAM 101 

RAM is a very essential component of your gaming system. When the computer first boots up, the operating system loads data from a storage drive into the RAM. When ever the system needs information, it refers to the RAM to retrieve the data it requires. Since RAM has the ability to process data much faster than any other form of storage media, its presence allows the computer to perform more efficiently.

Memory Size
A bigger memory size will enable your system to hold more data, meaning it can access data much faster. A system that receives an upgrade from 128MB RAM to 256MB RAM will show drastic improvement in regard to performance. A computer dedicated to video games requires at least 512MB of RAM in order to enjoy a smooth gaming experience.

RAM Options

DDR RAM is the standard type of RAM for game play. It has the ability to process data two time faster than SDRAM which is no longer recommended. The speed of this RAM is classified as the following: DDR200/PC1600, DDR266/PC2100, DDR333/PC2700 and DDR400/PC3200. DDR400 is currently the fastest of DDR RAM and is the preferred choice for many computer gamers.

ECS Elitegroup Computer P4ITA 512MB KIT MEMORY RAM
ECS Elitegroup Computer P4ITA 512MB KIT MEMORY RAM
Paypal   US $16.99
AddThis Social Bookmark Button