The Custom Gaming Blog

Dec 28, Recommended Builds January 2012

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:19:41 GMT

The latest custom gaming builds for the start of the new year are now live on the site, in time for the many end of year clearance sales that tend to occur around this time of year. The following 4 build examples will help you get the most bang for your buck in different price ranges. Recommended Gaming Desktop Builds: January 2012

Dec 1, Recommended Builds December 2011

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:17:08 GMT

The latest custom gaming build examples for the month of December are now live on the site. Once again, we show you 4 high-value, high-performance builds for 4 different price categories to help you in getting the most bang for your buck during the holiday season: Recommended Gaming Desktop Builds: December 2011

Nov 23, Top 3 High End Gaming Laptops

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:46:29 GMT

Our top 3 value picks for high-end gaming laptops for the holiday period and into the future. These high performance laptops represent the very best performance for value in 3 different price ranges. Obviously a custom desktop build of the same price will be more powerful in general than any laptop, but if you need your high end gaming to be portable then one of these beasts will serve you well for a long time. Best Gaming Laptops: Top 3 High End Laptops December 2011

Nov 15, November Recommended Builds Update

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:40:58 GMT

We're now midway through the month and our Budget, Mid Range, High End, and Extreme build examples have been tweaked to give the most bang for your buck and to stay current with the best value components as of right now. Each build's main core components have remained the same because they still demonstrate the very best value for gaming in their respective price range, and only minor changes such as a more cost-effective case for the Mid Range build and better-value accessory recommendations have been made since the start of the month. The most common reader question we have received this month is how to build a hybrid of the 2 most popular builds: the Budget and Mid Range builds. Therefore we have included a new section on how to cut the cost of the Mid Range build without sacrificing gaming performance, which will suit those on a budget between 800-1000 dollars. Happy gaming, and good luck with your own custom build. Recommended Gaming Desktop Computer Builds - November 2011 Update

Recommended Builds - November 2011 Update

Nov 10, Hard Drive Prices Predicted To Rise Further

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:52:21 GMT

If you weren't aware of the already significant increases in hard drive prices over the past couple of weeks, you should know that worldwide production of hard drives have been cut short due to last month's unfortunate major floodings in Thailand where Western Digital and other major hard disk manufacturing plants have been closed down. This has caused a sudden significant rise in hard drive prices around the world, and prices are predicted to continue rising over the next few months as major hardware vendors slowly lose their stock. It is predicted that the shortage will not be rectified until at least Q2/mid 2012, so if you were planning on buying a hard drive for an upgrade or a new custom build, it seems to be a case of first in best dressed. Smart consumers arounds the globe are getting in sooner rather than later to buy new hard drives, as prices continue to rise with no end in sight. My own advice reflects that of many in the industry: if you were planning on a new PC build within the next few months, get in early instead of waiting for the holiday and christmas periods and then wondering why your hard drive costs as much as your video card. Here are some helpful links about the current world wide shortage:

CNET.com - Hard-disk shortage hits consumer outlets
The Impending Hard Drive Shortage

Nov 7, Recommended Builds November 2011

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:33:57 GMT

The latest Recommended Custom Gaming Builds for the month of November are now live on the site at the Best Builds. A lot of painstaking research has gone into these builds to make sure you get the most bang for your buck if you're in the market for a new gaming PC build this month. The 4 best-value custom build examples for high performance gaming: the Budget Gaming Build, Mid-Range Gaming Build, High End Gaming Build, and the Extreme Gaming Build. Choosing between them will depend on your budget, and a lot of parts can be mixed and matched to create your own custom variation to suit your needs.

Recommended Custom Gaming Builds November 2011

Oct 22, Battlefield 3 - Are You Ready?

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:06:12 GMT

The game that we've all been eagerly anticipating is finally here, but are you ready for it? We receive many reader emails from gamers asking whether their particular specs are good enough to handle the latest ground-breaking First-Person Shooter. All three recommended custom PC builds in our Best Builds section are capable of handling Battlefield 3, even the entry-level rig (named the Budget Build) which will run it quite well with decent framerates on medium/high settings. For those hardcore gamers who wish to play it at its very best (flawless performance even with visual settings turned on maximum) you will need to be looking at a system on par with the Mid-Range Build or similar. Alternatively, for those on a strict budget you can 'spice up' the Budget Build to make it run Battlefield 3 even better by making the following changes:

Swap the GeForce GTX 550 Ti for the GeForce 560 Ti
Add another 4GB of RAM to make a total of 8GB

This will allow you to play BF3 and other demanding titles in their full glory without spending an arm and a leg.

EA's Battlefield 3 - Available 10/25/2011

Oct 21, Recommended Gaming Builds - October Update

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:43:10 GMT

The top 3 Recommended Custom Builds for October 2011 have been fully updated but the majority of the core components have stayed the same as they are still great examples of the very best systems you can put together for each price range right now. The recently released AMD bulldozer processors have not impressed much so we have stuck with Intel's i5 and i7 CPUs which are still considered the best for high-end gaming. This could change with their future releases, but for now it looks like Intel still holds the crown for high performance CPUs. As always, we will keep you updated on any changes to the market over the coming weeks.

AMD's "Bulldozer" Processor

Oct 8, Choosing The Best Gaming Headphones For Your PC

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:15:16 GMT

Guide to choosing the best gaming headphones for your PC for the very best immersive gaming experience. Gaming headphones are a must-have accessory for the serious gamer.

Oct 4, Choosing the Best Gaming Monitor

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:50:38 GMT

Guide on how to choose the best gaming monitor. The best monitors for gaming have fast response rates, high contrast ratios, and are large enough to provide a surreal gaming experience.

Sep 30, Recommended Builds October 2011

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:01:41 GMT

The latest Recommended Custom Gaming Builds for October 2011 are now live on the site. The main core components have stayed mostly the same since September, with a few changes to each build to keep up with the latest in the market.

Recommended Builds October 2011

Sep 27, Best PC Case For Gaming - Top 4 Full Tower Computer Cases

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:37:52 GMT

To help you choose the best PC case for your custom gaming PC, we have chosen 4 of the best-rated high end full-tower cases available right now for a great base to your new rig.

Sep 26, The Best PC Barebone Kits For Gaming

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:01:24 GMT

PC barebone kits can save you money on your custom PC build, and here are the top 3 best-value barebones computer kits available right now for high performance gaming.

Sep 26, Best Radeon Video Cards of 2011

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:33:24 GMT

The top 3 best-rated ATI Radeon video cards for gaming this year. If you're after both a high value and high performance card, consider one of these popular Radeon video cards.

Sep 25, Installing a Graphics Card: Step by Step

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:04:20 GMT

An easy to follow guide on installing a graphics card. Includes information on installing video card drivers, and safety guidelines to protecting your video card from damage during installation.

Sep 25, Best Video Cards For Gaming in 2011

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:02:43 GMT

We reveal the best video cards for gaming in late 2011. The top 3 video cards for gaming were judged for both value for money and performance in the latest games.

Sep 22, Recommended Budget Gaming Desktop Computer Builds

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:39:35 GMT

Here are the recommended custom gaming desktop computer builds for three different price ranges: budget, mid-range, and high-end. All parts for each build have been chosen for value and performance.

Sep 20, Solid State Hard Drive - Benefits Of SSDs And Are They Worth The Money?

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:24:56 GMT

Explains what a solid state hard drive is and advice on buying SSD technology.

Sep 12, The State Of PC Gaming

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:51:32 GMT

An interesting article from GameSpot on the current state and future of PC Gaming. The future looks bright indeed!
GameSpot.com - The State Of PC Gaming

Older Blog Posts Not Available

Sep 11, Recommended High End Gaming Computer Builds

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:20:20 GMT

Our recommended high end gaming computer build examples are here to help if you are looking to build the very best gaming system possible.

Aug 22, Best Gaming Laptops

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:46:52 GMT

Reviews of the top 3 best gaming laptops to buy this year. These 3 laptops were chosen for performance, value and reliability and with one of these laptops in your arsenal you can tackle any game.

Jul 30, The Best PC Steering Wheels For Gaming

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:20:56 GMT

The best PC steering wheels will allow you to experience driving games on a whole-new level. With a quality wheel it will feel just like the right thing!

Jul 30, Best Computer Speakers For Gaming

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:52:54 GMT

Guide to buying the best computer speakers for your gaming system. Sound is a very important part of the game experience, so getting some decent gaming speakers is a good investment.

Jul 29, Choosing a Computer Power Supply for your Gaming PC

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:34:59 GMT

Guide to choosing the right computer power supply for your computer.

Jul 29, Gaming Video Card Buyer's Guide

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:26:54 GMT

Guide to choosing the best gaming video card for your needs. The quality of your gaming experience relies heavily on the type of video card you have.

Jul 29, Choosing the Best Sound Card For Your Audio Needs

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:02:42 GMT

An article on the different factors you should consider when buying the best sound card for your gaming audio needs.

Jul 28, Choosing the Best Motherboard for your Gaming Computer

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:17:59 GMT

Your guide to choosing the best motherboard for your gaming computer. The motherboard is one of the most critical components in any computer system.

Jul 28, Choosing the Best Computer Memory for your Gaming System

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:39:42 GMT

How to choose the best computer memory for your gaming system. Explains the different types of RAM, the benefits of RAM for your gaming computer, and how much RAM you need to play the latest games.

Jul 28, How To Build A PC - Step by Step Installation Guide

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:17:53 GMT

A step by step guide on how to build a pc easily. Once you have chosen all your parts, you are ready to put your gaming system together.

Jan 25, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 - What Is It?

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:44:28 GMT

Explains the new SuperSpeed USB 3 technology that is only just starting to emerge into the personal computer market.

Jan 3, How to Build Gaming Computers

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:50:41 GMT

Guide to building your own custom gaming computers. Includes updated guides on how to choose the best components for gaming, product reviews of the latest gaming hardware, and installation guides.

Jan 2, Custom Gaming Computers: An Introduction To Building Your Own

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 08:08:10 GMT

How to build custom gaming computers. This introduction on building a custom gaming pc will explain the advantages of building your own and how to get started.

Sep 7, Building Custom Desktop Computers: Your Questions Answered Here!

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:32:23 GMT

Ask questions about building custom desktop computers here, and get them answered. We help you build your own custom PCs for gaming.

Jul 10, Gaming Computer Cases Buyer's Guide

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:27:39 GMT

A guide to buying gaming computer cases for a new PC build. The case is an important part of a custom build and there are certain things you need to look out for when choosing the right case.

Jul 10, Cheap Computer Speakers, The Best Discount Computer Computers

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:59:49 GMT

We take a look at the best cheap computer speakers for music and gaming. Having a good quality set of speakers will greatly enhance your gaming and multimedia experience on your PC.

Jun 22, World Of Warcraft Computer - Build A Custom PC For WoW

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:04:31 GMT

Build a World of Warcraft computer capable of handling the games vast and expansive universe. Learn what you need in your PC to run WoW well on high settings.

May 23, Ultra Quiet CPU Cooling Fans - Silent CPU Fans

Sun, 23 May 2010 16:19:57 GMT

Ultra quiet cpu cooling fans are very helpful in keeping your computer running as silent as possible.

May 23, Different DVD Formats Explained

Sun, 23 May 2010 16:07:37 GMT

All the different dvd formats explained in plain english. Also includes the difference between plus and minus DVD disks.

May 23, Gaming Mouse Buyer's Guide

Sun, 23 May 2010 15:35:03 GMT

How to choose the best gaming mouse for your gaming PC so that you have the upper hand over other gamers.

May 18, Best Hard Drive For Your Custom PC?

Tue, 18 May 2010 13:59:08 GMT

Guide on how to choose the best hard drive for your custom gaming computer. If you store many large games you will need a larger hard drive. We also explain the advantages of solid state drives.

Nov 26, How To Clean LCD Monitor Screens

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:48:29 GMT

Step by step guide on how to clean LCD monitor screens properly without damaging and/or scratching the screen.

Nov 23, Intel vs AMD: We Compare AMD and Intel Processors

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:03:07 GMT

The Intel vs AMD debate has been going on forever, and everyone seems to have a different opinion about which is best. In this article we take a look at where they stand in the current day and age.

Nov 23, Barebone Computer Systems - Tips To Buying A Barebones Gaming PC

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:34:25 GMT

A guide to buying barebone computer systems. The advantages and disadvantages are looked at here, and you will find that a barebones gaming PC is not for everyone.

Nov 23, 32 Bit vs 64 Bit Processors

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:26:55 GMT

A look into the debate of 32 bit vs 64 bit CPUs. Do you really need a 64 bit processor for gaming, or normal computer tasks?

Nov 17, Factory Refurbished Laptops - Should You Buy Refurbished Laptops?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:26:03 GMT

Find out whether you should buy cheap factory refurbished laptops. Are they worth the smaller price tag than a normal laptop?

Nov 12, Extend Laptop Battery Life

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:32:14 GMT

Some helpful tips on how to extend laptop battery life.

Nov 10, Best Operating Systems For Your Gaming PC

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:39:17 GMT

Takes a look at the best operating systems that you can choose to install in your gaming PC. Includes step by step guides on how to install the most popular gaming operating systems.

Nov 3, BIOS Configuration Guide

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:24:19 GMT

A quick guide to BIOS configuration when building your new PC. The Basic Input Output System must be configured when you first build a PC.

Oct 28, How To Install Monitor

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:27:46 GMT

Quick and easy guide to install monitor and drivers in your PC. Anyone can install a monitor, even my grandma.

Sep 17, Computer Liquid Cooling Guide

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:22:54 GMT

A guide to computer liquid cooling and whether you need it for your PC system.