Part 7: The Keyboard

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The keyboard is yet another aspect of your computer that you use everyday. As with the mouse an average computer user doesn't have to put much thought into purchasing a keyboard, as long as it types, it's fine. However, gamers take keyboard choice into serious contemplation. When gaming, normal everyday keyboard don't perform nearly as good as a specifically made gaming keyboard. The keys can ghost, response time isn't as good, keys can stick, and you have to push further to engage the button. Ghosting is a problem where multiple keys pressed at the same time cause some of the keys not to be registered. During a hardcore gaming session, this could cause you to miss out on critical actions. Gaming keyboards use special technology to prevent this from happening, allowing all key presses to be detected, no matter the amount. Another unique features of most gaming keyboards is the ability to record and play back macros. Macros are combinations or a series of key presses that when played back send that series of presses to the computer, adding like you pressed those keys. It is especially useful when you need to perform a series of events quickly in a video game. All these features is why gamers choose to buy gaming keyboards. Again, i like to buy my gaming equipment from razer, these keyboards being no exception. My favorite has to be the Black Widow because it offers all the features you could want, and is very comfortable to use.

Part 6: The Mouse

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Since I have covered the important parts of the computer, I'm now going to talk a bit about peripherals and what, in my opinion, is the best and why. One of the things that is always used when you use a computer is the mouse. You use it to navigate pages, click things, and to play games. While most people don't really give their mouse a second thought, to gamers it can be a pretty big deal. In a game, your mouse is what stand between you and victory. It's responsiveness can be the difference between life and death, while the design can give you an unfair edge above everyone else. There all all kinds of gaming mice, designed to a way that the manufacturer thinks is best for its purpose. Also, sensitivity (measured in DPI) varies in every mouse, a higher max DPI usually being preferred by most gamers. My favorite manufacturer of gamming hardware such as mice and keyboards is razer. From my experience they make durable, reliable hardware, that is comfortable to use. My favorite mouse by them has to be the mamba. It is a solid, comfortable mouse. It responds extremely well, and has extra buttons on the side that you can bind for various in-game actions. Also, it has the option of switching between wired and wireless, which is a very nice option. For MMO gamers there is also the naga which is nice because it has multiple buttons on the side for easy access to MMO actions. While I'm not much of a MMO gamer myself, this seems very convenient.

Part 5: The Case

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The computer case. To most users there is nothing to worry about here, and not much you can even do to effect you you get, besides buying a completely different computer. This post is more directed towards people who are building their own computers. A case can affect the airflow, cooling, and what you can or can't fit in your computer. The first thing you want to figure out before you go looking for a case, is what you want to fit inside your computer. Things such as, the size of the video card, size of the motherboard, and whether or not you want to do air or liquid cooling. There are two main case sizes that you will run across when case shopping, mid-tower and full-tower. Obviously full-tower is larger than a mid-tower case, but this has both benefits and downfalls. While if you get a full tower you usually won't have to worry about free space, they do take up a lot more room on your desk, and can weigh quite a bit. You don't really need a full-tower unless you are planning on getting a large, or multiple, graphics cards, of a full ATX or Extended motherboard. As a mid-tower won't be able to fit those components. Now, size isn't the only factor when choosing a case, you may also worry about airflow and cooling options. While all cases can be modified to be water-cooled, some make it easier by including pre-cut sections and such. Also, you will have to look at the fan positioning, to figure if the case you want will be able to keep your system cool. I myself am the proud owner of the NZXT Phantom Full-tower case::

This case is an absolute monster, standing at 21 inches (almost 2 feet), having a depth of 24.5 inches, and weighing 25 pounds empty, this case is definitely not for everyone. It can handle anything you throw at it, from the biggest graphics cards, to the biggest fans and motherboards. It came at a great price, just around $100, and I got it for the fact that I have a big motherboard, and for future upgrade purposes. In the end, the case you pick depends on you and your personal preferences. There isn't one case for everyone, and you just have to look until you find one that you like.