The world of online gaming has exploded past a few shooting games like Counterstrike or MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online) games like Everquest. Even with new champions of different genres, there's an almost unconquerable number of games to explore and join for competition, socializing and exploration. Unfortunately, your gaming system and internet connection must be at a certain standard to experience online gaming to its fullest potential. Here's what needs to be working properly to get the most out of online gaming.
Vital Computer Components
The general computer from any big retail store is surprisingly close to all you need for online gaming, although not very cost efficient. At many big box stores, you're paying a premium for some brand names that aren't exactly the best at performance, and a computer services professional could build a better system from scratch for less. Before looking into that, there are a few key components to understand.
The processor or CPU (central processing unit) is the "brains" of the computer, responsible for all of the computers that make your computer's performance exist at all and for different actions you take on the computer.
For overall computer performance and gaming performance, you need to look at your desired game and find the recommended system requirements--not the minimum. All vital computer requirements are there, but the CPU is one of the hardest components to replace and one of the most expensive. Get it right the first time.
Your memory (Random Access Memory or RAM) is like a quick point of storage for information to get to the processor. Storage drives (hard drives and solid state drives or SSDs) are often slower than memory modules, and even if they aren't, they become slower while accessing information. More memory means more undisturbed delivery of data to calculate quickly, including your game.
The video card is what sets the difference between a standard computer and a gaming computer. It's like a micro computer on an attachable board, with its own processor (graphics processing unit or GPU) and memory. It also handles special commands used by games that the CPU can't understand. No matter how powerful the rest of your computer, it just can't understand certain things without a video card.
Networking Needs To Avoid Lag
With a good computer for gaming, you still need to get your gaming data to the gaming server.
Online games are played with a lot of computer demand, but the data itself is no different than sending data to and requesting data from a website. All of your attacks, interactions with the world, chat and movements are packages of data (packets) that must be sent, confirmed and responded to. Along with your own character's actions, an online game is a digital world that has many players and game-controlled activities that must be sent to your computer.
It may sound complex, but data for these exchanges are very small. The sizes are different for every game, but these exchanges happen within milliseconds; a second of delay is far too long, especially when you're playing a shooting game that requires quick dodging or shots.
Delay in online games is called lag, and can happen either if there's a problem with game servers, a problem with your home internet (or business if you're a pro gamer) or the internet path in-between. Delay can happen when inferior cables are used or if there's not enough internet capacity to do everything you want online.
To make sure the problem isn't you, make sure to have a computer network installation professional like Tech Fixing Center LLC handle all connections and customization.
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