When it comes to keeping up with the world of PC video gaming, PC-Videogames.com has it all. Interested in buying or upgrading your gaming PC? Not sure which video card or gaming monitor is best for you and your budget? Looking for up-to-date industry news, game reviews, and previews? PC-Videogames.com covers that and much, much more. Stop by and check out our blog, sound off in our forum, and stay informed on the latest PC gaming hardware and titles.

For today's PC games, it's no real secret that you need a fast processor, ample RAM, and a high-end video card, and sometimes, it pays to buy a new computer than implement a series of costly upgrades. Here are some tips I've collated to ensure that you choose the PC that's best for you, your PC gaming experience, and your wallet.

1) PROCESSOR: When shopping for a new gaming PC, the first thing you want to look at is the processor, which acts as the brains of the machine. Typically, the higher the number, the better. For instance, an Intel Pentium 4 chip running at 3.0 gigahertz (GHz) is a great start. You may see cheaper PCs with an Intel "Celeron" chip, but it doesn't process data fast enough to support high-end games. Conversely, more expensive Pentium processors include Intel's "Extreme Edition" with industry jargon such as "hyper-threading" technology. Translation: more $$$ out of your pocket.

AMD's Athlon 64 processor is also a good bet. AMD's 64-bit platform extends the current x86 instruction set architecture and is often preferred by gamers for its fast performance and reliability; the Athlon 64 processor, in particular, is designed for appli.....

Often the first things a gamer often replaces when they start upgrading their gaming gear is the keyboard. The plain keyboard you use to answer e-mail might not make for the most effective gaming weapon, so here are a few gaming keyboards on the market that might work well for your gaming needs:

1) Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard - For many, the Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard is a personal favorite. Its backlit keys allow the gamer to both play games and work in the dark, and still see the keys with no difficulty. TheLogitech G15 Gaming Keyboard allows you to bind macros to the exclusive "G" keys during game. Any player of games that uses multiple key strokes for spells or actions will love being able to bind them to a single key without leaving the game.

2) Zboard Gaming Keyboard - This bad boy uses one base and multiple different keysets, which allows you to have completely different key arrangements for gaming and standard computer use. The gaming keysets for the Zboard are superb and greatly increase your accuracy in game. The standard Zboard Gaming Keyboard includes both a standard keyset for typing and web surfing and a generic gaming keypad. Also .....

At first glance all mice seem to be the same, which is far from the truth. If you surf the web often, a mouse like the Logitech MX1000, with is built in web navigation features, can change the way you operate. PC gamers, however, have other concerns when it comes to a mouse, namely precision and tracking ability. The trick is picking the best mouse for your task and this list has some of the best mice around.

So which is best: optical, laser or ball mice? Most mice you find these days are optical or laser mice with a few ball mice hold outs. Optical and laser mice are much more precise and track better allowing you more accuracy in use. Optical and laser mice are measured in dpi and megapixels per second. The higher the resolution and megapixels, the more accurate the mouse will be. Ball mice - avoid them.

The most important thing to look for in a gaming mouse is how many megapixels per second it can process. The higher the number the more likely you are to get precise control in game. Games that move fast and require frequent mouse input can cause problems for some mice. If the mouse you choose is not up to gaming instead of tracking correctly whe.....

When it comes to monitors, we all pretty much want ours to fit comfortably on our desk space and to provide good image quality and a sizable viewing area. And then there's the technology: CRT vs. LCD monitors. Since, LCD technology is the fancy new kid on the block, this article will focus more heavily on LCD than CRT. Let's take a look:

CRT
Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors are currently the most popular choice when it comes to monitors. CRT technology fires beams of electrons at phosphor dots (chemicals that emit red, green or blue light when hit by electrons) on the inside of a glass tube. CRT monitors are capable of multiple resolutions, give the best look to full-motion video, and provide better control over colour calibration for graphic artists. As anyone with a CRT monitor can tell you, they tend to be bulky and heavy, but overall, CRTs remain a popular choice for their good performance and affordable price.

LCD
Liquid crystal displays (LCD) technology is commonly used in laptops and HDTVs and is and fast becoming popular as desktop monitors. LCD monitors are typically slim and of a light weight; in fact, LCD monitors weigh less t.....

Even though installing a graphics card is a relatively simple task, you're probably better off paying someone to do it if you don't feel comfortable doing it or if you don't have the right materials. However, if you don't have the proper gear or just don't feel comfortable, pay someone to do it. Incorrect graphics card installation can damage both your video card and your motherboard...and hit you hard in the wallet!To install your graphics card, you'll need a graphics card, the card's instructions and drivers disk, a non-magnetic screwdriver, an anti-static wrist wrap. The whole installation process should take around a half hour.1) Determine what type of graphics card you need for your system. Check with your computer manufacturer, vendor or motherboard manufacturer for compatible graphics cards.2) Gather your tools, as mentioned above.3) Turn off your computer and remove the left side panel, which will be on your left if you are in front of the computer. Don't touch anything inside the case that you don't have too.4) Lay your computer on its side and find the expansion slot you wish to use. Graphics and video cards are available for AGP slots, standard PCI slots, 1x PCI Express .....

Listed below are some of the best values for selecting a video card, ordered roughly from fastest to slowest, which is also from most to least expensive.

1) Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX - Currently the fastest cards you can buy, the 8800 GTX features 768 MB of GDDR3 and has a core clock speed of 575 MHz. A single 8800 GTX typically outperforms even systems with dual GeForce 7 GPUs, so it's the best gaming card money (yes, it'll cost you) can buy right now.

2) Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS - Compared to the 880 GTX, the 8800 GTS runs at slightly slower clock speeds, has a few less shader units, and normally comes with 640 MB of memory rather than 768 MB. Even still, it's a great video card, though relatively pricey.

3) ATI Radeon X1950 XT - The last of the X1900 series, the 256 MB X1950 XT sells for quite a bit less than the GeForce 8800.

4) Nvidia GeForce 7950 GT - Successors to the discontinued GeForce 7900 GT series, the 7950 GT is faster than its predecessor and can be found in both 512 MB and 256 MB models. The 7950 GT is a much better value than the 7900.

5) ATI Radeon X1950 Pro - A step down from the X1950 XT, the X1.....