Dream Machine -- Here's An Opinionated Guide To Building Your Best Computer Game System

Hard as it is to believe, some people play computer games almost every night. A stock computer is good enough for them.

But for true computer-game junkies, gaming isn't just a diversion, but a way of life. And for them the power and features of their computer system can spell the difference between winning and being whisked away into the dustbin.

In other words, for the hard-core game player, creating a dream gaming machine really means creating a dream PC.

The only way to improve video game consoles such as Nintendo and Sega is to run them through a stereo and hook them to a big-screen television. And, compared with a PC, the Macintosh offers only limited upgrade opportunities - adding more memory, buying fancy joysticks and speakers, adding a CD-ROM drive, and using a larger monitor. Dull, dull, dull.

Sure, PCs crash more than other systems, but they have so much more game software. By comparison, PCs can be upgraded in a myriad of fashions. You can add fancy graphics cards, high-end stereo cards, and virtual reality displays. With some PCs, you can even add color panels to enhance the decor of your room.

What follows is a thoroughly opinionated guide to the components I would use for my dream game system, given an extravagant, but not exorbitant, budget. If you included everything listed here, it would set you back $6,000 to $8,000. But who says you can't dream?

The box: Don't bother buying a brand-name system such as a Compaq or a Packard Bell. You either make this rig yourself, or have a reputable store put it together for you. I don't have anything against Compaq or Packard Bell, but their ready-made computers were dreamed up by engineers, not game players.

When you buy a brand-name computer, it comes with a graphics board and a sound card pre-installed. These components will be the first thing to go on our dream machine. (We're going to begin this system by stripping it down to its motherboard and random access memory).

While most new games run better on a computer that runs on a Pentium processor, very few games require one, and most that do are disappointing.

Zephyr, from New World Computing, is an excellent example of the mediocre games that require Pentium processors. Programmed properly, this game should run beautifully on a computer with a 486DX processor at 50 megahertz.

On the other hand, the writing is already on the wall for the 486 computer. It may hang around for a while, but the introduction of the Pentium 6 chip, and the release of new Pentium-only games, mean that game publishers are preparing to move to the next evolution. In three or four years, your friends will look at you with pity when you mention your 486 computer.

While more powerful processors are available, I recommend building your dream system around the Pentium 90 processing chip. If your computer is too fast, it will choke on some of the software. The Pentium 90 is at the high-end of the known processing universe. Going with anything faster is asking for trouble in the way of software that won't run properly on these computers.

Memory: Once you select your processor, the next step is adding memory. The hard-core gaming crowd may argue that you need at least 32 megabytes of RAM to survive, but 16 is more than enough for most games (figure on about $50 per megabyte of RAM). Just remember: friends don't let friends buy computers with less than 8MB of RAM.

You're also going to need to select storage devices. With hard drive prices at an all-time low, there's no reason to get anything less than a full gigabyte, which goes for about $400 on up. As games get bigger, storage space doesn't seem to go as far as it used to. Brand seldom matters when selecting a hard drive. Just make sure that your hard drive has a fast access time - about 10 milliseconds.

While you're at it, make sure to include a modem running at 28,800 bits per second. Thanks to the creators of Doom, modem and network games have finally caught on. Figure on spending more than $150.

GRAPHICS CARD:

Besides raw processing speed and the amount of RAM, there is a third potential bottleneck in your system: graphics rendering speed.

If you want your PC to play games like a dedicated system, you'll need a good graphics card.

The best is the Number 9 Image128 from Number Nine Visual Technology. You've heard about 32-bit and 64-bit graphics cards; the 128-bit #9 Image128 outperforms them all. It also costs $999, or just a little less than some multimedia computers.

For those who want graphic performance but don't want to take out a second mortgage, Number Nine Visual Technology has a less expensive model - the Number Nine FX-771. Priced at $329, this card packs 2MB of memory and offers up to 16 million colors and several levels of graphic resolution.

SOUND CARD:

Now that you have your graphics settled, it's time to set up your audio card. If you're wondering whether sound really affects your enjoyment, try playing Myst without sound.

Strange as it sounds, audio quality is not the only consideration in selecting a sound card. For my money, the Sound Blaster from Creative Labs is the best bet. It offers great sound, a fully integrated wave table, and Sound Blaster's nearly universal compatibility with software. The AWE 32 model retails for $309.

CD-ROM DRIVE:

In this day of multimedia, you'll need a fast CD-ROM drive, preferably a quad-speed. While many tech fiends will disagree with me, I think most quad-speed drives are pretty much equal.

Sound Blaster sound cards can control your CD-ROM drive through your sound card rather than having to install a special board. Reveal, Sound Blaster, Matsushita and Creative Labs CD drives are usually compatible with Sound Blaster cards, but you should ask your retailer before buying. Quad-speed CD-ROM drives start at about $250.

MONITOR:

Whether you're flying a fighter or exploring a haunted house, having the right monitor can save your digital life. Most PC monitors have 0.28 millimeter dot pitch (a measure of quality of the monitor's picture; smaller numbers mean clearer pictures). Mitsubishi makes the 17-inch 6705 SCTK Diamond Pro monitor with 0.25 dot pitch. It sells for about $1,200.

VIRTUAL-REALITY DEVICES:

There are very few virtual reality games on the home market. Only Magic Carpet by Bullfrog comes to mind, but that will change next year. Several companies are developing virtual reality compatible games. With more games entering the market, expect to see devices to make them usable.

Mark Long, vice president of Seattle-based Zombie Inc., said virtual reality headsets will one day be as common as a good joystick. Maybe, but not if VR companies, as they are known in the business, keep manufacturing the silly-looking and over-priced headsets that dominate the market today. In my mind, only one VR product is even worth considering: Virtual I/O's i-glasses.

Most VR headsets have goggles that are roughly the size of a small movie theater. I-glasses, which should hit the market later this year, look like a jeweler's eye-piece and weigh only a fraction of most headsets. I-glasses have good resolution and quick tracking, and they do everything you'd expect of a VR headset. Virtual I-O i-glasses have a projected retail price of $799.

JOYSTICKS AND OTHER PERIPHERALS:

When virtual games take hold of the market, the AeroDuet, from Creative Labs, will occupy an indispensable place beside your computer. The AeroDuet has a wireless mouse with three-dimensional tracking, making it excellent for use with virtual reality. Retailing for $149, this product is magnificent but a bit too far ahead of its time.

While waiting for more VR games, I'll console myself with some fine joy equipment. My favorite joystick, the leverlike device that controls the pointer on the computer screen, is the Flightstick Pro by CH Products. Retailing at $69, this five-button Flightstick Pro may not look as realistic as other joysticks, but it feels better in your hands.

For realistic flight simulations, you need more than a good joystick. The Thrustmaster Mark II Weapons Control System is the single best innovation in game peripherals since the joystick. It's a joy-throttle, complete with programmable buttons for controlling most flight and weapons functions. You can also program the Mark II to handle most keyboard commands. The Thrustmaster Mark II retails for $120.

Believe it or not, now your feet can get in on the action too. The CH Products Pro Pedals are joy pedals that can work as accelerator and brake pedals, rudder pedals, or even a steering device. Retailing at $139, this product is decidedly optional, but it adds to the gaming experience.

SPEAKERS:

At the very least, your computer system deserves speakers with a separate woofer for 3-D sound. A surround-sound system, which uses a separate woofer, makes Doom more exciting as sounds seem to emanate from different locations. A good sound system also makes flight simulations more realistic.

On my computer, I use the Sony SRS-D2PC speaker system, which has a large super woofer and two small speakers. It retails for under $170, and I'm very satisfied.

True audio fanatics will be more satisfied running their sound through an Onkyo Surround Sound system with a minimum of four small speakers. The Onkyo 414 receiver with five Celestion speakers retails for just under $1,000.

-------------------------- TOP-SELLING COMPUTER GAMES --------------------------

DOS/WINDOWS 1. Dark Forces (CD-ROM, LucasArts). 2. Myst (CD-ROM, Broderbund). 3. D!Zone Collector's Edition (CD-ROM, WIZARD WORKS). 4. Sim City 2000 (DOS, Windows; Maxis). 5. Descent (CD-ROM, Interplay). 6. Microsoft Flight Simulator (Microsoft). 7. Doom II (CD-ROM, GT Interactive). 8. Ultimate Game Collection (CD-ROM, Encore). 9. 7th Guest (CD-ROM, Virgin). 10. NASCAR Racing (CD-ROM, Virgin).

MACINTOSH 1. Myst (CD-ROM, Broderbund). 2. Wolfenstein 3D (Interplay). 3. Marathon (Bungee). 4. Sim City 2000 (Maxis). 5. Chessmaster 3000 (Mindscape). 6. Star Wars Rebel Assault (CD-ROM, LucasArts). 7. Links Pro (Access). 8. FA-18 Hornet (Graphic Simulations). 9. Star Trek Training Manual (CD-ROM, Simon & Schuster). 10. Castles: Siege & Conquest (Interplay). Source: PC Data

----------------------- TOP-SELLING VIDEO GAMES ----------------------- 1. World Series Baseball '95 (Genesis). 2. NBA Jam: T.E. (Genesis, Super NES, Game Gear). 3. Coach K. College Basketball (Genesis). 4. Ogre Battle (Super NES). 5. The Lion King (Genesis, Super NES, Game Gear). 6. NBA Live '95 (Genesis, Super NES). 7. GEX (3DO). 8. Earthworm Jim (Super NES, Sega CD). 9. Donkey Kong Country (Super NES). 10. Shining Force (Sega CD). Source: Babbage's