Absolute Beginners Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC

Application #2: Network Gaming

Most PC games sold at retail today include a multiplayer option, which lets you play the game against a human opponent. You can play another player on the Internet (discussed next), or on your own local area network.

To play games over your home or small-office LAN, you still need to beef up your system as you would for playing single-player PC games. The difference is the network connection.

The big consideration when setting up a small LAN is whether to go wired or wireless. As convenient as a wireless network might be, the wired variety is preferred by serious gamers. There's a simple reason for this speed. WiFi wireless networks transfer data at 11Mbps, where wired Fast Ethernet networks hit 100Mbps speeds. When you're pumping that joystick in the heat of battle, a slow network connection can mean the difference between (virtual) life and death.

Upgrade Checklist for Network Gaming

100Mbps Fast Ethernet LAN (see Chapter 16, "The Faster the Better: Upgrading Your Internet Connection")

80GB or larger hard disk (see Chapter 4)

CD/DVD drive (see Chapter 5)

512MB or more RAM (see Chapter 6)

256MB video card with 3D graphics accelerator and DirectX 9 compatibility (see Chapter 9)

19-inch CRT or 17-inch LCD monitor (see Chapter 9)

3D sound card (see Chapter 10)

4.1 surround sound speaker system with subwoofer (see Chapter 10)

Joystick or other game controller (see Chapter 7)