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Recently, an acquaintance of mine remarked on the irony of running low-end graphics nostalgia games -- like Asteroids and Centipede -- on my rather high-priced (and presumably high-tech) personal computer. The point was well-taken. Users should be able to exploit existing technology to the fullest but may not know how to get their computers up to par.

Whether you're shopping around for your next multimedia PC or pumping up your existing computer, here are some places to get you started down the road to video gaming perfection.

Graphics Cards

Video

cards, or accelerators, are the middlemen between digital sources and the video monitor; they use their own chipsets to render 2D and, more recently, 3D images. Because they are the driving force behind high-end home computer graphics, devout gamers take their chipsets seriously. For a general overview and news about video cards, The Graphic Accelerator Guide and 3D Graphic Accelerator Review at Tom's Hardware Page are great places to begin. These pages provide links to reviews on graphics cards, as well as important information on what a gamer should take into consideration when shopping around. The reviews are in-depth and include picture comparisons as well as benchmark data. GameSpot, the Web incarnation of Computer Gaming World, has published Coming of Age, a comparative review of several cutting-edge graphics accelerators. It features links to news on upcoming and close-to-release cards that give you an idea of what to expect in the near future. Though not necessarily for the beginner, MaximumHardware lists benchmark scores and news on current graphics card products.

Game Controllers

I'm content sending Lara Croft to her tomb with my keyboard. But some video games require a bit more than the up and down arrows to get around. Game controllers range from simple joysticks to steering wheels to anything you can get your hands on.

Aside from their practical application, game controllers look cool. GamePower's Ultimate Gadgets for Gamers covers the gamut of input devices for your computer. This colorful site contains reviews of gamepads, throttles and yokes, as well as the traditional joystick and steering wheel approach. CNET's GameCenter is packed with all kinds of information for the hardcore gamer. GameCenter's Controllers Page offers an extensive list of links to reviews of input devices--such as wireless joysticks -- and is also useful as a buying guide. The Computer Games Online Hardware Zone also provides links to recent up-to-date reviews and articles about input devices (you might want to check out this site for graphics card information as well). And GameProWorld's PC Hardware section provides links to well-written reviews.

Sound Devices

Sound cards also are taken very seriously by the gaming enthusiast. And while devices for the computer are not yet in direct competition with your stereo system, they do give added depth to your computer games. In fact, most good computer games exploit digital sound devices to create a virtual 3D sound experience. Sound is no longer purely a matter of aesthetics, but plays an essential part in the strategy of a video game.

If you want a quick reference to some of the more popular sound cards, take a look at the Source Magazine article on Sound Cards. The site offers information on resolution and bus connector types, among other items, and provides links to manufacturers' websites. It'll also bring you up to speed on basic sound card technology. If sound technology still baffles you, GameCenter comes through with Mr. Propeller Head. This site is aimed at picking through the technical talk surrounding audio and sound devices to make it easier for gamers to sift through reviews and find the right product for them. Mr. Propeller Head is part of Sound Off! A Gamer's Guide to Sound Cards, which offers comparative reviews and benchmark results for several leading products.

Extras

Of course, there are other things to consider when getting into gear for computer gaming. You may decide that you want that special kind of keyboard or monitor and you need a place to help you get through the muck and down to the nitty-gritty. Then you should make frequent trips to online gaming magazines as mentioned earlier.

GameCenter's Hardware Components page is another good place to check from time to time, but it's not very organized; kind of like the junk drawer in everyone's kitchen. Still, the articles are helpful. For a cleaner approach to the miscellaneous, try PC Labs Reviews Peripherals Page at PC Magazine Online. While not specifically written with the gamer in mind, you may find useful reviews of input devices, monitors, keyboards and memory adapters. From there, you can link to The Top 100 Hardware Accessories, but again, it isn't written specifically for the computer gamer.