PC FAQ

You already need a PC for word processing, email, IM, and Web surfing, right? Upgrading that machine with a decent processor and good video card will cost as much as buying a console.

You can't really say that one is more important than the other because you need quality parts in both areas to get acceptable game performance. Pairing a great CPU with a lousy video card will result in terrible frame rates, as will pairing a lousy CPU with a great video card. Many Web sites, including GameSpot, publish video card and CPU game-performance benchmarks. Use the benchmark results to determine which components help game performance the most.

DirectX 9 is built into Windows XP, and DirectX 10 comes with Windows Vista. DirectX 10 is backward compatible with all earlier versions of DirectX. You might need to update your DirectX files from time to time, but downloads are free from Microsoft.com and are often included with new game installations.

Having a Windows OS with the appropriate DirectX level isn't enough--you will also need a DirectX 9- or DirectX 10-compatible video card. GeForce 6 series, ATI Radeon X1K series, and later cards all support the latest version of DirectX 9 (9.0c). GeForce 8 series, ATI Radeon HD 2000 series, and later cards support DirectX 10.

Yes, your DirectX 10 card is compatible with all the previous versions of DirectX. Your DirectX 10 card will work in Windows XP with all of your DX9 and older games.

No, not yet. The PC game developers understand that most people are still running Windows XP with DirectX 9 video cards. We'd guess that Windows Vista won't become a mandatory upgrade for at least two or three more years.

PC gaming generally refers to gaming on the Windows platform. Yes, Mac games exist, but there aren't many of them. The majority of PC games are compatible only with the latest Windows operating systems. The good news is that you can install Windows on newer Intel-powered Macs if you have boot camp installed. Keep in mind that your Mac will also need a decent video card (Intel integrated graphics don't count).

Games for Windows is a program developed by Microsoft to help make PC gaming easier for consumers. Its goal is to make games more recognizable in retail stores and to ensure that games meet certain standards, such as widescreen resolution and gamepad support. Many popular PC games participate in the Games for Windows program, but there are also many PC games, such as The Orange Box and World of Warcraft, that aren't part of the program.

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