Sure, gamers sometimes put decals on the sides of their gaming machines but only a fool would believe that a few stickers will make a computer great. In reality, a gamer's computer doesn't necessarily have to be that much better than an average computer.

Screen size

Any gamer will tell you that a large screen is simply better. In the past this was simply "my screen is bigger than yours" mentality; it made little to no difference in the games.

These days many video cards are HD (high-definition) capable. In order to get the full benefit of the card you will have to have the appropriate HD cables and a monitor (or TV) that supports high-definition. Since just about every HD screen is a flat screen you'll probably save space and increase your screen size, but you'll have to fork out the dough to do it.

Memory

Simply put, memory is a computer's ability to handle multiple tasks at once and keep track of the ongoing work that the processor is doing. In a sense it is the processor's workspace. Since graphics-intensive video games can tax a system's memory like no other application can, it is always a good idea to have a fair amount of memory. A standard gaming computer aims for roughly two gigs of memory. Some gamers prefer more and some get by with less. With the current games on the market, you are probably safe with just two, but it won't hurt anything to upgrade to four or more gigs.

Processor

The brains of the computer. There is a lot of talk about dual-core and quad-core processors that are on the market right now. I personally stuck with a single-core but still powerful processor. Many people swear by the dual- and quad-core processors while others haven't seen all that much of a difference once they upgraded. Whatever your choice, one thing is for sure: a powerful processor is next to useless without lots of memory. Do not spend the money to upgrade your processor if you aren't finally willing to upgrade your 512mb of RAM as well.

Sound

This one depends on your gaming area. Some gamers use headphones almost exclusively, so a lot of special features on a high-end sound card will be wasted on them. Others have 5.1, 6.1, or even 7.1 speaker set-ups that would make George Lucas cry. Depending on the types of games that you play, sound can be extremely important. I would always recommend a surround sound speaker set-up over headphones. SoundBlaster's X-FI XtremeGamer is what I'm using right now.

Keyboard and mouse

There are simply too many good choices to list here, but I'll share a few shining stars of this category. Z-Board makes the best gaming keyboards hands-down. If you are a serious gamer, check out www.zboard.com and browse their selection (I use a Merc keyboard and a Fang gaming pad, both are excellent purchases). I picked up a Microsoft Sidewinder gaming mouse recently and I'm very happy with my purchase. Try them out, you won't regret it.