Memory is another important part of the computer. Also called RAM (Random Access Memory), it is where programs put information when you run them. Most computer these days come with 16 megs of RAM, which should be considered a _minimum_ these days. I recently upgraded my computer to 32 megs of RAM, and it made a major difference in terms of speed (Windows 95 loads twice as fast, as an example).
My recommendation: 32 megs. RAM is really cheap at the moment, but going up. You can get a 4 megs for about 30-40 bucks.
Most computers these days come with CD-ROM drives as standard components--you shouldn't have to pay any extra. If a dealer wants to charge you extra for the CD-ROM drive, go somewhere else. CD-ROM drives allow publishers to put a massive amount of information (around 600 megs) on an ordinary compact disk. Along with data, game publishers can put soundtracks in CD Audio format, allowing gamers with lower-quality sound cards to experience high-quality music.
A lot of mis-information is going around that faster CD-ROM drives are much better, and that you should try to get the fastest drive possible. The truth is, some companies are putting faster motors and spinning the discs faster and then saying "15X CD-ROM DRIVE! FASTEST YET!". But these faster drives aren't necessary better. Most programs aren't made to support these high-speed drives, and most people won't notice that great of an increase over say, a 4X CD drive.
My recommendation: Most computers ship with a 4X drive, which is fine. If you have some extra cash, you might spring for the 6X.
Having a good sound card and speakers is, in my opinion, one of the most important aspects of having an excellent game-playing computer. While I'll talk more about Sound Cards in a later article, I will mention that most computers ship with a low quality no-name sound card, which might be barely compatible with most computer games. If you want high-quality audio, you need to buy a "Wavetable" sound card with "16 bit audio". There are several all-in-one sound card's out there, like the new Sound Blaster AWE 64. For the true audio-phile, I recommend two sound cards--one for audio (I have an Ensoniq Soundscape), and another for MIDI music (You can't go wrong with the Roland SCC-1 Sound Canvas). There are new sound cards coming out all the time..basically, you can bet that any "Sound Blaster", "Yamaha", or "Roland" cards will produce good sound.
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