Nowadays, playing video games has become so much easier with the computer and the Internet. Gone are the days when you have to go to a video or electronics store to buy a game. Now you can just go online, search for your game, and download it, usually even for free.

 

Of course, there are things to consider, such as the safety of the files. You must make sure that they don't come with viruses or any other digital contaminant. But aside from safety, you'd also like to make sure that the game you're downloading will actually work on your Windows PC. How do find that out? 

 

Minimum Specs and Recommended Specs

 

First off, you have to understand the idea behind the word, "specifications" or simply "specs." Specs are things that describe the technical makeup of your hardware and software. Both are always evolving and that is why some games will not play on older or cheaper computers. All games, however, will come with a label that includes their Minimum Specifications, which are the specs needed for you to be able to play the game, and Recommended Specifications, or the specs that will give you the best technical gaming experience.

 

If your computer is new, there's a great chance you can play all older generation games. There may be a few exceptions perhaps, like top-tier titles that are very heavy on graphics. If you've been playing many on your PC, chances are, it will work with any game from the same generation.

 

Your Video Card

 

Another thing that affects whether or not you will be able to play a game on your Windows PC is your video card. It's easy to check your video card's diagnostics just by clicking Start and then Run. Type in "dxdiag" and that will give you a diagnostic report on your video card's capacity. Now check if it's consistent with the video card specs required to play the game. You can also check the game's website for a list of video cards that are supported by the game. For more facts and information about PC games, you can go to http://www.ehow.com/how_6925383_play-pc-games-logitech-controller.html.

 

Sometimes, "dxdiag" won't work, but there's another way to do it. Go to Control Panel, click Displays, then Change Display Settings (on the leftmost corner of your screen). Click "Advanced Settings" and go to the "Adapter" tab. That's where you can see the name of your video card. To know your DirectX level, you may have to click Advanced Settings.

 

Processor and RAM

 

Also check your processor and how much RAM you've got. Both dictate  the speed of your computer. Right-click on Computer or My Computer, then click Properties. Find System and there you will find information about your processor and available RAM. See if your processor is compatible with the game you plan to download.

 

Hard Drive

 

Finally, see if you have adequate hard drive space. Just right-click on your C-Drive, go to Properties and check how much available space you've got. You can actually use any hard drive for downloading games, or you can also attach an external drive. However, you'll need to plug it in each time you play and the game may not run up to speed.