NEW YORK (CNN/Money) – If you've got a hardcore gamer on your shopping list, you've probably already figured out the problem. There's not a single game you can buy them that they don't already own.
Enthusiasts pre-order their games -- and are in stores the day big titles hit shelves, ready to rip open the package and start digging in.
If they're console gamers, you're pretty much sunk, since consoles are self-contained and the only way to significantly improve the gaming experience is with a new surround sound system or a big-screen TV.
If it's a PC gamer you're buying for, though, things are a little different. The good news: There's always a way to upgrade a computer. The bad news: It ain't gonna be cheap.
There's no reason to waste money on something expensive that your gamer won't like, though. Every item listed below will dramatically improve the gaming experience -- and is pretty much return-proof -- but none of them will come cheap.
We've kept the spending cap at $500.
Video card
ATI All in Wonder 9800 Pro or Radeon 9800 XT – The 9800 line is the fastest series of video cards on the market, which means it renders the most impressive images on screen.
ATI (ATYT: Research, Estimates) designed the chip and sells its own version in stores, though ones made by third-party publishers are just as good and sometimes better – and often priced slightly lower.
Which card to choose depends on the gamer you're buying for. The All in Wonder cards offer all of the graphical sparkle on games, but also let you record TV on demand on your PC's hard drive and edit and save digital video. They cost roughly $450.
The 9800 XT is a pure gaming card that offers slightly (and we mean slightly) better graphics. More important to the gamer on your list is included with the card is a voucher guaranteeing a free copy of "Half Life 2" – one of the industry's most anticipated games - when it is released next year. These run about $499.
nVidia GeForce FX 5600 – This isn't nVidia's (NVDA: Research, Estimates) top of the line card (that's the 5900), but it's the best deal on the market for enthusiastic, but not obsessive, gamers.
It's also a better choice for someone whose PC isn't the most advanced on the market. The 5600 (or the recently introduced 5700) delivers high quality graphics on most games and boasts a price that's pretty easy to swallow – somewhere between $180 and $200.
Like the ATI cards, you'll find the FX 5600 put out by several hardware manufacturers.
Sound card
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS – Sound is becoming increasingly important in games and may soon become as important as graphics are today.
Sound Blaster cards have always been good, but the Audigy 2 ZS is the top of the line. Offering 7.1 surround sound, this card will let you hook up to seven separate speakers (plus a subwoofer) to your PC, totally immersing the player.
Games sound better. DVDs watched on the PC replicate the theater experience. Even music sounds noticeably better.
There are three choices in the line, ranging from $100-$250. (Tip for parents: the $200 and $250 versions come with remote controls, which will let you maintain your sanity when it gets too loud.)
Speakers
Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 – For years, Klipsch speakers have been the gold standard on the PC and the company's newest line has only enhanced its reputation. There is no better choice for a five-channel speaker set.
The ProMedia Ultra line offers crisp sounds and a bone-jarring, revamped subwoofer. Klipsch also reworked the volume controls to eliminate the minor quibbles that came up with earlier versions.
The sound quality is incredible and likely several steps above your home theater system. At $400, these aren't cheap, but quality speakers will have a longer shelf life than any other hardware mentioned on this page.
Creative GigaWorks S750 speakers 7.1 – When traditional surround sound isn't enough, Creative Labs (CREAF: Research, Estimates) is standing by with two additional rear speakers.
Made to go hand in hand with the Audigy 2 ZS sound card, these seven speakers (and booming subwoofer) will be particularly handy as the next generation of PC games -- such as "Doom 3" and "Half Life 2" -- hit the market and sound becomes more critical.
Close your eyes and you won't be able to tell the difference between real-world sounds real life and those coming out of a PC. Creative's the only company that currently makes 7.1 speakers -- and at $500 they're not cheap -- but if your gamer wants to be on the bleeding edge, this is a surefire choice.
Headphones
Zalman Real Surround Sound Headphones – Thin walls? Small house or apartment? You'll want to get your gamer some good headphones. Zalman's entry is unique and fills a void that, until its release, no one seemed to realize existed.
With its unique placement of internal speakers, this headphone set doesn't simulate surround sound, it offers the real thing. Our only beef is the headphones don't offer any sort of independent volume control. But for $50, they're a good – and cheap - alternative to an elaborate speaker set-up.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro – If your gamer spends a lot of time at LAN parties, these headphones, actually made for DJs, will come in handy. Once you these slip on, outside sounds disappear.
They offer a crystal sound clarity and have the added benefit of being light and comfortable. They're not cheap at $99, but if that price is too high for you, Sennheiser has several other gaming-centric options that have received rave reviews.
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