NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Here's the problem if you've got an avid gamer on your holiday shopping list: They probably have all the hot holiday games already.

Hardcore gamers, you see, hate to wait for new releases. They're there the day games hit store shelves -- and most likely have pre-ordered the game well in advance. Granted, with the flood of big titles this year, there are likely some games they've missed – but why take the chance of buying something they already have?

If you want to really impress a hardcore gamer, the way to his or her heart is through hardware. Buy them something that will make the games they buy perform even better. Typically, it's easier to do this for PC gamer, but console gamers might have a few hardware items on their wish list this year.

A warning here: Hardware -- particularly top of the line PC hardware -- isn't always cheap. But there's no reason to throw away money on something your friend or loved one won't like. Each item on the following list should dramatically enhance the gaming experience -- and will bring a jumbo-sized grin to the recipient's face.

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS notebook -- Creative Labs' Audigy lineup are the best soundcards on the market -- and the Audigy 2 ZS is an amazing gift for anyone using a desktop machine. This year, though, the company has brought the crystal clarity of the line to laptops. Simply slide the card into a slot on your notebook PC, hook up some speakers and you've got 7.1 surround sound. Obviously, bringing a home-theater set-up on the road is impractical, but it's a nice touch when you're working from home. ($129.99)

Logitech Z-5500 Digital speakers -- There are a lot of good 5.1 speaker sets out there. For years, Klipsch has held the lead, but Logitech makes a serious run at the top this year with the Z-5500s. Offering a quality that's a step above most home theater systems, this redesign of an earlier model offers a bone-jarring 10 inch subwoofer and a large, easy to read control panel. They're pricey, but they'll have a longer life span than any other computer component. And as an added bonus, you can use them with your PC or console system. ($399.95)

nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra/ ATI Radeon X800 XT Platinum -- ATI and nVidia are in an endless battle for the bragging rights to the hardcore gamer, but there are no losers in this latest round. The latest premium offering from either company is as sophisticated as a graphics card can get. A big part of the decision will come down to your gamer's favorite or most-anticipated game. If they're "Doom 3" fans, nVidia's card has the edge. If "Half-Life 2" is their favorite, ATI's the way to go. If they like both equally, flip a coin. You won't go wrong. By the way, if the price tag makes you choke, the GeForce 6600 and Radeon X700 are both a good alternative at less than half the price. ($499)

Dell 2001FP monitor -- For years, gamers have had to watch from afar as office workers enjoyed slim, swanky LCD monitors. Gaming on an LCD was a frustrating affair, filled with blurred visuals and muddy colors. Dell's 20-inch LCD monitor has a fast response time (thus, no blurring) and an excellent contrast ratio (meaning sharper colors) and has earned near-universal praise amongst gamers. And a 20-inch screen is bound to make any PC owner happy. The full price is high, but with the frequent sales at Dell.com, you can easily knock $100 or more off the price. ($719)

Logitech Cordless Action Controllers -- While there have been several wireless controllers for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 introduced in the past few years, none of them have proved to be as reliable or effective as wired controllers. Logitech's latest effort gets it right. With a comfortable grip, built-in rumble effects and long battery life (as much as 50 hours), these are the way to go if you want to cut the cords stretching across the living room. ($39.99)

Plantronics Xbox Live Halo 2 Headset -- There's nothing wrong, per se, with the standard headset that comes with Xbox Live, but Plantronics' device offers a sleek, light and elegant alternative that doesn't become uncomfortable after long periods. It carries the "Halo 2" logo but will work with any Xbox Live game. ($49.99)

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Case of Bawls/Pizza Hut gift certificate -- Granted, it's not hardware, but if you're shopping for a hardcore gamer, you're shopping for someone who plays for long stints and likes his or her food fast and easy to eat. Bawls Guarana is an ultra-high caffeine beverage that has become the de facto drink choice for gamers. (One bottle has nearly twice the caffeine of a 12 oz. Pepsi.) As for the gift certificate, the pizza place you choose is all a matter of which brand your gamer enjoys the most. (Case of Bawls: $27.99, gift certificate: variable)