My computer, for the last three months, has been giving me blue screen errors that I managed to fix with better management. But recently, the computer has also started entering sleep mode during boots and shuts down automatically while running games. I am pretty frustrated with the computer now and I am thinking of upgrading the computer. I want a computer that can run all games on which I can code and program as well, keeping these requirements in mind what specifications do you suggest? I’m thinking of upgrading to an Intel i3 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. Do you think this configuration would be enough to meet my requirements?

—RK Raj

Dear RK,

Since you’re experiencing a lot of problems with your computer, I think upgrading would be the best option at this point. The specifications you mentioned would work well for your programming needs since programming does not require a lot of compute performance since all you’re doing is working with letters while programming. Gaming, on the other hand, is a completely different ballgame. Gaming will demand immense compute performance from your hardware and by today’s standards, an Intel i3 is one of the lowest performing processor. Even the 4GB of RAM is basic today. With the specifications that you’ve mentioned, you might be able to play older games but recent games like GTA V and The Witcher 3 would outright not work on this system. If you pair a powerful graphics card with your specifications, newer games might work but that too is not a guarantee. If you’re thinking of upgrading to a decent gaming machine: consider an i5 processor at the least. Pair this mid-ranged processor with at least 8GB of RAM and invest in a decent graphics card, because newer games will definitely not work on the integrated graphics processors of your motherboard. The older GTX 500 series would work okay for modern games but if you really want to invest in a graphics card that will stay relevant in the near future, you might want to invest in at least the GTX 600 series from Nvidia. Also invest in a couple of case fans to keep the temperature inside your computer case cool, because most of the problems that you’ve mentioned in your question could be because of bad air regulation inside the case. Just make sure that all of your new components are supported by your motherboard if not, your upgrade costs might increase if you need a newer motherboard to support your components. 

I have two gaming problems annoying me at the moment. The first is that the copy of Fifa 15 Ultimate Team that I downloaded from the Windows store on my laptop crashes every time I try to run it. And the second problem is that the copy of Fifa 16 that I have installed asks me for a serial key. But when I try to hunt down the serial key on the internet, the website prompts me with a message that says, “No offers are available in your region at this time.” What would be the solution to this?

—Shrish Regmi

Dear Shrish,

Regarding your first problem, the game is probably not working because it’s a Windows Store copy. No matter what Microsoft says, their modern apps are still buggy and rudimentary. For games from Windows Store to work without any hiccups, further developments on the platform is required. So, if you want to play Fifa 15 on your computer, I would suggest installing a traditional x32 or x64 format game, that could actually fix your first problem. For your second problem, you might want to download a key generator from torrent sites. Most of these sites that provide serial keys are click baits that help their owners make money off of their websites. This is why the website is asking you to complete some deals from their advertisers. And since Nepal is a country that is supported by these deals, the website tells you that their deals are not available in your region. The best way to get past this would be download serial keys or key generators from torrent sites but keep in mind that many of these crack and keygen software come riddled with viruses and you might accidentally infect your entire computer with malicious software. So make sure to skim through the comments sections of the sites that provide links to these files for user feedback. Also, if you don’t want to go through all of this hassle, just take a trip to Mahaboudha and find a copy of Fifa 16 that actually works. These DVDs usually have keygens and cracks pre-installed which should ensure that games work right out of the box, and if it doesn’t, you can always go back for a refund.

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