August Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 5

Video Card: Leadtek Winfast A250 Ultra TD, GF4-4600/128MB

Cost: $295
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

We are anticipating the release of the ATI Radeon 9700 video card, but at the present time it is still unavailable. So basically, the fastest gaming cards currently all have one thing in common: the NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4600. The GeForce4 Ti 4600 core is clocked at 300 MHz, and the 128MB of DDR memory is set at 650 MHz (10.6GB/sec bandwidth). There are many GeForce4 Ti 4600 cards out there, but here at SE we are very pleased with the Leadtek Winfast A250 Ultra TD.

Leadtek has outfitted their top of the line video card with an innovative cooling scheme: a large interlocking piece of aluminum covering the front and back side of the video card, topped off with two fans on the front. The Leadtek Winfast A250 TD Ultra also has full complement of VIVO (video input/output) options. If you're anxious to test out the new gaming prowess of your Extreme Gaming PC, Leadtek also includes full versions of games such as Aquanox.

Monitor: Sony CPD-G520P

Cost: $690
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

Sony is a longtime favorite monitor vendor here at SE and we've always been impressed with the clarity of images, sharpness of text, build quality, and flatness of the display surface that seem universal to Sony's offerings. The Sony G520P hasn't changed much in price in the last half year or so, but only because Sony hasn't released an improved version of this high-end model. The G520P is a 21-inch monitor with a viewable screen area of 19.8 inches. It features Sony's renowned FD Trinitron Aperture Grille Display, with a fine .24 AG pitch and and dual HD-15 VGA inputs. This results in a recommended resolution of 1880x1440@85Hz. Some people balk at the proposition of spending such a large amount of money on a single component, but this is probably the one piece that may live on to power your future systems.

Sound Card: SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum

Cost: $151
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$7

The SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum is the obvious choice for our guide, as it has all of the 3D game support, connections, and features that any gamer could ask for. In addition to the seamless EAX, EAX2 and EAX HD support, the Audigy Platinum includes a pile of extras. The Audigy Drive unit has convenient front access for a stereo RCA input, midi in and out, headphone and microphone jacks, RCA SPDIF in and out, and TOSLink (optical) in and out. The card itself has an 1/8 inch jack for digital out (for select models from Creative's speaker family), or the Center/Subwoofer jack can be used for analog 5.1 Speaker sets. The other 4 connectors, are Mic-In, Line-In, and front channel output/rear channel output (for standard speaker configurations). The unit also features two IEEE1394 Firewire ports (one on the Audigy Drive in the 5-inch drive bay, and one on the soundcard itself.), and includes a remote control that can easily access the functions of the soundcard and Creative software. The package is also bundled with a plethora of audiophile software, as well as a full version of Deus Ex.

Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 THX

Cost: $365
Months on list: 3
Price Change: -$34

Speakers were once the neglected component of a computer system, but those days are long gone, and clarity, power, and impact are crucial elements in the sound reproduction of today's games, music, and movies. The Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 is a six-piece speaker set that includes five satellite speakers for the front, rear, and center channels, along with a hefty subwoofer unit to add maximum punch for low bass tones. The central control unit allows the user to adjust output levels for the front, rear, center, subwoofer, and main volumes and naturally features an on/off switch in case the neighbors start complaining. There are very few speakers built for the PC that can match the impact and level of quality that the Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 THX can provide. This incredible set of speakers pumps out 500W RMS of THX certified power that can rattle your windows, wake the dog and basically let everyone in the neighborhood keep track of your PC gaming habits. The Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 THX is an analogue 5.1 set, so connectivity to the Audigy platinum is quite easy to achieve.