March Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2

Intel CPU: Pentium 4-3.06 GHz with Hyper Threading Retail

Current Cost: $560
Months on List: 3
Price Change: -$85

With no new Intel processors released this month, it is only natural to include the Intel Pentium 4-3.06GHz with Hyper Threading once again. The raw processing power from this 3.06 GHz beast would be good enough for any Extreme Guide, but the Hyper Threading capability adds an extra bit of punch that'll improve your daily computing needs as well. In a nutshell, the Hyper Threading feature combined with a supported operating system environment, essentially allows for multi-processor functionality with a single CPU. The biggest advantage of HT is the ability to multi task much more smoothly than previous CPUs that lack this feature. Unfortunately only Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Linux (and apparently some versions of Win 2000 Server) currently support Hyper Threading, so pick your operating system carefully.

As with Intel's previous flagship Pentium 4, the Pentium 4-3.06 GHz is operating on the 533 MHz front side bus, providing the fastest possible performance on the Pentium 4 platform. We're recommending the retail version of the CPU because the Northwood core runs quite cool, and the retail coolers shipped with Intel Pentium 4's are nothing to be ashamed off. They're quite large, yet are coupled with a lower-noise fan, allowing for quiet, yet cool operation of the CPU. Intel retail CPUs also come with a 3-year warranty, which is always a plus.

AMD CPU: Athlon XP (Barton) 3000+ (2.16 GHz) Retail

Current Cost: $565
Months on List: New
Price Change: N/A

With the hefty price attached to Intel's top-of-the-line offering, our AMD CPU of choice (3000+, /w 512K L2 Cache) has once again taken its spot as our high performance AMD alternative, and is surprisingly about the same price at the Intel Pentium 4-3.06 GHz. The Athlon XP 3000+ is clocked at 2.16 GHz, with a FSB speed of 333 MHz, and this new AMD processor is definitely not a slouch in the performance arena. The AMD Athlon XP with the updated Barton core is quite attractive due to the presence of 512K L2 Cache, SSE support and Data Prefetch, which helps the XP line to compete against Intel's offerings.

This high-end Athlon XP 3000+ model from AMD is produced on the newer Barton core, which is essentially the Thoroughbred core (.13 micron) with an upgraded 512K L2 cache, compared to the standard 256K. With the increased on-die L2 cache, the amount of transistors have increased, and subsequently so has the physical size of the cores. The previous Thoroughbred cores were 84 mm2 with 37.6 million transistors, the Barton core is measures in at 110 mm2, with a hefty 54.3 million transistors. Despite the .13 micron process, and AMD's generosity with a freebie heatsink and fan combo from the retail box, AMD Athlon XP's are best served with a higher-end cooler, and if you plan on overclocking, it's best to get a hefty third party heatsink-fan.

As a final note on the AMD Athlon 3000+ Barton retail, the retail packaging includes one more important feature, a 3 year warranty, which is much nicer than the 30 day to 1 year warranty on OEM variants.

Intel Cooling: included Retail HSF

Current Cost: N/A

Considering how expensive the Pentium 4-3.06 GHz is, and how the upgraded stock HSF can more than handle the heat, there really is no need to shell out more money for a better cooler. There are some excellent third party socket 478 coolers on the market now, but the included Intel retail HSF unit does the job, and although some of the newer Pentium 4 processors ship with a heftier HSF, these still quiet compared to other similar models. The Intel HSF is also quite easy to use, and if you have problems with installing it, then use a little bit more patience; attaching an Intel retail cooler is an exercise in simplicity.

If you insist on having a third party cooler, or are unable to purchase a retail version of the Pentium 4-3.06 GHz, then a Thermalright AX-478 + a Quiet 80mm (3000 RPM or less) fan for about $40 will suffice.

AMD Cooling: Thermalright SLK-800 Copper heatsink, Thermaltake 80mm Smartfan

Current Cost of Thermalright SLK-800 Copper heatsink: $37
Current Cost of Thermaltake 80mm Smartfan: $13
Months on List: New
Price Change: N/A

Cooling for the Athlon XP 3000+ Barton is quite a different story from the Intel Pentium 4-3.06 GHz. Then again, you do have to balance good cooling, without harming your ears from those ridiculously loud fans that so many AMD users utilize. The Swiftech MCX-462 has been dethroned, sort of, by the Thermalright SLK-800. This is a big all copper cooler that doesn't hold a clear performance advantage, but we felt a change was in order because the ease of installation of the Thermalright SLK800 warranted the switch.

The Swiftech MCX-462 required the extra hassle of installing the mounting posts through the fours holes around the CPU socket, and some AMD boards are appearing without the requisite holes. Despite the change of coolers, we're still not deviating far from the tried, tested, and true method of cooling the AMD Athlon XP, that being: installing a big cooler, with an 80MM fan that doesn't break the sound barrier. This helps create the perfect balance of cooling, and reduced ambient noise.

Combining the Thermalright SLK-800 with the Thermaltake 80mm "Smartfan" will provide you with a cool running CPU, and at a very acceptable decibel level. The "Smartfan" has a thermal sensor attached to it that controls how fast the fan spins. When the temperature around the sensor is high, the fan will spin faster to compensate, and vice versa.

If you are looking for more "Extreme" cooling, then simply swap the fan out for a much faster and louder model. The choice of sacrificing low noise for a 7200 RPM rocket is yours to make. We believe an extreme gaming machine should drive your gaming to higher levels, but the noise from the CPU fan shouldn't be driving you insane either.