April Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide

Introduction

Computer technology has moved forward quite rapidly since the last edition of our Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, which translates into lots of brand new hardware and the ability to push our $4000 budget much further than we ever have before. New technologies such as NVIDIA's AMD SLI chipset, Intel's 64-bit processors, and DDR2 memory are among the many new additions to this guide. Thankfully, our lofty budget afforded us the opportunity to completely overhaul the entire guide, and our latest AMD and Intel configurations are sure to blow the socks off any discerning gamer.

Even with a $4000 budget, there are still some very real limitations that we need to keep in mind. You won't find any ridiculously expensive plasma or LCD TV/monitors, nor will we be able to include an extravagant home theater-level sound system. Rather, the computer hardware is still relatively balanced, so that we can feature top-end components for virtually every category of the system. Overall, we are very confident in our choices from month-to-month, and each component is put to the litmus test, as $4000 is simply too much cash to slap down, without giving the overall configuration some very serious thought.

Extreme PC Budget: $4000

Case: Cooler Master TAC-T01-E1C WaveMaster w/Antec 480W NeoPower Power Supply

Current Cost of Case and PSU: $238
Months on List: 3
Price Change: +$3

While nearly every facet of this guide has been changed this month, one of the few items to remain consistent was the case. We feel that it is very important to choose a top-end case not only on aesthetics, but also on the merits of internal space and features. While every case manufacturer has their positives and negatives, there are a few manufacturers that continue to stand out. Cooler Master, Lian Li, and Antec are just a few of our favorite name brand manufacturers that should be on your short list when in the market for a new enthusiast-level case. We prefer these brands as their enclosures are not only top of the line from an ease of use perspective, but also get top marks in the looks department.

The Cooler Master TAC-T01-E1C is one our favorite case models, so much so that we also recommend it in our High End guide. One would be hard-pressed to find any faults with the WaveMaster, and its combination of brushed aluminum alloy housing, removable motherboard tray, spacious interior, and ultra convenient front ports make this a case to be reckoned with. It also features 4 x 5.25", 1 x 3.5" (External), and 4 x 3.5" (Internal) expansion slots, room for 7 expansion slots making this one of the most spacious tower cases we have ever worked with. Currently, the Cooler Master TAC-T01-E1C can be found for approximately $128 online.

New technologies such as SATA, PCI Express and the latest Intel and AMD motherboards (24-pin) all require unique power connectors, so it was only natural that we chose to go with a power supply that can handle these, right out of the box. The Antec NeoPower 480W has full compliance for the ATX 2.0 standard, dual +12V rails, extremely quiet operation, dedicated fan-only wiring, as well as all the special connectors you could dream of. However, the most attractive feature of this power supply is the detachable modular cables. These include not only the standard peripheral cables, but also SATA and 20/24-pin motherboard cables as well. The modular design allows you to use only the connectors you require, this preserving precious space, and achieving better airflow. It also allows easy upgrades in the future, and can support new technologies and specifications through add-in connectors.

Even considering the amount of juice our Extreme Gaming Systems require, a 480W PSU is more than enough to drive everything, with power to spare. The NeoPower 480W is rather pricey at $110, but considering its high-end features and limited impact to our budget, this is our PSU of choice.

If you choose to go an alternative route when selecting the power supply, please make sure to stick with name brand units (Antec, Enermax, ThermalTake, etc.) and avoid any bargain bin units with lofty output claims.