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Sharky Extreme : Monthly High-end Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
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Monthly High-end Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
November High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2By Vince Freeman November 1, 2002Intel CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.53 GHz (533 MHz)
Current Cost: $238 Selecting the right Pentium 4 processor is a mix of determining the budget and performance requirements, which usually makes our pick just a step or two down from the top-end model. A 533 MHz processor is also a requirement for any high-end gaming system, as is getting the best bang for our buck. In this case, the Pentium 4-2.53 GHz matched up perfectly to all our needs, as it's a top performer, but without the budget-devouring cost of the 2.8 GHz CPU. The 533 MHz bus jacks performance just by virtue of faster overall system throughput, not to mention making the best use of higher-end memory technologies. Now that Intel has moved to 2.8 GHz, overclocking is also a valid option, especially that the high Pentium 4 multipliers yield high overclock speeds with only minimal increases to the FSB.
Current Cost: $190
With the high-end system budget, the sky is virtually the limit in selecting an Athlon XP processor. So naturally we're going for the 2.0 GHz Athlon XP 2400+, and even saving a few bucks over the Intel CPU. This model also makes use of the enhanced Thoroughbred core, which helps keep stability high even at 2.0 GHz clock speeds. The Athlon XP 2600+ (333 MHz FSB) is still a few weeks away from the mass market, but the 2400+ should provide more than enough power for ultra-fast 3D gaming. We're also going the OEM route with the Athlon XP, as it saves money and gives us more freedom in selecting a cooling solution. With the Athlon XP die shrink, the physical core is also smaller and makes the heatsink/fan combo a very important choice, especially if overclocking is in your future.
Current Cost: $35
We're caught between just going with the retail heatsink-fan versus buying a more powerful 3rd-party unit. The Pentium 4-2.53 GHz runs cool enough to not overpower the retail HSF, so those operating at stock speeds may want to explore this angle. For the rabid overclocking crowd, we're playing it safe and recommending the Alpha PAL8942. This HSF is the perfect mix of price and performance, and places quite well even when compared to the hyper-expensive Swiftech models. This popular Alpha heatsink features a copper base for additional heat dissipation, as well as letting buyers choose a custom fan component. Our price includes the heatsink and a name brand cooling fan, but hardcore users can certainly spend more and upgrade to a higher-level fan. Either way, the Alpha is a powerful Pentium 4 cooling option and a good insurance policy if you intend to overclock.
Current Cost: $43 + $11 + $8 = $62
There seems to be as many potential AMD heatsinks as there are grains of sand, but this just makes your eventual selection even more important. Thermalright has produced some excellent models (including the AX-7) and their SLK-800 is an excellent upgrade to that overall Socket A design. The Thermalright SLK-800 is a beast of a copper cooler, and even checks in at a price that won't empty your wallet. Finding this perfect combination price, features and performance is a tough one these days, and to add the cherry on top, the SLK-800 also has a three-prong socket attachment for added stability. The fan option is a custom one, and in this case, we're recommending one of the Panaflow low-noise fans as the cooling base, along with an Athlon XP shim for added insurance.
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