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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 5By Vince Freeman November 1, 2002Video Accelerator: ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
Current Cost: $365 In a nice surprise, we were able to squeeze the Radeon 9700 Pro into our high-end guide, giving us the fastest 3D performance currently available. The Radeon 9700 Pro is a real beast from the frozen north, featuring 256-bit, 128MB of 310 MHz DDR RAM (effective 620 MHz), coupled with a graphics core clocked at a whopping 325 MHz. Coupled with our Pentium 4 and Athlon XP processors, the Radeon 9700 gives our systems a blazing fast gaming platform that will certainly match up to even the most performance minded buyer. This ATI card also doesn't take a back seat in terms of features, 2D quality, or DVD performance, and matches or surpasses the best the industry has to offer.
Cost: $335
We still can't figure out a way to slide high-quality 21 flat-screen monitor into the budget, so in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" category comes out selection of the Samsung 900NF. This is a premium 19 flat screen monitor at a value price, and features a flat, aperture-grille tube, 0.25mm dot pitch and a 76 Hz refresh rate at 1600x1200. Color and image quality are both excellent, and the 900NF is equally suited for home gaming or boardroom use. Samsung is also one of the top names in computer monitors and their support is very good compared to the competition. We should also note that since listing the 900NF on our buyer's guide, we have continued to receive positive comments sent in by Sharky readers, who seem to be very pleased with their purchase.. Please keep in mind that when buying any type or brand of monitor, there is always the chance of receiving a defective unit, so be certain to purchase only from a vendor that offers liberal return and replacement options.
Cost: $125
The SoundBlaster Audigy line of soundcards is a great bet for any gamer, but for our high end system, we're moving up to the Audigy Platinum. It's still an Audigy at its basic core, but the Platinum model adds in some extras that help justify the higher price. Not only do you get the Audigy soundcard itself, but the Platinum edition also includes an internal Front-Panel Audio Connectivity Drive, a wireless remote control and a SB1394 bracket connection (compliant to the IEEE 1394a specification). The Audigy Platinum supports both EAX/2 and EAX AdvancedHD, which means advanced 3D positional audio for upcoming games, along with backwards compatibility for older games. The Audigy Platinum also ships with a ton of bundled audiophile software, but tosses a nod to the gamer by including a full version of either Giants or Deus Ex. The SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum is a real Swiss army knife of gaming soundcards and makes a perfect match for any high-end system. Although we feel the SoundBlaster Audigy is the best bet for a pure gaming system, those who rate music a bit higher on their scale might want to take a look at the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. It's not going to compete against the Audigy Platinum in terms of game support or hardware extras, but audio aficionados may appreciate the high fidelity and software of the Santa Cruz. One area that can really make a difference in your potential enjoyment of any new gaming PC is the choice of system speakers. In basic terms, the recommendation of any speaker system is based on your individual tastes and requirements, so we recommend hitting your local PC store, take along a CD or game and give some speaker sets a close listen. For those without the time or access to perform in-person testing, our recommendations cover both ends of the spectrum and each will certainly be more than adequate for high-end gaming sound.
Cost: $130
Both the Altec Lansing 641 and Logitech Z560 speakers are impressive 4.1-complaint systems for a great price, and while each has its own strengths and weaknesses, we'll list them both and let you make the final decision. .
The bass of the Logitech Z560 is wall-shakingly impressive, but the Altec Lansing 641 also provides excellent bass and potentially better sound separation for gaming and DVD movies. The 641's are also much less likely to shake the floorboards loose and can have a bit cleaner sound overall, but if you like listening to music, games or DVDs at ultra-high levels and love the sound of neighbors screaming, then look no further than the Logitech Z560's. On the flip side, we prefer the DVD movie experience on the Altec Lansing 641's, and music sounds quite crisp and clear. Basically, the Logitech set has a slight advantage in overall power and when playing games, while the Altec Lansing's are slightly better in DVD movies and music. Even then, the race can be too close to call, and we're sure that either set will make the audio grade. We're also looking forward to some 5.1 upgrades to the entire Logitech line, especially after seeing the impressive (though expensive) Logitech Z-640 speakers.
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