May High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 7

NIC: Intel Pro/100S

Cost: $35
Months on list: 8
Price Change: $0

The need for an add-in these days is dwindling, as integrated NICs are piling on the features and proving to be the equal of their add-in competition. However, for those of you who insist on add-in NICs we recommend the Intel Pro/100S. For LAN gaming, or connecting to Cable/DSL, a good NIC is essential. Intel is one of the most well-known names in the NIC business, and the Pro/100S is one of the most affordable, high-performance NIC cards available.

Or...

Modem: US Robotics External v.92 Faxmodem

Cost: $45
Months on list: 10
Price Change: $0

Although the NIC will work great for those lucky souls with DSL or cable Internet access, many gamers are still using dial-up Internet accounts. For this we recommend the US Robotics External v.92 / 56k fax/modem. US Robotics has long been the standard for consumer level modem products, and the new v.92 standard works superbly with this modem.

Operating System: Windows XP Professional

Cost: $129
Months on list: 10
Price Change: $0

Since the release of Windows XP we have grown to love its increased stability and extra features, even compared with previous Microsoft Win 2K offerings. Windows XP has been around for quite some time now, and the Pro version's better networking and multiprocessor support are reason enough for us to choose it over the basic Home edition. Windows XP is also an excellent base for gaming, since new hardware, drivers and games are now developed with this operating system in mind.

We have included the price for the OEM version of Windows XP Pro, as opposed to the retail box, and assume that you will purchase it alongside hardware, thereby qualifying for the lowered OEM price. If you already own a copy of a Windows operating system (limited to Win 98 or newer and Win NT 4 or newer) then you can also purchase the Windows XP Pro upgrade CD and potentially save more money.

Name Brand Floppy

Current Cost: $8

Floppies have been obsolete for years, but many people still feel that they need them. For emergency BIOS updates or data recovery they can be quite helpful, but just buy a brand you can recognize (Sony, Panasonic, etc.) and be done with it.

Power Bar or UPS

While not part of our budget for a standard high-end gaming system, we still recommend you buy adequate surge protection for your new PC, or better yet, spurge and nab a UPS for added security.