Current Cost: $434
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$29
ATI has been sitting pretty at the top of the graphics food chain for awhile now. Each refresh of the R3xx core has further cemented their leadership position, and the Radeon 9800XT is certainly no exception. While certainly the least substantial upgrade, it gave ATI the boost they needed to contend with the similarly equipped GeForce FX 5950. The Radeon 9800XT is able best the GeForce FX 5950 in a number of tests, especially when anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering is turned up. As if that weren't enough, the Radeon 9800XT also includes a coupon for a free full version of what is one of the most highly anticipated games of 2004: Half-Life 2.
Aside from the new Overdrive function and increased clock and memory speeds (412MHz and 730MHz respectively) there isn't much new with the Radeon 9800XT. Overdrive is ATI's own way of dynamically adjusting the card's core speed in accordance to temperature and usage. Deep down, the Radeon 9800XT has a lot in common with the Radeon 9800 Pro such as SmartShader, SmoothVision, and HyperZ III+. ATI also continues to use nice, non-invasive cooling techniques to ensure stable operation without sacrificing a PCI slot.
It seems that every month we are switching our 19" CRT recommendation due to a lack of availability of previous models. Companies are moving to larger 21+" CRT monitors or awesome LCD monitors, leaving almost nothing for 17" and 19" monitor shoppers. Currently, the NEC/Mitsubishi DP930SB-BK 19" monitor is one of the best 19" tubes, and is readily available at many retailers. The monitor features a 0.24mm grille pitch, totally flat aperture grille CRT, 1920 x 1440 at 73 Hz maximum resolution, and three year warranty. LCD prices have been dropping rapidly so it's only a matter of time until we move to a gaming LCD, but until then, this monitor is our top pick.
Due to some people's aversion to Aperture grill monitors we still recommend the LG 915FT Plus as a secondary choice. The LG features a nice Flatron tube that is devoid of Aperture grill's two horizontal stabilization wires. This monitor also features resolutions and refresh rates that are not normally supported by shadow mask monitors, and is a super value in this price range.
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.
The Creative Audigy 2 ZS is only a mild evolutionary step up from the previous Audigy 2. A slightly better 108 signal-to-noise ratio, updated EAX 4.0 support, 7.1 channel surround sound, and DTS ES decoding are among the basic improvements. The Platinum model offers a number of additional connectors for both input and output, along with a very handy remote. The card also supports 24-bit, 192kHz DVD-Audio for analog output, just like the Audigy 2 before it.
The Audigy 2 ZS Platinum also has a great game and software bundle. On the gaming side, you receive full retail copies of Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness, and Rainbow Six: Raven Shield. For the audio aficionado, Steinberg Cubasis VST 4.0 Creative Edition and Wavelab Lite 2.0, and Image Line FL Studio 4 Creative Edition, can certainly handle the audio creation and editing duties.
What better way to compliment your new soundcard than with some high-end speakers. Your speaker purchase can be as important as that of your monitor, as you are unlikely to upgrade either one for quite awhile. This makes your initial speaker choice crucial to the enjoyment of your new gaming PC, and an important investment.
With the last few iterations of their speakers, Creative has been listening to their customers and started making speakers that "don't suck." While their basic speakers certainly can't compete with models from Klipsch and other high-end manufacturers, the price and overall value certainly make up for it. The Creative Inspire T7700 7.1 speakers are perfect for trying out the new 7.1 format and saving money while doing it. The T7700 set can deliver 92 watts RMS power and 125 watts of total system power making it a bit more powerful than the 6.1 set. The Inspire T7700 7.1 sound is also very good for the price, as $111 for 7 name brand speakers and a subwoofer is a real bargain.
