February 2004 High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 7

NIC: Onboard

Cost: $0
Months on list: 7
Price Change: N/A

Both the Intel and AMD motherboards feature onboard Gigabit Ethernet NICs, so we don't feel that a separate card needs to be purchased, especially as the cost savings can be used elsewhere. However, if required, the Intel Pro/100S adaptor is a super option, and this is a fully-featured NIC from a very reputable name in networking.

Or...

Modem: US Robotics USB 2.0 USR5633 Faxmodem

Cost: $46 (not included in price of full machine)
Months on list: 2
Price Change: $0

As in our Value Guide, many readers pointed out (quite rightly) that most gamers already own some of the basic external devices like a modem, printer or scanner (or are on cable/DSL and require only the LAN connection), and the money could be put to better use elsewhere. We'll be making a recommendation, but the modem is now an optional component.

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 USB 2.0 USR5633 Faxmodem. This USB 2.0 modem is very similar to the external V.92 modem we have been recommending for a long while, but uses a USB 2.0 connection as opposed to Serial.

Operating System: Windows XP Professional

Cost: $134
Months on list: 17
Price Change: $0

Windows XP Professional is the obvious choice when it comes to high-end gaming operating systems. Sure, a few newer games have been ported to Linux, but for serious enthusiasts, there is no other choice than to have Windows XP installed for all the newest games. Windows XP is built on the 32-bit code of Windows 2000, and is currently the best operating system for gaming, as new hardware and drivers are developed with Windows XP in mind. A 64-bit version of Windows XP will be released in the near, so Athlon 64 users will want to watch for its release (though the beta version has already been released free of charge from Microsoft).

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

We haven't used floppies in years, but some people still feel a need for them. Any old name brand floppy drive will do for those emergency BIOS updates and data recovery, anything more would be just a waste of money.

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, splurge and nab a UPS for added security and peace of mind.