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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 |
July 2006 High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2By Vince Freeman July 8, 2006
Current Cost: $460 Dual core processing is really the only viable desktop option these days, and with driver enhancements, multi-threaded game patches, and dual core software development ramping up, recommending anything else is rather shortsighted. This month, we are moving to the AM2 platform, and will need to upgrade to a new processor as well. Even so, we're basically sticking with the Athlon 64 4400+, but in an AM2 package. Moving any higher on the list would be impossible given our budget, and even the Athlon 64 4600+ would add too much to the bottom line. The Athlon 64 X2 4400+ runs at a clock speed of 2.2 GHz and features 2x1MB of L2 cache, which translates into single-threaded performance exceeding a 2.2 GHz Athlon 64 FX-51 equivalent, while providing exceptional multithreaded performance and seamless multi-tasking. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Windsor core is similar to that of the dual core Athlon 64 FX, and each processor core includes a 1MB L2 cache, for a grand total of 2MB per processor.
As multithreaded applications and games become more prevalent, the Athlon 64 X2 will really be given a chance to show off its true power, but we can still get excellent single threaded performance in today's games, and some multi-threaded power through the dual core-enhanced drivers and games. The Athlon 64 X2 4400+ also has one of the best price to performance ratios in the Athlon 64 X2 processor line, if not the entire desktop market. The Athlon 64 X2 4400+ is extremely strong in multithreaded applications, but is certainly no slouch when it comes to single-threaded performance either. Even so, the 2.8 GHz Athlon 64 FX-62 dual core processor ensures that single core processors are virtually obsolete, and that the same core speeds are now present in either the Athlon 64 X2 or Athlon 64 FX lines. The only caveat with this selection is that AMD has announced a phase-out on their Athlon 64 X2 models with 2x1-MB of L2 cache. Currently, this model is still available on the retail market, but supplies could become limited in the very near future.
Current Cost: $324 So deep were the price cuts to the Pentium D 900 series, we can now enjoy a 3.4 GHz Pentium D 950 at a significant discount to what the 3.2 GHz Pentium D 940 cost us last time. The Pentium D 800 series is also priced extremely well, but we're sticking with the Pentium D 900 line because of its smaller 65nm Presler core. This offers many advantages compared to the 90nm Smithfield used with the Pentium D 800 series, such as lower power consumption, higher base clock speeds, decreased thermal output, and potentially higher overclocking. The 3.2 GHz clock speed has also been upgraded to 3.4 GHz this month, which lowers the gap between the dual core Pentium D and the single core Pentium 4 models.
The Pentium D 950 is clocked at 3.4 GHz, runs on the LGA775/Socket T platform, and even with the new Extreme Editions, remains one of the higher-clocked Intel dual core models. The Pentium D 950 features the 65nm Presler core, which includes 2x2MB (4MB) of L2 cache, an 800MHz FSB, SSE3, full 64-bit support (EM64T), and Execute Disable Bit. This processor offers one of the best price-performance ratios of the Intel Pentium D line, and at only $324, it fits perfectly into our system budget. The 3.6 GHz Pentium D 960 is still out of reach, due to its $550-$600 price tag.
We recognize that truly hardcore gamers will want to maintain optimum single-threaded gaming performance at all costs, and in this case, should invest in the Pentium 4 670 (3.8 GHz) LGA775. This processor has a feature set very similar to its dual core brethren, but forgoes the secondary core for a much higher clock speed. Of course there is also the Pentium Extreme Edition 965, which is a dual core model running at 3.73 GHz, but its ultra-high price tag is more suited to the Extreme Buyer's Guide.
Current Cost: $0 At this point in time, due to the slight differences in the AM2 socket and heatsink-fan design, not to mention the higher AMD processor price, we're recommending taking the retail path this month. This ensures no compatibility issues, and since the retail processor includes a heatsink-fan for free, it doesn't affect our budget one way or another. By the next update, we should have a better handle on the selection of higher-end AM2 heatsink-fan units, and will be able to make a more informed choice.
Current Cost: $60 Today's processors create enormous heat, and effectively dissipating it is a primary concern of many high-end users. Water-cooling is a definite option, but that exists a bit out of the scope and budget of this guide, and our recommendation will be an air-cooled solution. Of course, as with the other more user-specific choices, feel absolutely free to choose your own 3rd-party cooling option that more fits your individual requirements. In terms of this guide, we are sticking with the Thermalright XP-90C heatsink, as well as making a secondary recommendation.
The Thermalright XP-90C features a solid copper base that not only provides exceptional cooling, but at 690g, it is also a very heavy unit that requires special care during installation and mounting. The Thermalright XP-90C is universally compatible with a number of processors, including the AMD Athlon XP, Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2 and Athlon 64 FX, along with the Intel Pentium 4/D and Celeron 478-pin processors. The LGA775 models can be accommodated using a Thermalright LGA775 RM mounting bracket. This heatsink supports 92mm cooling fans, and we recommend a model that provides both adequate cooling and low ambient noise, such as the Vantec Stealth 92mm. The Thermalright XP-90C heatsink can be found online for approximately $65, which includes the cost of the heatsink ($45), a 3rd-party cooling fan ($10), and the LGA775 RM bracket ($5).
Another heatsink-fan that caught our eye is the Scythe Ninja Plus (SCNJ-1000P) a virtual behemoth of a cooler that is potentially the best on the market. It is huge, with a cooper base and four sets of heat pipes flowing up to a large aluminum-fin tower. It is so good that the Ninja Plus can even be run in fanless mode for silent operation, or with higher-end processors or for overclocking, the included 120mm fan can be utilized. It's also compatible with virtually all CPU sockets, including LGA775.
About now, you might be wondering why the Ninja Plus didn't make it as out final selection. Well, there are two reasons; it's big, unwieldy and may not fit into some configurations, and it can be very difficult to install, requiring some serious pressure on the mounting clips. In our scenario, with a removable motherboard tray and the PSU out of the way, it does make things easier, but it's still not a seamless install for all user skill levels.
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