July 2006 High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 5

Video Accelerator: ASUS GeForce 7900 GT TOP 256MB

Current Cost: $360
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

The GeForce 7 Series video cards have proven quite successful at fending off the best from ATI, especially the NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT and GTX. While the latter is still a bit out of our price range (and the GeForce 7950GX2 busts it wide open), the GeForce 7900 GT is a perfect fit. The GeForce 7900 GT and GTX are essentially a 7800 GTX shrunk down from an 110nm die size to a 90nm one, complete with 24 pixel pipelines and a 256-bit GDDR3 interface. This is a great deal, and with most standard GeForce 7900 GT cards priced in the $300+ range, these cards are a perfect fit for our budget. So nice in fact, that we've moved to an even higher-performance model in the ASUS GeForce 7900 GT TOP 256MB (EN7900GT TOP).

The reference GeForce 7900 GT runs at a core speed of 450 MHz and a memory speed of 1.32 GHz. ASUS offers a standard GeForce 7900 GT (EN7900GT) running at these default speeds, as well as EN7900GT TOP overclocked to 520 MHz core and 1.44 GHz memory. This offers a nice boost over a standard GeForce 7900 GT, and at not much of a price premium. We also get the quality of the ASUS brand name, and a nice software bundle including several games and applications. This card also features 256MB GDDR3 memory and is SLI ready when the time comes.

The NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT 256MB takes over the top enthusiast value crown from the GeForce 7800 GT 256MB, and offers incredible performance for the money. It also includes all the standard GeForce 7 Series features such as CineFX 4.0, Intellisample 4.0, HDR, Ultra Shadow II, and nView. Its 90nm core also runs cooler than previous GeForce 7800 models, and even with an overclocked card like the ASUS EN7900GT TOP, does not require significant cooling.

It is tough to find a comparable ATI card in the same price range, as the new Radeon X1900 XT is priced significantly higher, and the ATI Radeon X1800 XL 256MB simply cannot keep pace in the performance department. ATI's latest challenger, the Radeon X1900 GT, is priced competitively, and although NVIDIA is still the benchmark king, the overall performance is close. For our ATI dollar, the Radeon X1900 GT is the best bet at this price-performance range.

LCD Display: Samsung 204B 20" LCD

Cost: $350
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

LCD monitors have quickly become the standard for any mainstream or high-end desktop, and CRTs have really died out for all but the entry-level market. Finding a high-end 19-21" CRT display is virtually impossible these days, as manufacturers lower production and shift it towards LCD displays. Overall LCD technology is also continuing to improve, and both image reproduction and pixel response times are getting better. Our top LCD selection changes this month, from the 19" Samsung 940b, to the newer and larger 20" Samsung 204B LCD.

This is a performance gaming 20" model with a native resolution of 1600x1200, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 800:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, and both analog and DVI inputs (although Samsung does not include a DVI cable). The ultra-low 5ms response time virtually guarantees that there will be no ghosting in games or video, and its incredible $350 price tag is a nice bonus. This LCD is also available in either silver or black, lending it even greater flexibility.

For those on a tighter budget, or just might want a bit of wide-screen gaming, then the BenQ FP202W is another very nice option. This 20.1 widescreen LCD is priced at under $300, and offers some impressive specs like an 8ms response time, a 600:1 contrast, and 300 cd/m2 brightness. The native resolution is 1680x1050, but as many gaming aficionados will say, once you go widescreen gaming, you won't go back.

The number of buyers who want to avoid an LCD screens might be dropping, but we continue to recommend a CRT monitor as an alternative. The NEC/Mitsubishi DP930SB-BK 19" monitor offers a 0.24mm grille pitch, totally flat aperture grille CRT, a 1920 x 1440 at 73 Hz maximum resolution, and a three-year warranty. This model, as well as other high-end CRTs, is only getting tougher to find, but does sell for slightly less than our LCD monitor, if available. Keep in mind that CRT monitors are constantly being discontinued and can go "out of stock" at any time.

* On that note, we have had extreme difficulty locating high-end gaming CRTs and this may be the last month we include one as a recommended piece of hardware.

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, especially in their "dead pixel replacement policy" for new LCDs.

Sound Card: Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic

Cost: $115
Months on list: 4
Price Change: $0

Creative's X-Fi line of soundcards is a real update compared to previous models, and is definitely not an "upgrade" in name only. Creative packages this X-Fi sound chip in four different variants (XtremeMusic, Platinum, Fatal1ty and Elite), but we're still going with the entry-level X-Fi XtremeMusic edition. The X-Fi XtremeMusic offers several improvements such as a 109dB signal-to-noise ratio, 7.1-channel surround sound, DTS ES and Dolby Digital decoding, 24-bit, 192 kHz audio support, EAX 5.0 support, as well as the new 24-bit Crystalizer engine, which up samples and enhances all sound to 24-bit. In addition, the X-Fi provides for gaming, audio creation, and entertainment modes that can be switched on the fly. The price is the real key, as the X-Fi XtremeMusic accommodates all of our audio requirements while remaining within budget, something the other three Sound Blaster X-Fi cards cannot do.

Of course, if the extra budget is available, then the X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS might be a worthwhile upgrade. This is more of a pure gamer-oriented card, and it includes all the base features of the X-Fi XtremeMusic, but also includes 64MB of built-in memory and a front connector port. This onboard X-RAM is a neat idea and serves as a sound/FX buffer, and if it is implemented, may well increase game performance. Some limited support exists in a few games, but nothing even approaches an industry standard like EAX. At around $275, this is still a very expensive card, and with our budget, remains an unattainable luxury.

Speakers:

With a high-end gaming soundcard, a good set of surround sound speakers is a great way to fully immerse yourself in games, movies and music. Choosing the right set of speakers is an important long-term investment, as these will likely stay with you a very long time.

System Speakers: Logitech THX Z-5300e 5.1 Speakers

Cost: $140
Months on list: 6
Price Change: +$5

Logitech's THX Z-5300e 5.1 speakers are a true value when it comes to multimedia computer audio, and you would be hard pressed to find this kind of performance, features and quality at the same price. Logitech is the name in mainstream gaming speakers, and although some companies excel at the enthusiast level, the THX Z-5300e 5.1 speakers own this market. The Logitech THX Z-5300e 5.1 speakers offer an exceptional price-performance ratio, and with a total of 280 watts RMS power, these redefine the meaning of "bang for your buck". The overall audio quality is certainly not lacking, and the THX Z-5300e 5.1 speaker set offers considerably better output than other speakers sets in its class.