January 2007 High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 5

Video Accelerator: GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB

Current Cost: $399
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A

The video card is the most important part of any high-end gaming systems, and assuming no corners have been cut in the areas of processor, motherboard, LCD, or memory components, the video card is where you should spend the most cash. We're taking that adage to heart, and our choice has the single highest price tag of all the hardware, just ahead of the LCD and processors. Buying into the GeForce 8 Series is certainly not cheap, but its new unified shader architecture makes it the most future-proof video card on the shelf. These GPUs are comprised of individual stream processors, which while relatively simple by nature, can really pump out the framerates by virtue of their sheer numbers and higher clock rate. Gaming performance is extremely high, with a single-card GeForce 8800 GTS on par with a GeForce 7900 GTX SLI setup, and the GeForce 8800 GTX is well ahead.

The GeForce 8800 GTS is the natural choice for our budget and performance requirements, and this $400 powerhouse features a 90nm GPU with 96 stream processors. This DirectX 10 card is clocked at 500 MHz and has 640MB of 1.2 GHz GDDR3 running on a 320-bit bus. It might be the little brother to the higher-clocked GeForce 8800 GTX ($550-$600), but the GeForce 8800 GTS is still an extremely fast card with the same basic specifications and features. In terms of brands, we kept that open for now, but can recommend both the ASUS (shown above) and PNY (shown below) models as high-performing, quality graphics cards.

In terms of a single-card solution, ATI really doesn't offer a competitive video card to the GeForce 8800 GTS, and any high-end Crossfire scenarios would be well out of our budget. The best option for AMD fans is the Radeon X1950 XTX 512MB, which does come close to the performance of a GeForce 8800 GTS, and surpasses it in dual-card Crossfire mode. This is still not a perfect solution, especially as you forego DirectX 10 support, but until ATI gets their next GPU out the door, it's the best we can do.

LCD Display: Samsung 204B 20" LCD

Cost: $345
Consecutive Guides: 3
Price Change: -$5

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 remains the same this month, and we are sticking with the 20" Samsung 204B LCD.

With the 204B, Samsung offers 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 $345 price tag is a nice bonus. This LCD is also available in either silver or black, lending it even greater flexibility.

That fits the bill for gamers who want a standard size LCD, but more buyers are looking to a widescreen display. There are quite a few options in this area, but at this price range, a 22" LCD is where you get the most bang for the buck. These offer a standard resolution of 1680x1050, and while providing more horizontal space than a 4:3 monitor, offer a display environment equivalent to a 20" standard LCD. In this range, the 22" ViewSonic VG2230wm (pictured below) is in a class all its own, and with a $320 price tag, offers an incredible value. It features a 22" WSXGA+ screen with a 5 ms response time, a brightness of 280 nit, and a contrast ratio of 700:1. In addition, the ViewSonic VG2230wm offers both VGA and DVI inputs, and is height adjustable, with tilt and swivel features.

While compiling this latest guide, we have had extreme difficulty locating high-end gaming CRTs, and now that we are in 2007, our future guides will no longer be including a CRT recommendation.

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/stuck pixel replacement policy" for new LCDs.

Sound Card: Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer

Cost: $80
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A

Creative's X-Fi line of soundcards updates the line in a verifiable way, and is definitely not an "upgrade" in name only. Creative packages this X-Fi sound chip in different variants, but to keep our budget in line, we're moving to the entry-level X-Fi XtremeGamer edition. The X-Fi XtremeGamer 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 HD 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 XtremeGamer accommodates all of our audio requirements while remaining within budget, something the other Creative Labs X-Fi cards cannot do.

If the extra budget is available, then the X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS might be a worthwhile upgrade. This is more of a high-end gamer-oriented card, and it includes all the base features of the X-Fi XtremeGamer, 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 $180, this is still a very expensive card, and with our budget, remains an unattainable luxury.

System Speakers: Logitech THX Z-5300e 5.1 Speakers

Cost: $134
Consecutive Guides: 8
Price Change: $0

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.

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 a similar 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.