June High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 7

NIC: Onboard

Cost: $0
Consecutive Guides: 21
Price Change: N/A

As our AMD and Intel motherboards both feature onboard Gigabit LAN, there is no reason to purchase a separate PCI LAN controller. The money we save by going the integrated route, can be much better spent on other components. However, it is understandable that some may prefer to use a non-integrated card; in that case, the Intel PRO/1000MT Gigabit adaptor is a fully featured NIC from one of the best names in networking.

Although the NIC will work perfectly for those with standard 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, a USB 2.0 modem running at 56K v.92 speeds.

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium

Cost: $120
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A

The operating system was a very tough decision this month, as Windows Vista is the natural upgrade, but some niggling gaming issues bring with it some risks. Still, many games have been patched, driver support continues to improve, and while UAC is bothersome to hardcore gamers, it's time to formally join the Vista revolution. We chose the easy option last time out, and recommended one of those Windows XP Pro SP2 with "Vista Upgrade Coupon" deals, which unfortunately are no longer available. In lieu of this, Windows Vista Home Premium offers all any enthusiast will need, and in some ways, is actually preferable to the more expensive Business version.

The $120 price quoted on Windows Vista Home Premium is for an OEM DVD, as opposed to the full retail version. We assume that this will be purchased this alongside hardware, thereby qualifying for the lower OEM price. We are currently recommending the 32-bit version, but the more robust 64-bit edition is priced the same and can easily be substituted.

Name Brand Floppy

Current Cost: $5

We have not used floppies in years, but some people still feel a need for them. Any name brand floppy drive will do for those emergency BIOS updates and data recovery, and 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, spend a bit extra (or wait for a sale) and nab a UPS for the added security and peace of mind.