November 2001 High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 7

Communications Device

For our Value Gaming PC, you're going to have to make the tough choice between adding a modem or NIC, since the budget simply doesn't allow for both.

NIC: 3Com EtherLink 10/100 3CR990-TX-97

Cost: $88
Months on list: 3
Price Change: +$1

LAN gaming, and DSL/Cable Internet access are all good reasons to have a quality NIC (Network Interface Card) in your gaming rig. Unless you already own a functional network card, we do not recommend going the cheap route when buying a primary NIC. Otherwise, you could be ripping apart your PC on a monthly basis, and filling out enough RMA forms to need a Word template to keep up. Buy brand name quality and it will be money well spent.

The EtherLink 10/100 3CR990-TX-97 is a great bet for a quality NIC, and 3COM is one of the most well-known names in PC networking. While you can buy a cheap NIC for $20-$30, the EtherLink 10/100 3CR990-TX-97 actually gives you something extra for your hard-earned dollar. This NIC features a 3XP processor right on the card, which can offload some of the CPU work onto the DSP itself and speed up basic Windows networking tasks. Just be extremely careful when shopping for this particular network card. 3COM also produces lower-end NICs of eerily similar model numbers, but without the nifty 3XP processor.

Or...

Modem: US Robotics External v.92 Faxmodem

Cost: $83
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

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. Plus, some also need a standard modem for more business-related functions, like faxing over especially embarrassing pics of your best friend. For a fast, stable modem, we recommend the US Robotics External v.92 Faxmodem. You not only get standard v.90 support and a chance to try out the new v.92 pseudo-standard, but this modem comes from a company long known for their quality communications hardware.

Operating system: Windows XP Pro

Cost: $135
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

This selection was among the toughest we had to make, but a few factors made us turn down the XP road. The first is that Windows 2000 Pro was the previous high-end OS selection, and moving to Windows XP is not the same quantum leap in usability, compatibility and hardware requirements that a jump from Win 98SE is. Secondly, the price difference between XP and 2000 is negligible at best and it just makes sense to match this awesome hardware with the newest OS from Microsoft. Of course, if product activation or some of the other Windows XP "features" are a real turn-off, then feel free to nab a copy of Windows 2000 Pro. This may be a great option for many gamers, as Windows 2000 Pro (at a slight $20-$30 premium) is now available with a "free coupon" for an upgrade to Windows XP Pro. How can you go wrong with that kind of choice?

The above price is for the OEM version and assumes you purchase it with a new system or along with one of your hardware components. If you buy a pre-built PC or coordinate your hardware purchase correctly (usually a hard drive is the best bet to qualify) this would qualify you for the lower-priced OEM version. 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.

Extras

Although a UPS isn't really part of a gaming system, anymore than a printer or scanner, it is still something to consider when laying down the smack for a $2500 PC. These will no only provide protection against power outages and allow a smooth shutdown, but also offer enhanced power spike and irregular voltage protection as well. APC produces some excellent home UPS models, but be sure to match the voltage ratings against the power consumption of your PC.