February 2002 High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide

Introduction

Each month brings new products, faster speeds and inherently lower prices for computer hardware. The big news this month was the introduction of the Pentium 4 Northwood at speeds up to 2.2 GHz. AMD wasn't a shrinking violet either, as the release of the Athlon XP 2000+ can attest. While the remainder of the hardware market was a bit more sedate, this increase in CPU speed made for some interesting choices and concessions for any high-end system configuration. Given its price, does the Northwood make sense? And does the introduction of the Athlon XP 2000+ make it a must-buy or simply allow added savings by going with a lower-speed model?

These are the kinds of questions that we ask when compiling our High End Gaming PC Buyer's Guide. Given the tempting list of performance hardware, it would be quite easy just to write a blank check and then go on a spending spree. Unfortunately, this isn't how most gamers allocate their budgets, and even our High End Gaming PC Buyer's Guide has a budget of $2500 in cold, hard cash. With these resources we try and assemble the fastest, most fully featured gaming PC we can possibly concoct. This is no easy task, as the allure of Pentium 4-2.2 GHz processors, 100 GB hard drives, 21" monitors and Klipsch Promedia speakers can exert an incredible pull on any gamer.

Our high-end picks will provide all of the gaming power you have come to expect from Sharky Extreme, while still carefully weighing the price-performance of the various components. Those looking for recommendations that are not quite so limited by a strict budget should refer to our Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, which has a $4000 limit, while those seeking a more affordable system should check out the Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, which still packs a lot of performance into a $1000 budget.

Another point worth addressing is the scope and purpose of the SE High End Gaming PC Buyer's Guide. This guide is not intended as a strict mandate as to which specific PC to buy, but more to which combination of PC components offer the best bang for the buck in each of the popular high-end gaming platforms. This translates into recommended configurations for both the Intel and AMD gaming platforms. We're not here to promote one over the other, as only you know your own specific requirements and can determine which platform is the best fit.

AMD Case: Brand Name Full Tower PC case w/ 350W Name Brand PSU

Current Cost: $130
Months on list: 4
Price Change: $0

The choice of a PC case is a very personal and subjective decision, and in this section we're only giving out very basic recommendations. Once we enter the high-end area of gaming systems, the choices open up enormously and although we are listing a few choice cases, each gamer should evaluate their own individual requirements and pick the case that matches up best. At a base minimum, we are recommending a full tower case with a name brand 350W power supply.

For a basic recommendation, the IN-WIN Q800P is a great bet. It's a full tower case with tons of expansion space (5x5.25" and 6x3.5" bays), a removable motherboard tray and space for three case cooling fans. IN-WIN tower cases have some of the best airflow we've seen in an off-the-shelf system case, as well as offering a great deal of after-sale configuring if additional cooling is required. Best of all, this case is fully compatible with both Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon systems.

Other great picks are the AOpen HQ08 (lots of expansion options and a great design), the Addtronics ET 6890A (expansive, swinging doors, easy access) or the Antec SX840 (easy to upgrade and 4 pre-configured fan holders) are all great picks at a similar price. Please note that any full tower case is geared more towards a standard home PC, rather than one that is easily carted around. In other words, pre-book an appointment with your chiropractor before hauling this beast to a LAN party.

A case should reflect your individual computer requirements and if you expect to have a system loaded for bear, then the internal real estate, expansion options and cooling are of the utmost importance. But if your gaming habits are more towards LAN parties, or space is extremely limited, then a smaller mid-tower will be the best bet. The Enlight 7230 is a great bet for a low cost, mid-tower, but if you have some cash burning a hole in your pocket, then one of the great-looking, though pricey, Lian Li cases would be a great bet.