PC Buyer's Guide for Gaming Enthusiasts -- May 2012 - Page 3

Sound Card: Integrated
Current Price: $0
Logitech Speaker System Z523
Current Price: $75  (+$5 from last month)

Utilizing the integrated sound options offered by the two recommended motherboards continues to make sense for these builds, as does pairing that option with the Logitech Z523 2.1 channel speaker system, which has inched up to $75.

Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Gaming Mouse
Current Price: $65  (-$3 from last month)
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Current Price: $46  (-$1 from last month)

For our mouse and keyboard recommendations, we're sticking with the Logitech G9x gaming mouse and the Microsoft Sidewinder X4 wired keyboard. Their prices have held fairly steady, inching down a bit for this edition at $65 and $46, respectively.

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-pack for System Builders
Current price: $140

And finally, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit remains our pick as the best option for an operating system and will likely remain so until Windows 8 takes its place.

Price Roundup

AMD FX-8150 System

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X (RC-942-KKN1) - $179  (-$6)
Power Supply: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 - $139  (-$5)
Processor: AMD FX-8150 (3.6GHz) - $250
CPU Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - $45  * NEW Recommendation
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD5 (990FX) - $174  * NEW
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 2 x 4GB Kit (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) - $60  (-$15)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5TB (WD1502FAEX) - $160  * NEW
SSD: Crucial M4 (CT128M4SSD2) 2.5" 128GB + Bay Converter - $153  * NEW
Optical Drive: LG WH12LS39 12x BDR 12x BDR 2x BD-RE SATA - $80  * NEW
Video Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1460-KR GeForce GTX 560 - $190  * NEW
Monitor: ASUS VS248H-P Black 24" - $199  * NEW
Sound Card: Integrated Sound - $0
Speakers: Logitech Speaker System Z523 - $75  (+$5)
Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Gaming Mouse - $65  (-$3)
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard - $46  (-$1)
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit - $140
Total Price: $1955

Intel Core i7 System

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X (RC-942-KKN1) - $179  (-$6)
Power Supply: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 - $139  (-$5)
Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K (3.4GHz) - $305
CPU Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - $45  * NEW
Motherboard: ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 - $150  * NEW
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 2 x 4GB Kit (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) - $60  (-$15)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5TB (WD1502FAEX) - $160  * NEW
SSD: Crucial M4 (CT128M4SSD2) 2.5" 128GB + Bay Converter - $153  * NEW
Optical Drive: LG WH12LS39 12x BDR 12x BDR 2x BD-RE SATA - $80  * NEW
Video Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1460-KR GeForce GTX 560 - $190  * NEW
Monitor: ASUS VS248H-P Black 24" - $199  * NEW
Sound Card: Integrated Sound - $0
Speakers: Logitech Speaker System Z523 - $75  (+$5)
Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Gaming Mouse - $65  (-$3)
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard - $46  (-$1)
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit - $140
Total Price: $1986

Closing Remarks

Once again, we were able to stay well under budget on each our builds, with a total price of $1955 for the AMD build and $1986 for the Intel system. This will give you a little room to tweak our recommendations if desired, making it easier to end up with a system that meets your own specific needs.