October Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2

CPU

AMD: Athlon XP 2000+ (1.67 GHz) OEM

Current Cost: $93
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

The Athlon XP is the automatic choice for our AMD system, and due to some very nice price cuts to the entire line, we're able to upgrade the model quite nicely. The best value right now exists at the Athlon XP 1800+ to 2000+ range, and our budget allows us to hit the top-end. The Athlon XP 2000+ is more than fast enough for a value system, and given that the 2400+ is the highest-end model currently available, this is actually quite high on the scale. If overclocking is in the cards, there should be adequate headroom with the Athlon XP 2000+, even though it is not in Pentium 4 Northwood country. The Athlon XP CPU component is an exceptional value for an entry-level gaming PC, and is by far the most prominent reason to lean towards an AMD system.

Intel: Pentium 4-1.8A GHz (Socket 478, Retail)

Current Cost: $129
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

As with the AMD processor selection, we're now able to upgrade the Intel side of things as well. Although the Pentium 4-1.6A is still a great option, we think the Pentium 4-1.8A offers more value in the current market. It's faster out of the box than the Pentium 4-1.6A, and from our testing, it doesn't give much up in the overclocking department either. We still don't recommend trying the 2.0A out just yet (at least until Intel upgrades it to the new core revision), but the percentages taking The Pentium 4-1.8A to the 533 MHz bus are pretty high.

So even at the basic clock speed, the Pentium 4-1.8A is the best value, and for those who want to test the overclocking waters, then a whole new world of performance could be yours. As for the old Retail vs. OEM argument, we highly recommend the Retail version, not only for the included longer warranty and included heatsink-fan, but also to make sure you are receiving a sealed, totally untested CPU. Another option to explore is rooting around for an online vendor offering pre-tested Pentium 4-1.8A at 2.4 GHz combos, where you're guaranteed to get a processor capable of 2.4 GHz or higher.

AMD Heatsink-Fan: ThermalTake Volcano 7 and Athlon XP Shim

Current Cost: $15 + 5 = $20
Months on list: 3
Price Change: -$8

The Athlon XP certainly runs cooler than the older Athlon model, but we still need a serious heatsink-fan combo not only for standard use, but for potential overclocking. We're not looking to pinch too many pennies in this area, but neither can we go out and buy the top-end model. The ThermalTake Volcano 7 is a great compromise, as it includes a monstrous heatsink that can more than handle an Athlon XP 2000+. The Volcano 7 heatsink is comprised of aluminum for the main unit, along with a copper base for maximum heat exchange between the CPU core and the heatsink. This hybrid metal design is a great trade-off between price and performance, as lower priced aluminum HSF units don't offer the same cooling performance, and pure copper models can be a lot more expensive.

The ThermalTake cooling fan also includes an embedded temperature sensor & fan speed control. This sensor monitors the temperature of the air next to the HSF and runs at 2900 RPM (46 CFM) at 25 degrees C and 5000 RPM (53 CFM) at 35 degrees C. The cooling fan also matches the heatsink in size and features a fan shroud the keep airflow high, but noise low. Some grizzled overclockers have taken issue with the shifting fan speeds and the fact that the sensor does not monitor exact core temperatures, but we're pretty satisfied with the overall cooling at this price range. The deep-blue Volcano 7 also looks great and the boxed package has a ThermalTake case sticker inside the box to help add that final touch to your new gaming PC.

With any Athlon XP buy, a CPU shim should be a required purchase. The shim fits over the Athlon XP processor and provides a safe and sturdy base when installing a new HSF. At $5 for a high-quality shim, it is cheap insurance against cracked Athlon XP core.

Intel Heatsink-Fan: Included Retail HSF

Current Cost: $0
Months on list: 4
Price Change: N/A

There's no better value than free hardware, and in the case of the Intel Pentium 4 1.8A, we're taking that advice and sticking with the retail cooler. The Northwood core doesn't exactly put a huge strain on the CPU cooling system, and Intel's retail heatsink-fan unit is actually good enough to handle even their higher-end models. That translates into stable operation at standard clock speeds, and an easy transition to higher core speed levels when overclocking. This is another reason to spend a bit more for the retail processor, as nets you a stock cooler and the package price is usually lower than buying an OEM processor and buying additional cooling hardware. An added benefit to the Intel retail cooler is its incredibly quiet operation, and inside a sealed case, the ambient noise levels of the cooling fan can be close to unnoticeable.