October Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 5

Video Card: MSI G4Ti4200-TD GeForce4 Ti 4200

Current Cost: $127
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$18

The 3D video portion of our value system is a bit easier selection this time out, mostly due to the lower price of the GeForce4 Ti 4200 cards. This is the perfect price-performance level for our value gaming system, as it offers a high-end feature set, super performance for the class, and a price that is almost too low to be believed. For this guide, we're sticking with the MSI G4Ti4200-TD GeForce4 Ti 4200, though we are looking at the 64-MB version to stay within budget.

The MSI G4Ti4200-TD GeForce4 Ti 4200 64-MB is a high performance card from MSI, a recognizable brand name, and it puts the cherry on top with an incredible game and application bundle. This is where we lean, but feel free to choose the card you feel most comfortable with, but a value buyer definitely can't go wrong with a MSI GeForce4 Ti video card.

Monitor 17": Samsung 700NF

Current Cost: $170
Months on list: 6
Price Change: -$35

Our $1,000 budget creates a situation where we're caught between a 17" flat-screen rock and a 19" standard CRT hard place. Making it even more difficult is the fact that basic 19" CRTs are being discontinued at a record pace, with production being moved to the more popular flat-screen models. We'd love to fit a high quality 19" flat screen monitor into the budget, but the prices still remain a bit out of reach. When looking for that perfect combination of image quality and low price, we're still seeing a name brand 17" flat-screen monitor as the best overall option.

The Samsung 700NF is a low-cost, high quality flat screen 17" monitor, and is quite similar to the popular 19" 900NF model. Finding the right mix of price and features is a tough job, and we discovered many 17" flat screen models either limited resolutions or (1280x1024 max) or refresh rates (60 Hz at max resolution) and did not exhibit the high-end features we were looking for. On the flip side are higher-end 17" monitors that have all the features, resolutions and refresh rates, but carry a price tag much closer to the 19" competition.

Thankfully, the Samsung 700NF combines high-end features with an incredibly low price. The 700NF features a flat screen, aperture grill design, along with a 0.25mm Stripe Pitch, which provide deep, rich colors for both gaming and basic application use. The unit's refresh rates are truly exceptional for a 17" monitor, and can achieve a 75Hz refresh rate at 1600x1200. Add in MPR-II and TCO-99 certifications and an estimated $205 price tag, and youre looking at one incredible deal. If Samsung isnt your bag, there are competitive models from NEC, LG and Viewsonic that have basically the same features at a comparable price.

Please keep in mind that when buying any type or brand of monitor, there is always the chance of receiving a defective unit or a flat-screen with convergence issues, so be certain to purchase only from a vendor that offers liberal return and replacement options.