December 2002 Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2

CPU

AMD: Athlon XP 2100+ (1.73 GHz) OEM

Current Cost: $90
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

Going with an Athlon XP is the standard choice for our AMD system, and because of some opportune price cuts, we're able to outfit our value system quite high on the chart. Lat edition, we picked the Athlon XP 2000+, and this time out, we can nab a nice upgraded Athlon XP 2100+ for even less money. The Athlon XP 2100+ has more than enough juice for a value gaming system, and is really not that far removed from the higher-end Athlon XP 2400+, 2600 and 2700+. We really can't move any higher than the 2100+ though, as the AMD price chart makes a big jump to the Athlon XP 2200+, enacting a price premium of over $50. Overclocking might not be up to Pentium 4 Northwood standards, but you can certainly jack a few more MHz out of the 2100+. Our Athlon XP CPU component is an exceptional value for any entry-level gaming PC, and is by far the most compelling reason to lean towards buying an AMD system.

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

Current Cost: $125
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$4

Unfortunately, current Intel pricing doesn't let us upgrade the Pentium4 end of things, and we're left with the Pentium 4-1.8A as the sole budget-eligible processor. Both the Pentium 4-1.6A and 1.8A are nice options, but we feel the Pentium 4-1.8A offers a bit more bang for the buck 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. With some nice Pentium 4-2.0A overclocking results coming in, we'd love to give this model a try, but prices are still out of reach for a value PC.

Even at the basic clock speed, the Pentium 4-1.8A is the best Intel 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 recommend buying the Retail version, as not only do you get a free heatsink-fan and whopping 3-year warranty, but this also translates into 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: 4
Price Change: $0

The Athlon XP does run cooler than the older Athlon model, but even at stock speeds, it still requires a serious heatsink-fan combo, and supreme cooling is a requirement for potential overclocking. This is a tough call on a value budget, and while we're not looking to pinch pennies in the area of cooling, but neither can we go out and buy an expensive, hot rod model. The ThermalTake Volcano 7 is a great compromise between the two extremes, as it includes a monstrous, heatsink that can more than handle an Athlon XP 2100+. The Volcano 7 is comprised of aluminum for the main heatsink, 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, especially 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 an Athlon XP buy, getting a CPU shim is a safe 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: 5
Price Change: N/A

If there's a better value than free hardware, we haven't seen it! For our Intel Pentium 4 1.8A, we're taking our own advice and sticking with the bundled, 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 hefty enough to cool even their higher-end models. That translates into stable operation at standard clock speeds, and an easy overclocking to higher core speed levels. 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 purchasing additional cooling hardware. Another great 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.