December Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 4

System Memory: 512-MB DDR

Last month we moved away from the "one size fits all" memory recommendations, as the divergent AMD and Intel value CPU prices required that we look at the two systems apart from one another. The lower price of the Athlon XP 2500+ allows us to add a bit more performance to the AMD system, while sticking with the standard DDR components on the Intel side. We believe that maximizing the $1K budget is what real-world buyers would do, so we're taking the same route in our guide.

AMD: 512-MB (2x256-MB) PC3200 Corsair Value RAM

Current Cost: $98
Months on list: 2
Price Change: +$4

Intel: 512-MB (2x256-MB) PC2700

Current Cost: $66
Months on list: 4
Price Change: +$4

The difference in CPU pricing brings us back to the question of which DDR type and speed to use in our two value systems. Once again, the Intel side requires a more budget-oriented selection, so we're picking up some standard 333 MHz PC2700 (Micron, Samsung, etc.). Although the Intel motherboard does support PC3200 at 400 MHz, our processor is 533 MHz (bandwidth is satisfied by dual-channel 333 MHz DDR), and the budget just isn't there to go any higher on the DDR scale.

Our AMD system benefits from the lower CPU price, and gives us the option of hitting the 400 MHz DDR level using our recommended Corsair PC3200 Value RAM. This is some of the best memory for the money, and will allow true 400 MHz operation on our AMD board. This means we'll have a 400 MHz DDR clock speed, added bandwidth and the option of a serious payoff should the Athlon XP 2500+ be overclocked.

Both the AMD and Intel systems are dual-channel DDR capable, so two sticks of 256-MB DDR gives us the best price-performance returns, and easily covers the bandwidth requirements of each platform. There is a slight premium in going with dual 256-MB memory modules, but the performance and bandwidth benefits far outweigh the slightly higher cost. The 512-MB memory capacity also ensures that our value PCs will be able to handle current 3D games with ease, and have some headroom for upcoming ones as well.

Hard Drive: 80 GB Western Digital SE

Current Cost: $70
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$5

The $1K value system budget translates into truly maximizing each dollar, and finding the best fit for each component. This works both on the high and low-end of the scale, and if the opportunity to get a high-end piece of hardware for a value price comes up, we nab it without a second thought. The Western Digital 80 GB Special Edition parallel ATA drive is a great example of this, as the drive is definitely top-end in terms of physical specs, and still leads the parallel ATA performance race.

The Western Digital SE drives are extremely fast, and performance is accentuated by a whopping 8-MB data cache, which places it in the same range as more expensive, higher-capacity models. It also features a 7200 RPM speed, , and along with large cache, Western Digital SE drives excel when transferring large files, and the 80-GB of disk space should be more than enough for a value gaming PC.

CD/DVD-ROM:

AMD: AOpen 48x24x48x16 Combo Drive

Current Cost: $46
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

Each month we seem to have a bit of "play money" on the AMD side, and although we did use a few dollars to upgrade the DDR to 400 MHz speeds, there is still a bit left in the kitty. Everyone loves a CDRW drive, especially those Combo units that serve multiple CD writing, CD reading and DVD playback duties. The AOpen Combo Drive is an incredible deal, and features 48X CDR, 24X CDRW write speeds, and 48X CD and 16X DVD read speeds, along with data underrun technology for smooth and stable data writes. This drive also features a 2-MB data cache and at only $46 street, is a very cost-effective way of adding CDR/RW and DVD-read options to an entry-level PC.

Intel: LITE-ON 16X DVD ROM

Current Cost: $27
Months on list: 9
Price Change: -$1

The Intel side of the equation would also benefit from the AOpen Combo Drive, and if you have the extra cash, this is a highly-recommended upgrade. We're still working with a $1K budget, so to stay on target, the popular LITE-ON 16X DVD ROM is more our style. This is a very popular OEM unit, and for good reason. Its quiet operation, solid playback and high flexibility make it a great choice for our Intel value gaming system.