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Sharky Extreme : Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
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Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
January Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2By Vince Freeman January 2, 2004ProcessorsAMD CPU: Athlon XP 2800+ (2.08 GHz) Barton OEM
Current Cost: $124 The Athlon XP 2500+ is certainly one of the best CPU values right now, and we had an extremely tough choice picking our AMD processor component. In the end, our need for speed, and a few extra dollars on the pocket, brought the powerful Athlon XP 2800+ Barton into the fold. Extra CPU power is always welcome, and now that the OEM model has dropped below the $125 level, it's virtually impossible to resist. It's also important when planning an upgrade from last month's Athlon XP 2500+, that we stick with the 512K Barton core, and skip right by the older model Athlon XP 2600+ and 2700+. The Athlon XP 2500+ may be an overclocking champ, but there's still a lot of headroom with the Athlon XP 2800+, not to mention it provides greater performance for those who want to leave their CPU at stock speeds. The Athlon XP 2800+ has an incredibly high price-performance ratio, and in many ways, has taken a bit of thunder away from the Athlon XP 2500+, even at the value end of things. AMD offers both OEM and retail versions, but we recommend the OEM model, not only to save a few dollars but also to choose a more powerful, 3rd-party cooling solution.
As we mentioned, this is still a very tough call, and those on tight budget may want to stick with the Athlon XP 2500+ and save a few extra dollars. Either way, you're getting a powerful CPU with lots of overclocking potential. Those with a few extra bucks will love the Athlon XP 2800+ upgrade, while the more budget constrained can still nab a lot of power for the price with the Athlon XP 2500+.
Current Cost: $160
The Intel and AMD price wars are heating up at the mid-range and high-end areas, but the entry-level is still weighted towards AMD. In order to achieve a competitive price level with the budget AMD selection, you really need to visit Celeron land, and we're not prepared to do that. The 800 MHz variants are attractive, but the 533 MHz front-side bus is where the value is right now, and we're sticking with last month's selection of a Pentium 4-2.66 GHz. What's interesting is that this processor can be purchased for around the same price as the Pentium 4-2.4 and 2.53 GHz models, and the Pentium 4-2.4C (800 MHz) is actually more expensive. Performance-wise, the Pentium 4-2.66 GHz still comes out on top, and even with DDR400 the Pentium 4-2.4C only performs on par with a 2.53 GHz Pentium 4 (533 MHz). The 533 MHz FSB also fits our system design plans better, so there's really no downside to this choice for a value system. At this point in time, this is really the best-case scenario for our Intel system, but even so, the higher Intel prices do entail some concessions in terms of overall hardware. Of course, this scenario would be present whether we nabbed the 2.4B, 2.4C, 2.53 or 2.66 GHz Pentium 4 models, and since some online stores have the Pentium 4-2.66 GHz on par with lower-speed models, it's obvious you should go for the high-end 2.66 GHz option. In terms of the Retail vs. OEM argument, we're going with the Retail package, as not only do you receive a nearly-free heatsink-fan and full 3-year Intel warranty, but also a sealed, totally untested CPU. These entry-level Pentium 4 models are priced a bit higher than corresponding AMD CPUs, so any HSF cost savings are definitely a good thing.
Current Cost: $23
The Athlon XP 2800+ offers some cooling benefits over the higher-clocked, 256K L2 2600+ and 2700+ models, and at a base clock speed of 2.08 GHz, the retail AMD cooling would still be up to the task. We have allocated the money for a bit more substantial cooling solution, and are once again choosing the Vantec AeroFlow VA4-C7040 as our heatsink-fan of choice.
The Vantec AeroFlow VA4-C7040 is a great pick for entry-level systems, and it offers a nice combination of performance at a very attractive price. The VA4-C7040 supports up to an Athlon XP 3000+ standard, and features a copper-core, AeroFlow heatsink design, which provides enhanced airflow around the heatsink and a more uniform pattern of dissipation. The cooling fan is also unique, and its TMD (Tip-Magnetic Driving) Fan allows for high-end speeds (5600 RPM) without jacking the noise too much (38 dBA). The Vantec AeroFlow is also a breeze to use, as it features a thumb-lever for easy installation, and a 3-prong design for stability.
Current Cost: $0 A retail Pentium 4 processor is the best option for Intel value systems, as the price difference between the OEM and Retail CPU models is extremely slim, and we actually save money compared to even an entry-level, 3rd-party heatsink-fan. The Pentium 4's bundled heatsink-fan provides more than enough cooling for our Pentium 2.66 GHz, and given the tight price structure at the Intel entry-level, it really helps us stay within budget. Even at 2.66 GHz, the Northwood core doesn't put a huge strain on the CPU cooling system, and the exact same retail heatsink-fan unit is actually hefty enough to handle even their higher-end 3.06 GHz models. This translates into stable operation at standard clock speeds, and safe overclocking to higher core speed levels.
Overall value is a great reason to spend a bit more for an Intel retail processor, as it nets you a stock cooler and the package price is currently much lower than buying an OEM Pentium 4 and then purchasing a retail heatsink-fan. A nice side-benefit to the Intel retail cooler is its incredibly quiet operation, and inside a sealed case, the ambient noise levels of the Intel cooling fan can be close to unnoticeable.
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