April 2004 Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 4

System Memory: 512-MB PC3200 DDR

The differential between AMD and Intel CPU prices has moved us away from the "one size fits all" memory recommendation, and instead the two systems are evaluated separately and the budget has been allocated along those lines. The Intel Pentium 4-2.8 GHz gives us more than enough CPU power, but the pricing issue remains the same; there is still a nice chunk of change left over on the AMD side. We believe that maximizing the $1K budget is what real-world buyers would do, which is even more important with recent DDR price increases.

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

Current Cost: $112
Months on list: 3
Price Change: +$20

Intel: 512-MB (2x256-MB) Generic PC3200

Current Cost: $84
Months on list: 3
Price Change: +$12

As you might have noticed from the component list, DDR prices have spiked across the board. This has hit everything from generic PC2700 all they way up to high-end PC4400, and this market-wide jump has really put some pressure on our buying guides. We're really stuck between a rock and hard place when it comes to our Intel system, and we're swallowing the $12 increase and sticking with 2x256-MB of generic PC3200.

The price difference between generic PC2700 and PC3200 is virtually non-existent, so this is the most cost-effective route. PC3200 not only provides a better upgrade path to a faster 800 MHz Pentium 4, but also allows tighter timings at 333 MHz and some overclocking headroom as well. We've budgeted our the DDR budget for generic "house brand" PC3200 DDR, but there's enough money to ensure you can receive a mid-range name brand like standard Samsung, Apacer or Komusa DDR.

The lower AMD processor and motherboard costs give us some leeway in the DDR area, and going with higher-quality DIMMs in one upgrade we explored. We do take a $20 hit this month, but due to some price decreases in other areas, it is easily absorbed. Buying higher-quality Corsair Value Select PC3200 is still a good buy, as even with the higher price, it remains at only a slight premium over generic DDR. We really can't go any higher on the chart, as moving to 512-MB of high-end "low latency" DDR is simply too much for our budget to handle. We also recommend Corsair to ensure full compatibility and provide rock solid 400 MHz operation on our AMD platform.

The AMD and Intel systems are both dual-channel DDR capable, so two sticks of 256-MB matched pair DDR gives us the best price-performance, and covers the bandwidth requirements of each platform. There is a slight premium in going with dual 256-MB memory modules over a single 512-MB stick, but the dual-channel performance 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:

AMD: 80 GB Western Digital SE (8MB)

Current Cost: $67
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$3

Intel: 80 GB Western Digital (2MB)

Current Cost: $55
Months on list: 2
Price Change: -$1

Last month, we moved both the Intel and AMD systems to 80-GB Western Digital hard drives, but the difference is in the model and its price. We're still looking to save some cash on both sides, but the Intel system is really pushing the limits of a $1K budget.

The AMD value system gets the Western Digital Special Edition treatment, in the form of the 80-GB model. The Western Digital Special Edition parallel ATA drive is one serious piece of hardware, and is not something you'd expect to find in a value gaming system. The WD SE drives are extremely fast, and performance is accentuated by a 7200 RPM and a whopping 8-MB data cache, which places it in the same performance range as more expensive models. 80-GB is more than enough data capacity for an entry-level system, and the slight premium for the extra data cache is more than worth it.

The Intel value system has additional budgetary constraints, and we're going with a standard Western Digital drive, and while also featuring a 7200 RPM, the data cache is a more moderate 2-MB. This is the cost of doing business on the Intel side, while still making sure we nab the speedy CPU and 3D video card components that really push the framerates. The 80-GB storage space remains consistent, and this is really a small concession when it comes to overall gaming speed, especially as the savings are put into the performance side.

CD/DVD-ROM:

AOpen 48x24x48x16 Combo Drive

Current Cost: $50
Months on list: 6
Price Change: +$3

Any system deserves to have CDR/RW and DVD read capabilities, and there's no easier or cost-effective method than the combo drive. Combo drives are the hot ticket, as these units can handle multiple duties, such as CDR/RW writing, CD reading and DVD playback. 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 a $50 street price, gives us a very cost-effective way of adding CDR/RW and DVD-read options to our value gaming systems.

AOpen has recently put out an upgraded 52x40x52x16 model (COM5232), but until it really hits the mass market and availability is higher, we're sticking with the current model.