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Sharky Extreme : Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
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Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
August Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 4By Vince Freeman August 13, 2004
The AMD and Intel platform prices have moved closer together, and on the AMD side, we really don't have the same level of excess cash as in previous guides. We're still looking at these two systems as distinct purchases, and are not going with a "one size fits all" memory recommendation. Instead the two systems are evaluated separately, and the budget is allocated in the most logical way. The Intel Pentium 4-2.8E GHz and Athlon 64 3000+ give us more than enough CPU power, but each has its own set of requirements, and we can use this to achieve the best overall DDR memory value. We believe that maximizing the $1K budget is what real-world buyers would do, which is even more important with fluctuating DDR prices.
Current Cost: $82
Current Cost: $82 DDR prices are continuing to drop of late, which gives us a bit more leeway in terms of other component costs. This is actually one of the main reasons we were able to upgrade to the faster processors and motherboards this month. The DDR cost savings have already been spent, so we're not looking at upgrading to higher-end DDR, and are instead sticking with 512-MB of PC3200. The Intel system supports dual-channel operation, so 2x256-MB of PC3200 is the best deal, especially since we have upgraded to an 800 MHz Pentium 4-2.8E GHz. We've budgeted our the DDR selection for generic "house brand" PC3200 DDR, but there's enough money to ensure you can receive a mid-range name brand like standard Samsung, PDP, Apacer, Kreton or Komusa DDR.
The Socket 754 AMD motherboard design allows us to go with a single 512-MB stick of PC3200, and not lose a bit in performance. The integrated DDR controller of the Athlon 64 3000+ is definitely high-end, but uses only a single-channel format. This lets us choose 512-MB of Corsair Value Select PC3200 for the same price as 2x256-MB of generic PC3200. This not only gives us slightly higher-quality DDR, but leaves two DDR sockets free for potential upgrades. We still 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 operation on our AMD platform.
The Intel system features dual-channel DDR capable, so 2x256-MB matched pair DDR gives us the best price-performance, and covers the bandwidth requirements of the platform. There is a slight premium in going with dual 256-MB memory modules over a single 512-MB stick, but the performance benefits far outweigh the slightly higher cost. On the AMD side, we make use of this cost savings to upgrade to name brand DDR, while losing nothing on the performance end. The 512-MB total memory capacity ensures that our value PCs will be able to handle current 3D games with ease, and have some headroom for upcoming ones as well.
Current Cost: $64
Current Cost: $56
For the last few months, we've had to split the Intel and AMD hard drive choices between two 80-GB Western Digital hard drives, with the differences being in the specifications and price. We're continuing to go this route this month, as the system costs are going right down to the wire, and every dollar counts when it comes to $1,000 budget. The AMD value system gets the Western Digital Special Edition treatment, along with our standard 80-GB of storage space. 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 speed 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 still has some budgetary issues, and we're sticking with a standard Western Digital 80-GB drive, and while also featuring a 7200 RPM speed, the data cache is a more moderate 2-MB. We really have no choice on the Intel side, as making sure we nab the speedy CPU and 3D video card components is a bit more important than a slightly faster hard drive. The 80-GB storage space remains consistent, but we'll have to keep an eye on prices, as the standard 2-MB models are definitely closing the gap with the Special Edition drives.
Current Cost: $43
Every system deserves to have CDR/RW and DVD read capabilities, and there's no easier or more cost-effective method than a combo drive. Combo drives are the hot ticket for both value and convenience, as these units can handle CDR/RW writing, CD reading and DVD playback duties. The AOpen Combo Drive is an incredible deal, and we're keeping last month's COM5232 upgrade, which performs 52X CDR, 32X CDRW write speeds, and 52X 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 $43 street price, AOpen gives us a very inexpensive way of adding CDR/RW and DVD-read options to our value gaming systems.
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