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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 20, 2005
Current Cost: $218 In our last value guide, we moved from the Athlon 64 3000+ to the Athlon 64 3200+, which marked the second edition in a row to nab a faster Athlon 64 processor. This month we're at it again, and due to continued AMD price cuts, we're upgrading the CPU component once again. Due to the higher platform prices of Socket 939, we're sticking with the 754-pin line, and upgrading to the Athlon 64 3400+. This is also the 512K Newcastle core version, and it runs at a steaming 2.4 GHz clock speed. This clock speed is on par with the 2.4 GHz Athlon 3700+ (1-MB) and 3800+ (939-pin) CPUs, and it is fair to assume that the performance of the Athlon 64 3400+ far exceeds its model number. This processor is an exceptional deal right now, and we had no qualms about spending the extra $30 in return for cutting-edge Athlon 64 power. Due to our budget, we've had to choose the Retail model and its nearly-free heatsink-fan, but if you have a killer 3rd-party HSF unit in mind, then going the OEM route is always an option.
The Athlon 64 3400+ upgrade is even more significant than the prior Athlon 64 2800+ to 3000+ to 3200+ transitions, as it positions us very high on the CPU performance list, but still at a budget price. We're still looking at the standard 200 MHz core speed increase, but at this level, we're really looking at gaming performance more in line with a hypothetical Athlon 64 3600+ processor. The only issue with this move is that is severely undercuts our future upgrade opportunities, as the Athlon 64 3700+ is virtually equivalent, and for a viable upgrade, we'll need to move to Socket 939, and at least the Athlon 64 3800+ level. Then again, with high-end Athlon 64 939-pin prices the way they are, that move will likely be some time off.
Current Cost: $214 This selection should give you a better idea on the direction we're heading for the Intel system, as the 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 540 represents a total shift away from Socket 478. We did this for a number of reasons, with the most obvious being CPU prices. Intel has continued to drop prices on their LGA 775 processor line (likely to induce migration), and we decided to take the bait and save some money. Another reason is the upgrade to PCI Express that comes along with it, and the fact that there are some super deals on PCIe video cards. That dual-pronged savings provides us with far more hardware than by going the Socket 478/AGP route, and allows serious performance potential on the Intel side.
Compared to last month's Pentium 4-3.0E GHz selection, the Pentium 4 540 represents a 200 MHz core speed jump right off the bat. This is a significant upgrade, and the Pentium 4 540 also includes the basic Prescott architecture, with a 1-MB L2 cache, an 800 MHz front-side bus, Hyper-Threading, and support for dual-channel DDR400 (or DDR2-533) memory speeds. The higher-speed Prescott models can run hot, but the LGA 775 design allows more real estate for CPU coolers and a better cooling design overall. At 3.2 GHz and dual-channel DDR4, the Pentium 4 provides serious power for our value gaming system, while allowing at least some overclocking and tweaking headroom for the hardcore enthusiasts. The Retail vs. OEM argument also comes down to price, just as it did with the AMD processor. The Intel Retail package makes the most sense, as not only do you get a nearly-free heatsink-fan and full 3-year Intel warranty, but also a sealed, totally untested CPU. Most Pentium 4 models are still priced higher than corresponding AMD CPUs, so any method of cost savings is a good thing.
Current Cost: $0 The Retail Athlon 64 3400+ includes a bundled heatsink-fan, and for both budgetary and ease-of-use considerations, this is the best path to take. The retail model is slightly more expensive than the OEM processor, but you receive a nearly-free HSF and an extended product warranty to boot. Of course, this is simply a recommendation, and those with a particular 3rd-party HSF unit in mind should certainly go the OEM route, even though it may go a bit over our $1K budget.
Current Cost: $0 The street price of the Pentium 4 processors means that choosing a Retail model is the best way to maximize our system budget. In fact when it comes to Pentium 4 LGA 775 models, the price difference between the OEM and Retail CPU models is nonexistent, and with the bundled Intel heatsink-fan, this amounts to a savings compared to an OEM CPU + 3rd-party heatsink-fan combo. The retail HSF provides more than adequate cooling for our Pentium 4 540, and the retail package allows us to stay within budget. These Intel heatsink-fan units are also very easy to install and do not require any motherboard modifications or CPU socket adjustments.
The retail Pentium 4 coolers have passed our tests even using a 3.6 GHz model, and we have no problem at all recommending these for our value gaming system. These Intel retail coolers may not qualify as hardcore, but still provide rock solid stability at base clock speeds, and have a bit extra left over for moderate overclocking.
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