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Sharky Extreme : Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
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Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
April Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 4By Vince Freeman April 29, 2005
The AMD and Intel system prices continue to move closer together and this month these are at virtually equivalent levels. Even so, we're still looking at these two systems as distinct configurations, rather than using a "one size fits all" memory recommendation. Instead the two systems are evaluated separately, and the budget is allocated in the most logical way. Each platform 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: $83
Current Cost: $83 This time out, we still concentrated on getting the best deal for both systems, but it just happened to be the same thing for both. Corsair Value Select PC3200 DDR has really come down in price over the past few months, and it's a no-brainer to snag 2x512-MB for only $83. Moving any higher on the DDR chart would be overkill, just as going with high-end PC4200 would be a waste of our budget.
The Intel 915PL platform supports dual-channel DDR, but also comes with the limit of a single DIMM per channel. By upgrading to 1-GB of PC3200, we are ensuring that really never becomes an issue, as a value system configuration with 1-GB of name brand DDR is not something you will need to upgrade anytime soon. The 2x512-MB format also ensures we utilize the dual-channel memory architecture to its fullest, keep up with the 800 MHz CPU bus. The integrated DDR controller of the Athlon 64 3400+ is very powerful, but it still features a single-channel memory design, and a single 1-GB stick of PC3200 is just as good as 2x512-MB, and does not incur a performance penalty. Of course, in the strange world of PC3200, 2x512-MB is actually less expensive than a comparable 1-GB stick. Naturally, with 3 DIMM sockets, we'll save a few dollars, especially as a 1-GB memory capacity is well above the requirements of any value system. Due to the faster CPU and video card components, we simply can't move any higher on the DDR list, as name brand or "low latency" DDR is simply too much for our budget to handle. We've budgeted for Corsair Value PC3200, but there are other brands at the same range, such as Kingmax, Geil Value, Samsung, PDP, Rosewill, or Komusa DDR. Overall, the 1-GB of total memory capacity ensures that both of our value PCs will be able to handle current 3D games with ease, and have a lot of headroom for upcoming ones as well.
Current Cost: $57
Current Cost: $57
With the split in platforms also comes a break in the hard drive selections as well, but instead of the dual brands we had last month, we're settling on the Western Digital SE all around. This is mostly due to the cost requirement on the Intel side, as 80-GB WD SATA drives are incredible bargains this month, and are actually priced on par with the PATA models. Of course, we always try and match up components in terms of performance, value and longevity. The new i915P Intel platform virtually requires using an SATA hard drive, while the nForce3 250 is still is geared towards PATA drives. In terms of our selections, both WD drives are equivalent in terms of capacity, design and performance, but since the Intel platform has only a single PATA connector, going the Serial ATA route will ensure we have room for CD/DVD based drives, as well as potential hard drive upgrades in the future. Western Digital Special Edition models sport an 8-MB cache and 7200 RPM speed, making them well suited for a performance gaming system.
There is no reason to switch from the Western Digital Special Edition Parallel ATA hard drive on the AMD platform. This model is one serious piece of hardware, and is not something you'd expect to find in a value gaming system. The WD SE models are extremely fast, and match the SATA model with a 7200 RPM speed and a hefty 8-MB data cache. 80-GB is more than enough data capacity for an entry-level system, and there is virtually no premium for the extra data cache.
Current Cost: $31
Even a lower-cost gaming system should have the ability to write to CDR/RW and read DVD media, and there is no easier or more cost-effective method than using a combo drive. These drives are popular for both value and convenience, as these units can handle the gamut of CDR/RW writing, CD reading and DVD playback duties. This month we're moving to the Toshiba SD-R1612 combo drive, which costs only $31, performs at 52X CDR, 32X CDRW write speeds, and 52X CD and 16X DVD read speeds, and includes data underrun technology for smooth and stable data writes. The Toshiba drive also features a 2-MB data cache, and gives us a very inexpensive way of adding CDR/RW and DVD-read options to our value gaming systems.
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