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Sharky Extreme : Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
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Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
December 2005 Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2By Vince Freeman December 8, 2005
Current Cost: $200 When it comes to the AMD processor choice, it really boils down to two options: mainstream performance using the Socket 754 platform or more entry-level speed with a Socket 939 platform. For the past year or so, we've been choosing to get the most bang for our buck, while sacrificing some potential upgradeability, especially since the 2.4 GHz Athlon 64 3400+ is such a great deal. The problem, of course, is that there is nowhere to go in terms of future upgrades, and 2.4 GHz is essentially the end of the line for Socket 754. There is also the prospect of dual-core processors, and although we cannot afford one right off the bat, going with Socket 939 does allow the possibility in the future. In terms of the processor, we're selecting the Athlon 64 3500+ this month, and although we do give up a bit of standard performance with this 2.2 GHz model, the overall platform features help bridge the gap. The Athlon 64 3500+ is clocked at 2.2 GHz, features a 512K L2 cache, and features the 939-pin CPU package. At only $200, it is a very nice deal, and brings us excellent gaming performance for the class, with the next step up being the $300-$320 Athlon 64 3800+ and X2 3800+ models. To help maximize our budget, we've chosen the Retail model and its nearly-free heatsink-fan, but if you have a killer 3rd-party HSF unit in mind, then buying an OEM CPU is always an option.
The Athlon 64 3500+ positions us at the mainstream of the AMD processor scale, and although the 2.4 GHz Athlon 64 3400+ 754-pin model can outperform it in certain scenarios, the dual channel DDR architecture and more current platform also give the Athlon 64 3500+ an edge. By moving to Socket 939, we've also removed any potential upgrade issues, and by starting out with the Athlon 64 3500+ , we can safely move to a higher-end Athlon 64 X2 or FX in the future, once prices drop.
Current Cost: $210 Now that Intel has dropped the price of their Pentium 4 6xx line, and brought them into line with the Pentium 4 5xx processors, the Pentium 4 640 is the obvious choice. This not only gives us a high performance system, but maintains our LGA 775 platform base and allows us to save some cash in other areas. The LGA 775 Pentium 4 processors have noticeably lower retail prices than the same-speed Socket 478 model, and this discrepancy allows us to move up to a higher clocked model with a larger L2 cache, at no price difference. The native PCI Express support provides a better upgrade path, and achieves greater value for our money, as there are some great deals on mainstream PCIe video cards. LGA 775 gives us more hardware for the dollar than the Socket 478/AGP platform, and allows Intel to move closer to AMD in terms of price-performance.
The Pentium 4 640 features the latest Prescott 2M core architecture, with an upgraded 2MB L2 cache, an 800 MHz front-side bus, Hyper-Threading, and support for dual-channel DDR400 or DDR2-533 memory speeds. This represents a performance improvement over the Pentium 4 540 and its basic Prescott core, but nothing too significant. The higher-speed Prescott 2M models can run hot, but the LGA 775 design allows more real estate for CPU coolers and better cooling performance overall. At 3.2 GHz and using dual-channel DDR400, the Pentium 4 offers serious performance 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 Athlon 64 3500+ 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 Athlon 64 3500+ retail box includes a bundled heatsink-fan, and for both budgetary and ease-of-use considerations, we chose to go in this direction. 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 current street price of the Pentium 4 processors translates into the Retail model being the top method of maximizing our system budget. 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 4 640, 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 3.6-3.8 GHz models, 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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