May 2006 Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 5

Video Card: GeForce 7600 GT 256MB - PCI Express

Current Cost: $168
Months on list: New
Price Change: N/A

This month we welcome yet another graphics challenger to the fold, and add the impressive NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB card to our system mix. The graphics processor is one area that really speeds up overall gaming performance, and while our budget could never support something outlandish like the GeForce 7900 GTX or Radeon X1900 XTX, we do try to allocate one of the top mainstream cards. The GeForce 7600 GT is a very powerful and feature-rich video card, and not only does it up the ante in many different areas, it also costs about the same as the GeForce 6800 GS we selected last time out. This makes it not only a great match for our AMD and Intel systems, but also a perfect fit for our $1K budget.

The GeForce 7600 GT 256MB features a streamlined 90nm core that in many ways, is similar to a GeForce 7900 sliced in half. The GPU features 12 pixel pipelines, 5 vertex shaders, 8 raster operators, and 24 ALUs, and basically anything the GeForce 7900 offers features-wise, so does the GeForce 7600 GT. The clock speeds are also impressive, and the GeForce 7600 GT 256MB runs at default 560 MHz core and 1400 MHz memory speeds. The GeForce 7600 GT is fully Shader Model 3.0 compliant and offers standard features like PureVideo, UltraShadow II, IntelliSample 4, and SLI.

The card also includes 256MB of GDDR3 running on a 128-bit bus, which again, is exactly half that of a top-end GeForce 7900. The 128-bit memory interface is also more in line with a GeForce 6600 than a 6800, but the clock speeds are high enough to compensate. The GeForce 7600 GT GPU is a 90nm part, which is smaller and cooler than the 110nm GeForce 6800 GS it is replacing, and well ahead of the older 130nm GeForce 6 Series. The smaller GPU cooler and the lack of an external power connector are two of the main benefits. This could also translate into some additional overclocking headroom, but as many vendors are overclocking "out of the box", your mileage will definitely vary.

Although we don't choose a specific model, mostly due to fluctuating supplies and availability, we can recommend both the Albatron GeForce 7600 GT 256MB card (pictured above) and EVGA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB card (pictured below). Both cards offer an excellent mix of high performance and low price, making these a perfect match for our value system configurations.

Due to the 90nm GeForce 7600 GT graphics processing unit, there are also some very innovative designs coming out, like the fanless cards from both ASUS and Gigabyte. These are especially attractive to users who want to lower ambient noise, as well as lower power consumption.

We are continuing to list an ATI video card alternative at the same price range. After all, just like AMD and Intel processors, some people feel more comfortable with a video card from either NVIDIA or ATI.

On the ATI side, it's extremely difficult to find a contender at the same price level. The Radeon X1600 XT 256MB is priced lower ($140-$150), but cannot match the GeForce 7600 GT in terms of performance. The Radeon X1800 GTO is a super performer that can outpace the GeForce 7600 GT, but it comes with a higher price tag ($200+). So for hardcore ATI fans, it comes down to a choice, and we'd probably pay the piper and snag a Radeon X1800 GTO, like the Sapphire card pictured below.

Display: 17" LCD with 8-12ms Response Time

Current Cost: $180
Months on list: 3
Price Change: -$20

The $1,000 budget, combined with our mandate of creating the fastest gaming system for the money, brings with it a few issues on the monitor side. We cannot use too much of our budget in a given area, and the best strategy is to distribute it evenly through the component list. We've already made the jump to a 17" gaming LCD, as this display technology is clearly the wave of the present and future. This is also becoming almost a requirement, if for no other reason than 19" CRTs are becoming virtually impossible to find.

We're currently recommending a generic option of an 8ms-12ms 17" LCD, which due to continued price drops, is now in the $180 price range. Many of these 17" units have exceptional features, offer a more visually appealing display than a standard CRT, cause less eye strain, and with a 8-12ms response time, even high speed gaming will show minimal (if any) ghosting. One concession is the difficulty in getting DVI inputs at this price range, and although the majority of sub-$200 LCDs are analog, a few are starting to feature both interfaces. The best overall LCD value is currently with the 17" models, and models from Acer, Daewoo, Rosewill, CTX, BenQ, CMV, Envision, or even Viewsonic and Samsung, are available in this price range.

Please keep in mind that when buying any type or brand of LCD, there is always the slight chance of receiving a defective unit or a flat-screen with dead pixels, so be certain to purchase only from a vendor that offers liberal return and replacement options. This is doubly important for LCDs, and be sure to check the vendor's Dead Pixel Replacement Policy and investigate any further protection you can buy.