November Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 4

System Memory

AMD: 128-MB PC2100 DDR - $13

The beauty of moving our AMD system to DDR is that we don't really have to pay much more for the faster memory technology. We're also sticking with 128 as a base level for our value systems, since it allows enough memory to start with, and upgrading later on is a snap. This gives us a bit more room for a faster CPU (which is very expensive to upgrade) and it looks like the right trade-off.

Intel: 128-MB PC133 CAS2 SDRAM - $9

It's much the same story with the Intel system, as 128-MB of PC133 CAS2 SDRAM looks to be the best level to start our value system at. It really comes down to buying a slower Pentium 4 and 256-MB or going for the 1.5 GHz gusto and then spending another $9 for the extra 128-MB later on. Contrast this with switching CPUs and you can see the wisdom of putting the initial investment towards the processor.

Hard Drive: 40GB IBM Deskstar ATA-100 7200 RPM - $99

Buying a new hard drive with enough speed and storage space for your current and future gaming needs has never been easier For just under $100, we can purchase an ultra-fast IBM Deskstar 60GXP drive featuring 40 GB of disk space. This ATA100 drive spins at 7200 RPM and also features a full 2-MB of cache and by going the 60GXP route, we are free from the potential issue surrounding the lower-end 75GXP line. Purchasing a 40 GB drive might seem like a bit of overkill right now, but you just might need the extra space just to run Baldur's Gate 3.