January 2002 Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 5

Video Card: Gainward GeForce2 Ti/450 TV - $101

For pure gaming value, it's tough to beat the GeForce2 Ti cards. These are clocked (250 MHz) at GeForce2 ULTRA levels, but with a memory speed (400 MHz) of the GeForce2 Pro. What is amusing is that the hybrid GeForce2 Ti is less expensive than either of the other GeForce2 products. This makes it the natural choice for a value system, but the problem is in finding just the right model. For our money, the Gainward GeForce2 Ti/450 TV more than fits the bill, not only due to its great performance and nice price point, but for the extras you get. The standard Gainward GeForce2 Ti features 5 ns RAM, but the TI/450 TV version ups this to 4.5 ns memory. This could mean a bit of overclocking, and essentially translates into buying a GeForce2 ULTRA at a significantly lower price.

Monitor 17": LG Flatron 795FT Plus or Samsung 700NF - app. $224

Our $1,000 budget really doesn't leave a lot for the monitor portion, but we're not scrimping either. We are making a stand this week in support of a high quality, flat screen 17" monitor over a standard 19" model. Part of this is for aesthetic reasons; but there are also fewer and fewer basic 19" CRTs in current production and some, like the Samsung 950p, can be difficult to find.

Both the LG Electronics Flatron 795FT Plus and Samsung 700NF are high quality flat screen 17" monitors, and each has a price that fits in well with our budget. These are flat screen, aperture grill designs, with a 0.24mm (LG) and 0.25mm (Samsung) Stripe Pitch. These are also great picks for gaming use, as colors are fresh and clean. Refresh rates are exceptional for 17" monitors, and each can hit a 75Hz max refresh rate at 1600x1200.Add in MPR-II and TCO-99 certifications and a $224 price tag, and you're looking at two of the best deals out there. We're a bit partial to the LG Flatron 795FT Plus ourselves, but do yourself a favor and check these two out in person.

Please keep in mind that when buying any type or brand of monitor, there is always the chance of receiving a defective unit, so be certain to purchase only from a vendor that offers liberal return and replacement options.