April Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide

Introduction

Now that we're into Spring 2005, and our Value Guide is coming off another nice update, it's a good time to assemble a new gaming system. As usual, our Value Guide takes both performance and price into consideration, and we're pinching every penny in search of a high-performance system for gamers on a budget. In a nutshell, the Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide delivers the system and gaming performance you want, but at a price that won't break the bank. The overall scenario is bit different than some of the other buyer's guides on Sharky Extreme, as we limit the budget to $1,000 in cold, hard cash while the goal remains the same: to assemble a kick-ass gaming system that will play today's hottest games and still have some power in reserve for tomorrow.

To do this, we pay special attention to the price-performance of each component, making sure to match them according to their value from an overall system performance standpoint. While not as fast or flashy as the Extreme or High-End Gaming Systems, our Value configuration may actually be the best deal of them all. If you're the type of gamer who counts your pennies before buying any new system, then get ready for a buyer's guide right up your alley.

Finding the best system components for a value gaming system is more difficult than simply picking the very best hardware money can buy, and it entails a great deal of concession on the part of the buyer. The $1,000 budget gets eaten up pretty quick, and slapping down the cash for a 21" LCD or 3.73 GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition would take care of it in very short order. When compiling our Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, we try and find that happy medium between spending a fortune on a new PC, and being "penny wise/pound stupid", and getting stuck with obsolete hardware. Our value gaming PCs will still allow high-end gameplay, contains the CPU and 3D video power necessary to really push the framerates, and keeps a close eye on quality and features to boot. Rest assured we don't scour the bargain bins for out-of-date or low-end hardware, and instead stick to a name brand component mix that offers the best overall value.

Our Value Guides of 2005 have really hit home, and we moved well up the list in terms of what kind of hardware you could get for a cool $1K. Virtually every performance component has been upgraded, including new platforms, processors and video cards, just to name a few. Naturally, this time out we're looking for specific areas to improve on, as well as firming up some of the brand selections, and seeing exactly where we can save a few dollars. While not as radical a departure as our last few updates, we have managed to make our value gaming configurations even better.

As with all of our buyer's guides, we have made every attempt to confirm that the selected hardware is available at one or more of the largest and most popular (with Sharky readers) online retailers. Although the price stated in the guide may not be exactly match that of a specific online dealer, you can bet on finding a significant percentage of our component list in their catalogues and at similar price levels. The availability factor did not limit our choices, but we do sleep easier with the knowledge that interested buyers can find the same hardware selection at most of the large online vendors.

Value Gaming PC Budget: $1000

Case: Aspire X-Dreamer II (with 350W PSU)

Current Cost: $51
Months on list: 12
Price Change: -$1

The system case is the base of any new configuration, and it is one of the most important components in the overall design. This is true no matter the budget, and the case should be given equal weight whether you're spending $1,000 or $5,000. Although we do get a bit more freedom with our High-end and Extreme Buyer's Guides, even an entry-level gaming computer deserves a quality case with a nice mix of features and real estate. When it comes to value system enclosures, there is still a need to balance retail price against case options, aesthetics and potential upgrade space, and the X-Dreamer II is able to do that with ease.

Aspire has really packed a lot into the X-Dreamer II box, especially in relation to its relatively low retail price. This case includes a wide range of features, has a ton of expandability, sports a great design, and includes very impressive specifications for its price and class. The X-Dreamer II may be an entry-level case in terms of cost, but this is not a standard "budget case" by any means. The X-Dreamer II has also been on the list for some time now, but as we add or upgrade our performance components and the budgets tightens up, it has been incredibly tough finding an adequate replacement at this price range.

The Aspire X-Dreamer II is a great-looking case no matter the price, and its slick metallic housing and side window really give it some definite appeal. This case is far more than just another pretty face, and the X-Dreamer II's has a ton of expandability, including 4x5.25", 2x3.5" (external), and 4x3.5"(internal) expansion bays. The X-Dreamer II's outer housing may turn some heads, but it is also quite functional and includes very useful onboard options. The unit has USB and audio jacks, automatic drop-down side doors, a see-through window panel, blue LED case fans, 6 LED indicator lights, and even a temperature display LCD for the hardcore enthusiast.

The X-Dreamer II also includes an Intel Pentium 4/AMD compatible 350W ATX power supply, which is on par with competitive entry-level units, and at only $51 for the whole package, it's a perfect match for our budget. This model is also available in a wide range of colors, so you have far more options than just the standard beige or black.

In our research to find a potential replacement, we have found a value-priced case with a lot of internal real estate and a ton of good looks. The XG Sidewinder packs a lot of bang for the buck, and it's based on the same basic internal design as the popular XG Viper. It matches the X-Dreamer II in terms of internal specifications, has a killer silver outer housing with side window, and includes 3 default case fans and a 400W SATA-ready power supply. This is another great option for value case buyers who want some pop for their gaming dollar, but increased awareness can be a bad thing, as we have noticed this model going on "back order" with some online vendors.