January 2002 Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide

Introduction

Once again we've been handed $1,000 in cool, hard cash and been given the green light to spend it on the fastest PC gaming rig we can find. As in our SE High-End and Extreme Buyer's Guides, we match up each component's price and performance, and then make the pick as to the best combination of red-hot gaming hardware. If you are the type of gamer who counts your pennies before buying any new system, then this is the buyer's guide for you.

Configuring a value gaming system is not simply a process of picking the best components, but one of concessions made in your choices. After all, you could buy a high-end Pentium 4-2.2 GHz and a 21" monitor but have little cash left for the other required components. In our Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, we attempt to find a happy medium between spending a fortune on a new PC and buying sub-par components just to hit a certain price. Our value gaming rigs will produce high framerates, have more than enough CPU power, excellent image and display quality, as well as not forgetting gaming sound output and features. We also don't scour the bargain bins for available hardware, but choose from name brand components that offer the best price-performance ratio.

Since our last edition, there have been a few important shifts in the computer market. The most important has been the increase in DDR prices, which basically have more than doubled in just over a month. Add in the debut of the Intel 845D chipset and you have the makings of a serious supply and demand imbalance, not to mention some calculated increases by memory producers. Another influence has been the transition from the 423-pin Pentium 4 processors to the newer 478-pin design. While this has made the older CPUs quite a value, the newer models have actually pushed prices up and make Intel a tougher fit for the value buyer, while AMD has cruised along with their popular Athlon XP line.

AMD Case: Enlight 7230 Case - $50

Even with a value system, the choice of a case component is still a very important one. We're looking for a high quality unit combined with an attractive price, and the Enlight 7230 line hits all on cylinders. There are a few different models, but the Enlight 7237 continues to impress with its excellent design and AMD-certified 300W PSU. Even for a mid-tower case, the 7237 has ample room for system components and both installation and future upgrades should be a snap.

The best part about this particular model is that is ships retail in both AMD and Intel configurations, making it a smooth match for any platform. Intel fans should be certain to specify the Pentium 4 when buying, so that the appropriate power supply is included.

This is an important point no matter the actual brand or model selected, and when selecting a system case, be sure to confirm the Power Supply wattage and ratings before making the purchase. Although the Enlight 7237 ships with a certified power supply, watch out for vendors who may substitute it with an inferior model. The Pentium 4 requires an ATX 2.03-compliant PSU, and if you are thinking of going the AMD route, make absolutely certain that the model is AMD certified for use with the rated speed of your processor.