PC Buyer's Guide for Gaming Enthusiasts -- March 2012 - Page 3

 

Sound Card: Integrated
Current Price: $0
Logitech Speaker System Z523
Current Price: $70

Utilizing the integrated sound options offered by the two recommended motherboards continues to make sense for these builds, as does sticking with the Logitech Z523 2.1 channel speaker system, most recently available for $70.

 

Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Gaming Mouse
Current Price: $68
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Current Price: $47

For our mouse and keyboard recommendations, we're once again going with the Logitech G9x gaming mouse and the Microsoft Sidewinder X4 wired keyboard. Their prices have held fairly steady, with the two now available for $68 and $47, respectively.

 

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-pack for System Builders
Current price: $140

And finally, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit remains our pick as the best option for an operating system and will likely remain so until Windows 8 takes its place.

Price Roundup

AMD FX-8150 System

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X (RC-942-KKN1) - $185
Power Supply: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 - $144
Processor: AMD FX-8150 (3.6GHz) - $250
CPU Cooling: COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler (RR-920-N520-GP) - $30
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth (990FX) - $185
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 2 x 4GB Kit (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) - $75
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (WD1002FAEX) - $144
SSD: SAMSUNG 830 Series (MZ-7PC064D/AM) 2.5" 64GB - $114
Optical Drive: LITE-ON iHBS212-08 12x BDR 2x BD-RE SATA - $110
Video Card: ASUS ENGTX560 GeForce GTX 560 - $200
Monitor: ASUS VE247H Black 23.6"- $189
Sound Card: Integrated Sound - $0
Speakers: Logitech Speaker System Z523 - $70
Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Gaming Mouse - $68
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard - $47
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit - $140
Total Price: $1951

 

Intel Core i7 System

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X (RC-942-KKN1) - $185
Power Supply: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 - $144
Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K (3.4GHz) - $314
CPU Cooling: COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler (RR-920-N520-GP) - $30
Motherboard: MSI P67A-GD65 (P67) - $160
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 2 x 4GB Kit (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) - $75
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (WD1002FAEX) - $144
SSD: SAMSUNG 830 Series (MZ-7PC064D/AM) 2.5" 64GB - $114
Optical Drive: LITE-ON iHBS212-08 12x BDR 2x BD-RE SATA - $110
Video Card: ASUS ENGTX560 GeForce GTX 560 - $200
Monitor: ASUS VE247H Black 23.6"- $189
Sound Card: Integrated Sound - $0
Speakers: Logitech Speaker System Z523 - $70
Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Gaming Mouse - $68
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard - $47
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit - $140
Total Price: $1990

 

 

Closing Remarks

We've managed to stay comfortably within our budget for both builds without making too many sacrifices. Each of the above builds offers plenty of performance for the money and will adequately meet the needs of most gamers and other PC enthusiasts.