The holiday season is already upon us, and electronic devices are one of the most popular items to find under the tree. That makes it another perfect opportunity to update our Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, where we take $1,000 in cold, hard cash and attempt to find the best AMD and Intel PC values. Bargain hunters usually shop at this price range, and true to its name, the Value Guide takes both system performance and price into consideration, going in search of AMD and Intel computers for gamers on a budget.
It delivers the desktop and gaming performance you want, but at a price that certainly won't break the bank. The overall scenario is bit different from the other buyer's guides on Sharky Extreme, as we limit the budget to $1,000, while the goal remains the same: to assemble a pair of kick-ass systems that will play today's hottest games and still have enough power in reserve for tomorrow. To do this, we pay special attention to the price-performance ratio of each component, making sure to match the hardware according and pricing 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. We also offer recommendations for both Intel and AMD system configurations, as well as providing a secondary ATI or NVIDIA graphics option. After all, we're here to deliver value-packed gaming systems, not promote one platform over the other.
Finding the best system components for a value gaming system is more difficult than simply picking the top hardware money can buy, and it entails some concession on the part of the buyer. The $1,000 budget can be eaten up pretty quick, and slapping down the cash for a 27" wide-screen LCD or Core 2 Extreme QX9650 would take care of it in one shot. When compiling our Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide, we try to find that happy medium between spending a fortune on a new PC and being "penny wise/pound stupid", and getting stuck with obsolete or low-end hardware. Rest assured we don't scour the bargain bins for out-of-date hardware, and instead stick to a current, name brand component mix that offers the best overall value.
In this edition of the value guide, we're looking to upgrade in a few very important areas, as not only have prices dropped considerably since our last update, but several new and very interesting products have been introduced. The processor and video card are the two most important performance areas, so these will naturally get a very close look, but virtually all the other components have been upgraded as well. These two gaming systems still offer excellent performance for the money, and will not only provide mainstream gaming speed, but also can handle standard home entertainment and office duties as well.
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 not all of the prices stated in the guide will 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.
Current Cost: $45
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A
The system case provides the foundation 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 this piece of hardware should be given equal weight whether you're spending $1,000 or $5,000. Although we do have more budgetary 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 this month is certainly no different, as we're looking to stretch our budget as far as possible.
After choosing the RAIDMAX Smilodon (including a 500W PSU) the last time out, we took another look at our options for November. Going with an all-in-one case does make it simpler, but it also runs the risk of getting a bum power supply, or one that doesn't fit your platform needs. So we decided to choose the case and power supply separately, which is the optimal solution, but it's also incredibly difficult to find a viable combination for under $100. Thankfully, the Cooler Master Centurion 5 makes the fist part a real breeze.
When you talk about budget mid-tower cases, the Centurion 5 should be one of the first ones mentioned. For approximately $45 street, you get a name brand, mid-tower case with all the features an entry-level user will need. This includes a hybrid aluminum bezel/steel chassis, a nice black metallic exterior, ATX and mATX compatibility, 5 x 5.25" bays, 5 x 3.5" bays, 80mm and 120mm cooling fans, a tool-less design, and external hookups for 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE 1394, 1 x Speaker, and 1 x Mic. The standard model comes with a side air duct, but there is also an optional side window available if you want a bit more bling with your Centurion 5.
Current Cost: $55
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A
One major reason we decided to separate the case and PSU components is because of our recent hardware upgrades. This month our CPUs are higher-end, our motherboards need EPS12V compatibility, and we'd also like to have full SLI/CrossFire compatibility. Due to this, we're looking at a name brand 500-600W power supply, in the $50-$60 price range. Needless to say, that amounts a very small list.
Thankfully, BFG came to the rescue with their low-priced, high-features BFG GS-550 power supply. This 550W value includes a 24-pin motherboard power connector, offers EPS12V compatibility through a 4+4 CPU plug, and even has multi-GPU support using both 6-pin and 8-pin (6+2-pin) cables. We have been very impressed with the BFG power supply lineup so far, and with a 3-year warranty, 550W of power on dual 12V rails, and this level of support and features, how can you go wrong for $55?
Current Cost: $164
Consecutive Guides: New
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Given that AMD has lowered Phenom X4 price levels significantly since our previous guide, it's a foregone conclusion that we're moving to a quad core CPU. The 2.4-2.6 GHz Phenom X4 models also outpace the fastest Athlon 64 X2 in terms of single-thread gaming speed, and with multi-threading becoming more prevalent everyday, there is no reason not to make the jump.
The Phenom X4 9750 features a true quad core design with 512K of L2 cache per core (2MB per CPU) and 2MB of shared L3 cache. This is a 65nm processor, featuring an onboard 128-bit dual-channel DDR2 memory controller, with support up to DDR2-1066. It runs at a 2.4 GHz clock speed at a TDP of 125W, and with a $164 price tag, this makes it a perfect fit for our budget.
Current Cost: $165
Consecutive Guides: New
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We had already upgraded to a 45nm Wolfdale processor in the previous guide, so our goal this time was to move up the clock speed ladder. The 3.16 GHz Core 2 Duo E8500 is a super value, but its price tag put our budget out of whack, so we dropped down a level to the 3.0 GHz Core 2 Duo E8400. This brought us to the $165 level, which like the Phenom X4 9750, fit like a glove in our $1K budget.
The Core 2 Duo E8400 features the 45nm Wolfdale architecture with 6MB of L2 SmartCache (compared to 4MB on the Conroe core) and runs on the 1333 MHz bus. It has a clock speed of 3.0 GHz, a 65W TDP and a VID voltage range of only 0.85V-1.3625V. It is also a superior overclocker, with users hitting results of 4 GHz or higher with regularity. As not everyone chooses to overclock a processor, we don't base our purchasing decision on this factor alone, but it is still viewed as a nice extra. We also went with the retail version, as you get a nearly-free heatsink-fan and full 3-year Intel warranty.
Current Cost: $0
Consecutive Guides: New
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The Phenom X4 9750 retail box includes a bundled heatsink-fan, and for both budgetary and ease-of-use considerations, we chose to go this route. Of course, this is simply a recommendation, and those with a particular 3rd-party HSF unit in mind should certainly go the BE route, even though it may go a bit over our $1K budget.
Current Cost: $0
Consecutive Guides: New
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The Core 2 Duo Retail models are priced extremely close to the OEM processors, and availability of the boxed model is higher. Sometimes, due to low availability, the OEM prices are even higher, so why waste money when Intel is giving away free heatsink-fans. The retail HSF is more than adequate for the 45nm Core 2 Duo E8400, and the installation is simple enough.
The retail Core 2 Duo coolers have passed our tests using higher-clocked 45nm models, as well as overclock testing to well over 4.0 GHz, and we have no problem at all recommending these for our value gaming system. These Intel retail coolers may not qualify as hardcore, but still provide solid stability at base clock speeds, and have a bit extra left over for moderate overclocking.
When selecting a motherboard for our Value Gaming System, it is important we find the best overall value, while ensuring the most future-proof and high-performance hardware possible. Naturally, these goals are often at odds with each other, and the sticker price is usually the main stumbling block. To find that right combination, the motherboard needs to be affordable, but also have a good mix of performance, overclocking, and onboard features. Whether you're buying a low-cost gaming system or an ultra high-end powerhouse, the motherboard is still one of the most important components, as it provides the backbone for your entire computer and determines your future upgrade path.
Current Cost: $121
Consecutive Guides: 2
Price Change: -$2
Socket AM2+ is the AMD platform through 2008, and it really comes down the choice of individual chipset. We've had great luck with the AMD 7 Series, specifically the 790FX, 790GX and 790X. These will support all the features of the newest Phenom processors, while remaining backward compatible with existing Socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2 models. Due to our budget, we going to save a few bucks and go with the less expensive AMD 790X, which still supports dual PCI-E 2.0 x16 CrossFireX (the AMD 790FX doubles that to Quad CrossFireX) and has all the high-end features of the 790FX. For an entry-level system, there is absolutely no downside to the less expensive AMD 790X.
The Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4 is powered by the AMD 790X chipset, which other than lacking quad GPU support, is virtually identical to the more expensive 790FX. It features the AMD SB600 Southbridge, while supporting features like PCI Express 2.0, CrossFireX (dual PCI-E 2.0 x16), SATA 3.0 Gb/s with RAID, IEEE 1394a, Gigabit LAN, and High Definition 7.1 Audio. The motherboard includes support for all Socket AM2 and AM2+ Phenom, Athlon 64 X2, Athlon 64 FX, and Sempron processors, and includes 4 DDR2 sockets capable of handling up to 16GB of DDR2-1066 memory. Onboard expansion slots include 2 x PCIe x16 graphics, 3 x PCIe x1, and 2 x PCI, while storage options offer 2 x PATA devices, 4 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s and 1 x Floppy.
Current Cost: $125
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A
There is no reason to upgrade from our previous Gigabyte P35 motherboard, but since there are newer, faster and more feature rich P45 boards available, we're making the switch. The Intel X48 motherboards are still priced higher than our budget will allow, but the P45 gets us all the performance and features we need, and at a noticeable savings. Also, since Core 2 Duo prices have dropped a bit since our last guide, we have a bit more money to play with for the motherboard, which allowed us to upgrade to the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P.
The Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard is powered by the Intel P45 Express + ICH10R chipset, which is an excellent platform for the Core 2 Duo E8400 processor. The 4 DIMM slots support DDR2 in standard 667, 800 and 1066 MHz formats, as well as overclocking to DDR2-1333/1366 speeds. The P45 supports 800, 1066, 1333, and 1600 MHz FSB speeds, and its onboard expansion include 1 x PCI-Ex16, 1 x PCI-Ex8 (both 2.0), 3 x PCI-Ex1, and 2 x PCI slots. Storage options feature 8 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s with RAID and 1 x PATA. Other onboard features include 12 x USB 2.0, 3 x IEEE 1394a, 8-channel high definition audio, and 2 x Gigabit LAN, along with a range of overclocking options.
When it comes to choosing the memory for our AMD and Intel systems, we still look at these as distinct configurations, rather than using a "one size fits all" memory recommendation. Instead, the two configurations are evaluated separately, and our budget is allocated in the most logical way. Each platform may have its own set of requirements, and we can use this to achieve the best overall memory value. We believe that maximizing the $1K budget is what real-world buyers would do, which is even more important with fluctuating memory prices.
Current Cost: $35
Consecutive Guides: New
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As DDR2 prices continue to drop, there are some wild deals out there right now. One of them is the OCZ Platinum PC2-8500 2x1GB matched pair kit, which can be found for $35, and is naturally a perfect fit for our budget. Both of our AMD and Intel platforms fully support the DDR2-1066 speed, and at standard 5-5-5-18 timings @ 1066 MHz, this is as good as you get, even at much higher prices. Add in an OCZ lifetime warranty and you're looking at a killer DDR2 value.
* EDIT: There have been some reports of these OCZ modules having difficulty posting at 1066 MHz on our Intel P45 platform, especially in 4x1GB configurations, so for those users we recommend going with a safer Corsair DDR2-800 C5 selection.
Current Cost: $65
Consecutive Guides: New
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One of the more difficult areas to upgrade significantly is the hard drive. Our budget doesn't afford luxuries such as 1.5TB drives, and we need to stretch the money as far as possible for as many GB as we can get. We've slowly inched up from 200GB to 250GB and then to the 320GB WD model we featured in the previous guide, but price levels have finally allowed a much greater move. At only $65, the Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB offers a very nice combination of speed and price, and finally gets us to a full half-terabyte of disk space.
Not only do we upgrade the stated capacity by a full 180GB, but the Western Digital SE16 brand is the company's mainstream performance option. The Caviar SE16 500GB drive has a full 16MB of data cache and a 7200-RPM rotational speed, while supporting SATA 3.0 Gb/s and perpendicular recording technology. Western Digital offers a 3-year warranty on their OEM drives, which is a bit less than the 5 years Seagate provides, but still within the industry norm. Both of our motherboards can make use of the faster SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface, which will result in enhanced burst mode transfer rates.
Cost: $25
Consecutive Guides: New
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The current wave of Blu-ray format drives continues to make an impact, but prices are still well out of our range. On the other hand, retail prices on DVD+/-R/RW units are at historical lows, and due to this, we've upgraded from the Samsung SH-S203B 20X to the newer Samsung SH-S223F 22X DVD-/+RW. Since this is a SATA-based drive, it simplifies the installation and ensures that future platform support will not be an issue. And at only $25, the Samsung SH-S223F is still one of the lowest-cost models available.
While this is a low-cost DVD writer, it still combines the Samsung brand name with ultra-high write speeds for CD and DVD media. The Samsung SH-S223F offers write speeds of 22X DVD+/-R, 16X DVD+R & 12X DVD-R Dual-Layer, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW, 48X CD-R, and 32X CD-RW. The Samsung drive also has support for DVD-RAM technology, and can read and write it at 12X speeds.
Current Cost: $155
Consecutive Guides: New
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The CPU and graphics card components are the two most important factors in overall game performance, and since we've already upgraded the former, it's time to see what kind of video card improvement we can achieve. At this $140-$160 price range, the obvious winner is the ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB, as this card rules the mid-mainstream sector, and provide class-leading performance. We also like the ATI brand since it is perfect for our AMD and Intel CrossFireX platforms.
The Radeon HD 4850 is built on a 55nm RV770-based GPU core, and features 800 Stream processors, 40 texture units and 16 ROPs. This is a very powerful GPU architecture, and is combined with a 625 MHz clock speed for 25 GT/s of available filtrate. It also has a full 256-bit link to 512MB (or 1GB) of onboard GDDR3 memory, running at just under 2.0 GHz, and with over 63 GB/s of memory bandwidth.
While we don't choose a specific model, mostly due to fluctuating prices, supplies and availability, we can easily recommend the Gigabyte Radeon HD 4850 512MB card (pictured above) at this price range.
NVIDIA offers a few options at this level, and the best is probably the GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB. Although the lack of platform SLI support is a potential issue, for those intent on a single-card NVIDIA solution, the GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB (like the PNY card pictured below) is the best straight-up challenger to the Radeon HD 4850 512MB, although it is a bit more expensive.
Current Cost: $170
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A
If we're putting all this time and effort into the video card, then it makes sense to put as much research into the LCD display. Our main goal since upgrading to an LCD has been to snag a 22" widescreen model, but prices haven't agreed with our budget. Finally, it looks as if the time is right, and there is a nice selection of 22" LCD options in the $165-$175 price range. This translates into a beautiful 1680 x 1050 widescreen resolution, with more than enough real estate for both gaming and desktop use.
At this price, expect a TN panel with a 2-5 ms average response time, a 160-170 degree viewing angle, 300 cd/m2 brightness, and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. These also feature DVI inputs, but for HDMI connectivity, expect to spend more. There are several brand names at this price level, and although we're not going to be picking from the very top of the LCD tree, brands such as Acer, KDS, Sceptre, and Hanns-G are readily available. If you want to spend a few bucks more, the door opens wider into Viewsonic, ASUS and even Samsung territory.
Please keep in mind that when buying any type or brand of LCD, there is always the slight chance of receiving a defective unit or a flat-screen with dead pixels, so be certain to purchase only from a vendor that offers liberal return and replacement options. This is doubly important for LCDs, and be sure to check the vendor's Dead Pixel Replacement Policy and investigate any further protection you can buy.
Current Cost: $0
Consecutive Guides: 26
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There are a few concessions with having a mainstream, or even high-end, CPU, video card, and motherboard in an entry-level system configuration, and one of them is to make use of the motherboard's integrated audio. Our AMD and Intel motherboards both feature very capable 8-channel audio solutions, and although there is a bit of CPU overhead, current dual/quad core processors make this a non-issue. Soundcards are also one of the most easily upgradeable system components, so by going the onboard route, you can then save up for a higher-end Audigy or SoundBlaster X-Fi soundcard and upgrade later.
We also haven't allocated any of our system budget on a low-cost, dedicated soundcard that may need to be tossed afterwards. For our value systems, sticking with on-board sound not only makes sense now, but it is an economical strategy for future upgrades.
Current Cost: $40
Consecutive Guides: New
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Buying a set of entry-level gaming speakers should never be an afterthought, and though we're not going to be purchasing a set of high-end Klipsch Promedia speakers, you can still get amazing game audio without breaking the bank. The optimum method of determining your choice of speakers is to actually listen to a few sets, using CD and game music to make the final determination.
Unfortunately, this is the one area that we needed to make some concessions on, as the venerable Logitech X-530 5.1 speakers have simply become impossible to find. Their successors, the Logitech X-540 5.1 set, are still priced a bit high for our budget, so we were forced to move down the Logitech line to the X-240 2.1 speakers. These are certainly commendable speakers, but we do lose the 5.1 surround sound, as well as some RMS power. But this is only a recommendation, and we'd like to be able to spend a bit more for a 5.1 system like the Logitech X-540.
For our Value Gaming PC, we've taken the advice of our readers and toned down the communications options, in order to make better use of our budget and squeeze out as much performance as possible.
Current Cost: $0
Consecutive Guides: 27
Price Change: N/A
Our AMD and Intel motherboards not only include onboard audio, but also feature integrated Gigabit LAN hardware as well. Making use of the free onboard LAN option gives us a bit more budget leeway, and allows cash to be allocated towards higher-performance components. This is just smart business when it comes to a value gaming PC, and there is no real difference between a basic NIC and the integrated Gigabit LAN found on these motherboards. Both are fully supported under Windows XP and will more than foot the bill for Internet use or LAN gaming.
We are no longer including a modem in our system configurations, since readers have rightfully pointed out that the majority of gamers already own some of the basic external devices like a modem, printer or scanner, or use DSL or cable Internet access (requiring only a LAN connection), and that the money could be put to better use elsewhere. If you do require a modem, the Creative Labs Modem Blaster 56K is still a great bet.
Current Cost: $30
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A
We've been sticking with the Logitech MX310 optical gaming mouse for a while now, and it's high time for an upgrade. This comes in the form of the OCZ Dominatrix Laser Gaming Mouse, an innovative design that looks to combine high-end features with a mainstream price tag. The Dominatrix mouse offers user-configurable DPI settings from 400 to 2000 DPI, a tracking speed of 45 inches/s, a 7080 fps framerate, and a full USB 2.0 interface.
OCZ has also bundled a customizable weight system with the Dominatrix, with the cartridge holding up to 40g of extra weight. The look and feel is also nice, with rubber handgrips and software-adjustable button controls, and all for around $30.
Current Cost: $15
Consecutive Guides: 4
Price Change: -$1
A keyboard is a very personal item, especially for gaming use, and we can only offer a very basic recommendation to get you started. It is best to test a few models out at a local store, and then decide which one is the right fit for you. Our default choice is the Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard, which offers an exceptional value for approximately $15, and is one of the better entry-level keyboards out there. It has all the basics, along with some extras like multimedia keys, launch buttons, and even a zoom slider for desktop work. But at this price, just be glad it's a name brand keyboard that looks good.
Current Cost: $85
Consecutive Guides: New
Price Change: N/A
In our previous guide, we still hedged between going with Windows XP or Vista, but this time we're jumping on the Vista bandwagon. There are still issues with the OS, but so many games are developed for it, as well as better support for multi-threading and new graphics drivers, that Vista is the operating system of choice. Windows Vista Home Basic might lack some of the bells and whistles of its big brothers, but this is the only Microsoft Vista version that fits our budget.
The approximate $85 street price represents the cost of a licensed OEM Windows DVD, and not the boxed retail version. This means that in order to get the lower-priced OEM deal, you'll have to buy Vista with your new system or get it bundled together with one of the individual hardware purchases. Don't forget that the retail version will cost significantly more, so don't blame us when you have to hit your local Best Buy and pay quite a bit more than the OEM price.
We've taken our reader's advice and scrapped the floppy from our main guide. This not only embraces the future of PC design, but also saves us a few bucks into the bargain.
Of course, this is a guideline only, and for those who will feel more comfortable with a floppy drive, just slap down $8 and buy a basic name brand (Panasonic, Sony, TEAC, etc.) and be done with it.
Our latest Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide configurations upgrade the majority of components, and increase overall performance significantly. The combination of faster CPUs and a much faster video card is the perfect mix for any gaming PC upgrade. But that's not the end of the story, as we also moved to faster DDR2-1066 memory, improved the Intel motherboard, added 180GB to the available storage, increased DVD write speeds, snagged a larger LCD, and added a laser mouse. That's pretty good for one guide, and the sheer power of the Radeon HD 4850 512MB is enough to make it worthwhile.
In terms of overall gaming performance, we still give the nod to Intel, but both of our AMD and Intel system configurations are very solid, offering powerful dual and quad core processors, 2GB of fast DDR2-1066 memory, near top-end PCI Express motherboards, a 22" LCD, a half-terabyte SATA 3.0 Gb/s hard drive, a SATA DVD writer, and a blazing fast Radeon HD 4850 512MB PCIe 2.0 video card. If overall value is your main goal, these AMD and Intel gaming PCs certainly deliver, and both offer a noticeable price-performance advantage over our higher-end buyer's guide configurations.
* Please note that the prices in our guide do not include shipping costs or taxes. The final system price also reflects a "best case" scenario of finding an online vendor that stocks the majority of internal components, or having access to a number of local computer retailers for system quotes and comparison shopping.
