Weekly Buyer's Guide: Entry Level System - May 2004
by Evan Lieb on May 15, 2004 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Guides
Memory
Recommendation: 1 X 256MB Kingston PC3200 (DDR400) ValueRAM modulePrice: $52 shipped
Kingston ValueRAM modules have decreased in price about $3 or so since the last time we took a look at them. This is a somewhat positive fluctuation in price, as DDR prices have been slowly on the rise in the past couple of months. Knowing this, it's clear that the time to buy DDR modules is now, if you're going to be purchasing DDR modules at all. Do not wait unless you aren't in a hurry to build your entry level system.
We also feel it's necessary to note that we're not recommending PC2100 for our entry level system here today for a reason. That reason is directly related to the recent upward fluctuation of DDR prices; PC2100 and PC3200 modules are priced almost exactly the same. Therefore, it would be pointless to purchase anything but a PC3200 module (in the 256MB variety) right now, as it offers 66.67MHz (133.33MHz DDR) more speed and only 0.5 higher latency (CAS 3.0 instead of 2.5) with this particular Kingston KVR400X64C3A/256 module.
Alternative: 1 X 256MB OCZ PC3200 EL (Enhanced Latency) CAS2.0 module
Price: $65 shipped
OCZ's DDR modules have also dipped in price since the last time we took a look at them, about one month ago. We've talked about OCZ's troubled past and history in detail before, but thankfully, those issues have been resolved from all indications and OCZ is finally able to bring great memory to market, and has been doing so for over a year now. With that said, OCZ has had tremendous success with their EL series of modules for a reason: great price/performance ratio. At only $13 more than the Kingston ValueRAM we recommended today, you get lower CAS timings (CAS 2-2-3 1T) with OCZ EL modules instead of high CAS timings (CAS 3-3-3 4T) with the Kingston ValueRAM modules. Lower CAS timings along with the EL series' overclocking capability translates into better performance for a great price.
Video
Recommendation: 64MB Sapphire Radeon 9200SEPrice: $39 shipped
Similar to last month, our recommendation this week is the Radeon 9200SE instead of the regular 9200. This is mostly due to the fact that we changed our format for secondary picks ("alternatives" instead of "runner-up" hardware), but nonetheless, it is still fitting for an entry level system. While the 64-bit memory interface of the 9200SE (SE indicates the halved memory interface) cripples gaming performance considerably compared to 128-bit video cards, it's still an acceptable card for the light to occasional gamer, and of course, more than necessary for non-gamers. 2D IQ quality will live up to business users' needs as well as the regular Joe Shmoe's needs; that is, crisp text and excellent clarity in general. At $39, it's hard to find a better video card with said feature set.
Alternative: 64MB Sapphire Radeon 9200
Price: $54 shipped
The Radeon 9200 is the AGP8X version of the Radeon 9000. This is the non-crippled 128 bit memory interface version of the 9200SE. Vendors may or may not make this information about memory interface differences clear when advertising their 9200 video cards, so be sure to check. Gaming performance is considerably better with this Radeon 9200 than the Radeon 9200SE, and 2D IQ is identical, if not better in some cases, depending on whether or not you choose to pick a higher quality version of ATI's Radeon 9200 (from Gigabyte, for example). You should definitely be considering this card for your entry level system instead of the 9200SE, if you're at all interested in some semi-serious gaming. As far as the onboard video memory size is concerned, 64MB should be more than enough for the majority of video games out there, and certainly enough for entry level users. There are 128MB versions of this card available, but it's completely unnecessary to upgrade to them when looking at the higher price differential.
Listed below is part of our RealTime pricing engine, which lists the lowest prices available on ATI video cards from many different reputable vendors:
If you cannot find the lowest prices on the products that we've recommended on this page, it's because we don't list some of them in our RealTime pricing engine. Until we do, we suggest that you do an independent search online at the various vendors' web sites. Just pick and choose where you want to buy your products by looking for a vendor located under the "Vendor" heading.
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Zebo - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
You can get a way better system for a similar price here----------------
Not only is this hyperbole its spam as far as I'm concerned. Prove you can build a better system for cheaper. Burduns on you to List parts from this vendor and price then list same parts and price from newegg. We've had this discussion and comparison numerous times in the forums. Never does retail exceed building your own.
SxRxRnRx - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
You can get a way better system for a similar price here:http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/
I could not build a computer with individual OEM parts cheaper than they are selling them for. Anandtech mihgt as well just recommend some of their specials for the Budget and High End Buyer's Guides.
The default Athlon XP System there has very similar specs for only $424 w/o monitor.
Hard to beat. If you can find a site that is cheaper, please let me know.
Thanks.
gherald - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
The topic of integrated video has come up before, the problem with that is really crappy 2D IQ and text. And since 2D is very important for an entry level system, you want to have at least a Radeon 9000. Perhaps Evan should mention this in the article.I agree an SLK1600 would be a better entry-level case/PSU combo... but AT seems to like strange cases. I have six SLK1600's in a cluster -- all tacked directly on top of each other, quite an interesting sight :) -- and they take standard ATX boards just fine. You won't be able to use your bottom 5 1/4" bay, but who needs that these days now that we all use combo drives?
Anyway, at least check them out: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?desc...
You don't hear many complaints about Chaintech because no one buys them. Very few, anyway.
You hear a lot of complaints about Asus because every man and his dog owns at least one, including a lot of stupid dogs who take no anti-static precautions and end up with a dead board a few months after intallation.
But if you are worried about board quality, get the Abit. I own three different abit models (four boards in total, two are of that same NF7-S model) and they are fantastic. The only A7N8X-X I bought died on me, though strangely enough I think it was my tricked-out 9500 NP that killed it, since I quite thoroughly voided the warranty on that li'l beastie and it had been showing signs of failure when my A7N8X-X died :(
Zebo - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
Another thing Evan you should really check out Dynatron Copper CPU Cooler Model "BH-610" For only $8 at newegg.It absoluty stomps any sub $20 cooler. Read the user reviews at newegg.com all five stars. My son is running a overclocked 2400 barton to 2.34 Ghz off it and stays below 50C.
Zebo - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
$62 for a processor oouch$70!! for a case really ouch
$69 for a motherboard ouch
Duron 1.8Ghz = $40
POWMAX Case with 400W PSU = $22
Shuttle AN31N = $55
Now go buy some decent amount of ram and a RAPTOR hardrive with the savings.
EPAstor - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
I think this is a matter of what you define as an "entry-level" system... but wouldn't integrated video, as available in either nForce2 or Via's KM line, be both more appropriate and cheaper? Saves roughly $40-50.Also, for another example of price savings, your case specs out at $71 with power supply... if you're willing to get a MicroATX motherboard, which at this point barely impacts the price for Socket A, it's very reasonable to get the Antec SLK1600, with a 300W Antec PS included, for $42.
Oh, and blckgrffn mentioned reliability issues - I know this will sound strange, but I've heard of more problems with Asus boards lately than positive comments. On the other hand, Chaintech sells cheaper boards at the same feature point (several of which are MicroATX as well), and surprisingly, I've never heard a serious complaint.
Just a few ideas.
gherald - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
The statement:"All this adds up to noticeably better performance that, depending on what applications are run, you may or may not notice."
...sounds increadibly silly. You can't go saying it "adds up to noticeably better performance" thereby implying it *DEFINATELY* does so, and then say in the same sentence "may or may not notice"
I suggest you replace the entire sentence and those that follow it with :
1) A clear explanation of which situations the performance *WILL BE* noteiceably better.
2) A clear explanation of which situations the performance *WILL NOT BE* noticeably better.
As things stand, your statement sounds like typical reviewer double talk, that is, unwillingness to take a clear stance on which situations a product performs better than a similar one.
Evan Lieb - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
DanDeighan, that cooler is rated past a 2000+, it's good. Either way, you can get a retail 2000+ for just $5 more anyway, as I mentioned.Grelk, we have corrected that error, thanks.
blckgrffn, neither product has been proven to be more unreliable than their competition. That's true in our own experience as well. I'd be interested in knowing where you got the impression the Sony/WD products I recommended are unreliable.
l3ored, yes, we are currently in the middle of adding guides and switching responsibilities among editors. We will be adding an SFF and gaming guide, and Wesley Fink will be handling the high end and overclocking guides now.
Dismal, we only skipped last week's guide, for good reason. :)
jensend, thanks for the audio correction. I'm not sure what you are referring to in your cpu alternative note.
cosmotic, the nForce2 board we recommended is single channel. nForce2 400. The alternative board is nForce2 Ultra 400 though, yes.
KillaKilla - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
JenSend, rather than that why not look for where they're getting their Sound Cards... after all, a free Audigy 2 is a relatively good deal, compared to the Audigy at $35.cosmotic - Saturday, May 15, 2004 - link
You should recomend using dual channel memory. 2x128 will be a lot faster then 1x256 in an nForce2 MB.