Buyer's Guide - Entry Level to Mid-Range, March 2005
by Jarred Walton on March 15, 2005 1:30 PM EST- Posted in
- Guides
Miscellaneous Components
That takes care of everything but the actual user interface to the computer: the mouse and keyboard. (Networking, as usual, will be supplied by the motherboard.) What we include here is merely a standard keyboard and mouse, and personal preference can always play a part. We like both Microsoft and Logitech input devices and are happy to use either. If you have a different preference, buy that instead, as there is generally little difference in "performance" as far as keyboards and mice are concerned - at least in the business market. The only "requirement" we have is that the mouse has to be of the optical variety, and it has to have a scroll wheel.
Click to enlarge.
Price: $25 shipped
Logitech gets our recommendation here due to the better value, although we reiterate that this is a personal choice. The keyboard includes additional shortcut keys that can be relatively useful, along with a good quality optical mouse. More expensive options always exist, like mice with additional buttons, but they can't beat the price of the Logitech bundle. If you like wireless input devices, Logitech also offers several cordless combos that only cost a bit more.
Click to enlarge.
Price: $36 shipped
We would prefer the five-button Microsoft Optical mouse, but others like the three-button design more. For those who type a lot, however, "natural" keyboards are a great way to reduce wrist stress. Cheaper and more expensive Microsoft bundles exist, but considering that the Natural Elite keyboard typically costs $29, the mouse is being thrown in for $7. Sure, that's only about $12 less than normal, but it's still a decent discount.
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JarredWalton - Monday, June 13, 2005 - link
58 - ??? The Mid-Range to High-End went up a couple weeks ago. Next update in a couple more weeks, I guess. :Dhttp://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=242...
SAV602 - Thursday, June 9, 2005 - link
This month?spartacvs - Saturday, May 14, 2005 - link
Yepeee!JarredWalton - Saturday, May 14, 2005 - link
It's coming soon! :pspartacvs - Thursday, May 12, 2005 - link
Hey guys, it's time for a new system guide :)TrogdorJW - Friday, March 25, 2005 - link
Sorry - ignore that last post, but I guess my comments name and pass don't work in the forums. Just wanted to check. :)TrogdorJW - Friday, March 25, 2005 - link
Testing....JarredWalton - Thursday, March 24, 2005 - link
jwf1776 sent me a reply email which updates the situation. I'll just post the text with links here:------------------
I don't know why I sent you the link the to enermax site, because the site does make it seem like its atx 2.03 ... but it's all lies...
The manual I got with the power supply was pretty clear about which models had 24pin rails. They have a 24P on the model number or something.
Anyways, the maxpoint site (American enermax distributor?) has the correct stats at
http://www.maxpoint.com/products/pow_supp/spec_pg/...
Also here is a review of the part
http://www.cluboverclocker.com/reviews/power/enerm...
Both sites make clear its atx 1.3
------------------
So, there you have it: the Enermax 375 is *not* a 24-pin EPS 12V compliant motherboard. It *does* have dual rails, which may be sufficient, but that's not the same as supporting the ATX 2.0x standard. It looks like Enermax needs to fix their spec pages....
JarredWalton - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - link
jwf1776: I sent this in an email to him as well, but here's my question to you all: is this a case of false advertising by Enermax or not? Here is an image for the alternative PSU:http://www.enermax.com.tw/upload/clgcable0217.jpg
It doesn't have a 24-pin connector, per se, but it has a 20 pin with a second 4-pin connector that makes it into a 24-pin. Note that there is *also* a second 4-pin +12V adapter for the standard P4 power connector. Unless someone can confirm that the PSU doesn't include the two 4-pin adapters, I believe it still qualifies as a 24-pin PSU. ATX 12V 2.01 vs. ATX 12V 2.03 - is there really a major difference other than the 24-pin adapter bein in one piece?
Jep4444 - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - link
48 - the adapter doesn't do very much, it'll work without an adapter