Weekly Buyer's Guide: Entry Level System - June 2004
by Evan Lieb on June 9, 2004 12:02 PM EST- Posted in
- Guides
Memory
Recommendation: 1 X 256MB Kingston PC3200 (DDR400) ValueRAM modulePrice: $50 shipped
Kingston ValueRAM modules have decreased in price, about $2 or so, since the last time we took a look at them, and $5 in the last 7 weeks. This is a somewhat positive fluctuation in price, as DDR prices have been slowly on the rise these past few 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, as we don't foresee any major increase in DDR memory for quite some time (though that is obviously quite difficult to predict).
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 we looked at them last month. 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 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: a great price/performance ratio. At only $15 more than the Kingston ValueRAM that 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.
With that all said, be sure to check out Crucial's line of PC3200 modules as well, as they are rightfully known as one of the most reliable and highest quality memory makers on the planet.
Video
Recommendation: 64MB Sapphire Radeon 9200SEPrice: $43 shipped
Just like last month, our recommendation this week is the Radeon 9200SE instead of the regular 9200. 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 $43, it's hard to find a better video card with the said feature set.
Also, we feel that a major point of concern, which we have failed to address adequately in previous Buyer's Guides, is ATI's spotty record for reliable drivers in the past. While this was certainly a major issue in the days of the Radeon 8500 and certainly before then, these days, ATI's Catalyst brand of drivers are delivering excellent stability for each segment of users (entry level, mid-range, high end, etc.). We've been able to verify this fact personally here in AnandTech's own labs. In fact, I, myself, run a 9200SE-powered rig 24/7. It's a very basic, but very reliable box, an SFF (Small Form Factor) box in fact, and I run quite a wide range of tasks on this system. It won't set graphical performance records, but it's not meant to anyway.
Alternative: 64MB Sapphire Radeon 9200
Price: $52 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.
If you're at all interested in gaming performance at 1024x768 resolutions and up, we highly suggest something more powerful than Radeon 9200, like a Radeon 9600 Pro or GeForce FX 5600 Ultra, for example. Either card will be able to perform significantly more smoothly at those higher than 800x600 resolutions.
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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Dnana - Monday, June 14, 2004 - link
I disagree with the prior comments where people are taking an entry level system and modifying it until it is really not an entry level system anymore - it is really a mid-level system at that point. I think for me the test of entry level is can you beat the $399 after rebate of a Dell Dimension 2400 - along with its goodies. If not, why build your own - why not buy one that comes with less headache of gathering parts and at least has a warranty? I read this article because I was interested if something could be built that is cheaper and better than the Dell Dimension 2400 and it appears not - for an all around Office machine. Let me know if you beg to differ!! - TomDantzig - Saturday, June 12, 2004 - link
I must strongly agree with Tostada on changes to this budget system. However, I'd like to see a number of changes to the guides:1. Don't include the display as part of the system. Still have display recommendations at the end of the guide, but just don't add them into the system price. This will make the guides more flexible. Not everyone wants to buy a new monitor and some people may want a high-end display, but a budget system.
2. Increase the minimum amount of RAM in all of the systems to 512MB. Anything less results in poor performance with Windows XP and anything but the simplest of applications. Heck, even just running IE and MS Office benefit greatly from 512MB, let alone image editing applications and games.
3. Show a few selected benchmarks to compare the systems. It would be incredibly helpful for users trying to decided which system they need for X purpose. Anandtech shouldn't recommend anything that they haven't tested.
4. Most of the case recommendations are dreadful. Since cases are so subjective, maybe just allocate $X to a case and then provide a list of popular cases in that price range.
Dantzig - Saturday, June 12, 2004 - link
Tostada - Saturday, June 12, 2004 - link
I don't like this low-end system at all. There's no reason for having such an bad hard drive, and there's no reason not spending an extra $10 to be able to play DVD's.There's also no excuse for using a Radeon 9200SE. The nForce2 IGP is as fast as the Radeon 9200, and it's actually faster than the 9200SE. Why buy a graphics card that is actually worse than integrated graphics? Yes, I know people complain about the quality of 2D on anything integrated, but quality is certainly acceptable, and most entry systems won't go over 1024x768.
I honestly can't believe that AT would suggest that drive. It's slow. It's loud. It has a 1-year warranty.
Dump the Radeon, save $43.
Get a Biostar nForce2 IGP board with IGP, save $4.
Get 512MB of Mushkin RAM for God's sake. Spend $33 more.
Get a Lite-On combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM. Spend $13.50 more.
Get an 80 GB Samsung with a 3-year warranty. Spend $10.50 more.
So there you have it. Final cost is an extra $18 for double the memory, faster (LOL!) integrated graphics, the ability to play DVD's, and a faster, bigger, quieter hard drive with a 3-year warranty.
techblaster - Friday, June 11, 2004 - link
ref to my previous post, i found the abit NF7-S board under the nforce2spp category of motherboards.http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc...
there is also a Abit NF7 board for $67.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc...
What is the differnce between these 2 boards. i thought that the v2 of nf7-s supports 400Mhz FSB but i saw 400Mhz FSB speeds listed even under the cheaper version. also how is the gigabyte 7nn400-L board.its a nforce2 ultra chipset. is it better than the Abit's???
scius - Friday, June 11, 2004 - link
I'm going to ahve to back up AT on the hard drive choice. While certianly 40 gigs is tiny now-a-days, there are still many people who simply want a computer to check their email.Keep in mind the target audience for a truly _budget_ system... aka. my sister. I'm building her an email/internet/word machine, where gaming and even hard drive space are non-factors (She'll likely be on dial-up, and i know she could care less about having music on her computer).
So, while for most people reading AT would go with the 80, most people reading AT wouldn't be using a "budget system" in the first place...
A "budget gaming system" or eqv. OTOH is a different story...
techblaster - Friday, June 11, 2004 - link
hi,i was thinking of making that budget system and found the article pretty good. the only thing is newegg and zipzoomfly dont carry the NF7-S rev2.0 board(the rev 2 supports 400FSB). Im looking to purchase a nforce2 ultra 400 board with my XP2500+.any ideas???
also a real good case i purchased frm newegg is the Raidmax cobra($58) with a 420w SMPS and a side panelwith a LED color fan. it also ships with 2 more exhaust fans(80mm).
also please advise which would be a better card
1->ATI 9200 with 128bitbus and 128mb RAm(was thinkin on ECS one on newegg)
or
2->nvidia 5200(ultra or non ultra ver???)
RONMANLY1 - Friday, June 11, 2004 - link
Would like to see a mid-range guide oriented to a non-gamer, non-overclocker who wants to have many hds, be able to simultaneously run several programs, download lots of big files from the web or large newsgroups, burn a CD [or DVD soon], move directories, copy files between computers [& a PVR] -- without slowing everything to a crawl.My current latest computer has 9 hard drives with over 870 GB [no RAID or PVR yet]. I build an added computer every three years or so and don't believe in upgrading my computers [ex added HDs, etc.]
Duker - Thursday, June 10, 2004 - link
Aspire Case with 350 PS = $40.00MSI KT600 MB = $59.00
Mushkin 512 PC3200 C2 = $84.00
GeForce4 Ti4200 = $70.00
WD 80Gig = $70.00
Liteon CDRW = $38.00
AMD 2500 Retail = $80.00
On board sound = $0
PHILIPS 107E56 17" CRT = $90.00
Total $531.00
Shipping = $55.00
This system does run Far Cry and will overclock.
ET - Thursday, June 10, 2004 - link
I agree that the entry level graphics system could have on-board graphics. This will add a little to the motherboard cost, but still less than buying a separate card. Regarding memory, I think that another 256MB (even slower) would have been a better option than a faster 256MB, in terms of overall performance.