High-End Buyer's Guide Q2 2005

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Kurtis Kronk
Brian

Jul. 15, 2005

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Processor

The processor is the center of a computer system. For most purposes there are basically two manufacturers to choose from: AMD and Intel. For gaming performance, AMD currently takes the lead. However, pure speed isn't everything. For those who spend a lot of time multitasking and switching between applications, Intel's HyperThreading enabled processors do a great job of creating smooth transitions between tasks. Both companies provide powerful solutions. It is generally the enthusiasts and hardcore gamers who will benefit the most from choosing one processor over the other.

Until the release of the Athlon 64 processor, Intel was pretty much the obvious choice for a mid-range or high-end computer. Not only did they offer greater speeds and performance, but they also had the advantage of HyperThreading technology, which aids in multitasking. The Athlon 64 processors changed all that though, with unparalleled gaming performance. Intel still excels in some areas, but when it comes to gaming, AMD is without a doubt the best, and that is why we have chosen an Athlon 64 for this high-end system.

The CPU that we decided to go with is the AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego 2.4GHz Socket 939 Processor (Retail) with a pricetag of $473.99 at Newegg. We feel that this processor offers amazing performance, and since it is a San Diego, it should also overclock very well.

AMD (ADA4000BNBOX) Athlon 64 4000+, 2.4 GHz AMD Processor in a Box (PIB)

Features:
Processor, 1024 KB Cache Memory, For Socket 939, 2000 MHz Bus Speed, For PC Platforms More Info >

View all 25 Store Offers from $473-$659

Store	Price	Store Rating	Reviews	Buy Now
	$473.99		Read Reviews (2307)	Newegg.com
	$629.14		Read Reviews (90)	CDW
	$494.02		Read Reviews (113)	PROVANTAGE

Motherboard

Choosing the right motherboard is just as important as picking the right processor. For our system, we chose to go with MSI's K8N Neo4/SLI Socket 939 nForce4 motherboard with a price of $138.99 at Newegg. MSI is well known for producing great quality motherboards and video cards. Some of the features of the K8N Neo4 Platinum include PCI-Express, SATA II and RAID support, dual channel DDR 266/333/400 support up to 4GB, and integrated Creative SoundBlaster 7.1 channel audio.

MSI K8N Neo4/SLI Motherboard

Features:
NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Chipset, ATX, Socket 939, FSB: 800 MHz, Max RAM: 4 GB , DMA/ATA-133 (Ultra) x 2, Serial ATA x 8, Dual Network a... More Info >

View all 17 Store Offers from $120-$155

Store	Price	Store Rating	Reviews	Buy Now
	$138.99		Read Reviews (2307)	Newegg.com
	$152.00		Read Reviews (111)	ComputerHQ
	$141.95		Read Reviews (19)	Atacom

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: CPU / Motherboard
Page 3: Memory / Graphics
Page 4: Storage
Page 5: Case / Power / Input
Page 6: Speakers / Monitor
Page 7: Conclusion

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2 User Comments

1 - Posted by Brian on July 15, 2005 - 1:50 pm

We will be updating the expiration dates for the coupon codes as soon as we get confirmation from Newegg. My estimate right now would be that there are around two weeks left to use the coupon codes, but we will see.

2 - Posted by Kurtis on July 19, 2005 - 1:23 pm

Review has been updated with expiration dates. All coupons expire 7/28/05.

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