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Pentium 4 2.8GHz or Athlon XP 3000+
Not only did AMD release the Athlon 64 this year, but improvements in pricing and availability have, once again, made the Athlon XP a popular CPU choice for gamers. At the same time, the 2.8GHz and 3.0GHz Hyper-threading-equipped processors are now much more affordable. |
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GeForce FX 5700 128MB or Radeon 9600 XT 128MB
These DirectX 9 graphics cards are plenty fast and are an absolute bargain compared to the new $400 and $500 high-end cards. Some vendors may offer the 128MB Radeon 9700 Pro and GeForce FX 5900 as a half step up to the current 256MB flagship cards, the Radeon 9800 XT and GeForce FX 5950 Ultra. |
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512MB or 1GB DDR PC3200 Memory
While 512MB has now been the standard for a while, 1GB is fast becoming an affordable option. Certain games really benefit from the extra memory. |
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19-inch monitor
Gaming in front of a big monitor can better immerse you in the action. A 19-inch CRT monitor is the best value for a new PC. Compared with a 15-inch flat-panel display, a 19-inch monitor is much larger, costs less, and has better image quality.
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Standard features: Windows XP Home Edition, 60GB or bigger 7200rpm hard drive, DVD/CD-RW drive, Ethernet networking, and optical mouse.
Optional: 5.1 speakers, premium sound card, and gamepad, joystick, or racing wheel controllers (depending on your gaming tastes).
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