Best Bang Per Buck Core i7 System Build

ExtremeTech builds a 'Bang for the Buck' based on the Intel Core i7 processor. The result was a combination of peripherals that give you the best value for your money.

Specifications:

• Antec 300 case
• Antec Earthwatts 650 PSU
• ASUS P6T motherboard
• Intel Core i7 920 processor
• 6GB (2x3 DIMMS) OCZ Gold DDR3 Triple-channel 1600MHz memory
• Western Digital WD1001FALS Black Ed. 1TB HDD
• Lite-On DH401S BD optical drive
• AMD ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB graphics card
• Creative SoundBlaster Titanium sound card
• Logitech Wave keyboard
• Logitech G5 mouse
• Dell S2409W Widescreen 1920x1080 LCD Monitor
• Creative GigaWorks T40 speakers
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit operating system

"This Bang for the Buck turned out more expensive than past efforts, but it's also more forward-looking. ... Even if you're only upgrading, we can't recommend higher each part in this system as it is, in our estimation, the best you can get for your money. Choose wisely, but consider this a guide. " [ExtremeTech | Build a Bang for the Buck PC]

The total bill for this build was US$2040. Take note that the setup is not a 'budget value system', but a best value and performance for your money build. If you prefer a different component, such as an AMD processor (and appropriate mobo of course) or Nvidia graphics card, you can just change the specs to your liking, using the above components as a guide.

IceRocket : best bang per buck pc, intel core i7

10 19-inch Widescreen LCD Monitors Reviewed

X-bit Labs reviews ten (10) 19-inch widescreen LCD monitors from Acer, Asus, BenQ, LG, NEC, Samsung, and Viewsonic. The models tested were:

• Acer AL1916W Ab
• ASUS VW192C
• ASUS VW193S
• BenQ E900WA
• BenQ G900WA
• LG Flatron L194WS
• NEC LCD19WV
• Samsung SyncMaster 931CW
• Samsung SyncMaster 961GW
• ViewSonic VG1930wm

"... there are several leaders that can be singled out. First of all, it is the Samsung SyncMaster 961GW, splendid on the outside and with a fast matrix inside. ... second RTC-enabled model in this review, the SyncMaster 931CW, differs from the others with its extended color gamut. ... Among the slower models, BenQ's E900WA and G900WA feature good color reproduction, which is quite a rare thing for TN matrixes. The ASUS VW193S is somewhat inferior to BenQ's models in terms of color reproduction, yet good enough anyway. It also has a surprisingly uniform brightness of the backlight." [X-bit Labs | 19" LCD Monitors Roundup. Part X: Widescreen Models]

I was suprised that the Viewsonic didn't "make the grade". Anyway, in this roundup, the Samsung SyncMaster 961GW would be the one to get.

Technorati : 19, lcd, monitor, widescreen

12 19-inch LCD Monitors Compared

X-bit labs tests and compares 12 19-inch LCD monitors from familiar brands: ASUS, BenQ, HP, LG, NEC, Samsung and Viewsonic.

"... the LG Flatron L196WTQ and Samsung SyncMaster 932GW, stand out among the others not only with their fast matrixes but also with nice exterior design and acceptable setup quality. But the L196WTQ has a worse setup of color temperature modes and a very irregular backlight whereas the 932GW has an excellent contrast ratio but a rather high level of RTC errors. It's hard to tell which is the better of the two." [X-bit labs | 19" LCD Monitors Roundup. Part VIII]

If you prefer a standard (not widescreen) monitor, the reviewer suggests the HP LP1965. Other than that, the LG Flatron L196WTQ and Samsung SyncMaster 932GW monitors, which both feature Response Time Compensation (RTC), seem to be the better choice of the lot.

Technorati : lcd, monitor, review