Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Sep/Oct 2010

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | September 9, 2010, 5:52am PDT

Summary: Welcome to the Hardware 2.0 “Very Best Kit List” for September/October 2010. Here I’ve put together a list of the best high-end and mid-range and budget components currently available. So if you’re thinking of buying, building or even upgrading a PC, this list is a must-read for you!

Welcome to the Hardware 2.0 “Very Best Kit List” for September/October 2010. Here I’ve put together a list of the best high-end and mid-range and budget components currently available. So if you’re thinking of buying, building or even upgrading a PC, this list is a must-read for you!

These components are on this list because I firmly believe them to be the best either in terms of performance or price - although I’m ready to admit, as always, that there’s room for debate and some choices “go with the gut” more than others.

NOTE: All prices are approximate … shop around for the best deals!

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Cooler Master RL-EUL-GBU1-GP Aquagate S1

Cooler Master RL-EUL-GBU1-GP Aquagate S1 is considered "LEGACY" by Cooler Master. Seems they're out of the liquid cooling business
redrxturbo@...
9th Sep 2010
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RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Sep/Oct 2010

Mid-range monitor should be one of the dozens of 1920x1080 panels. 1680x1050 is an odd choice in 2010.
Richard in Phoenix
9th Sep 2010
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RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Sep/Oct 2010

@Richard in Phoenix

Richard - So... what do you recommend? I am in the market for a 22" monitor and would like to hear what your experience has been. Thanks.
v r
9th Sep 2010
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22" monitor

@v r FWIW - in the 22" space, you can go 3D if you have a use for it, otherwise you can get good 1920x1200 res from HP, ASUS, LG, Samsung, Lenovo, Viewsonic, etc.) - you can even get multitouch if you like that from Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Planar.
archangel999
9th Sep 2010
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22

@v r
Try the ASUS VH236H 23 Inch monitor. It has 2ms response, good black/color and HDMI, DVI, and VGA interfaces for like $160 on Buy.com. I'm very happy with mine. The monitor doesn't need proprietary drivers to run, it shows as a PnP monitor (but gives refresh, res, etc info to the computer). Even Linux seems to like it just fine (though my main OS is Win7).

I'm not sure what the point of 3D is as it goes in and out of fashion like '60s clothes styles. People invariably get tired of messing with the glasses, and you'd think they would have an affordable solution for that by now.
Drakaran
9th Sep 2010
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Graphics Card

Hey, I think you should include ASUS Ares Graphics Card, it is the fastest graphics card around. Way faster than GTX 480!!!
maxxon15
9th Sep 2010
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Extreme monitor

I like dual 24" 1920x1200 multi-touch Lenovo L2461x monitors (personally find desktop multitouch very useful) - 120Hz MEMC, USB ports, 2MP webcam, LED backlight, etc.) - less than the Dell 30"
archangel999
9th Sep 2010
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I enjoy checking out these VBK lists

simply because it's never easy staying up on all the latest and greatest offerings out there (especially with the limited time we all have) -- AND -- the talkback input from the general readership often rivals AKH's choices, for but more possibilities.
klumper
9th Sep 2010
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Why no AMD Chips?

I have the Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition running 3.4Ghz stock. It out benchmarks all of Intel's Chips with the exception of the i7 because of the power-boost. I understand the new architecture is fast and all.. but not even a nod to an excellent and VERY FAST processor? Is Intel paying you?
netsecuritypro
9th Sep 2010
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Old and repetitive recomendations in such a fast moving industry?

i have just read the piece and coincidentally I must say I also felt like this guide is getting a bit outdated or repetitive over time.
This is a bit awkward since the tech industry is in constant move and innovation.

I share my reasons:
- Budget cooler. I have seen this cooler show up over and over and over again. I wonder if it still works with modern CPUs

- Processors: I am amazed to see such absence of Intel Core processors as well as AMD processors.
The recommendation for budget processor has been the same for at least 3 iterations of this list which undoubtedly amazes me.
Also if there is a Quad core alternative from AMD, cheap, I can't see why an old dual core is still recommended over a quad core (given how Multi-Core aware software is these days).

- Motherboards: The only recommendation for a Motherboard compatible with a modern Intel Core processor shows up as a side note in grey; no information on mid range Intel Core Motherboards

- Memory: the Mid Range and Budget Memory recommendation show up with the same price (90 USD)!?

Now as a general appreciation I list some details that I'd be delighted to see in future listings:

- Thermal Information/Footprint on processors to understand the efficiency of the processor recommended evrsus the price.

- Noise Appreciation (dBA) on Graphics Cards (given how hot they run, it is important to understand if the recommendation will single handedly take over the "sound experience" in the room or if they are quiet enough.

Noise information would also be interesting on PSUs and Coolers.
PedroRa
9th Sep 2010
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Agreed: lack of real hardware understanding.

@PedroRa
I have to agree, like recommending ram just cause it's super expensive with no apparent awareness that no processor can utilize that speed. My phenom 945 runs at 3000mhz, yet the 1333 speed ddr3 still has a ratio of 10:3, so LOTS of ram idle there. I'd still have overhead DOWNCLOCKING my ram!

I'm convinced Adrian doesn't know what he's talking about.
Drakaran
9th Sep 2010
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Don't be silly

@Drakaran
I'm convinced Adrian doesn't know what he's talking about.

I've had my head in the parts game for longer than I care to remember, and to say AKH doesn't know what he's talking about is ridiculous. Most of his choices are sound, with many hard to beat. That's also why they don't come and go with each new blink.

Simply point out where you feel the choices could be better, then offer up your own. AKH keeps an eye open AND open mind (don't fool yourself otherwise).
klumper
9th Sep 2010
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Fair criticism

@PedroRa
i have just read the piece and coincidentally I must say I also felt like this guide is getting a bit outdated or repetitive over time.

Fair criticism, but then add your own blue chip winners. That's the whole point in having a talkback forum, to share the available wealth.
klumper
9th Sep 2010
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RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Sep/Oct 2010

Adrian Adrian Adrian... Why Q8400???
Please reply to this query.. Even a single line answer will do..
I just can't understand why the Core 2 Quad Q8400 since this is a range where AMD beats the hell out of Intel.. Take any of them AMD Phenom II 965 or even the Phenom II 945 which I have in my PC.. They beat Q8400 in almost all performance parameters at a lower cost..
I like you kit-lists.. They are comprehensive and pretty usefull and many like me value your choices.. So please do say Why...
harikrismg
9th Sep 2010
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Q8400 vs PHII

@harikrismg
Why Q8400??? Please reply to this query.. Even a single line answer will do..

The Q8400 used to hold slight advantages over the PHII 920/940 when you looked at things like clock for clock performance, power consumption, overclocking potential, etc. But even then it was very close and one could always counter by cherry picking benchmarks and test scores to show an alternate picture.

The Q8400 is a castrated (L2 cache reduced) low end version of Yorkfield with specs very similar to the PHII. Both are perfectly fine chips but the Phenom 920/940 basically came too late and too weak to smash the market Intel has been dominating (XS). If the 945/965 models have ramped things up since then, spell out the changes.

I suspect the Q8400 remains on this list since it has been featured in quite a few well publicized sales promotions -- meaning at times you can get them surprisingly cheap.
klumper
10th Sep 2010
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