Conclusion

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Here's a quick look at the total hardware cost, negating the peripherals and software we already own:

Mid-Priced PC Component Cost
CPU Core 2 Duo E6600 £150 / €200
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper TX £20 / €40
Motherboard MSI P965 Platinum £85 / €125
RAM Patriot eXtreme Performance PDC22G6400LLK £100 / €150
Graphics EVGA GeForce 8800GTS PN: 320-P2-N811-AR £200 / €300
Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000YS £100 / €150
Sound Onboard Audio 0
Case SILVERSTONE TEMJIN SST-TJ02SW £73 / €115
Power AeroCool ZERODBA-S620 £90 / €100
DVD-RW Sony NEC Optiarc Black AD-7170S-0B 18X SATA £20 / €35
Total Price £838 / €1,215

As you can see, £838 / €1,215 got us into a modern performance system capable of excellent 3D performance and a pleasant, moderately low-noise computing experience.

Author's Opinion

The best bang for the buck is probably found in low-budget systems, but what good are they if they can't do what you want? After all, not everyone is willing to play games at low resolutions with the eye candy turned off, even if it does save them a bundle. The best value in modern performance requires modern hardware!

I expect Don Woligroski's low-cost configuration to prove itself the better value, even if it isn't fast enough for everyone. And yes, some buyers want it all...so tomorrow we'll consider what a high budget can offer.

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