PC Buying Guide The Luxury System

The Luxury System

• Workstation-like performance • Great for heavy multitasking • Extreme gaming

Here we have a screaming-edge machine lacking any virtual price cap -- a dream machine that is down to earth in terms of both price and configuration. Every component in the Luxury System guide is thoroughly scrutinized to ensure it packs the most horsepower for your greenback. If a component's premium price isn't justified, it simply doesn't make the cut. In nearly all of our selections, we've chosen components that are either the best available, or just a notch below.

Component	Product	Price
Motherboard	Gigabyte P67A-UD7	$330
Processor	Intel Core i7 2600K	$315
Memory	2x4GB Corsair XMS 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 1600	$100
Graphics	GeForce GTX 580	$500
Sound	Asus Xonar Essence STX	$200
Storage	OCZ Vertex 3 240GB + Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB	$540 + $170
Optical	Lite-On iHAS124-04 + LG WH10LS30K	$20 + $85
Power	Corsair Enthusiast Series 750TX	$120
Case	Cooler Master HAF X	$190
Monitor	Dell UltraSharp U3011 30"	$1,500
Speakers / Headset	Logitech Z-5500 / MDR-V7506	$350 / $90
Peripherals	Logitech G500 + G19	$60 + $170
	Core System Total	$2,570
	Core System + Monitor and Peripherals	$4,520

Motherboard, Processor, Memory

In our recent review, we found Intel's new Core i7 2600K to be faster than the $1,000 Core i7 975 Extreme Edition and that speed gain comes at 44% less power consumption. It's worth mentioning that the i7 2600K has an unlocked multiplier so it's easier to overclock, but if you don't plan to take advantage of that feature, the standard i7 2600 is a little cheaper at $300.

P67-based motherboards are finally surging back onto the market and Gigabyte currently offers the highest quality board. At $330, P67A-UD7 features four full-length PCIe x16 slots (x16 speeds for two slots or x8 for all four), making it an ideal solution for multi-GPU configurations. It also carries four SATA 6Gb/s and two eSATA ports, six USB 3.0 ports, and plenty more.

Most people won't tap 4GB during standard use, but if you're looking to spend over $3,000 on a desktop PC, you're probably not just the "average" user. Having 8GB of RAM is reasonable for this kind of system and even if splurged on double that amount, the extra memory would only account for a slight percentage of the core system cost anyway.

Graphics, Sound

Nvidia's GeForce GTX 580 remains our pick, despite the arrival of new dual-GPU cards from both AMD and Nvidia. Although the Radeon HD 6990 and GeForce GTX 590 are the fastest cards available today, they're a poor value when compared to cheaper, more efficient dual-card configurations such as two HD 6950s or GTX 570s. While it may be tempting to go that route -- and we won't stop you -- make no mistake about it, the GTX 580 is quite a powerhouse despite being a single-GPU card. In our testing, it matched Radeon HD 5970, a dual-GPU card that earned a seat in our Luxury guide for over a year.

Storage

As expected, OCZ's Vertex 3 series has done extremely well on performance tests around the web, quickly proving itself as the drive to beat. Powered by SandForce's speedy SF-2281 controller, the 240GB Vertex 3 touts maximum read and write speeds of up to 550MB/s and 520MB/s when connected through a SATA 6Gb/s port.

We should note that we're preparing a review of the Vertex 3 as well as Intel's 510 series and the Crucial M4, so keep your eyes peeled for those. It's also worth mentioning that while you can technically purchase the Vertex 3 through many online stores as of writing, we haven't seen any etailer with a unit in stock, so expect a delay.

This wouldn't be much of a Luxury computer without a Blu-ray burner, and at under $150 the LG drive we've chosen is among the most affordable you will find. It's also a bit faster than Lite-On's $190 DH-4B1S-08 with a BD-R rate of 10x.

Power, Case

Corsair's new Enthusiast Series 750TX ought to supply your dream PC with enough juice. Noteworthy specifications include a 140mm thermally controlled fan, 60A on a single +12V rail, up to 85% efficiency, and lengthy cables with connectors for eight SATA drives, four PCI-E graphics cards, eight peripheral devices and more.

Cooler Master has redesigned its flagship full tower chassis, adding more features and a whole new look. We recentlyreviewed the HAF X and found it to be worth the cost premium, adding two extra expansion slots, USB 3.0 support, dual hot-swappable drive bays, a larger side window, and more. That's in addition to all the usual HAF features, such as a CPU hole in the motherboard tray, a plethora of fans, and superb cable management.

Other worthwhile aggressive looking chassis include the Antec's Twelve Hundred and Lanboy Air, while a sleeker and more subtle enclosure can be had with Cooler Master's Cosmos 1000 and Corsair's Obsidian 800D. Meanwhile, if money is no object, the Thermaltake Level 10 is among the most unique (and expensive) PC cases available.

Monitor, Speakers, Peripherals

At breathtaking 30-inches, the Dell UltraSharp U3011 is nothing short of excellence. Displaying 1.07 billion colors at a native resolution of 2560x1600, it has a contrast ratio of 1000:1, 370 cd/m2 brightness, 7ms gray-to-gray response time, .2505mm pixel pitch, viewing angles of 178/178-degrees and is backed by Dell's premium panel guarantee. It also has five USB ports, along with two HDMI, two DVI, one VGA, one DisplayPort, component connectors, a 7-in-1 card reader, and sits atop an adjustable base (height, swivel and tilt).

As sweet as the U3011 is, $1,400 is a lot of bacon to drop on one monitor. The 3007WFP-HC (our former pick) is now discontinued, but you can still find it online for under $1,200. We realize 30" monitors aren't for everyone, and there are countless worthy alternatives in the 24" to 27" ($200 to $600) range. If you have the cash, we'd suggest opting for a display that boasts an IPS panel such as HP's LP2475w or Dell's U2410.

There aren't many 5.1 computer speaker systems around and Logitech's Z-5500 is by and large the most popular, featuring a maximum output of 505W. However, Logitech plans to phase the Z-5500s out with its new Z906 system in the near future. The Z906 is up for preorder at $400, but they aren't shipping just yet. Meanwhile, headsets don't get much better than Sony's MDR-V7506 unless you're going to spend hundreds or thousands more. Frankly, if you require better audio quality than the MDR-V7506, you probably already know what you're looking for.

Between the number of possible keyboard and mouse combinations in the high-end price range, and the various uses you could be making of this system it's virtually impossible to recommend a single component. That said, we think Logitech's G500 mouse and G19 keyboard are suitable for just about any build, but if you prefer something more sleek, the Logitech diNovo Edge or the Logitech MX Air Silver mouse may be worth investigating. Other popular keyboards include the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 and Logitech's recently launched G510.

If you're looking for a mechanical keyboard, Filco, Das, Ducky, Leopold, Deck, XArmor, and SteelSeries offer respected options. Razer recently introduced the BlackWidow which combines gaming and macro features. Be sure to read up on the difference between each keyswitch before making a purchase. Geekhack.org offers a fantastic resource on the subject if you're interested.

PC Buying Guide The Enthusiast's PC

The Enthusiast's PC

• Excellent performance • Heavy multitasking and everyday computing • Perfect for gaming

The Enthusiast's PC incorporates the perfect blend of both the Entry-Level Rig and Luxury System, making this our most harmonious build. Our intent is to keep this system within the grasp of the average computer enthusiast, essentially offering a fully loaded PC minus some of the unnecessary bells and whistles that could set you back another grand or two.

Component	Product	Price
Motherboard	ASRock P67 Extreme4	$160
Processor	Intel Core i5 2500K	$225
Memory	2x2GB G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3 1600MHz	$50
Graphics	Radeon HD 6870	$205
Sound	HT Omega Striker 7.1	$90
Storage	Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB + Western Digital Caviar Black 750GB	$135 + $70
Optical	Lite-On iHAS124-04 + Lite-On iHOS104-06	$20 + $60
Power	Corsair Enthusiast Series 650TX	$100
Case	Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced	$160
Monitor	Asus VE276Q 27"	$300
Speakers / Headset	Logitech's Z-2300 / Sony MDR-V6	$120 / $70
Peripherals	Logitech G500 + G110	$60 + $65
	Core System Total	$1,275
	Core System + Monitor and Peripherals	$1,795

Motherboard, Processor, Memory

In our recent review, we found the second generation of Core processors (codenamed Sandy Bridge) to offer more performance while consuming less power than their predecessors. The $225 quad-core Core i5 2500K absolutely smokes our previous pick, the quad-core Core i5 750. It's worth mentioning that the i5 2500K has an unlocked multiplier so it's easier to overclock, but if you don't plan to take advantage of that feature, the standard i5 2500 is a little cheaper at $210.

LGA 1155 motherboards are making it back into circulation and most models in the $150-$180 range have nearly identical specs. We believe ASRock currently offers the best deal with its P67 Extreme4, featuring three PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, four SATA 6Gb/s and two USB 3.0 ports, fancy Japanese caps, and onboard power/reset/CMOS clear buttons. Based on our internal testing of the ASRock P67 Extreme6, the Extreme4 should offer an incredible value for $160.

Graphics, Sound

Although we found Nvidia's newly released GeForce GTX 560 Ti to be around 9% faster than AMD's Radeon HD 6870, it's $25 more expensive and consumes 24% more power. We currently favor the Radeon HD 6870 for the average build, but the GTX 560 Ti has more overclocking potential if you intend to go that route. If you're running low on funds, the GTX 460 is still perfectly viable and equally tempting at its new sub-$200 price point as is the Radeon HD 6850. Meanwhile, the GTX 570 and Radeon HD 6970 are equally worthy of your cash if you can stretch your budget by another $100.

Despite its grasp on the computer audio market, Creative's sound cards and drivers have left a bitter taste in the mouths of many. For that reason, we've selected HT Omega's Striker. Some people still prefer a card that's more mainstream or simply need support for the latest EAX titles, in which case the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer should be suitable. Asus' Xonar DX is also an attractive option with its emulated EAX effects.

Storage

With the launch of Intel's LGA 1156/1155 platforms, there is now plenty of headroom for an SSD along with a hefty storage drive. An SSD will still set you back more than $200 though, so Seagate's hybrid drives might be more your speed. Not only will the Momentus XT offer performance on par with a 10k RPM VelociRaptor for far less cash, they scale up to 500GB so you can potentially ditch the dedicated storage drive and save a few bucks.

As great as Seagate's hybrid solution is, we're inclined to spring for the complete package: a 64GB Crucial RealSSD C300 with a secondary storage drive. The 64GB RealSSD C300 should provide ample storage for a fresh copy of Windows 7, standard applications and a few games if you disable things like Windows' hibernation mode to conserve space, while Western Digital's 750GB Caviar Black houses your media. More capacious hard drives are constantly on sale, so keep an eye out for deals on 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB drives.

We've chosen to pair a standard DVD burner with Lite-On's affordable Blu-ray reader to give your Enthusiast's PC that extra mile of functionality, but if you want to save $25, feel free to drop the spare drive. Likewise, if you have no use for a Blu-ray reader, exclude it from your purchase. Blu-ray writers start at $160.

Power, Case

While the 550W Corsair CMPSU-550VX is a great choice for $10 less than our chosen 650W unit, 550W could be cutting it close on some multi-GPU configurations, so spending more now to have headroom later makes the most sense to us.

We reviewed the Cooler Master HAF 932 when it first launched and immediately fell in love. With the new HAF X now available, the HAF 932 is more affordable than ever at $160 and has recently received a minor update to add a black interior and USB 3.0 connectivity. Key features include a tool-free assembly, three 230mm fans (front, top and side), one 140mm fan (rear), five available 5.25" drive bays, five internal 3.5" bays, and much more.

If a full-tower chassis is too large for your taste, the CM HAF 922, Antec Nine Hundred are worthy purchases -- though they're a bit showy and that's a deal breaker for some folks. For something a bit tamer, see Antec's Three Hundred orLian Li's cases.

Monitor, Speakers, Peripherals

It's our opinion that a 24" monitor should be the absolute minimum for the average enthusiast system. Although TN-based displays start at about $210, we strongly encourage you to splurge on an IPS panel for the added color depth and overall higher quality image, and if you're a graphics professional, this is a must. Both HP and Dell offer great products in this category (LP2475w and U2410), while ViewSonic and NEC each have solid 23" IPS screens for around $300.

Those are all fantastic monitors, but we're guessing you're accustomed to something just a tad larger. We've found the so-called "sweet spot" to be in the 27" range, and they're actually more affordable than you might think (at least the TN models). LG, HP, Asus, ViewSonic and many other brands currently offer 27" displays in the sub-$350 territory. Most have virtually identical features with a few minor differences (slightly varying response times, different warranty terms, and there's even one LED-backlit model in the mix).

We've opted for the Asus VE276Q as it's cheaper than the competition at $290 and the company is generally quick about cross shipping a replacement unit should yours be defective. Our second choice would be the ViewSonic VX2739WM. It's an extra $50 and ViewSonic has a less forgiving warranty program, but the display supposedly has less input lag based on scattered reviews. That probably won't matter for the average user but it might affect your decision if you're relying on the display for hardcore gaming sessions.

Speakers are a tricky component to shop for because a higher price and wattage doesn't necessarily equal better sound accuracy. As long as you don't expect studio-quality reproduction or to rattle your neighbor's walls, the $40 CA-3602should be fine (also recommended for the Entry-Level Rig).

If your budget allows it, Logitech's Z-2300 200W 2.1 speakers have collected countless positive reviews over the last few years and are the next step up. Fair warning though, the model is slowly being deactivated across etailers and we have a hunch a refresh might be coming.

More of a headset kind of person? The Sony MDR-V66 and MDR-V7506 have stood the test of time and are a personal favorite.

Even if you're not a hardcore gamer, Logitech's G500 mouse is an excellent choice at $60, and the G15 keyboard is somewhat of a de facto among gamers. The G500 is in a sweet spot as far as price for performance goes, but if you need something less expensive take a look at our Entry-Level Rig or our recent round-up review of twelve popular gaming mice.

Other gaming-oriented keyboards include Razer's mechanical BlackWidow and Arctosa, OCZ's Sabre OLED (read our review here), Logitech's G110, SteelSeries Merc Stealth, and Microsoft's SideWinder X6.

Those of you working long hours in front of your computer will want something more ergonomic. The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 has been used by some of the TechSpot staff for years and can be found for less than $40these days. Popular mechanical keyboard brands include Filco, Leopold, Ducky, Deck and Das.

PC Buying Guide The Entry-Level Rig

The Entry-Level Rig

• Good performance • Fast for everyday computing • Casual gaming

Having an extra $300 to spend opens many avenues unavailable to the Budget Box. This computer would be an excellent companion for running general applications and should make quick work of most games, including the more demanding titles.

Chances are, the components you choose will be from this system or our Enthusiast's PC.

Component	Product	Price
Motherboard	ASRock H67M	$95
Processor	Intel Core i5 2400	$195
Memory	2x2GB G.Skill DDR3 1333MHz	$40
Graphics	AMD Radeon HD 5770	$120
Sound	Integrated	$0
Storage	Western Digital Caviar Black 750GB	$70
Optical	Lite-On iHAS124-04	$20
Power	Antec Neo Eco 520C	$60
Case	Cooler Master HAF 912	$60
Monitor	Acer G235HAbd 23"	$150
Speakers	Cyber Acoustics CA-3602	$40
Peripherals	Logitech MX518 + Lite-On Standard Wired	$35 + $7
	Core System Total	$660
	Core System + Monitor and Peripherals	$892

Motherboard, Processor, Memory

At $195, the quad-core Core i5 2400 is a little pricier than we'd usually pick for our Entry Level Rig, but given the impressive performance of Intel's latest processor architecture, it's hard to recommend investing in anything else. The quad-core Core i5 2400 is placed just below the $225 Core i5 2500K (it runs 200MHz slower and loses the unlocked multiplier), but it offers superior performance to the Core i5 750 ($200) and makes for a respectable entry-level enthusiast processor.

If you intend to overclock heavily, we would strongly suggest upgrading to the i5 2500K and the P67-based motherboard suggested in our Enthusiast's PC.

Cougar Point-based motherboards are readily available again after Intel's chipset recall, and ASRock seems to be driving a hard bargain with its $95 H67M. The mATX board features one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, two PCIe x1 slots, SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 ports, as well as D-Sub, DVI and HDMI outputs in case you decide to use the Core i5- 2400's graphics core -- something that isn't possible with P67 boards.

Graphics, Sound

It's a great time to build a new gaming rig. With heavyweights like the GeForce GTX 460 now crowding the sub-$200 market, AMD's Radeon HD 5770 is more affordable than ever at $120 (or as low as $100 with a rebate). In fact, the GTX 460 (768MB) itself is readily available in the $130-$140 range if you're willing to gamble on a MIR. Both cards are fully capable of delivering solid frames with high quality game settings.

Opinions vary when it comes to the necessity of a dedicated sound card. While integrated solutions were less viable for serious computing setups a decade ago, in our opinion they're absolutely fine for entry-level or even mid-range usage these days. If you're of the opposing mindset, by all means buy an add-on card if you have $100 to burn. If you're going to invest in a sound card, you might as well go the full mile and get a Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer, Asus Xonar DX, orHT Omega Striker.

Storage

Building a new rig in the $800 range is a bit of a bummer because there's simply no wiggle room for a solid-state drive. However, if you have about $130 to spend on storage you'll be within the range of Seagate's 500GB Momentus XT hybrid drive. Granted, it's not as quick as a full-fledged flash drive, but it performs like a quieter, less power-hungry VelociRaptor (Western Digital's 10,000RPM drives). At only $50 more expensive than our chosen 750GB drive, it's a luxury well within reach of the average user and we recommend you make the jump if at all feasible.

Power, Case

You're probably thinking Atec's Neo Eco 520W power supply isn't up to snuff for a new gaming rig. If that's the case, we invite you to take a look at some of our recent GPU reviews which show system power consumption rates. Our X58-based Core i7 965 Extreme Edition and Radeon HD 5670-packing test system pulled about 154W at idle and 243W at maximum load. If you need a little more proof, electricity load meters start at about $20. The Neo Eco 500C offers solid Seasonic internals, 40A on the +12V rail, long, flexible cables and a three-year warranty.

The Cooler Master HAF 912 comes with two 120mm fans, one for intake and another for exhaust, and supports up to three additional blowers. Like its pricier siblings, the HAF 912 has plenty of room for high-end components and touts many of the same quality features. Highlights include a top-notch cable routing, a CPU retaining hole, removable dust filters, and liquid cooling outlets -- not to mention the same aggressive design, which we happen to be rather fond of.

Monitor, Speakers, Peripherals

There are tons of monitors on the market suitable for the Entry-Level Rig, but making the right choice simply boils down to your budget and taste. We firmly believe that a 24" display is worth the money and will provide a better experience than something in the 20 to 22" range, especially if you're considering high resolutions. At $150 it's easy to understand why 21.5" 1080p displays are so appealing, but the fact is, unless you're sitting right on top of the screen or have spectacular vision, the small text is just too difficult to read. That said, we understand the value of such displays, and if you know it's going to suit your needs, don't let us scare you off.

If you're super strapped for cash, Acer's 21.5" G215HAbd is about the best you're going to do for $130 considering that it has built-in speakers. Another $40 will bump you up to the 23" range, which includes various products by Asus and Acer. Unless you're going to make the jump to an IPS panel, most of the budget-oriented 24" TN screens are of a similar quality. In other words, it's safe to buy one of the cheaper options, which also happen to be from Asus and Acer.

As convenient as it may seem to have speakers built into your monitor, it's one of those things that is just too good to be true. In most instances, integrated speakers are barely a step above not having any sound at all. Budget 2.1 setups from reputable companies such as Logitech, Altec Lansing and Cyber Acoustics can be found at $20 to $40 and some of the more popular models include the S120, VS2621, and our recommendation, the CA-3602.

If this system will be used for any serious gaming, a mouse that ships with cheaper combo sets won't cut it. The Logitech MX518 is a solid gaming mouse that has been around for a while and at less than $40 it's among the cheapest options. If you need a more affordable alternative, Gigabyte offers a basic gaming mouse for about half the cost and Microsoft hasone in the $30 range, too.

We recently published a round-up review of 12 popular gaming mice if you're looking for a more in-depth look at what's available. The keyboard is a less crucial element for some and a no-frills model from Lite-On that goes for a mere $7 seems to be keeping a lot of people happy. If you are more picky about keyboards (and some of us TS staffers definitely are) check out the Enthusiast PC for other choices.

PC Buying Guide The Budget Box

• Decent performance • Good for everyday computing • Gaming only with add-on graphics

If you just need to create a few documents and check your email, you can get by on much less than a $500 desktop. Hell, a $300 netbook can tackle that job while remaining highly portable. Buying a netbook is a worthy route for the road warrior, but desktops still reign supreme in terms of value and expandability.

If you follow this build you'll have a system acceptable for any role apart from running graphically intense applications. Throw a budget video card into the mix -- which can be had for less than a $100 these days -- and you'll have a humble solution to gaming as well.

Component	Product	Price
Motherboard	MSI H61M-E33	$70
Processor	Intel Core i3 2100	$125
Memory	2x2GB G.Skill DDR3 1333MHz	$40
Graphics	Integrated	$0
Sound	Integrated	$0
Storage	Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB	$40
Optical	Lite-On iHAS124-04	$20
Power	Antec Neo Eco 400C	$50
Case	NZXT Gamma Classic Series	$40
Monitor	Acer S201HLbd 20"	$110
Speakers	Logitech S220	$25
Peripherals	Logitech Standard Deluxe 250	$20
	Core System Total	$385
	Core System + Monitor and Peripherals	$540

Motherboard, Processor, Memory

The new dual-core Core i3 2100 is a perfect match for this machine, offering comparable performance to the acclaimed quad-core Core i5 750 ($200 retail) in applications that don't utilize the two extra cores -- which includes most games. Additionally, the new Sandy Bridge processors have a respectable on-die graphics core, making them especially ideal for a budget machine that can get by with integrated graphics.

With Intel's chipsets issues resolved, it should be easy to find an LGA 1155 motherboard online. We've opted for an H61-based board by MSI, which offers everything you need in a basic system: one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, two PCIe x1 slots, one legacy PCI slot, eight-channel audio, gigabit Ethernet, as well as D-Sub, DVI, HDMI and USB 2.0 ports. If you require SATA 6GB/s or USB 3.0, the next notch up is ASRock's H61M/U3S3.

Although you could save a little cash by purchasing 2GB of RAM for basic productivity tasks and web browsing, the chosen MSI board only has two memory slots. That being the case, it seems like a better idea to fill them 4GB instead of potentially shorting yourself. Better safe than sorry as they say, and DDR3 RAM is incredibly cheap at the moment with a 2x2GB kit running as little as $40 -- roughly half of what they were a year ago.

Graphics, Sound

This build is not intended for gaming, but adding a relatively low-cost GPU like the Radeon HD 4850 will do wonders for your FPS, transforming this into a viable machine for casual PC gaming. We recently published a tech tip with a list of the top budget and mid-range graphics cards available, which should offer some guidance. In addition to a Radeon HD 4250 IGP, the chosen motherboard has a Realtek ALC662 audio chipset and integrated sound is more than sufficient for a basic machine.

Storage

The way hard drives are priced these days, a few extra dollars can literally yield a 50% increase in storage space -- and the gigabytes disappear faster than you think. But if you are certain that you won't need the additional storage space, you're welcome to save a couple bucks by choosing a less capacious drive. The 500GB Caviar Black currently offers the best bang for your buck.

Power, Case

You wouldn't put diluted gas in your car and you shouldn't feed your PC dirty power. The instability offered by your typical no-name PSU will inexorably lead to an untimely failure, leaving you with an unglamorous paperweight. In short, friends shouldn't let friends buy cheap power supplies. Antec's Neo Eco 400c will not only provide this build with all the power it could ever need, it should also meet the requirements of most entry-level video cards in circulation.

There are plenty of basic chassis priced in the sub-$50 bracket, and the NZXT is our personal pick with plenty of space for expandability and a stock 120mm rear exhaust fan, which should be sufficient for a system with no discrete graphics. It's almost always available with free shipping, which is a major plus if you're buying a 13lb metal box.

Monitor, Speakers, Peripherals

A 20" display doesn't sound like much these days, and there's no denying it's toward the smaller end of desktop monitors. The Acer S201HLbd features a native resolution of 1600x900 and unless you've already been spoiled by larger high-res displays this should prove adequate for general computing tasks. No display in the sub-$150 range is going to boast superb imagery, and most are comparable enough in quality that you're safe buying anything with decent reviews.

We recommend just finding something that fits your size and resolution needs. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to rely on sales, rebates, open box, or refurbished monitors if you're after one that's larger than 20" and cheaper than $135.

Our chosen display doesn't have integrated speakers and frankly, we wouldn't recommend using built-in speakers anyway -- at least for anything outside of basic Windows sounds. Dip into your piggy bank and invest in some low-end 2.1 speakers, such as Logitech's S220. You'll be glad you did.

Wired keyboard and mice combinations start at about $10 with choices including several Logitech, Microsoft and Apevia combos under $25. Our pick is currently one of the cheapest solutions available, but if you have a few extra dollars and prefer a wireless setup, have a look at Logitech's EX 100.