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July 2nd, 2009

Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 12:22 am

Categories: Gadgets, Gaming, Graphics, Hardware

Tags: Performance, Antec, Board, Overclocking, Motherboard, Price, CPU, Intel Corp., Core, GTX 295

Motherboard

Extreme - Asus P6T Deluxe/OC Palm

The Asus P6T Deluxe is, without a doubt, the best motherboard to match up with the Core i7. There are cheaper boards, and there are now boards that cost more, but the P6T Deluxe/OC Palm is the best. It’s a fast, stable board that’s packed with features and settings for the enthusiast and overclocker.

Excellent board!

Price: $290

Mid-range - BioStar TPower I45

The BioStar TPower I45 is a great mid-range board because it combines rock-solid features with the ability to handle overclocking so you can unleash the hidden potential of your other hardware. I’m now amazed how many lower-speced boards offer very sophisticated overclocking features.

Another well laid out, fully-featured board from BioStar. Keep an eye on this company over the coming year, I expect to see more good things from it!

Price: $160

Budget - BioStar TP45HP

The TP45HP a good all-round board that offers plenty of options in the way of USB, SATA, Ethernet and so on. It’s also another example of a rock-solid board that shouldn’t give you any problems in day to day usage.

But the main reason I’ve picked this particular board for this package is that it’s a great board for overclocking. In fact, I’d go as far as to call it an overclocker’s dream board.

Price: $110

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Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Adrian Kingsley-HughesAdrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

Want to get in touch? Got a tip? Feel free to drop me a note! I ALWAYS respect anonymity. I'm also on Twitter (@the_pc_doc)

Right to Reply: Should any industry representatives wish to comment on any posts on Hardware 2.0, I will be happy to publish their reply verbatim on this blog.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 68 Talkback(s)
I'm with you
I haven't built a system in a while and my son would like to build one so I am 'in the market' so to speak.

I priced out the midrange system in the article. A whopping $1573, without an OS! I... (Read the rest)
Posted by: 20kwfence Posted on: 08/18/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Adrian:Use Intel much?  justanitguy | 07/02/09
Eh... 50/50 there.  ShadowGIATL | 07/02/09
Nothing wrong with a Dragon!  mjolnar@... | 07/02/09
Faster at what? Solitaire and Wow? Lol  NeoGeneration | 07/06/09
I'm with you  20kwfence | 08/18/09
The problem is that the slowest Nehalem is as fast as the fastest Phenom  georgeou | 07/02/09
ou the quinessential wintel fan  Tim Patterson | 07/03/09
When facts don't work, attack the individual  georgeou | 07/06/09
Amd is way behind  jet1959mo@... | 07/03/09
Not Necessary  Tim Patterson | 07/05/09
You're changing the subject  georgeou | 07/06/09
Wasn't talking high end...  justanitguy | 07/06/09
Intel Yorkfield offers the highest performance at this price range  georgeou | 07/06/09
I agree, But....  Baer | 07/20/09
Right on!  warnerpeter@... | 07/22/09
Agreed, but does "upgradeability" really matter anymore?  caspianhiro | 07/22/09
Hyperthreading and CPUs  CobraA1 | 07/02/09
Hyperthreading and Win7  diane wilson | 07/02/09
I triple that sentiment  NonZealot | 07/02/09
Re: Hyperthreading and CPUs  ShadowGIATL | 07/02/09
True, true  CobraA1 | 07/03/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  Clewin | 07/02/09
oops  Clewin | 07/02/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  cnfrisch | 07/02/09
????????????????????????  Budman o Riverside | 07/02/09
Check out CoolerMaster's HAF 922 Case  dl@... | 07/02/09
A better cpu cooler with this case  aspir8or | 07/20/09
Seriously, you call this a 'best kit list?'  Spiritusindomit@... | 07/02/09
Here here  Hate Malware | 07/02/09
Ever Hear of the ATI HD 4890 Graphics Card?  james800cc@... | 08/17/09
...  evilkillerwhale@... | 07/03/09
You're so right!  enico2007@... | 07/04/09
Just a small thing  chrome_slinky@... | 07/02/09
Well...  ShadowGIATL | 07/02/09
Silly Rabbit, Overclocking Is For Kids  bgavin | 07/02/09
Not sure I agree  trance2tec | 07/02/09
Overclocking can be done right  Renifer | 07/02/09
Supersize my monitor!  Colorado_AL | 07/02/09
the i7 920's are starting to get cheap  marks055@... | 07/02/09
i7 cheap?  Hate Malware | 07/02/09
Wireless keyboards  BroGnorik | 07/02/09
The other problem with wireless keyboards  NonZealot | 07/02/09
Wireless Keyboard: Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 2000  Grayson Peddie | 07/02/09
No problems so far for holding a key down for around 60 seconds.  Grayson Peddie | 07/02/09
Wireless mouse is not good for gaming  CyberZombie | 07/23/09
You should total up the price for each machine at the end  MissingMatter | 07/02/09
I second this idea  Speednet | 07/02/09
Adrian is trimming his beard, he doesn't have time for your shenanigans!  Arapey | 07/02/09
Pricing  Hate Malware | 07/02/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  hrb60 | 07/02/09
Does your system have a OS? are you using Windows Vista  lightingrod | 07/02/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  techfix | 07/02/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  Hate Malware | 07/02/09
I prefer MSI  Colorado_AL | 07/03/09
Mostly right. Nice job Adrian.  The_Curmudgeon | 07/02/09
The Dell monitor...  evilkillerwhale@... | 07/03/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  enico2007@... | 07/04/09
RE: 'Very Best Kit Lists' format  quidnunc@... | 07/05/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  rnlightle | 07/06/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  Drawsalot | 07/06/09
Compaq a master p(l)an  morrigen | 07/14/09
RE: Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Jul/Aug 09  justmeol@... | 07/20/09
Other Categories...  daves1646 | 07/20/09
$1000 for a CPU? no-thanks.  Narg | 07/21/09
Unbelievable!  warnerpeter@... | 07/22/09
A case you should consider  dl@... | 07/24/09
Nice But NO Sound ???  dhamilt01@... | 08/14/09
Give some sound advice instead  ragnar.moller@... | 08/15/09

What do you think?

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