VALUE Doom 3: Video and Audio
Video
Recommendation: PNY Verto GeForce 6800 128MB DDR 256-bitPrice: $278 shipped
The Doom 3 Graphics benchmarking showed the basic GeForce 6800 performing about the level of an X800 XT Platinum in Doom 3. At about half the price, this is quite an achievement for the 6800. The latest ATI Catalyst 4.9 drivers improve the ATI performance a bit, but no matter how you cast it, there is no doubt that the 6800 is an outstanding value for playing Doom 3.
Before you scream that we call a $278 video card a bargain, consider the alternatives. There frankly are none at this point ,if you want comparable performance for the dollar. ATI does not have a top-line variant at the $300 price point and the 6800 certainly blows away the older Video cards that can cost even more. For example , at plain old 1024X768 the 6800 is 75% faster in Doom 3 than either the ATI 9800 XT or the nVidia 5950, both of which cost about $50-$100 more than the 6800.
We are building a Value Doom 3 system, but the goal is still to be able to play Doom 3 at really acceptable levels. The nVidia GeForce 6800 fits that definition very well.
The 6800 is 12 pipes clocked at 325MHz with memory at 700Mhz. The 6800 also has 128MB of memory instead of the 256MB seen on the 6800 GT and 6800 Ultra. The 6800 core chip, however, is the same 6 series that represents a new generation for nVidia.
Sound Card
Recommendation: On-Board CMedia CM19761APrice: $0
As we discussed in the Mainstream Doom 3 sound options, AnandTech found that the on-board sound was very satisfying for Doom 3 play with the typical powered 5.1 speakers. The recommended Value board, the Chaintech VNF3-250, features the well-regarded CMedia CM19761A chipset providing 5.1 sound capabilities to match the surround sound supported by Doom 3.
The CMedia codec supports up to 6-channel audio. More information on the features and specifications of the CM19761A is available at the CMedia website.
Listed below is part of our RealTime pricing engine, which lists the lowest prices available on nVidia video cards from many different reputable vendors:
If you cannot find the lowest prices on the products that we've recommended on this page, it's because we don't list some of them in our RealTime pricing engine. Until we do, we suggest that you do an independent search online at the various vendors' web sites. Just pick and choose where you want to buy your products by looking for a vendor located under the "Vendor" heading.
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Wesley Fink - Sunday, August 8, 2004 - link
#21 - A recent storage article said there was no need for RAID on the desktop. It did not say there was no need for Raptors. In fact the title of the first article using the new storage benchmarks was "WD Raptors vs. the World"Avalon - Sunday, August 8, 2004 - link
On another note, you just had an article a while ago saying that there are no need for Raptor HD's on a desktop system, yet you recommend it for the performance segment. May I ask why we should waste $175 on this drive when you yourselves said we had no need for it? Especially if the main goal of this rig is just to play Doom 3.Avalon - Sunday, August 8, 2004 - link
I'm most definitely complaining about value, not crap. Mainstream Doom 3, while higher than general, is definitely not that freaking high. Who would buy a Dell for a GAMING system? This guide is for those who BUILD there own, so Dell has absolutely nothing to do with this, nor do their horrendously expensive computers. For a mainstream Doom 3 experience, a 6800GT was quoted as being required. This is a $400 card that allows you to practically play the game at 16x12 with AF and AA. Are mainstream Doom 3 users going to run at this setting? No. Even the value recommendations will run Doom 3 at 12x10, no sweat. Value should be those looking to play the game, but not having to spend much money and not caring about high res and eye candy. This is why I dissagree with the recommendations and pricing. If you think I'm wrong, that's your opinion and I could care less. My own personal rig was about $800 with the monitor included, and it runs the game at 10x7 on high detail. I'd consider that more mainstream than what the value recommendations would get you.Pollock - Sunday, August 8, 2004 - link
May I ask what the point is of having a 12x DVD burner on a mainstream system devoted to playing Doom 3? And by the way, I agree with #1...this is just too much hype. Who would spend $1900 so that they could get "mainstream performance" on another $50 purchase?Myrandex - Saturday, August 7, 2004 - link
I agree with the CRT recommendations over a LCD. LCDs are coming to amazingly low response time, but I don't think I have ever seen one as good as a CRT. Good recommendations though. Maybe a 5900XT would be an even more value alternative, as I thought if I remmeber correctly it performed alright, overclcoekd a lot on average, and is pretty inexpensive.Randawl - Saturday, August 7, 2004 - link
It is pretty amazing that you can buy such a powerful system with such a fantastic video card for around $1000. Things have come quite far in such a short time.Zanfib - Saturday, August 7, 2004 - link
Good enough article, a few typos, but helpful. Still kinda hurts to know that even the value system recommends needs a new (almost next) generation video card, but I can't argue with the value price. $1000 for a pretty good system is quite acceptable.BornStar18 - Saturday, August 7, 2004 - link
It's a minor correction but you mention that the Chaintech VNF3-250 doesn't have GbE (correctly) in the article but in the table, you mention it has onboard 10/100/1000.Good article, I just wish I had $1000 to be able to play Doom3...
Wesley Fink - Saturday, August 7, 2004 - link
#10 - We had technical problems with posting today and I did not get to make final changes as usual before the review posted. In fact the Performance system does now have a 2GB memory recommendation since we finally found 1GB dimms that could still give us 1T Command Rates with timings that were still pretty decent. The Guide has been updated with the 2GB recommendation, the revised price, and several other planned edits.kmmatney - Saturday, August 7, 2004 - link
So looks like I'll be playing Doom3 around April 2005...Its been 10 years since Doom 2, so whats another year.