Asus EN8800 GTX
The videocard market has been
a one-horse race this year.
Nvidia obliterated AMD without
doing much of anything new.
And while this might seem out
of character for Maximum PC,
we’re not anointing a card with Nvidia’s absolute fastest GPU—the
8800 Ultra—with our Best of the Best designation.
No, we’ve decided to stick with the 8800 GTX, as represented by
Asus’s EN8800 GTX. It’s fast, it’s quiet, and it delivers incredible per-
formance with DX9 (its DX10 performance is admittedly less impres-
sive). Yes, the Ultra is faster. It’s also hotter and a whole lot more
expensive. We just don’t think the modest speed bump justifi es the
mountain of cash you’ll need to acquire one.
(Reviewed January 2007) $550, http://www.asus.comBEST MONITORBEST WI-FI ROUTERBEST OPTICAL DRIVEBEST VIDEOCARD
D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N
Gigabit Wireless Router
It’s been a long wait, but 802.11n wireless routers are
fi nally worth buying—even if the IEEE hasn’t published the
fi nal spec. After testing models from every major vendor,
we found that D-Link’s DIR-655 offers the best combination
of features and performance. With unparalleled tweak-
ability, customizable quality-of-service
settings, best-in-class range
and throughput, and a built-in
Gigabit Ethernet switch, no
other router comes close.
(Reviewed November 2007)
$130, http://www.dlink.comD-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N
Gigabit Wireless Router
It’s been a long wait, but 802.11n wireless routers are
fi nally worth buying—even if the IEEE hasn’t published the
fi nal spec. After testing models from every major vendor,
we found that D-Link’s DIR-655 offers the best combination
of features and performance. With unparalleled tweak-
ability, customizable quality-of-serviceDECEMBER 2007 MAXIMUMPC 49
Samsung SH-S203B
It’s all well and good to have next-gen
hardware—if it makes sense. And right
now, with a format war raging and hard-
ware and media costs still sky high,
next-gen optical is a foolish choice for
most folks. The majority of disc-burning
and -reading needs are best handled by
a good old-fashioned DVD burner, and
Samsung’s SH-S203B is our fave in this
category, offering a SATA interface, 20x
write speeds, and a competitive price.
(Reviewed October 2007) $70,
http://www.samsung.comSamsung SH-S203B
Gateway XHD3000
While we’re still admirers of the large 1920x1200 native-res LCDs
we’ve been recommending the last few years, the widespread
adoption of these screens has defi nitely diminished their cachet.
So we’re thrilled that a really, really high-res screen is now a viable
option. Thanks to Gateway’s XHD3000, power users can enjoy all
the benefi ts of a 30-inch, 2560x1600 panel without suffering any
of the indignities inherent to other 30-inch LCDs. The XHD3000’s
unique use of an internal scaler means you can choose among
multiple interface options, adjust the screen’s image in a variety of
ways, and play high-def content at its intended res. Righteous!
(Reviewed on page 80) $1,700, http://www.gateway.comBEST MONITORGateway XHD3000
While we’re still admirers of the large 1920x1200 native-res LCDs
we’ve been recommending the last few years, the widespread
adoption of these screens has defi nitely diminished their cachet.
So we’re thrilled that a
option. Thanks to Gateway’s XHD3000, power users can enjoy all
the benefi ts of a 30-inch, 2560x1600 panel without suffering any
of the indignities inherent to other 30-inch LCDs. The XHD3000’s
unique use of an internal scaler means you can choose among
multiple interface options, adjust the screen’s image in a variety of
ways, and play high-def content at its intended res. Righteous!
(Reviewed on page 80) $1,700, http://www.gateway.com