The PT6 SE squeezes in three PCI-E x16 2.0 slots, one PCI-E x1 slot, two PCI slots, one PATA host adapter, six SATA II host adapters, Realtek audio and LAN chips, six USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA and Firewire port, and S/PDIF optical/coaxial out. In a matter of weeks the new Intel P55 platform is expected to launch as a mainstream alternative to the X58, which is more oriented towards building the ultimate high-end desktop. The introduction of the P55 should bring down the cost of the mid-range motherboard by a notch or two.
Keep in mind that Lynnfield chips will make use of a new socket LGA 1156, so should you decide to wait then you’ll also need a matching P55-based motherboard and dual channel memory kits. For those of you committed to building a new system now, Intel’s current Core i7 920 is a superb choice. Packing four Nehalem cores and built on 45nm tech, the i7 920 runs at 2.66GHz with a 4.8GT/s QPI, has 4 x 256KB of L2 cache, 8MB of L3 cache, and a TDP of 130W.
Due to the amount of competition among manufacturers in this price range, boards are often paired with a rebate. As a result their prices are rarely stable, and when they are it’s not for long, so a little comparison shopping goes a long way. For the AMD lovers, an ATI Radeon HD 4890 is similar in price and performance.
If you can settle for what are essentially software-emulated EAX 5.0 effects, look at the Asus Xonar DX, which runs about $90 and often ships with a $25 rebate.
If you can spare an extra $200-300, we recommend allocating it toward an SSD. The boost in performance will be unmatched by anything else you can buy, though you’ll need to compromise a bit on the storage capacity department. For example, Intel’s 80GB X25-M can be had for as little as $230 these days, while OCZ’s ever expanding range includes the 60GB Vertex for $200 and 120GB Agility for $330.
Our personal favorite in the sub-$70 territory is the Antec Three Hundred which runs about $60. It features washable air filters, a 120mm rear exhaust fan and a 140mm top fan - plenty of wind to keep your gaming equipment cool.
You won’t find many monitors that can best the Asus VH236H in this price range. However, considering we make a big jump in our luxury build to a 30-inch model, we have some additional recommendations that fall right in the middle. The 22" Dell 2209WA is a widely regarded monitor thanks to its E-IPS panel. Unfortunately this monitor is very hard to find at $400. Other worthy 24" alternatives in the ~$400-500 price range are the Dell 2408WFP, BenQ G2400WD, and Samsung T240HD.
Either way, we’ve just decided to allot $60 to the keyboard and mouse, knowing that you’ll find something at that price or lower.