Once a dull, low-end build with a single-core processor and integrated graphics, the Econobox now features dual-core goodness and a very capable graphics card. You won't find too many fancy extras here, but we've tried to select a balanced mix of peppy, reliable components with headroom for future upgrades.

Processor
With two 2GHz cores based on Intel's speedy Core architecture, the Pentium E2180 sits well past the "good enough" threshold for a machine like this one. We could go with something a little faster and more expensive, but we'd rather spend the extra cash on a reasonably quick graphics card and other upgrades.

With that said, we should point out that AMD makes slightly faster processors in this price range. We're leaving them out of our primary config simply because we find the Intel platform more attractive overall. Our recommended motherboard supports 45nm Core 2 Quads that beat their Phenom counterparts into the ground, and it should allow you to get a decent overclock out of the Pentium E2180. If you're less concerned about an upgrade path, check out our AMD alternative on the next page.

Motherboard
Gigabyte's GA-EP45-DS3L is a little expensive for an Econobox motherboard, but we've chosen it over the cheaper P35-based GA-EP35-DS3L for several reasons. The P45 chipset draws less power, has better overclocking potential, and offers PCI Express 2.0 support. Also, the P45 board has two more Serial ATA ports and two more rear USB ports than its P35-based cousin. The price difference between the two amounts to $15, and we think the GA-EP45-DS3L is well worth the extra cash.

As we often point out when recommending budget motherboards, this one lacks RAID support. That's probably not a major cause for concern for most users on a budget, though, and we can forgive the omission considering the low price tag.

Memory
In light of Windows Vista's memory demands and current prices, 2GB of RAM has really become the minimum for a modern PC. Our 2GB Kingston DDR2-800 kit is one of the cheapest in its class at just $36.99, so it easily fits in the Econobox's $500 budget. Kingston should have better quality control and customer service than you can expect from no-name module makers.

Graphics
If you had to do a double-take on this one, we don't blame you. Yes, the GeForce 8800 GT is now cheap enough to make an appearance in the Econobox. We probably don't need to sell most of our readers on this card, since its fantastic performance and value proposition have made it an enthusiast favorite ever since its release in late 2007. Newer GPUs like the GeForce 9800 GTX+ and Radeon HD 4850 have replaced the 8800 GT at $199, but Nvidia's older mid-range wonder is still fast enough to handle pretty much any game with plenty of eye candy enabled.

This particular PNY GeForce 8800 GT doesn't have higher-than-stock speeds, a fancy custom cooler, or lifetime warranty coverage. However, PNY covers the card for three years and throws in a copy of Frontlines: Fuel of War, which is pretty decent considering the affordable price tag.

Storage
We recommended Western Digital's 320GB Caviar SE16 hard drive last time, but the 640GB SE16 only costs 20 bucks more. Even with the 8800 GT, we have room in our budget for the higher-capacity drive—and it's a nice step up. The 640GB SE16 boasts great performance, low power consumption, low noise levels, and a lower cost per gigabyte than virtually any alternative. If you'd rather pay a little less for a lower-capacity drive with a longer warranty, though, check out our alternatives section on the next page.

For our optical drive, we've moved to Samsung's SH-S223Q for its low price, solid feature set, and positive user reviews. If previous drives from the same series are any indication, this one should be pretty quiet, too.

Enclosure and power
Antec's NSK 4480 case and power supply bundle includes everything we need for the Econobox: three 5.25" bays, three internal hard drive bays (housed in a removable cage with rubber mounting grommets), a speed-adjustable 120mm exhaust fan, and a high-efficiency EarthWatts 380W power supply.

$80 may sound pricey for a case and PSU bundle, but you get what you pay for. PSUs bundled with inexpensive cases tend to include cheap, low-quality components that often inspire low power delivery, voltage fluctuations, poor stress tolerance, and short life spans. Cheap PSUs can jeopardize system stability, damage sensitive components over time, and potentially even flame out in spectacular fashion, taking several system components with them in the process. We prefer spending more for both a good PSU and a case that won't cut up your fingers when you're filling it with new hardware.