We re once again recommending Quantum s Atlas V as our top choice for a 7200RPM SCSI drive. 10K RPM drives are available, but we don t feel the speed increase they offer is worth the added money, even for our high-end system. Instead, the Atlas V, with its 4 MB buffer, miniscule 6.3ms access time, and the speedy Ultra160 SCSI interface, is our top choice. As our motherboard of choice features on-board SCSI, we don t need to factor in the cost of a SCSI adapter here. As with our video card selection, whether a high-quality sound card is necessary is debatable.
Platinum is a no-brainer.
Value, Diamond MX400, Diamond MX300. Sony really knows its CRTs. From televisions right down to monitors, Sony has been producing some of the finest CRT displays for many years, and the GDM-F500R monitor continues that legacy. With a 0.22 mm aperture grille pitch, and resolutions up to 2048x1536, the GDM-F500R is one of the clearest, brightest workstation displays available. If 21 inches isn t enough, consider Sony s GDM-FW900, which weighs in at a massive 24 inches, but be prepared to pay a hefty price for it.