Monitor: Viewsonic VA1703W (Rs. 10,050)
In our previous roundup we had chosen Samsung 740n as our monitor of choice. The 740n still offers excellent VFM. However since then widescreen monitors have become more common place and now offer an excellent alternative to standard ratio monitors. Widescreen monitors have a few good advantages over conventional monitors. They offer a large working screen area, better aspect ratios, which allow you to watch movies in their native aspects and excellent response times which assure that the ghosting or artifact tearing in games reduces by a significant margin.
Keeping this in mind, for this roundup we are replacing Samsung 740n with Viewsonic VA1703. This is a 17-inch widescreen monitor that has a native resolution of 1440x900, offers an excellent response time of 8ms and has a great 500:1 contrast ratio. The fact that it is actually about Rs. 500 cheaper than the Samsung 740n, only adds to its appeal and makes it the perfect candidate for our roundup.
Keyboard & Mouse: Microsoft Optical Keyboard and Mouse Set (Rs. 800)
Microsoft makes excellent keyboard and mice which are sturdy and can be used over long hours of work. At a cost of just Rs. 800 this is an excellent buy.
Cabinet: VIP ATX Cabinet with integrated 300 Watt Powersupply (Rs 1,450)
There is not much to say here. VIP is a well known maker of ATX cabinets available in a range of colors and well-designed power supplies that are known for their reliability.
Speakers: Altec Lansing ATP3 (Rs. 2, 550)
Altec Lansing makes some great PC speakers that offer excellent experience for games and movies. The ATP3 2.1 speaker system fits right into the budget category offering above average performance.
Hey Jayesh
