Econobox alternatives
We're happy with the selections on the previous page, but not everybody will want an Intel processor or integrated audio. Since users' needs will invariably, er, vary, we've gathered a list of alternatives and extras on this page.

Processor
AMD can't quite match the performance and power efficiency of Intel's Pentium E5200 in this price range. However, the Athlon X2 5400+ Black Edition costs less, should perform well enough, and has an unlocked upper multiplier that can make overclocking a breeze. Coupled with our 780G motherboard, this CPU can serve as a middle ground for folks who don't care about discrete graphics but still want something better than the Econobox Lite.

Note that this processor doesn't come with a cooler in the box, so you'll need to purchase an aftermarket heatsink and fan. This Rosewill model costs only $20 with free shipping and has good user reviews. If you'd rather pay a little less overall, you can also grab a 3.1GHz Athlon X2 6000+ (which comes with a boxed cooler) for $92. That chip does have a higher thermal envelope, though.

Motherboard
Our Socket AM2 processor won't plug into our primary system's LGA775 socket, so we've selected a matching motherboard based on AMD's 780G integrated graphics chipset. The 780G is blessed with a surprisingly competent Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics processor that can run recent games as long as you can live with lower resolutions and detail levels. Cinephiles will be glad to know that the Radeon HD 3200 can accelerate high-definition video decoding to facilitate buttery-smooth Blu-ray playback, too.

We have plenty of experience with Gigabyte's GA-MA78GM-S2H motherboard, which we featured in our initial review of the 780G, so we're confident that it's a good match for our Econobox alternatives. The S2H also has great user reviews on Newegg.

As a side note, we should mention that motherboards based on Nvidia's GeForce 8200- and 8300-series integrated graphics chipsets have hit stores, and they're certainly interesting alternatives to the 780G. However, based on our experience with the GeForce 8300, we still favor the AMD chipset.

Graphics
If you're a casual gamer and want to save a few bucks, the Radeon HD 4670 is a capable alternative to the GeForce 9800 GT. As we found in our review, AMD's new budget card can run most current games (with the notable exceptions of Crysis and Crysis Warhead) at 1280x1024 or 1680x1050 with some of the detail turned up. Considering the sheer number of not-so-demanding console ports out there, you may find the 4670 capable enough for your needs.

Storage
As we hinted on the previous page, Seagate's 640GB Barracuda 7200.11 is the drive to get if you crave five years of warranty coverage. This model costs $5 more than the Caviar SE16, though, and we don't expect it to perform as well or run as quiet.