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System Builder Marathon Q3 2014: System Value ComparedSep 26, 2014 - in Reviews
We looked at our previous-quarter builds, assessed their weaknesses, and made our upgrades. Each builder found better value by holding the line on price. Today, we find out which machine balances performance and cost most effectively.
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ASRock M8 Mini-ITX Barebones Gaming PC ReviewOct 24, 2013 - in Reviews
Some of us love compact gaming builds, but the best of these have always been pre-configured into custom enclosures. Is ASRock’s M8 the perfect open-architecture alternative? We load this $550 barebones up with hardware and test its mettle.
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Quick Look: Hands-On With LG's 22AM33NB All-In-One ChassisDec 18, 2012 - in Reviews
We just finished building our second all-in-one using the Thin Mini-ITX form factor and a box of off-the-shelf components. Although we still don't have the graphics performance we crave, LG's 22AM33NB chassis is a clean example of a productivity machine.
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System Builder Marathon, Q4 2012: System Value ComparedDec 6, 2012 - in Reviews
This quarter is full of surprises, from a value-oriented $500 build that includes a Radeon HD 7850 to a $1,000 machine based on AMD's FX-8350 and a $2,000 box armed with a pair of Radeon HD 7970s. We mix it up by adding new benchmarks. It's anyone's game!
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System Builder Marathon, August 2012: Alternative $2000 Gaming PCAug 23, 2012 - in Reviews
Starved by the limits of our System Builder Marathon benchmark suite, Thomas decides to explore what happens when he really uncorks the graphics system. A helping of 5760x1080 across three monitors is being added to the complete four-course test set.
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System Builder Marathon, August 2012: System Value ComparedAug 22, 2012 - in Reviews
Paul, Don, and Thomas each took a stab at building the best value-oriented performance machine within their budget limits (some more successfully than others). Which of these machines will stand out for delivering the most bang for your enthusiast buck?
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System Builder Marathon, August 2012: $2000 Performance PCAug 21, 2012 - in Reviews
We took our highest-priced build back to the drawing board to focus on features, rather than price. Can I compete with the less expensive configurations without spending all of my time worrying about benchmark results? Tomorrow's analysis will be telling.
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Build It: Picking Parts For Your Kid's Entry-Level Gaming PCJul 10, 2012 - in Reviews
Does your child always want to use your PC? Is it time to build him his own? If you don't trust the tier-one vendors to sell you a well-balanced machine, you'll be happy to know that you can piece together your own entry-level box for less than $450.
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System Builder Marathon, June 2012: System Value ComparedJun 7, 2012 - in Reviews
Frugality returned in this quarter's System Builder Marathon, tipping the balance towards less-elaborate gaming rigs. Does cutting deep into the budgets end up hurting our lower-cost build too much for it to compete, or is its value enhanced instead?
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System Builder Marathon, June 2012: $1000 Enthusiast PCJun 5, 2012 - in Reviews
With a $250-smaller budget this quarter, Don re-creates the previous build as faithfully as possible just to see how much of a difference two memory channels make. With no room left for an SSD or extra RAM, we think you'll be surprised by the results.
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Power Supply 101: A Reference Of SpecificationsDec 13, 2011 - in Reviews
Today's article contains everything you've ever wanted to know about PC power supply specifications. Form factor dimensions, cable end pinouts, voltage/amp/watt specifications, and even compatibility issues are covered in this comprehensive reference!
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Building A Liquid-Cooled MicroATX Gaming MonsterOct 4, 2011 - in Reviews
You don't need a massive case to cram in tons of computing muscle. With a little help from a few manufacturers, our excessively-overclocked GeForce GTX 580 SLI build is small enough to sit atop most desks (and smoke our $2000 SBM machine).
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System Builder Marathon, Sept. 2011: System Value ComparedSep 25, 2011 - in Reviews
Big changes to a few components radically alter the performance profile of every machine in this quarter's competition. We’ve already seen how these changes affect the value of each machine, but how will they compare to each other?
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System Builder Marathon, Sept. 2011: $500 Gaming PCSep 21, 2011 - in Reviews
A few months ago, we built our $500 gaming PC using Intel's Sandy Bridge-based Core i3 processor, and it was a real screamer. This time around we're switching back to an overclockable Phenom II X4 and hoping threaded performance helps our case.
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System Builder Marathon, Sept. 2011: $1000 Enthusiast PCSep 20, 2011 - in Reviews
This quarter's $1000 enthusiast-oriented PC gets a new lease on life with a 30 GB solid-state drive and a couple of GeForce GTX 460s. Does that make a difference over the last build and its conventional hard disk and Radeon HD 6850 CrossFire setup?
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System Builder Marathon, Sept. 2011: $2000 Performance PCSep 19, 2011 - in Reviews
Falling memory prices make it easier to spend our $2000 budget on the fastest available components. How much faster is a pair of GeForce GTX 580s than two Radeon HD 6970 cards? Noticeably. But is the value any more compelling? You're about to find out.
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System Builder Marathon, June 2011: Alternative $2000 PCJun 26, 2011 - in Reviews
You spoke up in the first story from this quarter's System Builder Marathon, and we listened. Today we compare that first $2000 build to an alternative system based upon a flood of your recommendations. Call it the people's choice, if you will.
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System Builder Marathon, June 2011: Value ComparedJun 23, 2011 - in Reviews
With so little happening in the hardware world since the beginning of this year, our second-quarter System Builder Marathon sees only minor hardware changes. But each builder unquestionably comes closer to dialing in ideal setups at each price point.
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System Builder Marathon, June 2011: $500 Gaming PCJun 22, 2011 - in Reviews
This quarter's $500 PC is sure to be a little controversial. We've built plenty of AMD-powered budget boxes in the past, but now we're testing the mettle of Intel's (multiplier-locked) Core i3-2100 in a gaming system priced right around $500.
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System Builder Marathon, June 2011: $1000 Enthusiast PCJun 21, 2011 - in Reviews
This quarter, we're keeping the Core i5-2500K processor from our previous build, but we're adding a pair of Radeon HD 6850s in CrossFire. How will those two boards stand up against the modified Radeon HD 6950 we used last time? The answer is within!
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System Builder Marathon, June 2011: $2000 Performance PCJun 20, 2011 - in Reviews
The launch of Intel's Z68 Express platform affects our build in a way we aren't benchmarking. But can we still put together a better configuration than last quarter's stunner? Will we achieve even better high-end value? The answer is a resounding yes.
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System Builder Marathon, March 2011: $2000 Bonus BuildMar 29, 2011 - in Reviews
We used our second chance opportunity to hand-pick a $2000 PC with even more graphics power, at a lower cost. Getting more powerful GPUs means compromising elsewhere to maintain the same budget, though. Will that decision affect this config's value?
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System Builder Marathon, March 2011: Value ComparedMar 28, 2011 - in Reviews
Day 4 of our System Builder Marathon compares performance achieved to money spent. With outright speed the top priority, can either of our high-end systems beat the low-cost build when it comes to value? Or will the middle machine strike the best balance?
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System Builder Marathon, March 2011: $500 Gaming PCMar 24, 2011 - in Reviews
The last two System Builder Marathon configurations centered on Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture. But AMD still seems to rule the budget-oriented segment. This quarter, Paul buys an upgraded CPU and a Radeon-based graphics card for more performance.
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System Builder Marathon, March 2011: $1000 Enthusiast PCMar 23, 2011 - in Reviews
We give Sandy Bridge yet another shot in our second System Builder Marathon configuration of the month, leaning on Intel's Core i5-2500K. How well does it fare against the Lynnfield-based Core i5-700-series processor it’s replacing?
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System Builder Marathon, March 2011: $2000 Performance PCMar 21, 2011 - in Reviews
Nick-of-time availability on revision B3-based P67 motherboards makes it possible for us to explore Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture in the fastest configuration competing in this quarter's System Builder Marathon. Is the result an overwhelming victory?
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System Builder Marathon: TH's $2000 Hand-Picked BuildDec 26, 2010 - in Reviews
The first $2000 build in this quarter's SBM series provided astonishing performance overall, but a few disappointments forced us to consider alternative parts. Today, we see how much improvement we can make when we hand-pick the configuration, TH-style
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Build It: Half-Height Gaming PCs For The Living RoomDec 21, 2010 - in Reviews
PowerColor’s half-height Radeon HD 5750 launched a quest to build a tiny gaming PC. But things didn't work out the way we planned. We ended up building two half-height machines capable of cranking out playable frame rates, and put them both to the test.
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System Builder Marathon, December 2010: Value, ComparedDec 19, 2010 - in Reviews
New benchmarks, new test methods, and new hardware mark exciting updates to this month’s System Builder Marathon. Today, we cover the most exciting part of all: the value competition. Remember, we're giving all three systems away, so enter to win them!
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System Builder Marathon, December 2010: $500 PCDec 16, 2010 - in Reviews
We've already seen results from Thomas' $2000 PC and Don's $1000 build. Now it's time for Paul's $500 machine to take the stage, showing what an Athlon II X3 can do when it's matched up to a GeForce GTX 460. Can it deliver better value than the others?