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System Builder Marathon, December 2010: $1000 PC

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December 14, 2010 4:00:06 AM

Although we were afraid of the results, this time around we decided to try something new, forgoing the Core i5 in favor of a dual-core Core i3 CPU in our build. Can the higher clock rate compensate for the loss of two physical cores in our $1000 system?

System Builder Marathon, December 2010: $1000 PC : Read more

More about : system builder marathon december 2010 1000

December 14, 2010 4:17:41 AM

I can't say I'm impressed this time. You should never have went with a clarksdale, they are simply bad. Getting a more reasonably priced motherboard, cutting another $20 from the HDD and PSU, and an i5 750, would have been much better.

Still, we have more information than before so I can't complain.
Score
7
December 14, 2010 4:24:27 AM

That PSU only has 2 PCI-E hook ups. So you'll have to use adapters in this build. Pathetic.
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-3
Related resources
December 14, 2010 4:29:24 AM

yeah I agree with AMW1011, but it is pretty solid. Too bad only US residents can participate :p 
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0
December 14, 2010 4:32:11 AM

The CPU choice was a little disappointing this time around. A Core i5 or even a comparably priced AMD processor would have done much better (especially in productivity because four cores are typically better than two).
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5
December 14, 2010 4:38:31 AM

I think it would be good to include previous build in the test system page it would make comparison easier.
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4
December 14, 2010 4:43:59 AM

1 tb 7200.12 hard drive?
GTX 570? (debatable)
Cheaper motherboard, maybe not supporting SLI if gtx 570 is taken over 460 sli?
$50 corsair ddr3 1600?
i5 760 with these savings?
Score
1
December 14, 2010 4:50:56 AM

I think we're missing the point of including the Core i3 in this month's build. The purpose was to explore the CPU bottle-necking that can be observed on today's common applications because threading implementation has managed to find itself actually put into effect. Throwing in an i5 760 would have been too predictable and too boring. This puts perspective on the fact that dual-cores matched with high clock speeds are no longer the performance kings as was true more than a year ago.
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14
December 14, 2010 5:16:56 AM

Tom's nvidia -line continues. No surprises there.
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-6
December 14, 2010 5:25:29 AM

like they said in the previous article even the 6000 series radeons weren't out when they made these articles,
reading comprehensions noobs
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6
December 14, 2010 5:26:21 AM

*comprehension
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0
December 14, 2010 5:30:49 AM

Not impressed, could have been better.
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-2
December 14, 2010 5:47:39 AM

add space is getting out of control on this site.
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3
December 14, 2010 5:52:20 AM

worst i3 overclock ever. And a 750gb wd black? Waste! You could get a faster 1tb samsung for less.

I normally enjoy these builds, but this is among the worst I've seen. For ~$10 you probably could have gotten a ddr3 1600 kit, not to mention money could have been saved on the motherboard. And with a measly 4ghz overclock, you can probably return the aftermarket cooler and get your money back.
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0
December 14, 2010 5:56:26 AM

amirplike they said in the previous article even the 6000 series radeons weren't out when they made these articles,reading comprehensions noobs

derp
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0
December 14, 2010 5:58:38 AM

nice
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0
December 14, 2010 6:01:11 AM

Two GTX 460s... with a dual-core... serious?
Score
7
December 14, 2010 6:41:26 AM

...Cable...Management...
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1
December 14, 2010 6:52:35 AM

a dual-core i3 eh? Why not have tried a dual-core i5-655k? I know, more expensive... but I know some people out there may see "i5" and think that they are all the same. (n00bs, who haven't educated themselves yet.)

The Intel Core i5-655K Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Unlocked Desktop Processor ( NewEgg p/n BX80616I5655K ) is the same price as the Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor ( NewEgg p/n BX80605I5750 ) at the time of this post.
Score
-3
December 14, 2010 7:19:50 AM

I enjoyed this build, i don't see the sense in always using the same CPU, case,GPU combos. By changing to the i5, using the NZXT case, the 460 1GB in SLI you give your readers something different to consider and not the same old, same old. Good work and good builds in both the $2,000 and $1,000 SBMs.
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5
December 14, 2010 7:45:41 AM

WOW look at what I just put together from my local hub, Microcenter, I have a I7-950, 460sli, with blueray player, but the 70 buck from the blueray player could of took me to 8gb of 1600mhz ram.

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA ---49.99
Micro Center 4GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9 Desktop ---49.99
Samsung SH-B123L 12X BD Combo Drive ---49.99
x2-Palit NE5TX460FHD79 GeForce GTX 460 ---329.98
Intel Core i7-950 3.06GHz Boxed Processor ---199.99
Diablotek PHD Series 650 Watt ATX12V Power Supply ---39.99
PowerSpec Powerspec TX366 ATX Case ---17.98
Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 LGA 1366 X58 ATX Intel MotherBoard ---184.99

for a grand total of ---999.48


It would blow that PoS they built away, let me at them!

Ps. if I were to spend it, I would say F the blue ray player and the I7-950 and get the I7-870 for 229.99 and the 97.99 X-fire mobo and go for 2 5850's with 8gbs of 1600 mhz ram. But what do I know ")
Score
-6
December 14, 2010 8:17:14 AM

FreshnbakedWOW look at what I just put together from my local hub, Microcenter, I have a I7-950, 460sli, with blueray player, but the 70 buck from the blueray player could of took me to 8gb of 1600mhz ram. Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA ---49.99Micro Center 4GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9 Desktop ---49.99Samsung SH-B123L 12X BD Combo Drive ---49.99x2-Palit NE5TX460FHD79 GeForce GTX 460 ---329.98Intel Core i7-950 3.06GHz Boxed Processor ---199.99Diablotek PHD Series 650 Watt ATX12V Power Supply ---39.99PowerSpec Powerspec TX366 ATX Case ---17.98Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 LGA 1366 X58 ATX Intel MotherBoard ---184.99for a grand total of ---999.48It would blow that PoS they built away, let me at them! Ps. if I were to spend it, I would say F the blue ray player and the I7-950 and get the I7-870 for 229.99 and the 97.99 X-fire mobo and go for 2 5850's with 8gbs of 1600 mhz ram. But what do I know ")

It's from Microcenter (and in store only option for the CPU and perhaps some other parts).The nearest one from me is thousands of miles away in the continental U.S.A.
Toms Hardware I believe only will do a build from parts that are readily available for everyone.
Score
7
December 14, 2010 8:35:02 AM

and for the 500 dollar build, check this out, I might buy one for X-mas for fun. Again from microcenter, the AMD 560 x2BE comes with a free Mobo for a special that had been around for about 7 months. So its just kind of a standing offer instead of a deal now.

Cooler Master USP 100 ATX Case with eXtreme 550W PS ---59.99
AMD Phenom II X2 560 Black Edition Boxed Processor ---99.99
MSI 785GM-P45 AM3 785G mATX Motherboard --- 0.00
x2-HIS H575FN1GD Radeon HD 5750 1GB ---219.98
Micro Center 4GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) ---49.99
CD-RW Internal Optical Drive ---9.99
Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB 7,200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s ---44.99

for a grand total of ---499.93

The mobo supports X-fire and core unlocking, so 4 cores oc'd around 3.814ghz which my old one did stable. And Oc'd 5750's should be sufficient to knock off any other 500 dollar computer out there. you could also save 5-6 bucks with a 320gb HD. With the case supplied PSU and the bundle pack, its almost unbeatable. I
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-5
December 14, 2010 8:37:02 AM

Lol, Microcenter is not a small shop, they do ship internationally. It's like walmart but for computers only.
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-4
December 14, 2010 8:38:59 AM

and with refurb's and open box items they have available, you could really sqeeze in some power in there. But it's risky in the sense I wouldn't be able to afford to re buy stuff everytime it started on fire, lost data, or w/e reason it was returned for.
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-3
December 14, 2010 8:51:47 AM

Looks like going form quad core to dual core really hurts.
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0
December 14, 2010 9:13:42 AM

It's nice to see an attempt at doing things differently, but I guess it's fair to conclude your attempt wasn't succesful. The 15-750 was vastly superior, especially given the mild price difference.

I can agree with giving up some CPU performance in exchange for better graphics hardware, but I guess AMD would have been a better choice. The Phenom II 965 or 955 are priced roughly halfway between the i3 and i5, while performance is much closer to the i5. In games, it's about equal, in performance it's certainly good enough.

You also get equally good overclocking motherboards with more PCI-E lanes for less money with an AMD chipset. As such, I think AMD would have been the better choice if you wanted to save a bit on the CPU.

Better still, the Phenom II is a great overlocker too (not Clarksdale material, but still great) and you have an upgrade path in the form of the Phenom II X6's, which have just received a speed bump and might receive another one in the near future.
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0
December 14, 2010 10:09:53 AM

I think a lot of folks are failing to understand the concept of the System Builder Marathon. This isn't a buyer's guide to tell you what your next PC should look like.

Rather, it's a competition between three builders who compete against each other for the best value. To avoid the same things happening each month, they take your feedback into consideration and try new things. Hopefully, we all learn something in the process.

And at the end of the series, three people walk away with free PCs. Please, read these stories with an open mind, an understanding of the series, and feel free to offer constructive criticism for next quarter.

Best,
Chris Angelini
Score
11
December 14, 2010 10:18:34 AM

UGGGGHHHHHHLY case
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-2
December 14, 2010 10:19:28 AM

cangeliniI think a lot of folks are failing to understand the concept of the System Builder Marathon. This isn't a buyer's guide to tell you what your next PC should look like. Rather, it's a competition between three builders who compete against each other for the best value. To avoid the same things happening each month, they take your feedback into consideration and try new things. Hopefully, we all learn something in the process.And at the end of the series, three people walk away with free PCs. Please, read these stories with an open mind, an understanding of the series, and feel free to offer constructive criticism for next quarter. Best,Chris Angelini


Then I pity the unlucky one winning this wonder of a trash can. Seriously if this is a competition, then let's have all 3 builds for a respective price point and get people to vote on the best.
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-9
December 14, 2010 10:25:05 AM

if you wanted to "change" it up go with an amd cpu, at the time you put this together, newegg had the 955 for 145ish (similar price it is now) and that would have blown the doors off the i3 for 15 bucks more. graphics i can't disagree with you 2 months ago 5830's wouldn't have beaten them on price or performance. cpu choice kinda makes me hurt on the inside...

wow so... here is some unexpected competition

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?I...

it downgrades to 768MB cards... but it has an ssd :) 

and honestly finding that today is quite amazing... when you look for it, it finds you
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0
December 14, 2010 10:36:46 AM

I just used that NZXT Gamma case for a build. Gotta be the best $40 out there for sure!
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1
December 14, 2010 10:36:57 AM

haplo602Then I pity the unlucky one winning this wonder of a trash can. Seriously if this is a competition, then let's have all 3 builds for a respective price point and get people to vote on the best.

idk if you win it for FREE it's still got better value than if you'd actually spend money on putting one together, and it does look damn sexy in all black.
not to mention I myself only game at 1920 and higher resolutions so this one is actually better for gaming than the previous smb for my uses.
Score
4
December 14, 2010 10:41:18 AM

illegalmonkeyI just used that NZXT Gamma case for a build. Gotta be the best $40 out there for sure!

I have the same case as well and I love it... The only problem is fan clearance on the top if you have a larger than stock heatsink for your processor.
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1
December 14, 2010 10:48:08 AM

for the editor: on the 'Test Systems And Benchmarks' page it says the PSU is the Corsair HX (modular)... instead of the TX
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-1
December 14, 2010 10:51:03 AM

rpgplayeridk if you win it for FREE it's still got better value than if you'd actually spend money on putting one together, and it does look damn sexy in all black.not to mention I myself only game at 1920 and higher resolutions so this one is actually better for gaming than the previous smb for my uses.


If I won this one for free, I'd sell most of it on the spot and get me a better performing AMD box :-) But that's personal preference.
Score
-2
December 14, 2010 11:09:34 AM

FreshnbakedLol, Microcenter is not a small shop, they do ship internationally. It's like walmart but for computers only.


moron its well know you have to buy most of your discounted prices in the actual microcenter store. i950 is 280 if u need it shipped. nice work wasting your time and effort tho.
Score
7
December 14, 2010 11:12:19 AM

everyones position is different, in terms of how long the rig has to last, or when you would want to upgrade, i would rather go with a quad core in the build though, nvidia cards dont perform nearly aswell with dual cores as the radeons do, the nvidia chips seem to only realize thier full potential with 4 cores +,

i would try to squeeze a gtx 570 in it for future sli action, going with two cheaper cards, . . .you become stuck right off the bat, not to mention sli and crossfire is still far from perfect, although nice when setup and tweaked, my multi gpu experiences have been bittersweet.

i think in the future if budget isnt a concern testing multiple rigs at the price point margins would make for good graph candy. exploring as many real world bottlenecks and combinations side by side the better i say.

i feel dvd's and blue ray players are already obsolete. even blue ray 2, the format itself clutters my room. that have zero purpose in my pc experience with the other superior alternative devices for data management.
Score
0
December 14, 2010 11:35:39 AM

haplo602Then I pity the unlucky one winning this wonder of a trash can. Seriously if this is a competition, then let's have all 3 builds for a respective price point and get people to vote on the best.


Pro tip: Not entering is the easiest way to not win :) 
Score
10
December 14, 2010 12:07:04 PM

Nice to see my psu here :) . Anyway, good article and very informative. I like to see in the next $1000 SBM a triple or quad core athlon. Will the athlon's extra core/s trump core i3's hyperthreading and L3 cache?
Score
3
December 14, 2010 12:23:11 PM

cangeliniPro tip: Not entering is the easiest way to not win


since I am not US, I cannot enter afaik ...
Score
-2
Anonymous
December 14, 2010 12:27:12 PM

People seem to forget that any clock advantage a Clarkdale might have over Lynnfield is easily made up for by not having an actual IMC. So even in single-threded applications clarkdales usually end up underperforming Lynnfields.
Score
0
December 14, 2010 12:38:26 PM

Dual-core with $1000 system.....
BAD
Score
1
Anonymous
December 14, 2010 12:41:45 PM

How realistic is it to just happen to have an extra CPU around to upgrade the bios on the motherboard? If I had purchased this combo, I would be up a creek without a paddle...
Score
8
December 14, 2010 1:04:36 PM

Another great article Tom's, even though people don't see what your doing, testing the what if, giving a comparison of quad-core + single graphics VS dual+core + SLI.
Score
8
December 14, 2010 1:33:53 PM

I do see the value in testing a dual core with high end graphics. Intel has a great product in their core i3 line. As it turns out, at least with these benchmarks, gaming above 1920x1080 is where this rig shines. HOWEVER, most people will be upgrading from a dual core system whether it is a core 2 duo or an X2. Given the price of quad cores these days and the advantage of physical over logical cores, I don't think many would stick with another dual core system. I think this article might have been better served in an article exploring bottlenecks similar to ones you have done in the past. But like I originally said, its still good information to have.
Score
1
December 14, 2010 1:33:53 PM

bigmantenor...Cable...Management...

Tom's: "We couldn’t have made it prettier if we tried."

Looking at that 12V cable running over the video cards, oh yes, you could have tried... but you didn't.
Score
-2
December 14, 2010 1:56:13 PM

Missing cable management ugliness aside, this build is far from a failure. It has frame rates in the 90's and up except for Crysis at the highest rez and detail, and Crysis is still playable (it's a dog anyway.) Faster RAM DDR3-1666 RAM and a TRUE might have improved the overclock, but I don't like to run over 4GHz for very long under any circumstances.

It also reflects the way I typically build a gaming system- high end components except for CPU, overclock it heavily, then buy a higher end CPU later when prices come down. This helps spread the cost over time and I use old components in other family systems or auction them.

The only real shame here is Intel abandoning Socket 1156 for Sandy Bridge. Whether they lower the cost of 1156 processors for a while, or just discontinue them like AMD did 939, will determine the future value of this system.

Score
5
December 14, 2010 2:00:43 PM

I expected the i3 to overclock a little better. I wonder how the i3 would have fared against an AMD quad core of equal price. I think the AMD would have done better, and I'm not an AMD fan.

It seems that at $1000 you should be using a quad core or better cpu. Too many of your tests show an advantage over a dual core. Daily I use a system with dual core at 3.8GHz and another with quad core at 3.4GHz, the quad core is consistently more responsive. Save the i3 for when you really have to save that additional $75.
Score
-1
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