Tom's Hardware's Haswell-Based System Builder Sweepstakes
Tom's Hardware's Haswell-Based System Builder SweepstakesWe're big fans of fast hardware, and we know you're big fans of winning free stuff. It just so happens that Intel is sponsoring a sweepstakes that puts 20 Core i7-4770K processors, 20 Z87-based motherboards from Asus (Maximus VI Hero) and Gigabyte (Z87X-D3H), and 20 SSD 530 180 GB drives in our hands to give away. Interested? Of course you are!
In the pages that follow, we have 15 computers from system builders based on Intel's Haswell architecture. Some are naturally gaming-oriented. Others are purpose-built workstations. There's even a rack-mounted NAS appliance running Windows Storage Server in there. Flip through the systems, check out the specs and pricing, and then click the contest link on the last page to tell us which three of these configurations are your favorites. Base your decision on performance, form factor, price, or a particularly well-planned balance of parts. Whatever's most important to you!
At the end of the contest, the top three will be given Tom's Hardware Approved awards, so make those votes count. In the process, you'll be entered to win one of 20 prize packages that includes a new CPU, motherboard, and SSD.
Isn't it always?
I very much wish we could work around this, and open the opportunity up to readers in other countries who support Tom's Hardware. Unfortunately, when it comes to legal matters like this one, it's out of my hands
The NCIX box my favorite one.
* AVA Direct's $1245 Light Gaming Build
4770k, 4 gb's RAM, ~$280 Mobo, & 7770 GPU
Too much CPU & Mobo, Not enough GPU, & should be 8 gb's of RAM. Should also have at least a 120 gb SSD in this price range, IMHO.
* CybertronPC's $1300 mini-ITX NightHawk II
4670 CPU, Mini-ITX Mobo w/WiFi, BitFenix Prodigy Case, 60 gb SSD, 16 gb's RAM, & 650 Ti Boost GPU.
Would prefer 4670k CPU, Mobo looks like a good option, Case is good, SSD good for boot drive, Plenty of RAM (could go with 8 gb's and be fine), GPU okay, but would prefer at least a 7870/7950/660Ti for this price range.
* Digital Storm's $12,374 Aventum II
Too expensive for the <1% of the market!
* Falcon Northwest's $4539 mini-ITX Tiki
i7-4770K CPU, overclocked, Asus Maximus VI Impact Mobo. 16 gb's 1866 RAM, Titan GPU, dual 960 GB M500 SSDs in RAID 0, and a 3 TB HD
Interesting build, but still <1% of the market for this one.
* Highly Reliable's BNAS 501 Backup Appliance $2,500
Nice idea, but still way too much for most people.
* Maingear's $6400 Shift
Too much $ for my interest.
* Micro Express' $1700 Microflex 47T
i7 4770K, Asus' Z87-Pro Mobo, 16 GB 1600mHz RAM, GTX 780 GPU, 700 W power supply, 24x DVD burner, 250 GB SSD, & 1 TB HD.
One of the more interesting builds listed here. This should be a nice gaming rig and also a good all around system for the $ (at least for the systems listed in this article).
* NCIX's $1400 microATX 506-IA
i5-4670K, Corsair's H60 liquid cooler, 8 gb's Kingston HyperX RAM, EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2 GB GPU, Seasonic 750 W PSU, 120 GB Kingston SSDNow V300, BitFenix Prodigy M Case, & 3 TB HD.
Probably the best built unit on this article. The PSU is overkill, but is good for any upgrade that you would want.
* Origin PC's $10,000 Desktop Genesis Z87
Overpriced and not necessary, IMHO.
* Puget Systems' $3457 Serenity
Too much $ for the average consumer.
* Safe Harbor's $4300 Tsunami Surf
Again just too much for most, not interested.
* Steiger Dynamics' $6483 Black LEET Core Limited Monochrome HTPC
Too much $.
* Velocity Micro's $3674 Edge Z55
Too much $ for most.
* Xidax's $6261 X-6 Gaming Desktop
Too much $ for most.
The Sweepstakes opens on September 22, 2013 9:00 PM PDT and closes on October 7, 2013 9:00 PM PDT.
Huh?
The Sweepstakes opens on September 22, 2013 9:00 PM PDT and closes on October 7, 2013 9:00 PM PDT.
Huh?
A. There will be one Sweepstakes, which will run from October 15, 2013 9:00 PM PDT to October 29, 2013 9:00 PM PDT.
i7-4770K CPU. I could sure use vthis
Anyway I find these rigs mostly very over priced but hey that's what happens when you don't want to build my picks would be
the xotic, the maingear and the northwest falcon as they at least look the part and at least offer you a good rig with their price point.