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Tom's Hardware's Haswell-E-Based Builder Sweepstakes

Tom's Hardware's Haswell-E-Based Builder Sweepstakes
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Tom’s Hardware Does It Again!

Last year, shortly after the introduction of Haswell, we teamed up with Intel to give away a boatload of processors, motherboards, and SSDs. Well, as you know, Haswell-E was introduced a couple of weeks ago, along with a new chipset, processor interface, motherboards, and memory technology. Check out Intel Core i7-5960X, -5930K And -5820K CPU Review: Haswell-E Rises if you missed it. The upgrade is potentially pretty pricey. But we’re here to help. Intel sent over 10 Haswell-E-based CPUs and 10 SSDs, which we’re giving away to 10 lucky hardware enthusiasts.

So how do you win? Read on…

In the pages that follow, we have 11 computers from our favorite system builders based on Haswell-E CPUs. By virtue of their six- and eight-core processors, all of them dutifully serve as potent workstations. But with either 28 or 40 lanes of third-gen PCI Express connectivity available, it’s too tempting to couple Intel’s latest with multiple high-performance graphics cards, too. Most of these PCs are highly capable gamers as a result.

Of course, when you spend big bucks on top-shelf gear, aesthetics matter. While we’ve already put together several of our own Haswell-E configurations in the lab, one thing we appreciate is the meticulousness today’s top builders use in making sure their wares are dressed to impress. Some of these systems look downright stunning.

Flip through the systems, check out their specs and prices, 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 potential 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 the 10 aforementioned prize packages.

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  • 2 Hide
    Paul NZ , September 16, 2014 12:08 AM
    Too bad. I'm not in the US
  • -3 Hide
    mizkitty64 , September 16, 2014 12:35 AM
    I'm in Canada...so I can't enter...but I have to vote for the NCIX system.
  • -6 Hide
    mizkitty64 , September 16, 2014 12:36 AM
    I'm in Canada...so I can't enter...but I have to vote for the NCIX system.
  • 8 Hide
    MarkW , September 16, 2014 2:01 AM
    I read through all the systems, and made notes on the ones I would be likely to buy, and went to the contest page and filled out everything there, and submitted my entry, and failed to find anywhere to list or choose my 3 favorites. So I don't know what is going on, but I have my 3 favs selected, and got no place to enter them...
  • 4 Hide
    twkr , September 16, 2014 2:41 AM
    Cyberpower PC with that configuration looks fantastic, has components that are great and it's priced right. That makes it stand out above the rest. Plus, it's a hassle-free closed loop for both the CPU and GPU? Yes please!

    Digital Storm makes beastly builds, it's tough not to want something that sexy and who wouldn't want four-way SLI with Titan Blacks? It's over the top, though you'd expect two 4 TB HDDs in RAID 1, if you're going all out.

    The FragBox from Falcon Northwest also stands out because of the form factor, though it's still steep. Two Titan blacks and all the other goodness packed in a case that's mobile begs for a 4K projector and a LAN party, provided that HDMI 2.0 for full 4K at 60 FPS is feasible.
  • 0 Hide
    rolli59 , September 16, 2014 3:35 AM
    Xotic PC
    Puget systems
    NCIX
    Were the 3 that caught my eye but like others, filled in the contest form and no place to vote!
  • 0 Hide
    xyriin , September 16, 2014 3:53 AM
    The Maingear system with the red piping looks awesome. For similar reasons I like the yellow Digital Storm system. To round out the top three I'd also add the NCIX system.
  • 0 Hide
    CaedenV , September 16, 2014 4:05 AM
    Digital Storm, NCIX, and the cute little falcon NW box would be my favorite 3 of the bunch.
    Hope I win!
  • 0 Hide
    markwp , September 16, 2014 4:10 AM
    @MarkW

    I have the same problem - read, make notes, etc., but no place to vote for any rig. I suspect a conspiracy due to our names being similar :}

    MarkWP
  • 0 Hide
    Joshua Dudash , September 16, 2014 4:14 AM
    Digital Storm, NCIX and the Falcon Northwest builds looks the best to me. Good luck everyone!
  • 0 Hide
    kritzler , September 16, 2014 4:17 AM
    All of these are gaming monsters, very beast setups. My personal preference are these three. Good luck fellow Tom's readers.

    NCIX
    Digital Storm
    Maingear
  • -3 Hide
    cypeq , September 16, 2014 4:21 AM
    notify me when you start to notice your outside usa readers. It's not 'legal limitation' it's you being cheep.
  • 0 Hide
    osoben , September 16, 2014 4:54 AM
    All Great systems, Loved NCIX !
  • 0 Hide
    lynx890 , September 16, 2014 5:09 AM
    Xotic
    Maingear
    Cyberpower pc
  • 1 Hide
    supaspud , September 16, 2014 5:14 AM
    there was no option to vote for a rig? is my entry still valid?
  • 1 Hide
    coreykh , September 16, 2014 5:16 AM
    The Maingear build is undoubtedly my favorite. I have always wanted to make a red and black build with my own custom wiring, and that red water cooling loop with straight runs just makes it all the better! And dual R9 295x2's is just a system builder's wet dream! It's just a beautiful rig. Good job Maingear!

    The Falcon Northwest build also caught my eye as the only considerably small form factor build on the list. I have been wanting to build a small form factor build gaming PC for a while and this system is just everything anyone could want in a MicroITX system with a stunning look to boot!

    Lastly, NCIX's case was one of my favorites, because I quite liked that they kept the price tag reasonable in comparison to some of the other builds while also maintaining to make a very competitive rig. I also liked the fact that there is also enough room for future, personal upgrading if you so choose. I have always been a fan of NCIX and I have to say, this is one of the few white and black builds that I really like!
  • 1 Hide
    Lovolt , September 16, 2014 5:17 AM
    Perusing the fine print:

    "C. There will be ten (10) sweepstakes winners.

    D. The winners will be chosen by random drawing.

    6. There will be twenty-four (10) prizes, awarded:..."

    Didn't know that twenty-four = 10
  • 1 Hide
    MarkW , September 16, 2014 5:25 AM
    Maybe Tom's is going to hire a monkey to read all these thousands of posts, and add up the totals for the winners.... Shouldnt cost more than a few dozen boxes of bananas and a year or two to get the totals done this way... LOL

    So... just in case thats what they plan on doing, here goes....

    CyberPower PC Gamer Infinity 8000 $2299
    NCIX ROGueX Tier 2 $3619
    AVADirect Core i7 X99 Low-Noise Custom Gaming System $1937.49
  • 0 Hide
    jagray62 , September 16, 2014 5:26 AM
    1. Digital Storm - What's not to like about it?
    2. NCITX
    3. Origin PC
  • 0 Hide
    agentbb007 , September 16, 2014 5:52 AM
    I love the Digital Storm although $12,286 is a bit out of my price range :) 
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