System Builder Marathon, Sept. '09: $650 Gaming PC

Features
By Paul Henningsen
published

Test System Configuration And Benchmarks

$650 Gaming PC System Test Configuration

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ComponentBase SettingsOverclock Setting
CPUAMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition (Callisto), 3.1 GHz2,000 MHz HyperTransport, 2000 MHz northbridge, 6MB L3 Cache3.654 GHz (18 x 203 MHz), 1.35 V 2,030 MHz HyperTransport, 2,436 MHz northbridge
CPU CoolerAMD Boxed Heatsink/FanUnchanged
MotherboardGigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P (rev. 1.0)AMD 790X / SB750, BIOS F5 (06/03/2009)Unchanged
RAM4GB OCZ2G10664GK PC2-85002 x 2048MB, DDR2-1066, CL 5-6-6-18 at 2.1VDDR2-1083, CL 5-6-6-18 at 2.1V
Graphics2 x Sapphire 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB625 MHz GPU, 1,986 MHz Memory Data Rate700MHz GPU, 2,260 MHz Memory
Hard DriveWestern Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS500GB, 7,2000 RPM, 16MB CacheUnchanged
SoundIntegrated 7.1-Channel HD AudioUnchanged
NetworkIntegrated Gigabit NetworkingUnchanged
PowerAntec EarthWatts EA650 650WUnchanged
OpticalSamsung Black 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-S223BUnchanged
Software and Drivers
Operating SystemWindows Vista Ultimate Edition x64, Service Pack 1Unchanged
Graphics DriverAMD Catalyst 9.9unchanged
Platform DriverAMD UD3 7 Series Utility DVD 2.01 B9.0217.2unchanged
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Benchmark  Configuration
3D Games
CrysisPatch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark toolTest Set 1: High Quality, No AATest Set 2: Very High Quality, No AA
Far Cry 2DirectX 10, in-game benchmarkTest Set 1: Very High Quality, No AATest Set 2: Ultra High Quality, 4x AA
Fallout 3Patch 1.7, Custom THG BenchmarkTest Set 1: Ultra High Quality, No MSAA, No AFTest Set 2: Ultra High Quality, 4x MSAA, 15x AF
World in ConflictPatch 1009, DirectX 10, timedemoTest 1: Very High Details, No AA / No AFTest 2: Very High Details 4x AA / 16x AF
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.XDirectX 10.1, in-game benchmarkTest 1: Highest Settings, No AATest 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA
Audio Video Encoding
iTunes 8Version: 8.1.0.52 (x64)Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 minDefault format AAC
Lame MP3Version: 3.98 64bits (07-04-2008)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 minwave to MP3
TMPEG 4.6Version: 4.6.3.268Import File: Terminator 2 SE DVD (5 Minutes)Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9
DivX 6.8.5Encoding mode: Insane QualityEnhanced multithreading enabled using SSE4Quarter-pixel search
XviD 1.2.1Display encoding status = off
Mainconcept Reference 1.6.1Reference H.264 Plugin Pro 1.5.1MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264), MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec, 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2), Audio: MPEG2 (44.1 kHz, 2 Channel, 16-Bit, 224 kbp/s), Mode: PAL (25 FPS)
Productivity
Autodesk 3ds Max 2009Version: 11.0, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV)
Grisoft AVG Anti Virus 8.5Version: 8.5.287, Virus database 2094, Benchmark: Scan 334 MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files
WinRAR 3.80Version 3.80, WinZIP Commandline Version 3.0, Compression = Best, Dictionary = 4,096 KB, Benchmark: THG-Workload (334 MB)
WinZip 12Version 12.0, Compression = Best, Benchmark: THG-Workload (139 MB)
Adobe Photoshop CS4Version 11.0 (64-bit)Applying 6 filters to a 16 MB TIFF image
Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings
3DMark VantageVersion: 1.02, GPU and CPU scores
PCMark VantageVersion: 1.00, System, Memories, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks, Windows Media Player 10.00.00.3646
SiSoftware Sandra 2009 SP3Version 2009.4.15.92, CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / Multimedia, Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
Paul Henningsen
94 Comments Comment from the forums
  • dirtmountain
    A nicely done build, great work with overclocking on a stock cooler and an impeccable write up. Thanks for the great article Mr. Henningsen. AMD did a good job for a budget build, especially at stock clocks.
    Reply
  • one-shot
    Great article! It's crazy to see all of that packed into a case for only ~$650.
    Reply
  • I usually love reading these, but this time I just went directly to the comment section. There's no point in building or owning an amd box, they are too weak compared to modern Intel/Nvidia based systems.
    Reply
  • anamaniac
    Wonderful. =D

    What about the new $100 quad core athlon with no L3?
    I know I like extra cores. Wonderful choice regardless.

    I wonder what the quad core athlon with a 512MB 5850 (which would increase the budget though) will be like. Both cheap yet highend parts. =D

    Nice to see what only a pocketful of cash can get you.
    Reply
  • tacoslave
    i know it wasn't available at the time but what about that 100 dollar quad core the athlon II x4?
    Reply
  • rdawise
    Good article. I know you stated you were leaving the "unlocking" of the other cores to the winner of the contest, but were you guys able to unlock? If so, could you re-run those benchmarks? Again great article.
    Reply
  • stray_gator
    While "forcing" all AMD builds for a single marathon is a good idea, the timing is somewhat unfortunate.
    An article which explores the performance and value of a complete Lynnfield build is something I (and many others, i'd dare to guess) would like to see but haven't yet, and this month's SBM is a missed opportunity in that regard.
    Reply
  • jj463rd
    That's a bitchin budget gamer system especially looking at the gaming benchmarks.Just this month I was thinking about building a similar type of system with the Phenom II X2 550BE.I was going to go with gigabytes 785G type board (just one graphics card slot) though however I may reconsider that especially with what you presented here although I was shooting for a much cheaper budget build (about $180 less than what you have),Newegg did have a gigabyte 785G board with the Phenom II X2 and $20 off in a combo deal until the end of this month.
    I think that your choices were better than mine (more powerful).
    Reply
  • gkay09
    Another alternate mobo - 785G ...they are availbale in AM3/AM2+ flavours and have SB 710, which can allow core unlocking -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394
    But not sure about their o/c potential though...
    Reply
  • neiroatopelcc
    Nice to see a cheap system still using a quality motherboard.
    Reply