System Builder Marathon, December 2010: $1000 PC
Table of contents
- 1. Let's Give Core i3 A Chance
- 2. CPU, Motherboard, And Cooler
- 3. Video Cards, Power Supply, And Case
- 4. Memory, Hard Drive, And Optical Drive
- 5. Assembly And Overclocking
- 6. Test Systems And Benchmarks
- 7. Benchmark Results: Synthetics
- 8. Benchmark Results: Media Encoding
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: The Articles
Here are links to each of the four articles in this month’s System Builder Marathon (we’ll update them as each story is published). And remember, these systems are all being given away at the end of the marathon.
To enter the giveaway, please check out this Google form, and be sure to read the complete rules before entering!
Day 1: The $2,000 Performance PC
Day 2: The $1,000 Enthusiast PC
Day 3: The $500 Gaming PC
Day 4: Performance And Value, Dissected
Introduction
Our mid-range enthusiast systems have been a little predictable over the past year. The Core i5-750 and Core i7-920 proved themselves to be ideal starting points in the $1000-$1500 price range. And while we’ve been able to demonstrate some specific areas of success with Phenom II X3 and X4 alternatives, the quad-core Intel lineup continues to shine as the sweet-spot.
But what about Intel’s Core i3 lineup? Can a dual-core Hyper-Threaded processor deliver Core i5- 750-class performance with higher clock speeds? Is there superior overclocking potential to be exploited? Is the Core i3 a viable alternative for someone who wants to save a few dollars on the CPU now and upgrade to a Core i5 or i7 later? Can the money saved be better spent on other components?
Those are questions we try to answer in this month’s $1000 enthusiast system, and here are the components we are using to do that:
| $1,000 Enthusiast System Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | Asus Sabertooth 55i LGA 1156, Intel P55 chipset | $150 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-550 3.2 GHz, Dual-Core, 4 MB L3 Cache | $130 |
| CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | $30 |
| Memory | GeIL Black Dragon 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3-1333 Dual-Channel Desktop Memory Kit | $80 |
| Graphics | 2 x ECS NBGTX460 GeForce GTX 460 SLI configuration, 1 GB GDDR5 per card | $380 |
| Hard Drives | WD Caviar Black 750 GB 750 GB, 7200 RPM, 32 MB Cache SATA 3Gb/s | $70 |
| Optical | LG 22x DVD – GH22LS50 OEM 22x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 48x CD ROM | $18 |
| Case | NZXT Gamma | $40 |
| Fans | 2 x APEVIA CF12S-BK 120 mm | $8 |
| Power | Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650 W ATX12V, EPS12V, 80 PLUS Certified | $90 |
| Total Cost | $991 | |
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- Next
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Related Stories :
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- System Builder Marathon, Q1 2013: $800 Enthusiast PC
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- System Builder Marathon, Q4 2012: $2,000 Performance PC
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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.
That PSU only has 2 PCI-E hook ups. So you'll have to use adapters in this build. Pathetic.
yeah I agree with AMW1011, but it is pretty solid. Too bad only US residents can participate
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).
I think it would be good to include previous build in the test system page it would make comparison easier.
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?
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.
Tom's nvidia -line continues. No surprises there.
like they said in the previous article even the 6000 series radeons weren't out when they made these articles,
reading comprehensions noobs
*comprehension
Not impressed, could have been better.
add space is getting out of control on this site.
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.
like they said in the previous article even the 6000 series radeons weren't out when they made these articles,reading comprehensions noobs
derp
nice
Two GTX 460s... with a dual-core... serious?
...Cable...Management...
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.
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.