
System Builder Marathon, October 2008 : 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).
- Day 1 : The $4,500 Super PC
- Day 2 : The $1,500 Mainstream PC
- Day 3 : The $500 Gaming PC
- Day 4 : Performance And Value, Dissected
How little money can you spend and still build a machine able to serve up decent performance in a wide range of applications and games ? In this System Builder Marathon, we aim to see if it can be done for less than $500.
With such a limited budget for the entry-level system, it seemed obvious that the components would need to take overclocking into consideration in order to truly put up impressive performance results.
Our choice of hardware may not satisfy everyone, nor will they necessarily offer the best performance out of the box, but we are confident that once overclocked, this system will squeeze a serious amount of performance and value out of each and every dollar spent. Let’s take a look at the pieces we picked for this month’s entry-level system.
| Component | Model | Price (U.S.D.) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Pentium E2180 | 70 |
| CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper TX2 | 30 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L | 85 |
| RAM | Wintec AMPO PC2-6400 2x1GB | 35 |
| Graphics | PNY VCG88512GXEB-FLB GeForce 8800 GT 512MB | 110 |
| Hard Drives | Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3400620AS 400GB | 65 |
| Sound | Integrated 8-Channel HD Audio | 0 |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking | 0 |
| Case | Antec NSK4480B | 80 |
| Power | Earthwatts 380W Included w/Case | 0 |
| Optical | Lite-On 20X DVD±R SATA Model iHAS120-04 | 24 |
| Total Price | $499 |
- Making Every Dollar Count
- CPU And Cooler
- Motherboard And Memory
- Graphics Card and Hard Drive
- Case, Power Supply, And Optical Drive
- Overclocking
- Test System Configuration And Benchmarks
- Benchmark Results: Crysis, Unreal Tournament 3
- Benchmark Results: World In Conflict, Supreme Commander
- Benchmark Results: Audio/Video Encoding
- Benchmark Results: Applications
- Benchmark Results: Synthetics
- Conclusion

That wouldn't dampen much noise.
Try silicone hard drive grommets
(They are usually silicon-oxygen based polymers)
Also, in the future, would it be possible for you to have two builds for the $500 budget build. One based on Intel AND the other on AMD?
$30 for a case and PSU? Sounds like a build asking for trouble. I personally don't think $80 for a nice chassis and power supply is bad.
Heya Slo! We're actually weighing the possibility of simply switching off each month on the $500 system since AMD has some very compelling hardware in that range.
Well in this case, an AMD build might have allowed for a 4850. I look forward to seeing what you decide upon but I still think a monthly build of each platform at the $500 build is definitely something worthwhile.
Transitioning month to month between the two usually does not allow for comparative annalist in your "Performance And Value, Dissected" write-ups
Gotcha. We'll discuss that as a possibility, then.
At some point it would be interesting if you guys could run an Upgrade Edition of the $500 system builder. Most people that have the courage and knowledge to overclock their new parts by over 50% (wow the E2180 rocks!)would almost definitely have components that they could and would want to swap between rigs.
Again, great article.
What the hell are you saying?
Seeing an AMD build would be nice, but I'm not gonna be too upset if it doesn't happen.
i know! im getting a e5200 on the 11/11 (:S bad omen?) cant wait to oc!
I am one of the proud owners of a very similar $500 machine. (though in my case R5000). My only key differences was that I went for a 9600 GT and got a Audigy Value.
I overclocked it like crazy and can blissfully play Crysis on high at native resolution no problems.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130380
You have to understand that their parts were ordered at the beginning of the month. The prices of computer parts go down almost every day. By the time the build, configure, overclock, benchmark and publish, prices are bound to go down and MIR or other promotions that wasn't there at the time of ordering may appear.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB - Retail - $60.00
Foxconn A74MX-K AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX - $48.96
OCZ Platinum (2 x 1GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) - $33.99
ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB - $139.99
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB - $74.99
Antec NSK4480B - $80.00
LITE-ON Black SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - $23.99
TOTAL: $461.92
since you're still about 40 bucks below the 500 mark, add a good cooler and use the left over money to upgrade that motherboard
You saved nothing. You swapped a good CPU and board for an outdated chip and OEM board. Tom's could save on the CPU cooler & board and go with an E5200 + 4850 and it would whip your AMD build.
I like AMD but unless you’re building an HTPC, Intel is the way to go. Even then, Intel has Geforce 9300.