Test Settings
We wanted to include 2560x1600 benchmarks in this comparison so that we could emphasize the more powerful graphics processors of our previous $2000 build. Doing so precludes the System Builder Marathon’s $400 build however, since it wasn’t tested at this super-high resolution.
| Test Hardware Configurations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| New/Alternative $2000 PC | Original $2000 PC | Original $1000 PC | |
| Motherboard (Overclock) | Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Intel X58 Express, ICH10R O/C to 188 MHz BCLK | MSI NF980-G65 Nvidia nForce 980a SLI O/C to 288 MHz Ref. Clk. | Asus P7P55D-E LX Chipset: Intel P55 Express O/C to 178 MHz BCLK |
| Processor (Overclock) | Intel Core i7-970 3.2 GHz, Six Physical Cores O/C to to 4.0 GHz, 1.30V | AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8 GHz, Six Cores O/C to 4.0 GHz at 1.43 V | Intel Core i5-750 2.66 GHz, Four Cores O/C to 3.75 GHz at 1.36 V |
| Memory (Overclock) | 6 GB Mushkin DDR3-1333 CAS 9-9-9-24, O/C at 1.60 V to DDR3-1400, CL 8-8-8-24 | 8 GB G.Skill DDR3-1333 CL 9-9-9-24, O/C at 1.65 V to DDR3-1533, CL 7-7-6-20 | 4 GB Crucial DDR3-1333 CL 9-9-9-24, U/C at 1.50 V to DDR3-1070, CL 8-8-8-22 |
| Graphics (Overclock) | 2 x EVGA GeForce GTX 460 763 MHz GPU, GDDR5-3800 O/C to 845MHz, GDDR5-4200 | 2 x MSI GeForce GTX 480 700 MHz GPU, GDDR5-3696 O/C to 816 MHz, GDDR5-4132 | MSI GeForce GTX 470 607 MHz GPU, GDDR5-3348 O/C to 690 MHz, GDDR5-3380 |
| Hard Drive | Samsung F3 HD103SJ 1 TB, 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache, SATA 3Gb/s | Samsung F3 HD103SJ 1 TB, 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache, SATA 3Gb/s | Western Digital WD36401AALS 640 GB, 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache, SATA 3Gb/s |
| Optical | Lite-On iHAS124 24x DVD±R, 48X CD-R | Lite-On iHAS124 24x DVD±R, 48X CD-R | Lite-On iHAS124 24x DVD±R, 48X CD-R |
| Case | Antec Three Hundred Illusion | SilverStone Raven RV02-BW | Antec Three Hundred |
| Power | Seasonic SS-850HT 850 W, 80 PLUS Silver | Cooler Master Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000 W Modular, 80 PLUS Bronze | Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650 W, 80 PLUS Standard |
| CPU Cooler | Scythe Mugen 2 Rev. B (SCMG-2100) | Scythe Mugen 2 Rev. B (SCMG-2100) | Cooler Master Hyper TX3 (RR-910-HTX3-G1) |
| Software | |||
| OS | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 | ||
| raphics | Nvidia Forceware 258.96 | Nvidia Forceware 258.96 | Nvidia Forceware 258.96 |
| Chipset | Intel INF 9.1.2.1007 | Nvidia MCP 8.15.11.9038 | Intel INF 9.1.2.1007 |
The $1000 build that so badly disgraced our previous $2000 PC was kept around for today’s roundup, with hopes that the inclusion of high-resolution gaming tests might boost the expensive system’s value score.
| Benchmark Configuration | |
|---|---|
| 3D Games | |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Campaign, Act III, Second Sun (45 sec. FRAPS) Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA |
| Crysis | Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool Test Set 1: High Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Very High Quality, 8x AA |
| DiRT 2 | Run with -benchmark example_benchmark.xml Test Set 1: High Quality Preset, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Quality Preset, 8x AA |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat | Call Of Pripyat Benchmark version Test Set 1: High Preset, DX11 EFDL, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Preset, DX11 EFDL, 4x MSAA |
| Audio/Video Encoding | |
| iTunes | Version:9.0.2.25 x64 Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 minutes Default format AAC |
| HandBrake 0.9.4 | Version 0.9.4, convert first .vob file from The Last Samurai (1GB) to .mp4, High Profile |
| TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress | Version: 4.7.3.292 Import File: Terminator 2 SE DVD (5 Minutes) Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9 |
| DivX Codec 6.9.1 | Encoding mode: Insane Quality Enhanced multithreading enabled using SSE4 Quarter-pixel search |
| Xvid 1.2.2 | Display encoding status = off |
| MainConcept Reference 1.6.1 | MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264), MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec, 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2), Audio: MPEG2 (44.1 KHz, 2 Channel, 16-Bit, 224 Kb/s), Mode: PAL (25 FPS) |
| Productivity | |
| Adobe Photoshop CS4 | Version: 11.0 x64, Filter 15.7 MB TIF Image Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates |
| Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 | Version: 11.0 x64, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV) |
| Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 9.0 | Version: 9.0.663, Virus base: 270.14.1/2407, Benchmark: Scan 334 MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files |
| WinRAR 3.90 | Version x64 3.90, Dictionary = 4,096 KB, Benchmark: THG-Workload (334 MB) |
| 7-Zip | Version 4.65: Format=Zip, Compression=Ultra, Method=Deflate, Dictionary Size=32 KB, Word Size=128, Threads=8 Benchmark: THG-Workload (334 MB) |
| Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings | |
| 3DMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.1, GPU and CPU scores |
| PCMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.1.0 x64, System, Productivity, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks |
| SiSoftware Sandra 2010 | Version 2010.1.16.11, CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMedia, Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |
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Yay more giveaways!
should have just gone with a i7 920 and stuck a 5970 which would have been cheaper
I agree, however, this SBM was about 6-core performance.
With an i7-930, a better heatsink, 2 470s and maybe an extra fan or 2 for the case is in reach.
I agree, however, this SBM was about 6-core performance.With an i7-930, a better heatsink, 2 470s and maybe an extra fan or 2 for the case is in reach.
yes, the i7-930 and a couple 470's would be normal in the SBM $2000 PC.
how do I enter for the giveaway?
how do I enter for the giveaway?
Click the link in the announcement?
I guess these were more performance driven choices. I still will miss the case, i'd gladly trade a 920/930 for the SilverStone Raven
I guess these were more performance driven choices. I still will miss the case, i'd gladly trade a 920/930 for the SilverStone Raven
Quality-wise, the Three Hundred is probably the best case you can get for under $80, but there should have been one more fan in the system given the internally-vented graphics cards the system ended up with. On the other hand, a lot of builders would be more than happy to "settle for" 4GHz at 1.30V, and the CPU will certainly live longer at the lower voltage.
i prefer the six core gtx 480 sli rig.
A 970 and a drop to 460s? Are you kidding me? How much is newegg dropping in ad revenue for you to help them dump this overpriced stock?
Who wouldn't go with Eyefinity or Nvidia surround with $2k?
A 970 and a drop to 460s? Are you kidding me? How much is newegg dropping in ad revenue for you to help them dump this overpriced stock?
The 970 was a sub for the 1055T: Please outline a 970 build with GTX 480's for $2000 if you'd like to add credibility to your incredulity. Thanks!
Who wouldn't go with Eyefinity or Nvidia surround with $2k?
Actually I proposed that for an upcoming SBM, but it couldn't be included this time since the former systems had already been decommissioned for shipment to the contest winners. So, who's up for an ATI EyeFinity/Nvidia Surround SBM?
A 970 and a drop to 460s? Are you kidding me? How much is newegg dropping in ad revenue for you to help them dump this overpriced stock?
The story has the numbers to *prove* the improvements made to this build. This is a solid configuration that we have no problem recommending.
Aside from that, we enjoy the luxury on the editorial side of operating completely separately from sales. In this case, our follow-up system was a good move editorially, and we get to give it away, to boot.
Best,
Chris Angelini
Who wouldn't go with Eyefinity or Nvidia surround with $2k?
Someone not wanting to spend an extra $1000 on monitors.
How about bouild with 930 instead and some nice SSD?
Also I'd rather a case with proper PSU bottom mount, like Cooler Master does.
How about bouild with 930 instead and some nice SSD?Also I'd rather a case with proper PSU bottom mount, like Cooler Master does.
1.) The SSD is mentioned in the article. The problem is, it increases only synthetic test scores and the value analysis only uses "real world" benchmarks so it's basically a non-starter.
2.) The i7-930 is nice, and would normally have been used if this build hadn't been designed as a direct alternative to the former six-core build. It will probably be used next time!
3.) The Antec Three Hundred is "proper bottom mount", please check the photos!
You guys really need to get comfortable with the coolermaster cases.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119233
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119228
All three of these are far better values than the Antec you keep building in.
1.) The SSD is mentioned in the article. The problem is, it increases only synthetic test scores and the value analysis only uses "real world" benchmarks so it's basically a non-starter.
Adding game, OS, and transfer load times to the benchmark suite would be great, btw.
You should include boot times somewhere in performance measurments.
You should include boot times somewhere in performance measurments.
Appreciate the feedback on this, guys. This is something we'll consider for the next SBM in the planning stages now!