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
Editor's Note: The purpose of the System Builder Marathon is extracting maximum value from enthusiast components at a variety of price points. We come together at the end of the series to see whose build exemplified our goal.
This time around, like last time, Newegg gave us an opportunity to pick the parts we as editors wanted to see--after the fact. Our follow-up build adds a *lot* of value to the first $2000 build, and we're much happier recommending the components in this story.
As before, we've worked with Newegg to make this entire configuration available as a combo build--at a discount to Tom's Hardware readers. The parts we ordered added up to $1920. The prices later dropped to $1865. Using Newegg's Combo link, the same setup is selling for $1752. That's pretty impressive for a setup we already thought was a solid value close to $2000!
Introduction
This is the second System Builder Marathon where we’ve had a chance to address the shortcomings of a previous build, and the second time we’ve chosen to focus on the $2000 PC for those improvements. After all, we were incredibly impressed with the performance profile of the original, yet still saw some incredible opportunities for betterment.

Minor misgivings over things like the price of the case aside (it was a very nice case), the real issue was that we tried to get more value for our dollar by purchasing highly-overclockable D9KPT-based memory in a budget kit, only to find that the manufacturer had changed suppliers.
This time, we’d start with memory of guaranteed quality. But the increased price for memory would force us to scale back our case budget. We’d also ditch the overkill cooling fan for something that didn’t require management software to retain OSHA-compliant noise levels, and address the improvements AMD recently made to the enthusiast graphics market with a product released after our original system had been ordered.
| $2000 Performance PC Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alternative $2000 PC | Original $2000 PC | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte X58A-UD3R: LGA 1366, Intel X58 Express, ICH10R | |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-950: 3.06 GHz, Quad-Core, Eight-threads | |
| Memory | Kingston KHX1600C7D3K3/6GX: DDR3-1600 CAS 7, 6 GB | Mushkin 998586: DDR3-1333 CAS 9, 6 GB |
| Graphics | 2 x Gigabyte GV-R687D5-1GD-B 1 GB Radeon HD 6870 | 2 x EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR 1.28 GB GeForce GTX 470 |
| System Drive | 2 x A-Data S599 64 GB: SATA 3Gb/s MLC SSD | |
| Storage Drive | Samsung F3 HD103SJ: 1 TB, 7200 RPM HDD | |
| Optical | Lite-On iHBS212 BD-RE: 12x BD-R, 2x BD-RE, 16x DVD±R | Lite-On iHBS112 BD-RE: 12x BD-R, 2x BD-RE, 16x DVD±R |
| Case | Corsair Graphite Series 600T | SilverStone Fortress FT02B |
| Power | Seasonic SS-850HT: 850 W, 80 PLUS Silver | SilverStone ST85F-P: 850 W, Modular, 80 PLUS Silver |
| Heat Sink | Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B | |
| CPU Fan | Cooler Master R4-BMBS-20PK-R0 2000 RPM, 120 mm | Delta AFC1212D-PWM 3400 RPM, 120 mm |
| Total Price | $1920 | $2000 |
Can this build provide better performance, lower cost, and more efficiency than the original? Let’s have a closer look.
- The Perfect PC?
- Graphics And Memory
- Case And Power
- Motherboard, CPU, And CPU Cooler
- System, Storage, And Optical Drives
- Hardware Installation
- Overclocking
- Test Settings
- Benchmark Results: 3DMark And PCMark
- Benchmark Results: SiSoftware Sandra
- Benchmark Results: Crysis
- Benchmark Results: F1 2010
- Benchmark Results: Just Cause 2
- Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat
- Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding
- Benchmark Results: Productivity
- Power, Heat, And Efficiency
- Value Conclusion
I don't think so, considering that cheaper and less power-hungry Sandy Bridge is coming.
You forgot weaker
Ok, fine. Wouldn't hurt to familiarize anew with a better board and that 3rd slot wasn't used anyways. Megahalems over Noctua? Seasonic over Corsair AX?
Or was it last minute budget cuts to make it less than $2000?
What do you mean, this was the same model processor but not the same one. They got a new one for this build - so how does that show that the graphics have anything to do with the overclock? If anything it says exactly what is stated in the article, that the overclockability of the i7 950 varies between each sample quite a margin.
NVidia or for that matter AMD graphics have no effect on the CPU overclock.
I'd like to know that.
Cheers!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117234
The ASUS Rampage III I understand works well with this server CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131666
Due to the low multiplier on the E5620 we will need some highly OCing RAM. Would like have used the 2000 patriot but it breaks the budget.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104118
Three AMD 6950's and it would be great to have a small scaling test. I would like to see what benefit the third card adds. I choose this GPU because many reviews say its the best FPS for the dollar.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102914
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
ASUS black DVD burner.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
An Antec Three Hundred Illusion case.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066
Antec CP-850 850W. The PSU has only 4 PCI-E but the Sapphire's come with a 6 PIN to 4 PIN Power Cable and
a 8-PIN to 4 PIN x2 Power Cable.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024
H&S Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242001&Tpk=Prolimatech%20Megahalems%20Rev.B
Build total $2000
If you want to try for 4.8GHz change the CPU to an E5630, 2 X 6970's, and get the patriot 2000 RAM for a $2000 build.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220500
"better board"--clearly your opinion. That Gigabyte board is an excellent board.
Megahalems: They liked the cooling performance of it with the 4.35MHz i7-950 and saw no reason to change. And it is to laugh at your "Seasonic over Corsair AX"--guess who builds the Corsair AX?
This debate is easily enough resolved; pop the processor out of the original build and swap it into this build. See if it will overclock to the same degree in this configuration as it did the 1st. I'd like to know!
Look at the june builds. The $2000PC there used a Phenom II X6 1055 and sorely disappointed.
CM R4-BMBS-20PK-R0 -> {76.8 CFM} 32 dBA / 2000 RPM
Delta AFC1212D-PWM -> {113.11 CFM} 46.5 dBA / 3400 RPM
Next, I also not a big fan of transverse mounted cases; thermal dynamically 'I get it' but the design pulls the more dusty ground air and the space is often cramped which defeats any advantages.
I absolutely loath the GA-X58A-UD3R MOBO, and instead would have opted for either EVGA or ASUS. Example ASUS P6X58D-E.
The lighting of the case fans is white as stated on corsair's web site
sandy bridge is a mainstream processor. Intel made it clear that their flagship will remain to be the i7 900 series. This makes sense as AMD still couldn't beat intel in raw performance.