Benchmark Results: Synthetics

2:00 AM - June 16, 2010 by Don Woligroski

3DMark suggests that our new $1,000 system is significantly slower than the previous $1,500 system, which is no surprise.

But the overclocked/core-unlocked $1,000 machine is pulling numbers in the same ballpark as the stock $1,500 system.

PCMark is unimpressed with our Phenom II machine. This benchmark has traditionally favored the Core i7, so there's not much contest here. Yes, the slower hard drive didn't score as high in the benchmark, but this is likely the only place we'll notice that component affecting performance.


The Sandra CPU Arithmetic test suggests that the Core i7-920 will slaughter the Phenom II X3, probably because this particular benchmark can take advantage of the Core i7's ability to work on eight threads. However, the CPU multi-media benchmark tells a different story, with the overclocked/core-unlocked Phenom II X3 720 performing only slightly behind the stock Core i7-920. The memory benchmark demonstrates a sizable advantage for the Core i7's triple-channel memory bus.

Comments
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alikum 06/16/2010 8:19 AM
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-20+

When you say SBM: Enthusiast System, I am expecting this to be more than just another gaming rig. You may have your own reason for sticking to a Phenom II x3 720 and HD5830 crossfire but I believe a Phenom II x4 955 and HD5770 crossfire would make more sense or more well-balanced (instead of trying your luck by unlocking cores). In fact, we could also grab a HD5870 and downgrade our mobo a little and that would make a truly well balanced enthusiast system.

one-shot 06/16/2010 8:30 AM
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-7+

It would have been nice to see the PII X6 1055T with a moderate downgrade in GPUs to afford the higher cost of CPU and motherboard. The i7 embarrasses the PII X3.

scrumworks 06/16/2010 8:26 AM
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manitoublack 06/16/2010 8:29 AM
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-3+

I'm with one-shot, 6core AMD for $200 can't be beat.

IzzyCraft 06/16/2010 8:37 AM
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-3+

not a fan of the 5830's or the 720 cpu choice is all.

Would have rather seen a dual 5770's or a 5870 with a i5-750 or a 955

games more and more are using cpu for doing things. I also tend to use a comp for other things more then games.

Tamz_msc 06/16/2010 8:38 AM
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-14+

A phenom II 955 BE:160$+2 Xfx hd 5770sfor320$+GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H for 140$=620$ would certainly have been a better choice than your 670$ for CPU+GPU+mobo.

Tamz_msc 06/16/2010 8:39 AM
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-0+

Tamz_msc :
A phenom II 955 BE:160$+2 Xfx hd 5770s for 320$+GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H for 140$=620$ would certainly have been a better choice than your 670$ for CPU+GPU+mobo.


adbat 06/16/2010 8:37 AM
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-20+

I find it surprising that you are always successful in unlocking the 4th core

Tamz_msc 06/16/2010 8:38 AM
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The Lady Slayer 06/16/2010 8:43 AM
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--1+

A Thermaltake V3 instead of the Antec 300 would have saved you $15

manitoublack 06/16/2010 8:45 AM
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-0+

adbat :
I find it surprising that you are always successful in unlocking the 4th core


I've succeeded in unlocking cores in 3 out of 3 tries, but the point stands, buy the processor you want right off the bat. Imagine if it were a dud. 1055T is the only AMD processor on the market worth thinking about.

Crashman 06/16/2010 8:47 AM
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-17+

one-shot :
It would have been nice to see the PII X6 1055T with a moderate downgrade in GPUs to afford the higher cost of CPU and motherboard. The i7 embarrasses the PII X3.

If you're going to make this about i7, you can point to the $2000 system and I can point out the 100% price difference. Do you really think the $2000 system is "more" than 100% better?

one-shot 06/16/2010 8:58 AM
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Crashman :
If you're going to make this about i7, you can point to the $2000 system and I can't point out the 100% price difference. Do you really think the $2000 system is "more" than 100% better?



This isn't about i7, but rather a better CPU choice. I would rather point to the $1500 system that the current system is being compared to. The $2000 system is twice the price, hardly comparable to a $1000 system. We both know there are marginal gains the higher the system cost is. In the graph above, it says September 2010, but I'm going to assume it was a misprint intended to be September 2009. Even so, prices have changed in that time frame.

From the stock speeds of the June 2010 $1000 SBM, to the overclocked $1500 September 2009 SBM, one can see the large difference in performance for a relatively small increase in price. Even the overclocked speeds of each system leave a lot to be desired from the PII X3 system. However, another i7 build would be more of the same. It would be nice to see something different rather than two powerful GPUs limited by a slower CPU.

digiex 06/16/2010 9:22 AM
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Crashman 06/16/2010 9:19 AM
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-6+

one-shot :
From the stock speeds of the June 2010 $1000 SBM, to the overclocked $1500 September 2009 SBM, one can see the large difference in performance for a relatively small increase in price. Even the overclocked speeds of each system leave a lot to be desired from the PII X3 system. However, another i7 build would be more of the same. It would be nice to see something different rather than two powerful GPUs limited by a slower CPU.

I probably would have started the list with a n X6 1055T, but I can appreciate Don's desire to save money for graphics. Were gaming my overwhelming concern, I would have angered everyone by picking an i3-530 for its overclocking capability. Either way, I wouldn't characterize the X3 720 as an embarrassment.

requiemsallure 06/16/2010 9:37 AM
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-6+

i5-750 or the 955 (as mentioned in another post)is where you should have gone unless you want hyper threading, in which case i recommend the i7-930 though it costs a bit more total system-wise, i would have been able to do it), or the 1055T (even if it doesn't have HT 6 physical cores is as good in my opinion, especially for the price.)
also i would have gotten the Seagate 7200.12 500GB you can find it for 42 and free shipping. my system that im building now (bought 4 JUNE)

specs:
Phenom II x4 955
ASRock 870 Extreme 3 (allows for xfire on a 870 board)
Sapphire 5770
OCZ platinum DDR3 1333 7-7-7-20
Xigmatek Midgard
$20 optical drive
Antec EarthWatts 650W 80Plus
Seagate 7200.12 500GB
Total: $742

If i added another 5770 would perform simmiler and even if i added another 5770 it would only cost $890, at that price you could also add in a good air cooler, and more fans for the excellent case i got. and i would only be at $960, oh i forgot to mention that the price includes the operating system, if i take that out (since it isn't included in the system builder marathon) the price is actually $870 for everything mentioned.

i received discounts from combos and searching Google shopping, and came up with a savings of about $210 on this system.

kiren 06/16/2010 10:04 AM
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-3+

I really can't see why they always stick to high end crossfire and skimp on the CPU either, at $1,000 it simply doesn't make sense to me to have anything less than a Phenom II x4(or x6) or an i5-750. I'd much rather see a slightly higher end single card, or 5770's if you really insist on crossfire to make up the price difference. Then again I do a fair amount of CPU-intensive things and have yet to want to play anything that didn't run fine on my 8800GT imo, so maybe I'm biased.

jetbruceli 06/16/2010 10:43 AM
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Crashman 06/16/2010 10:56 AM
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-14+

jetbruceli :
I built one for under a thousand amd x6 1055tGTX 470700 w Corsairhaf9224gb 1333gigabyte 870dvd rw asusand 500 gb 7200rpm and this beats this system by a huge margin

How does it do that?

doron 06/16/2010 10:59 AM
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-4+

Brilliant build man! Stellar performance for the money!
And while I wouldn't let myself build such a potent system without front fans or with this puny hdd the temperatures were in check and hdd isn't tested much here so these sacrifices are acceptable considering the circumstances.


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