System Builder Marathon, March 2011: The Articles
Here are links to each of the five 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 fill 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
Day 5: Tom's Hand-Picked SuperCombo
Introduction
When we spec'ed out this quarter's System Builder Marathon machines, the Intel Cougar Point chipset issue hadn’t yet reared its ugly head, and we ordered Intel's Core i5-2500K. Because of this this, we held off on publication until fixed Sandy Bridge platforms showed up at retail. While the specific ASRock motherboard we chose for this build hasn't yet reappeared, there are comparable options based on the same P67 Express chipset available with identical performance, and we expect this one will pop up shortly, too.

Let’s get straight to it! Here are the components as tested:
| $1000 Enthusiast System Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASRock P67 Extreme4 LGA 1155, Intel P67 chipset | $152.99 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3 GHz (3.7 GHz Turbo), Quad-Core, 6 MB L3 Cache | $219.99 |
| CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | $29.99 |
| Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) 240-Pin DDR3-1333 Dual-Channel Desktop Memory Kit | $54.99 |
| Graphics | Gigabyte Radeon HD 6950 2 GB GDDR5 | $274.99 |
| Hard Drives | Samsung Spinpoint 1 TB 1 TB, 7200 RPM, 32 MB Cache SATA 3Gb/s | $64.99 |
| Optical | Asus DRW-24B1ST 24x DVD Burner | $18.99 |
| Case | In-Win Android | $69.99 |
| Power | Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650 W ATX12V, EPS12V, 80 PLUS-Certified | $89.99 |
| Total Cost | $976.91 | |
- System Builder Marathon: $1000 Enthusiast System
- CPU, Motherboard, And Cooler
- Video Card, Power Supply, And Case
- Memory, Hard Drive, And Optical Drive
- Assembly And Overclocking
- Test System And Benchmarks
- Benchmark Results: Synthetics
- Benchmark Results: Media Encoding
- Benchmark Results: Desktop Graphics And Productivity
- Benchmark Results: Crysis And Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Benchmark Results: DiRT 2 And S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat
- Benchmark Results: Just Cause 2 And F1 2010
- Power And Temperature Benchmarks
- Conclusion
LOL
Good to see the Tom's team is on the same page XD
Asrok P67 Extreme4, MSI P67 GD45, Intel Boxdp67bg, Asus P67Pro, Gigabyte P67UD4: Cheapest SLI/CF x8 w/3slot-for-each-card-boards out there. Only one can be the best. My bet is on Intel.
6950 all the way and nothing less, not even to fit in a SSD.
For $10 more, I would pick the Inwin Dragon Slayer for bigger size, 4 fans, meshed covers (Princess Leia's daddy).
Another $10 for the Corsair TX650 Version 2.0, but that was just released 3 weeks ago.
As for some of the gaming benchmarks, it's really a mixed bag. Sandy Bridge/6950 rules at 1080p & lower but anything higher seems to be in the domain of the dual Nvidia cards. Though the Core i3 was a really extreme compromise.
Now waiting for the AMD build to show up!
That has to do with the way certain games are programmed and made to prefer certain architecture over another. it's not exactly the fault of the video cards.
Seagate drive? No way... pure junk.
Nothing wrong with a seagate drive...as an external HDD. Never used one as an internal though.
The case itself looks real good, and hopefully efficient at cooling. Although I must say, it looks like a 'gaming' case that was first built around early 2000. I personally like it though, it looks quite unique.
For 820.00 shipped..
http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Special-B/w/62031