Test Settings
| $5,000 Extreme System Test Configuration | ||
|---|---|---|
| Component | Base Settings | Overclock Settings |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 965 | 4.20 GHz (28x 150 MHz) |
3.20 GHz, 8.0 MB Cache | 1.432 V Core | |
| CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Aquagate Max | Unchanged |
with Swiftech Radiator/Water Block | ||
| Motherboard | Asus Rampage II Extreme | Unchanged |
Intel X58/ICH10R Chipset, LGA-1366 | ||
| RAM | Mushkin 998679 Triple-Channel Kit | 1,800 MHz data rate |
3x 2.0 GB, CAS 7-8-7-20 | 1.65 V, CL 8-9-8-20 | |
| Graphics | 2x MSI GeForce GTX 295 in SLI | Core/Shader 690/1,520 MHz |
Core/Shader 576/1,242 MHz, GDDR3-1898 | GDDR3-2160 | |
| Hard Drives | 2x Intel X25-M 80 GB SATA SSD RAID 0 | Unchanged |
80 GB, MLC, 16 MB Cache (Per Drive) | ||
| Sound | Asus SupremeFX X-Fi Audio Riser Card | Unchanged |
| Networking | Integrated Gigabit Networking | Unchanged |
| Chassis | Cooler Master Cosmos-S RC-1100 | Unchanged |
| Power | Cooler Master RS-850-EMBA | Unchanged |
ATX12V v2.2. EPS12V, 850 W | ||
| Optical | LG Blu-ray Burner GGW-H20LK | Unchanged |
| Additional Fans | 3x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F | Unchanged |
Software | ||
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 | |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce 181.20 | |
| Chipset | Intel INF 8.3.0.1016 | |
Benchmarks and Settings | |
|---|---|
3D Games | |
Crysis | Version: 1.2.1, Video Quality: Very High Details, Demo: CPU-Benchmark + Tom’s Hardware Tool |
Supreme Commander | Version: 1.5.3599, Video Quality: Highest Settings, Demo: WallaceTX_006_006, Benchmark: Fraps 2.9.4 - Build 7037 |
Unreal Tournament 3 | Version: 1.2, Sound and DirectX10, Texture Details: 5, Level Details: 5, Demo: vCTF-Reflection_bot, Time: 12/60 |
World in Conflict | Version: 1.0.0.9, Video Quality: Very High details, Demo: Game-Benchmark |
Audio Encoding | |
iTunes | Version: 7.7.0.43, Audio CD "Terminator" II SE, 53 min, Default format AAC |
Lame MP3 | Version: 3.98 Beta 3 (05-22-2007), Audio CD ""Terminator II" SE, 53 min, wave to MP3, 160 Kb/s |
Video Encoding | |
TMPEG 4.5 | Version: 4.5.1.254, Import File: "Terminator 2" SE DVD (5 Minutes), Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9 |
DivX 6.8.3 | Encoding mode: Insane Quality, Enhanced Multi-threading, Enabled using SSE4, Quarter-pixel search |
XviD 1.1.3 | Display encoding status=off |
Mainconcept Reference 1.5.1 | 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), Profile: Tom’s Hardware Settings for Qct-Core |
Applications | |
Autodesk 3D Studio Max 9 | Version: 9.0, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV) |
Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 8 | Version: 8.0.134, Virus base: 270.4.5/1533, Benchmark: Scan 334 MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files |
Winrar 3.80 | Version 3.70 BETA 8, WinZIP Commandline Version 2.3, Compression=Best, Dictionary=4,096 KB, Benchmark: THG-Workload (334 MB) |
Winzip 11 | Version 11.2, Compression=Best, Benchmark: THG-Workload (139 MB) |
Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings | |
3DMark Vantage | Version: 1.02, GPU and CPU scores |
PCMark Vantage | Version: 1.00, System, Memory, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks, Windows Media Player 10.00.00.3646 |
SiSoftware Sandra XII SP2 | Version 2008.5.14.24, CPU Test=CPU Arithmetic/MultiMedia, Memory Test=Bandwidth Benchmark |
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Nice article!
I wish i could own a rig like that,but it would be that or a 383 stroker for the F-body..lol I can dream cant I?
Nice article!I wish i could own a rig like that,but it would be that or a 383 stroker for the F-body..lol I can dream cant I?
383 strokers are for copycats. Basically, too many bad 400 blocks and people found a cheap way to re-use the cranks to make their 350's bigger. If you have THIS kind of money, you'd might as well go BIG BORE too. Maybe a bowtie block? At any rate, you'll win more races with a real 400 (or larger custom size) so long as the block is good.
It is interesting to note on Page 14. On the Sandra XII Multimedia test the Core i7 965 @ 4.2GHz scored 486,971, while the i7 920 @ 4.0GHz scored 386,867. The difference was 200MHz and made such a large difference. Did the Intel SSDs influence such a large gain in performance or the DDR3 @ 1800MHz or perhaps a combination of both?
It is interesting to note on Page 14. On the Sandra XII Multimedia test the Core i7 965 @ 4.2GHz scored 486,971, while the i7 920 @ 4.0GHz scored 386,867. The difference was 200MHz and made such a large difference. Did the Intel SSDs influence such a large gain in performance or the DDR3 @ 1800MHz or perhaps a combination of both?
The 965 has a higher-bandwidth QPI link, so it should be good for boosting at least a few synthetic scores.
BAH!! Why is it always Intel? Only Servers and people that wish they MAC should use Intel stuffs.. Who else is going to use all of it's features? Not gamers, that is for sure!! Like a gamer is going to spend the extra $$ for ECC memory and not spend it on more important stuff like a GC or a great board. That and an economy minded PC buyer will go AMD anytime, more bang for the buck...
Also, Ati is better a better card, for linking I mean. The support may be crap, but it is usually worth it to get them! 4850 X2, Water cool one and watch the clock go through the roof!
Intel is the fastest thats why...This is supposed to be an uber rig.
Ya crashman thats the problem i dont have that kind of money..lol A fresh stock rebuild bolt on's and spray will have to hold me off until better times!
¿ "Intel is the fastest" ? Amd 2.0 is a 4.0 in the intel world...
I would love to seen those Windows boot times with those RAID 0 Intel SDD's!
Yeah, Optimize the heck out of it and take all of the unnecessary stuff out.. Probably 4 sec boot, Awesome!
Intel is the fastest thats why...This is supposed to be an uber rig.Ya crashman thats the problem i dont have that kind of money..lol A fresh stock rebuild bolt on's and spray will have to hold me off until better times!
I spec'd out a friend's 406 C.I. mouse a few years ago and he got through under $4500 with aluminum heads and a roller cam!
... maybe build some AMD based systems too, to see, how they stack up against in price/performance... just for tha fun of it...
Great article!
HOWEVER, Should have used an Antec1200 for that much coin on the case. I have one at home using water cooling and its so much easier than any other case I've used to date. Cheaper too, in this instance.
Great article!HOWEVER, Should have used an Antec1200 for that much coin on the case. I have one at home using water cooling and its so much easier than any other case I've used to date. Cheaper too, in this instance.
I've owned both, the Cooler Master is a nicer case. I mean, we're just throwing opinions around now, right?
But the Cosmos S is far more portable, and it fits the big radiator perfectly. In fact, it's the only stock case to fit that radiator properly.
With a build like that you guys should have tryed to set Crysis with 16 AA!
well it probably wont be playable but it would just be neat to see.
I've owned both, the Cooler Master is a nicer case. I mean, we're just throwing opinions around now, right?But the Cosmos S is far more portable, and it fits the big radiator perfectly. In fact, it's the only stock case to fit that radiator properly.
Thats true, but I didnt know we were going for portability here, especially with a liquid cooled system.
There's no way that sound "card" is up to the level of a $5k rig.
Nice article.
Question for the writing staff:
Have you thought about taking all your review statistics, and assembling an "uber system" based on the best parts based on what you have found in your review tests?
Just curious. I don't remember that ever having been done before here. And for $5,000, you surely could afford to throw together all of the top notch parts into a system for kind of a "what happens when you put all the best parts together" article.
Now you guys have me itching to build a new system already...and I just built one back in September!! lol
That is a really good question too:
With the width of the video cards, where would you plug in a soundcard? Does it use the 3rd PCI-E x16 slot?
Just curious. I've always noticed how the ATX motherboard size standard hasn't shifted to grow with the growth of the size of components, such as video cards and component heatsinks.
Limited room bites. lol
Why not 3 liquid cooled 285's. Maybe drop the Blueray and or go down to a 920 in the next one. Keep the SSD's.
Why not 3 liquid cooled 285's. Maybe drop the Blueray and or go down to a 920 in the next one. Keep the SSD's.SSD's are fast but the only benchmarks they matter in are the ones that don't count (synthetics)
SSD's are fast but the only benchmarks they matter in are the ones that don't count (synthetics)