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11:45 AM - 03/25/2008 by
Don Woligroski
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Now that we've looked at our choices and justifications in detail, let's recap one more time:
| SBM Mid-Range PC System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q6700, 2.66 GHz, 1066 FSB, 8 MB Cache |
| Motherboard | Asus P5N-T Deluxe, BIOS 0903 (03/06/2008) |
| RAM | Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400, 4x 1024 MB, CAS 4.0-4-4-12 |
| Hard Drive | 1x Western Digital Raptor 150 GB
1x Western Digital Caviar 500 GB |
| Networking | NVIDIA nForce onboard Gigabit Ethernet NIC |
| Graphics Cards | EVGA GeForce 8800 GTX, 768 MB RAM
575 MHz GPU, 1800 MHz RAM Data Rate |
| Power Supply | PC Power & Cooling Silencer S75Q (750W, ATX12V) |
| System Software & Drivers | |
| OS | Windows Vista Ultimate 6.0.6000 (Vista Retail) |
| DirectX Version | DirectX 10.0 |
| Platform Driver | nVIDIA nForce Version 9.46 |
| Graphics Driver | nVIDIA ForceWare 169.25 |
Building the mid-range system went well, but we had to deal with a boot issue.
The problem we had with booting only occurred when we first configured the system; we could not boot to the OS because the PC would shut down in pre-boot. This also prevented us from installing Vista, and occurred when idling in the BIOS or running testing applications such as KillDisk.
After some quick research online we found out that this is a common problem with the ASUS P5N-T motherboard, and that it can be resolved with a BIOS update. Once we flashed the new BIOS, everything was smooth sailing and we had no other stability issues.
We have completely revamped our test suite this time, so unfortunately we won't be comparing results with the previous builds until the next system builder marathon.
Below are the test settings we've used for our myriad benchmarks and tests.
| Benchmarks and Settings | |
|---|---|
| 3D-Games | |
| Crysis | Version: 1.1
Video Quality 1: High Details No Anti-Aliasing Video Quality 2: Very High Details, 4x Anti-Aliasing Benchmark: Benchmark_CPU.bat |
| Prey | Version: 1.3
Video Quality 1: Default (No AA, 8x AF) Video Quality 2: High Quality, 4x AA Benchmark: THG-Demo |
| Supreme Commander | Version: 3.220
Video Quality 1: Default Video Quality 2: High Fidelity, High Shadow, 4x AA Benchmark: Real 60 Game |
| Unreal Tournament 3 | Version: Retail
Texture Detail: 5 World Detail: 5 Field of View: 100 Benchmark: Botmatch (WAR-Torlan, 12 bots, 1 Minute) |
| Warhammer Mark of Chaos | Version: 1.6
Video Quality:Default (Highest Settings) Demo: THG Timedemo (1 Minute) |
| Audio | |
| iTunes 7.2 | Version: 7.1.1.5
Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min High Quality (160kb/s) |
| Lame MP3 | Version: 3.98 Beta 3 (05-22-2007)
Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min wave to MP3 160kb/s |
| Video | |
| TMPEGEnc 4.0 Xpress | Version: 4.2.10.211
Import File: Terminator 2 SE DVD (2 Minutes) Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 16:9 Audio: Dolby Digital, 48000 Hz, 6-Channel, English Advanced Acoustic Engine MP3 Encoder (160kb/s) |
| DivX 6.6 | Version: 6.6.1
Profile: Home Theater Profile (720 x 576) 1-pass, 780 kb/s Encoding mode: Insane Quality Enhanced multithreading |
| XviD 1.1.2 | Version: 1.1.2
Target quantizer: 1.00 (maximum quality) |
| Applications | |
| Adobe Photoshop CS3 | Version: 10.0x20070321
Filtering 69 MB TIF Photo Benchmark: Tom's Guide-Benchmark V1.0.0.4 |
| Autodesk 3D Studio Max | Version: 9.0
Rendering One Video Frame Quality: HTDV 1920x1080 & 1280x720 |
| Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus | Version: 7.5.467
Virus Base: 269.6.1/776 Benchmark: Scanning 3.82 GB Application Folder |
| Maxon Cinema 4D | Version: 10.008
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 Benchmark: Rose Drop, 8-bits (50 Frames) |
| Rarlab Winrar | Version 3.70 BETA 8
Compression = Best Dictionary = 4096 kB Uncompressed Folder Size: 642 MB |
| Synthetics | |
| SPECviewperf 9 | Version: 9.0.3 |
| PCMark05 Pro | Version: 1.1.0
System, CPU and Memory Tests Windows Media Player 11.0.6000.6324 Windows Media Encoder 9.00.00.2980 |
| Futuremark 3DMark 2006 | Version 1.10
System Test Only |
| SiSoftware Sandra XII | Version 2007.5.11.40
CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic, Multimedia Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |
Once again, we will be looking at the results in isolation and conclusions will be difficult to draw in some cases. However, later in the week we will be comparing all of the systems in the marathon against each other for a more meaningful analysis.
Topics being discussed on the forums
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- System Builder Marathon, May '09: $1,300 Enthusiast PC [Homebuilt Systems]
- WEIGH IN: $1200 AMD system for Sept. System Builder Marathon [Homebuilt Systems]
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Why wouldn't you put 1066MHz (PC2-8500) memory on this machine?
I assume they are using Cas 4 memory, which you are not going to find in this price range at PC2-8500.
This build is identical to my current rig, except I chose an 8800GT, and the Q6600 oc'd to 2.88. It plows through AVCHD editing, and Oblivion.
I spent weeks researching the best price points. Good job guys.