
| March 2010 SBM Test Configuration | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $750 PC | $1,500 PC | $3,000 PC | |
| Motherboard (Overclock) | Gigabyte MA790GPT-UD3H Socket AM3, 790GX Overclocked to 257 MHz HyperTransport Clock | ASRock X58 Extreme LGA-1366, X58 Express Overclocked to 195 MHz BCLK | Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 LGA-1366, X58 Express Overclocked to 205 MHz BCLK |
| Processor (Overclock) | AMD Athlon II X3 435 2.90 GHz at 3.60 GHz Fourth Core Unlocked, 1.49V | Intel Core i7-920 2.66 GHz at 3.90 GHz Overclocked 20x 195 MHz, +0.0V | Intel Core i7-920 2.66 GHz at 4.30 GHz Overclocked 21x 205 MHz, 1.36V |
| Memory (Overclock) | G.Skill DDR3-1600 CAS 9 CAS 9-9-9-24 at 1.60V Overclocked to 1,369 MHz, 7-8-7-15, 1.65V | Crucial DDR3-1333 CAS 9 CAS 9-9-9-24, 1.50V Overclocked to 1,540 MHz, 8-8-8-18, 1.60V | 3 x Crucial DDR3-1333 2GB CAS 9-9-9-24, 1.50V Overclocked to 1,640 MHz, 8-8-8-18, 1.65V |
| Graphics (Overclock) | 2 x Sapphire HD 4850 625 MHz, GDDR3-1986 Overclocked to 700/2,360 MHz | 2 x Visiontek HD 5850 725 MHz, GDDR5-4000 Overclocked to 775/4,500 MHz | PowerColor HD 5970 750 MHz, GDDR5-4200 Overclocked to 980/4,880 MHz |
| System Hard Drives | WD WD6401AALS 640GB, 7,200 RPM, 32MB | WD WD7501AALS 750GB, 7,200 RPM, 32MB | 2 x Crucial CT64M225 SSD 64GB x2 (RAID 0) |
| Case | Antec Three Hundred | Cooler Master CM 690 | Cooler Master Cosmos-S |
| Power | Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W | Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W | SilverStone ST1000-P 1,000W Modular |
| CPU Cooler | Xigmatek HDT-SD964 92mm Tower | Rosewill FORT120 120mm Tower | Swiftech H20-220 Ultima XT Liquid Kit |
| Software | |||
| O/S | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 | ||
| Graphics | AMD Catalyst 10.2 | ||
| Chipset | AMD Catalyst 10.2 | Intel INF 9.1.1.1020 | |
All three systems achieved at least somewhat-admirable clock speeds and the $1,500 build amazingly reached 3.90 GHz at stock voltage after it was determined that increased voltage wasn’t helping. Gone is the problematic Core i7-860 of last-month’s high-cost build, while the new system’s liquid-cooled i7-920 reached 4.30 GHz with ease. The $750 system builder was even able to unlock his processor’s fourth core without suffering a major loss in stability, although his memory couldn’t match the CAS 6 capability of equally-priced award-winning modules from our previous shootout.
| Benchmark Configuration | |
|---|---|
| 3D Games | |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Campaign, Act III, Second Sun (45 sec. FRAPS) Test Set 1: Highest Settings, No AA Test Set 2: Highest Settings, 4x AA |
| Crysis | Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool Test Set 1: High Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Very High Quality, 8x AA |
| Dirt 2 Demo | In-game benchmark Test Set 1: High Quality Preset, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Quality Preset, 8x AA |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat | S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call Of Pripyat Benchmark version Test Set 1: High Preset, DX11 EFDL, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Preset, DX11 EFDL, 4x MSAA |
| Audio/Video Encoding | |
| iTunes | Version:9.0.2.25 x64 Audio CD ("Terminator II" SE), 53 min. Default format AAC |
| Handbrake 0.9.4 | Version 0.9.4, convert first .vob file from "The Last Samurai" (1GB) to .mp4, High Profile |
| MainConcept Reference 1.6.1 | 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) |
| Productivity | |
| Adobe Photoshop CS4 | Version: 11.0 x64, Filter 15.7MB TIF Image Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates |
| Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 | Version: 11.0 x64, Rendering Dragon Image at 1920x1080 (HDTV) |
| Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 9.0 | Version: 9.0.663, Virus base: 270.14.1/2407, Benchmark: Scan 334MB Folder of ZIP/RAR compressed files |
| WinRAR 3.90 | Version x64 3.90, Dictionary = 4,096KB, Benchmark: THG-Workload (334MB) |
| 7-Zip | Version 4.65: Format=Zip, Compression=Ultra, Method=Deflate, Dictionary Size=32KB, Word Size=128, Threads=8 Benchmark: THG-Workload (334MB) |
| Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings | |
| 3DMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.1, GPU and CPU scores |
| PCMark Vantage | Version: 1.0.1.0 x64, System, Productivity, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks |
| SiSoftware Sandra 2010 | Version 2010.1.16.11, CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMedia, Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark |
Our new benchmark suite is working fairly well, although we’re still seeing somewhat temperamental results in AVG. We’re currently working on a new antivirus application.
- The Bigger They Come…
- Test Settings
- Benchmark Results: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Benchmark Results: Crysis
- Benchmark Results: DiRT 2
- Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat
- Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding
- Benchmark Results: Productivity
- Benchmark Results: 3DMark And PCMark
- Benchmark Results: SiSoftware Sandra
- Power And Efficiency
- The Harder They Fall
A big +1 to Mr. Henningsen and the other builders.
But I would say that it should also go to AMD for giving such a CPU...
Low-Mid segment, AMD still rules in terms of value and performance...
Now I'm even more impressed with the Athlon II X3 435.
The 750$ Rig was the most impressive for me.
A big +1 to Mr. Henningsen and the other builders.
Now I'm even more impressed with the Athlon II X3 435.
The 750$ Rig was the most impressive for me.
Drop to a 500gb HDD and step up for the 1gb 4850s, and you have a very well balanced high power system with budget parts. Bravo Paul. Good showing Don and Tom.
But I would say that it should also go to AMD for giving such a CPU...
Low-Mid segment, AMD still rules in terms of value and performance...
On the subject of AVG, I'd leave it in the benchmarks as a valid example of a program a lot of people use, making its results relevant even if they look a little odd.
Antec 300 Illusion (same case)
Gygabyte GA-MA790GPT-UD3H (same motherboard)
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS
G.Skill (2x2GB) DDR3 1333
AMD Phenom II X3 720
Sapphire Vapor-X Radeon HD 5750 (recently added)
Corsair 450VX
Samsung SH-S223B DVD Burner
At the time it cost slightly less, without OS and including the recently added Radeon HD 5750 totals $737.55
I have very similar benchmarks, slightly better actually and am very satisfied with the system. I have successfully unlocked the fourth core of the BE 720 and ran benchmarks after overclocking the processor and video card. It's an outstanding system for the price, more than I need. Actually I have locked back down the fourth core and do not keep it over-clocked as I don't do a lot of gaming.
Great work!
Probably for shipping purposes. Shipping as is would be iffy, and plus, this is a SYSTEM BULDERS marathon, so it wouldn't make since to send the pc built already
Usually I set for the 'enthusiast' build, but this marathon brought up a real champion of the masses with the 750 build.
With a little budget Paul achieved what should be the core of the SBM series: the best performance on a given budget.
Mind you: not awesome synthetics that almost never translate into real world performance, not best bang/buck with cramped performance... real value where it really matters.
Grats to Paul and here's to waiting for the next SBM, you've set a really high bar here, mister.
1) That $750 rig packs an impressive amount of power for something so inexpensive.
2) You actually get very, very little for the money jumping from $1500 to $3000.
Use your hsf money for a h50-1 corsair self contained water unit.
Build
Conquer
Relish and enjoy