System Builder Marathon, June 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 $2000 Performance PC
Day 2: The $1000 Enthusiast PC
Day 3: The $500 Gaming PC
Day 4: Performance And Value, Dissected
Day 5: Tom's Hand-Picked SuperCombo
Introduction
Our most recent System Builder Marathons have included a fourth PC. The first three are generally the product of reader feedback from one quarter to the next. We came up with the Day 5 SuperCombo to give one builder (Ed.: It has always been Thomas' $2000 build, so far) the opportunity to hand-pick the parts he'd want in his own machine.
This time, we didn't plan on following through. When asked what I'd improve on the original $2000 build, I told Chris that I wouldn't change anything; for the first time in a while, there would be no fourth machine. But after the feedback started coming in from Day 1, we couldn't help but place a rush order to Newegg for the parts for another machine with a couple of superficial tweaks based on the feedback.
And after all, we were still itching for one more opportunity to give away hardware to our readers. If you haven't yet entered this quarter's giveaway, look up at the top of the page and be sure you do.
Aside from our inability to ship prizes internationally (thank the IRS for that), the second-most frequent complaint we read was more of a division between readers of various aesthetic tastes. While some liked the $2000 PC’s simple and clean appearance, others thought its case was overpriced for such a plain black box. The most recommended replacement part was Cooler Master’s HAF X.

Case performance comes down to two things: cooling and noise. An exceptionally cool-running case could help overclocking, and thereby allow improved system performance. Yet, variability in the manufacturing of other components could have an even larger impact on temperatures and overclocking, so for today’s article we retained the exact motherboard, CPU, memory, and CPU cooler from our original build. The winner of the fourth machine will get all of the same parts, though.
| $2000 PC Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASRock Z68 Extreme4: LGA 1155, Intel Z68 Express | $190 |
| Graphics | 2 x MSI R6970-2PM2D2GD5: Radeon HD 6970 2 GB, CrossFire | $680 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-2600K: 3.4GHz-3.8GHz, 8 MB Shared L3 Cache | $315 |
| Memory | G.Skill F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM: DDR3-1600 C8, 4 GB x2 (8 GB) | $75 |
| System Drive | 2 x A-Data S599 64GB, SATA 3Gb/s SSD | $240 |
| Storage Drive | Samsung F3 HD103SJ 1 TB, 7200 RPM HDD | $55 |
| Optical | LG WH12LS30 BD-RE: 12x BD-R, 16x DVD±R | $95 |
| Case | Cooler Master HAF X RC-942-KKN1 | $190 |
| Power | Seasonic SS-850HT: 850 W, ATX12V v2.31, 80 PLUS Silver | $125 |
| Heat Sink | Xigmatek Gaia SD1283 | $30 |
| Total Cost | $1,995 | |
Note that we also updated the optical drive, due to the original build’s drive being discontinued. A reduction in memory price makes the case primary in total system cost difference.
Also yes, for the love of God, will you people please understand that these aren't gaming PCs? That's why there are so many non-gaming related benchmarks. Please see beyond your own needs.
The 1st thing I ask a potential customer is "What do you use it for?" If they say "Surfing the internet, and doing Office" I recommend an inexpensive build with Linux as an operating system. If they say gaming I recommend an appropriate build with Windows 7(Just because I hate all the tweaking Wine takes in order to work) But I hope that highlights that EVERYONE has different needs.
Do you want a case that looks like The Death Star
Or do you want a case that looks like you collect Picasso?
At least change the GPU or CPU if you're going to re-brand it as an "Alternative" build.
Yeah, I know people are going to flame me and say something like "Well, different case means different build BRO!".
Well you can always bling a case up if you're so inclined but it's more difficult to un-bling one. All in all a very tame SBM this quarter, do hope u guys do something unnecessary cool next round
Also yes, for the love of God, will you people please understand that these aren't gaming PCs? That's why there are so many non-gaming related benchmarks. Please see beyond your own needs.
The 1st thing I ask a potential customer is "What do you use it for?" If they say "Surfing the internet, and doing Office" I recommend an inexpensive build with Linux as an operating system. If they say gaming I recommend an appropriate build with Windows 7(Just because I hate all the tweaking Wine takes in order to work) But I hope that highlights that EVERYONE has different needs.
with the money saved from such changes, you can afford TWO GTX 580's!
The last case I bought was a Lian Li PC A05NB. It's definitely different, pretty much unique, and looks classy. I tossed a piano black Samsung BD drive with a mirrored tray facade and it's got the understated style that fits in everywhere. I say right on to any case that gets tossed in to an SBM. I bet no one complains about the enclosure when they win the rig.
I am not sure why the CPU cooling of the HAF X was not more efficient and it is very competitive in CPU cooling in reviews. It appears that there must be a lack of air flow over the CPU in the design. Curiously though, with the HAF X you would probably have a better CPU cooler than the $30 low-end cooler that is used in this review. Pair the HAF X with a Noctua NH-D14 and you would have the best of all worlds as it is the most efficient case made for cooling the GPUs even beating the top rated Silverstone Fortress.
Just because you do not use the hot-swap bays, tooless access and other features doesn't mean that they should not be included in the overall value comparison of the two. For example, what if you could OC the GPUs, then it would become very important which case cools the GPU well.
It is somewhat disappointing to see that the HAF X could only essentially tie the Lian Li in CPU cooling seeing that includes larger fans and more fans. I have seen this trait in other HAF X reviews.
Also, considering the openness of the HAF X case, it is possible that the change (increase) in noise was due not to the HAF X having more fans, but that the 6970 GPU fans were more audible in the HAF X than the closed Lian Li. The 6970 is not the most quiet GPU and there are two in this build. But the openess of the HAF X is why it is one of the best cooling cases in existence and the Fortress fans are also very audible (because it is a top venting case).
I do like the conservative looks of the Lian Li better.
Happily, for the rest of us the Bard's eternal ode is, as always, applicable, "Brevity is wit."
Tom's Harware isn't going to add below-ambient cooling to a SBM PC. And since liquid cooling is always above ambient, the "best" cooler that could be used is not cold enough to justify the voltage increase.
I've got a crucial C300 128GB drive in my company laptop, and I constantly have to delete stuff to retain the 20GB free space margin I'm aiming for. And I'm even using a 750GB (momentus in icybox) usb drive for storage.
Basicly, got for a 200+ drive or don't go SSD at all in the real world.
I mean really. I bought two 60GB quantum fireballs in early 2001, so clearly two 64GB ssd's in stripe ain't going to cut it 10 years later....
Do you want a case that looks like The Death Star
Or do you want a case that looks like you collect Picasso?
At least change the GPU or CPU if you're going to re-brand it as an "Alternative" build.
Yeah, I know people are going to flame me and say something like "Well, different case means different build BRO!".
A gaming pc these days NEEDS 6GB memory at a very minimum. You instantly feel the difference, especially if you're the sort that tabs out of the game to read up tactics, or see who's talking on vent or whatever.
ps. of the cases in the roundup my absolute favorite by far was the lian li. It's classy and simple.