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Test Configuration

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3:00 AM - 09/19/2008 by Thomas Soderstrom

Überclok Ion Configuration
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, 3.0GHz, FSB-1333, 6MB Cache
Custom Overclocked to 4.0 GHz, FSB-1780
Motherboard Gigabyte EP35, BIOS F5 (07/16/2008)
RAM Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX, 2x 2.0 GB CAS 4-4-4-12
Custom Overclocked to DDR2-1066 CAS 5-7-7-25 (2T)
Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS
500 GB, 7200 RPM, 32 MB Cache, SATA 300
Networking Integrated Realtek Gigabit Networking, PCIe
Audio Integrated Realtek High-Definition Audio (7.1-channels)
Graphics Cards SAPPHIRE TOXIC HD 4850 512MB
675 MHz GPU, GDDR3-2200
Power Supply Corsair CMPSU-550VX (550W, ATX12V V2.2)
System Software & Drivers
OS Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Build 6001 (SP1)
DirectX Version DirectX 10.0
Graphics Driver ATI Catalyst Version 8.7

Because every Überclok custom PC comes factory-overclocked, many of us would like to see what settings were used. That’s very easy to show, since the system uses a standard motherboard with retail BIOS.

Getting to 4.0 GHz with the Core 2 Duo E8400 was as simple as raising the bus speed to 445 MHz clock (FSB-1780), but keeping the system stable required increasing the CPU core voltage and FSB to 1.425V and 1.450 volts. Überclok also raises the memory to its recommended 2.10 volts, but left speed and timing adjustments up to Gigabyte’s EP35-DS3L BIOS to sort out.

We used our most recent System Builder Marathon PC for comparison, adding Überclok’s choice of Keyboard and Mouse for price comparison.

June SBM Mid-Range PC Components
CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
CPU Cooler Swiftech H20-120
Motherboard MSI P7N SLI Platinum
RAM A-Data PC2-6400 2x 2048MB
Graphics 2x ECS GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB
Hard Drives 2x Western Digital Caviar 500GB RAID 0
Sound Integrated High-Definition Audio
Case NZXT Tempest
Power FSP Group FX600-GLN
DVD-RW Sony Optiarc DVD-RW
Operating System Vista Ultimate 32-bit

Our June “Mid-Range” System Builder Marathon configuration appears to have nothing in common with Überclok’s completely modern Ion, but both systems are overclocked by experienced technicians and priced towards similar budgets. The Ion actually costs a little more than our SBM system. But remember, it’s backed by Überclok’s 3-year warranty policy.

Talkback
kitsilencer 09/19/2008 12:32 PM
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ap90033 09/19/2008 1:55 PM
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ap90033 09/19/2008 1:57 PM
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Oh and kit, overclocking is so much more accepted and used. A lot of people overclock a little for say a 10% gain but keep it safe...

Why would you only want your chip to last three hours anyway? Thats STUPID! Goof...

randomizer 09/19/2008 2:08 PM
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ap90033 :
Why would you only want your chip to last three hours anyway?


E-peen of course!

kitsilencer 09/19/2008 2:31 PM
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Of course E-peen. Plus I'd get featured as an article.

kittle 09/19/2008 7:25 PM
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kitsilencer :
Of course E-peen. Plus I'd get featured as an article.


15min of fame for a chip with a 3hr lifespan?

each to their own....

ThePatriot 09/19/2008 7:54 PM
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Entertaining a niche market...... clever move.

guyladouche 09/19/2008 8:06 PM
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kitsilencer :
Sensible, still-under-warranty overclocking. Those words don't belong together.Overclocking should be about using liquid nitrogen, pushing pash 5.5GHz, and shortening the lifespan of the chip to 3 hours. Not years.But still, I'd buy this PC.



It's warrantied by Uberclock, not by the component manufacturers--hence the addition of $600 to the price tag for the insurance (aka warranty). So if something like the CPU dies, getting it replaced (for free apparently) has nothing to do with the manufacturer.

guyladouche 09/19/2008 8:11 PM
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It's a nice idea, but I don't see this going anywhere because of the terrible problems they could likely encounter with need for support/returns. One simple BSOD loop would require the entire rig to be shipped back for analysis (if the user isn't computer-savvy, which is likely the demographic they're aiming at). I wonder if the $600 overhead (in addition to whatever profits they make on the system as a whole) will recoup it? I remember "back in the day" when monarch computers would custom-build systems (no overclocking) and they went belly-up with all the returns and warranty-service (granted, if things are built carefully, there are rarely any needs for services after sale).

skalagon 09/19/2008 8:49 PM
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kyeana 09/19/2008 10:49 PM
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But you have to figure that the people who would be getting this computer wouldn't have the know how to build their own system, overclock it, or fix it if something went wrong. In that group this computer makes perfect sense, and lets face it, you would have to recommend this over a dell or alienware.

ViViF 09/20/2008 9:19 AM
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nice one...but i don't get enough money...

mgl888 09/20/2008 4:45 PM
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Isn't 1.45V a bit high for vcore?
I wonder what the temperature is like

Anonymous 09/20/2008 7:29 PM
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What if the CMOS-battery dies, and all BIOS/overclocking-settings with it?
Not for the average user to try to reconfigure these....

rhysee 09/21/2008 10:07 PM
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Not bad , nice case and very good cabling.. like my cablekami!

neiroatopelcc 09/22/2008 3:15 PM
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I really like their business strategy. I'd like to see them make a discount model though!

Most of those I build pc's for don't really use them for much hightech stuff. What if a company like this could provide them with an overclocked pentium dualcore with cheap pc2-6400c5, a 1tb spinpoint f1, and a overclocked 8800gt (or similar) packed in an antec sonata 3 chassis or some other lowcost-but-nice chassis?

I mean - let's face it .... those systems I built years ago with x200 onboard and 2gb memory are still running, and if I'd been able to deliver an oc'ed system with warranty, they'd run another year more. They ARE too slow now though, and need replacing. Which means I'll have to built more pc's which I'd rather not.

warlordsagan 09/24/2008 2:20 AM
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I live in Edmonton, Canada and bought a custom Reactor from Uberclok. I won't bore anyone with my story of what happened but Thomas Glen went out of his way to make sure I was happy with it. The cables inside the Cosmos S case where as neat as anyone could possibly get them. And it was stably overclocked by 33% and still running at a good temperature. A happy customer here.

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