Final Thoughts
Good Value + Good Performance
Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by this system. We had the expectations that the standard iBuypower system with a pair of GeForce 8800 Ultras would have beaten or have been on par with the system from ABS. This was certainly not the case. Coming in at over $1,000 less than that system and over $6,000 less than the Mach V, it held its ground when it lost, and kicked some butt in F.E.A.R.
There are some things we would like to see improved. The cabling should have been done with a little more flourish. The cooling was adequate but the noise level from the ATI cards was a little much. This might have been tempered if the definitive airflow pattern was established instead of just forcing air towards the motherboard without a direct path out of the case. Lastly we would like to see an option for a "Super Warranty," which could rival the boutiques. Of course, you could charge more for this but it would be worth it for some customers.
The system performed well and for the price it is a good buy. The noise is something to get used to as well as the heat that a pair of HD 2900 XT graphics cards, an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 quad core and a Silverstone 1,000 power supply can release. If you are into extreme performance, but have a tighter budget, this is a system for you.
