AVADirect’s Mini Cube Gaming PC: Good Looks, Price, And Performance
Boutique builders employ an endless array of customizations to win over customers who don’t have the time or desire to piece together a PC. But enthusiasts in the know still want to feel like they're getting a fair deal. Can AVADirect demonstrate value?
Results: SiSoftware Sandra
AVADirect’s overclock beats the tweak we applied to ASRock's M8 barebones platform in Sandra, despite the fact that both PCs employ the same CPU. Naturally, hexa-core processors enjoy an advantage, but by far less than theory would have us expect.
The secret behind Kingston’s “XMP Beast” kit is that it's little more than an aesthetically upgraded set of mainstream KHX1600C9D3/8GX modules. They're even reported as such by CPU-Z.
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Someone Somewhere Page four. The ASRock system has an i7-4770K. How is the CPU cooler an 'AMD Boxed Cooler"?Reply
Also, many of those seem somewhat unbalanced, especially for a gaming system.
EDIT: Toss an R9 290X or 780 in the M8 and drop to a 4670K, and you'd have a real value winner. -
Crashman
Thanks for catching the pasting errors, it helped me fix two articles :) As for the rest of the ASRock build, I used what was available. Remember that A WHOPPING 1/3 of the benchmark set does benefit from the i7's added cache and/or HT, and that ONLY 1/3 of the benchmarks benefit from a higher-model graphics card :p12209289 said:Page four. The ASRock system has an i7-4770K. How is the CPU cooler an 'AMD Boxed Cooler"?
Also, many of those seem somewhat unbalanced, especially for a gaming system.
EDIT: Toss an R9 290X or 780 in the M8 and drop to a 4670K, and you'd have a real value winner.
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bemused_fred 12209289 said:Page four. The ASRock system has an i7-4770K. How is the CPU cooler an 'AMD Boxed Cooler"?
Also, many of those seem somewhat unbalanced, especially for a gaming system.
EDIT: Toss an R9 290X or 780 in the M8 and drop to a 4670K, and you'd have a real value winner.
A 290-X in a mini-ITX case?!? He wants a P.C., not a space heater! -
Menigmand "Good looks" are highly subjective... I would say that case is not pretty. If the AVA sticker can be removed, and there's an option without the optical drive, then it would be better.Reply -
vaughn2k We'll.. this is another good example of implementing modular cables. But I really don't like the idea of blocking the inside of the computer with a power supply, unless it is designed the way like Thermaltake Elite 120 does...Reply -
vertexx Nice article. I'm not for the fake chrome vinyl wrap look, and I would question how long that would last.Reply
Overall though, it's good to see these guys putting together a nice compact, high performing PC. -
vertexx The same parts plus OS can be purchased for ~$1,900. Still, for someone who doesn't want to mess with building a system, it looks like a decent value.Reply -
MooseMuffin These guys seem pretty price competitive actually. I just ran through their configurator with a system I put together for myself recently and it came within $150. Not bad considering you get the warranty, and that every other boutique seems to mark up way more with fewer part options.Reply -
g-unit1111 Love that case. The polished aluminum look should be on all high end builds regardless of chassis size, in my opinion.Reply