System Builder Marathon, December 2010: $1000 PC

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116 Comments

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is too easy for these systems, once again demonstrating a CPU bottleneck. It takes the GeForce GTX 460s in SLI up to 2560x1600 before they're finally able to catch up to last quarter's performance numbers. Applying anti-aliasing extends that lead at our highest benchmarked resolution.

Here more than anywhere, the dual-core Intel chip is hurting our overall performance picture.

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Summary
  1. Let's Give Core i3 A Chance
  2. CPU, Motherboard, And Cooler
  3. Video Cards, Power Supply, And Case
  4. Memory, Hard Drive, And Optical Drive
  5. Assembly And Overclocking
  6. Test Systems And Benchmarks
  7. Benchmark Results: Synthetics
  8. Benchmark Results: Media Encoding
  9. Benchmark Results: 2D And 3D Graphics
  10. Application Benchmarks: Productivity
  11. Benchmark Results: Crysis
  12. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
  13. Benchmark Results: DiRT 2
  14. Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat
  15. Benchmark Results: Power And Temperature
  16. Conclusion
About the author
Don Woligroski
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116 comments
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  • Core2uu
    I think we're missing the point of including the Core i3 in this month's build. The purpose was to explore the CPU bottle-necking that can be observed on today's common applications because threading implementation has managed to find itself actually put into effect. Throwing in an i5 760 would have been too predictable and too boring. This puts perspective on the fact that dual-cores matched with high clock speeds are no longer the performance kings as was true more than a year ago.
  • cangelini
    I think a lot of folks are failing to understand the concept of the System Builder Marathon. This isn't a buyer's guide to tell you what your next PC should look like.

    Rather, it's a competition between three builders who compete against each other for the best value. To avoid the same things happening each month, they take your feedback into consideration and try new things. Hopefully, we all learn something in the process.

    And at the end of the series, three people walk away with free PCs. Please, read these stories with an open mind, an understanding of the series, and feel free to offer constructive criticism for next quarter.

    Best,
    Chris Angelini
  • cangelini
    haplo602Then I pity the unlucky one winning this wonder of a trash can. Seriously if this is a competition, then let's have all 3 builds for a respective price point and get people to vote on the best.


    Pro tip: Not entering is the easiest way to not win :)
    • Other Comments
  • AMW1011
    I can't say I'm impressed this time. You should never have went with a clarksdale, they are simply bad. Getting a more reasonably priced motherboard, cutting another $20 from the HDD and PSU, and an i5 750, would have been much better.

    Still, we have more information than before so I can't complain.
  • Poisoner
    That PSU only has 2 PCI-E hook ups. So you'll have to use adapters in this build. Pathetic.
  • ivan_chess
    The CPU choice was a little disappointing this time around. A Core i5 or even a comparably priced AMD processor would have done much better (especially in productivity because four cores are typically better than two).
  • adbat
    I think it would be good to include previous build in the test system page it would make comparison easier.
  • duk3
    1 tb 7200.12 hard drive?
    GTX 570? (debatable)
    Cheaper motherboard, maybe not supporting SLI if gtx 570 is taken over 460 sli?
    $50 corsair ddr3 1600?
    i5 760 with these savings?
  • Core2uu
    I think we're missing the point of including the Core i3 in this month's build. The purpose was to explore the CPU bottle-necking that can be observed on today's common applications because threading implementation has managed to find itself actually put into effect. Throwing in an i5 760 would have been too predictable and too boring. This puts perspective on the fact that dual-cores matched with high clock speeds are no longer the performance kings as was true more than a year ago.
  • scrumworks
    Tom's nvidia -line continues. No surprises there.
  • amirp
    like they said in the previous article even the 6000 series radeons weren't out when they made these articles,
    reading comprehensions noobs
  • amirp
    *comprehension
  • sudeshc
    Not impressed, could have been better.
  • clownbaby
    add space is getting out of control on this site.
  • clownbaby
    worst i3 overclock ever. And a 750gb wd black? Waste! You could get a faster 1tb samsung for less.

    I normally enjoy these builds, but this is among the worst I've seen. For ~$10 you probably could have gotten a ddr3 1600 kit, not to mention money could have been saved on the motherboard. And with a measly 4ghz overclock, you can probably return the aftermarket cooler and get your money back.
  • tacoslave
    amirplike they said in the previous article even the 6000 series radeons weren't out when they made these articles,reading comprehensions noobs

    derp
  • exr
    nice
  • amdfangirl
    Two GTX 460s... with a dual-core... serious?
  • bigmantenor
    ...Cable...Management...
  • shrapnel_indie
    a dual-core i3 eh? Why not have tried a dual-core i5-655k? I know, more expensive... but I know some people out there may see "i5" and think that they are all the same. (n00bs, who haven't educated themselves yet.)

    The Intel Core i5-655K Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Unlocked Desktop Processor ( NewEgg p/n BX80616I5655K ) is the same price as the Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor ( NewEgg p/n BX80605I5750 ) at the time of this post.
  • dirtmountain
    I enjoyed this build, i don't see the sense in always using the same CPU, case,GPU combos. By changing to the i5, using the NZXT case, the 460 1GB in SLI you give your readers something different to consider and not the same old, same old. Good work and good builds in both the $2,000 and $1,000 SBMs.
  • freshnbaked
    WOW look at what I just put together from my local hub, Microcenter, I have a I7-950, 460sli, with blueray player, but the 70 buck from the blueray player could of took me to 8gb of 1600mhz ram.

    Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA ---49.99
    Micro Center 4GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9 Desktop ---49.99
    Samsung SH-B123L 12X BD Combo Drive ---49.99
    x2-Palit NE5TX460FHD79 GeForce GTX 460 ---329.98
    Intel Core i7-950 3.06GHz Boxed Processor ---199.99
    Diablotek PHD Series 650 Watt ATX12V Power Supply ---39.99
    PowerSpec Powerspec TX366 ATX Case ---17.98
    Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 LGA 1366 X58 ATX Intel MotherBoard ---184.99

    for a grand total of ---999.48


    It would blow that PoS they built away, let me at them!

    Ps. if I were to spend it, I would say F the blue ray player and the I7-950 and get the I7-870 for 229.99 and the 97.99 X-fire mobo and go for 2 5850's with 8gbs of 1600 mhz ram. But what do I know ")
  • jj463rd
    FreshnbakedWOW look at what I just put together from my local hub, Microcenter, I have a I7-950, 460sli, with blueray player, but the 70 buck from the blueray player could of took me to 8gb of 1600mhz ram. Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA ---49.99Micro Center 4GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9 Desktop ---49.99Samsung SH-B123L 12X BD Combo Drive ---49.99x2-Palit NE5TX460FHD79 GeForce GTX 460 ---329.98Intel Core i7-950 3.06GHz Boxed Processor ---199.99Diablotek PHD Series 650 Watt ATX12V Power Supply ---39.99PowerSpec Powerspec TX366 ATX Case ---17.98Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 LGA 1366 X58 ATX Intel MotherBoard ---184.99for a grand total of ---999.48It would blow that PoS they built away, let me at them! Ps. if I were to spend it, I would say F the blue ray player and the I7-950 and get the I7-870 for 229.99 and the 97.99 X-fire mobo and go for 2 5850's with 8gbs of 1600 mhz ram. But what do I know ")

    It's from Microcenter (and in store only option for the CPU and perhaps some other parts).The nearest one from me is thousands of miles away in the continental U.S.A.
    Toms Hardware I believe only will do a build from parts that are readily available for everyone.
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