System Builder Marathon, Sept. 2010: Value Compared
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Page 1:Performance Is Value
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Page 2:Test Setup And Benchmarks
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Page 3:Benchmark Results: 3DMark and PCMark
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Page 4:Benchmark Results: SiSoftware Sandra
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Page 5:Benchmark Results: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
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Page 6:Benchmark Results: Crysis
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Page 7:Benchmark Results: DiRT 2
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Page 8:Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat
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Page 9:Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding
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Page 10:Benchmark Results: Productivity
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Page 11:Power And Efficiency
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Page 12:Value Conclusion
Benchmark Results: DiRT 2
The $2000 system builder knew that his PC would be somewhat limited by its Phenom II X6 in games, but didn’t expect the result to be nearly this bad.
The $1000 system’s Core i5 CPU unlocks almost twice the DiRT 2 performance, while the $400 PC barely trails its quintuply-priced rival.
Cranking up the quality allows the $2000 PC to gain some ground on the no-longer-playable cheaper system, though the $1000 build retains its on-average lead.
Summary
- Performance Is Value
- Test Setup And Benchmarks
- Benchmark Results: 3DMark and PCMark
- Benchmark Results: SiSoftware Sandra
- Benchmark Results: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Benchmark Results: Crysis
- Benchmark Results: DiRT 2
- Benchmark Results: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call Of Pripyat
- Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding
- Benchmark Results: Productivity
- Power And Efficiency
- Value Conclusion
If you read the article thoroughly you would know the reasons behind the CPU choice! And Thomas was honest about the results and he clearly said 'we failed'. Besides it IS nice to see someone try that and inform us so that we don't repeat the same, or similar, mistakes!
Free is always good! For me, I wish I win the $2000 build, simply because the 2 gfx cards alone worth almost as the mid-priced build ($920 vs $1000)!
Strip out the power hungry 480's and sell them for a grand and buy a 5850 or 460 for 300 bucks.
Brand new system and $700 in my pocket, what can be better than that!!!!!!!!
Anyways, I didn't really like the builds this SBM but I learned quite a bit. Thanks for the great read.
ONE KILOWATT? seriously!?
There is noway i5 can be twice as fast as x6. Simply no way. Something is wrong. Unless there is an artificial limitation in the SLI board to prevent it running faster than that. Even 5670 is closer to SLI 480. Simply Dirt2 benchmark is wrong. And I sense SLI is not working. Better to try with Cross Fire setup.
If you read the article thoroughly you would know the reasons behind the CPU choice! And Thomas was honest about the results and he clearly said 'we failed'. Besides it IS nice to see someone try that and inform us so that we don't repeat the same, or similar, mistakes!
Free is always good! For me, I wish I win the $2000 build, simply because the 2 gfx cards alone worth almost as the mid-priced build ($920 vs $1000)!
All in all this was the most ... weird .. SBM to date.
PS: kudos to Paul Henningsen, his build/review takes the cake this round.
Strip out the power hungry 480's and sell them for a grand and buy a 5850 or 460 for 300 bucks.
Brand new system and $700 in my pocket, what can be better than that!!!!!!!!
It would be very interesting to have a tool to compare any 2-3years old SBM systems among themselves with current newegg prices. This way it would be clear that any SBM system is just part of bigger picture and is not necessarily the best choice for the money.
That was a unit line in WarCraft 3!!
1. $2K PC: I'd remove and sell the two GPUs (my games don't need them), and add a single GTX460 or HD5850 and a SSD. Would become my primary system.
2. $1K PC: I'd just add a SSD. Would also become my primary system.
3. $400 PC: I'd toss the junk PSU and install a 380W Earthwatts, and probably add a quiet after-market CPU HSF. I'd probably swap the GPU for my HD4850, add a second larger HDD, then it would become a Christmas gift for my sister's family.