System Builder Marathon, Q1 2013: $800 Enthusiast PC

Features
By Don Woligroski
published

Results: Compression Tools

Corel's WinZip 17 is the product of much retooling. The company heard complaints that its engine wasn't threaded, went back, and optimized for multiple CPU cores. Moreover, it also put in the time to enable OpenCL support. At first, this only worked on AMD GPUs. But the latest version allows OpenCL support on any platform with the requisite drivers.

In our CPU-only test, we'd expect AMD's four-module design, capable of handling eight threads at a time, to turn in a lead. It doesn't, though, and Intel's Core i5 wins at stock and overclocked frequencies. 

The OpenCL-based results are much closer together, though the Intel/AMD combination comes out on top again.

WinRAR shows both systems performing similarly at stock clocks, though the Intel box pulls away once it's overclocked.

7-Zip sees a benefit from the FX-8350 that must be related to its ability to operate on eight threads at a time.

Don Woligroski
63 Comments Comment from the forums
  • DragonClaw
    The table outlining the components of the build. It should read 800$ and not 1000$, I think?
    Reply
  • abbadon_34
    guessed they reused the previous template, sure it'll be fixed soon and people will wonder what we're talking about
    Reply
  • mayankleoboy1
    Although we're going to miss the snappy boot-up times and almost-instant application launches the solid-state drive enabled, we probably won't be penalized too much in the benchmark results.

    And therein lies the problem with benchmarks.
    An enthusiast PC, without a SSD boot drive?
    Reply
  • manitoublack
    That's a great value PC there. Would be hard pressed to think of a more compelling combination for the money. Well done.

    Reply
  • qTrueno
    The heat sink breaks easily but it is a good cheap solution, as long it doesn't break.
    Reply
  • ipwn3r456
    If this machine were at $1000 budget, might as well add a 128GB SSD, and replace the HD 7870 to a HD 7950.
    Reply
  • butremor
    "Overclocking

    Overclocking the Core i5-3550K is"
    Reply
  • ARICH5
    i think you couldve found a cheaper z77 solution and squieezed in a 64mb cache hdd
    Reply
  • dudewitbow
    ipwn3r456If this machine were at $1000 budget, might as well add a 128GB SSD, and replace the HD 7870 to a HD 7950.

    there would be marginal performance boost from switching from a 7870 LE(nerfed 7950, heck can call it a 7930 and it would be partially correct in a way) to an actual 7950. Though its likely the outcome for the 1k budget coming up next.
    Reply
  • abhijitkalyane
    I really wasn't expecting the AMD chip to be so close to the i5. I'm a bit surprised. The power consumption figures look bad for the FX though.
    Reply