Can We Build An Even Higher-End $1600 PC?
System Builder Marathon, Q3 2014: The Articles
Here are links to each of the four articles in this quarter’s System Builder Marathon (we’ll update them as each story is published). And remember, these systems are all being given away at the end of the marathon.
To enter the giveaway, please fill out this SurveyGizmo form, and be sure to read the complete rules before entering!
Day 1: The Budget Gaming PC
Day 2: Our Mainstream Enthusiast System
Day 3: The $1600 High-End Build
Day 4: Performance And Value, Dissected
Building upon a new mandate for our lowest-priced machine, my high-end build from last quarter faced a surprisingly tight budget, along with some restrictions that may have appeared odd. Adding a $100 operating system to the $600 machine’s total cost meant limiting Paul to a mere $500 of hardware. Doubling those numbers for the mid-priced machine meant it could have up to $1000 in components and up to $200 in extras, including the operating system. And tripling those numbers meant my top-range configuration included as much as $1500 in critical parts and $300 in extras.
Those add-ons could only include items that wouldn't affect our test scores, such as the Windows license and non-benchmarked storage (an optical drive and/or non-OS storage drive). Don argued that cases should be among those parts, since we weren’t testing the extra lights and front-panel connectors that often push enclosure prices skyward. I made that concession, even though cases do affect cooling and therefore overclocking.
Unable to push unrealistic budgetary compromises into my own build, I stuck to spending $1500 for all hardware (that's three times the base machine) and $1600 for the complete PC, including its operating system. Even though my specs looked great in the Newegg shopping cart and successfully beat my prior effort when it came to giving you better value, I still found enough problems last quarter that I decided to take another run at it for today’s presentation.
The previous machine’s $90 case is gone, which helps increase the cooling budget. The award-winning Ostrog GT replaces it at two-thirds the cost, similar thermal performance, and perhaps a less office-friendly appearance.
| Q3 2014 $1600 Performance PC Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-4790K: 4.0 - 4.4 GHz, Quad-Core, 8 MB Shared L3 Cache | $340 |
| Graphics | PowerColor PCS+ AXR9 290X 4GBD5-PPDHE Radeon R9 290X | $530 |
| Motherboard | MSI Z97 Gaming 5: LGA 1150, Intel Z97 Express | $138 |
| Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws X F3-14900CL8D-8GBXM: DDR3-1600 C8, 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) | $89 |
| System Drive | Plextor M6S PX-256M6S: 256 GB, SATA 6Gb/s SSD | $135 |
| Power | EVGA SuperNova 750 B2: 750 W Semi-Modular, ATX12V v2.31, 80 PLUS Bronze | $90 |
| CPU Cooler | Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 140 mm | $75 |
| Platform Cost | $1397 | |
| Storage Drive | WD Blue WD10EZEX: 1.0 TB, SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive | $60 |
| Optical | LG GH24NSB0B: 24x DVD±R, 48x CD-R | $18 |
| Case | Enermax Ostrog GT ECA3280A-BR | $60 |
| Total Hardware Cost | $1535 | |
| OS | Windows 8.1 X64 OEM | $100 |
| Complete System Price | $1635 |
Other changes include a cheaper motherboard in the award-winning MSI Z97 Gaming 5, which makes room for better CPU. If you’re clicking those links, you’re probably starting to see a theme. These parts were given value awards in our lowest-priced enthusiast product segments. Only those components that have the biggest impact on benchmarks get the high-end treatment this quarter.
