System Builder Marathon, Q3 2013: $1300 Enthusiast PC

Deals
By
Published

Test System And Benchmarks

Test System And Benchmarks

The following tables include the stock and overclocked settings for this quarter's machine, along with what we achieved with our mini-ITX-based build. Under those details are our benchmark settings for your information.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Q3 2013 $1300 Enthusiast PC Test Settings
Row 0 - Cell 0 Default Configuration Overclocked
Motherboard Gigabyte Z87X-OC, LGA 1150, Intel Z87 Unchanged
Processor Intel Core i5-4670K: 3.4 GHz Base Clock Rate, 3.8 GHz Turbo Boost, 6 MB Shared L3 Cache 4.30 GHz @ 1.25 V
Memory Corsair Vengeance 8 GB Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9R,(2 x 4 GB), DDR3-1600, CAS 9-9-9-24-1T 1800 MT/s 9-11-11-28 1T @ 1.535 V
Graphics Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2 GB 256-bit GDDR5 1037/1089 MHz Base/GPU Boost, GDDR5-6008 1187/1239 MHz Base/GPU Boost, GDDR5-7500
System Drive Samsung 840 MZ-7TD120BW 2.5" 120 GB SATA 6Gb/s (SSD) Unchanged
Storage Drive WD Blue WD10EZEX 1 TB, 7200 RPM, 64 MB Cache, SATA 6Gb/s Unchanged
Optical Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD Burner Unchanged
Case Antec GX 700 ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Unchanged
Power Corsair 650TX 650 W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Bronze Modular PSU Unchanged
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Q2 2013 $1300 Enthusiast Mini-ITX PC Test Settings
Row 0 - Cell 0 Default Configuration Overclocked
Motherboard MSI Z77IA-E53, LGA 1155, Intel Z77 Express Unchanged
Processor Intel Core i5-3570K: 3.4 GHz Base Clock Rate, 3.8 GHz Turbo Boost, 6 MB Shared L3 Cache 4.30 GHz @ 1.3 V
Memory G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8 GB (2 x 4 GB), DDR3-1866, CAS 11-11-11-28-1T 1866 MT/s 8-9-9-24-2T @ 1.5 V
Graphics Sparkle GeForce GTX 680 2 GB 256-bit GDDR5 1006/1059 MHz Base/GPU Boost, GDDR5-6008 1100/1153 MHz Base/GPU Boost, GDDR5-6408
System Drive Adata XPG SX900 ASX900S3-64GM-C 2.5" 64 GB SSD Unchanged
Storage Drive WD Black WD1002FAEX 1 TB, 7200 RPM, 64 MB Cache, SATA 6Gb/s Unchanged
Optical Lite-On iHAS124-04: DVD Burner Unchanged
Case Lian Li PC-Q08B Black Aluminum Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case Unchanged
Power Corsair CX750M 750 W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Bronze Modular PSU Unchanged

And here are the benchmark details:

Latest Videos FromTom's Hardware
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Benchmark Configuration
3D Games
Battlefield 3 Version 1.0.0.0, DirectX 11, 90-sec. Fraps "Going Hunting" Test Set 1: Medium Quality Preset, No AA, 4X AF, SSAO Test Set 2: Ultra Quality Preset,  4X MSAA, 16X AF, HBAO
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Version 1.6.89.06, Version 1.5.26.05 (June), 25-Sec. Fraps Test Set 1: High Preset, No AA, 8x AF, FXAA Enabled Test Set 2: Ultra Preset, 8x AA, 16x AF, FXAA Enabled
Far Cry 3 Version 1.04, 50-sec, Fraps "Ananaki Village"Test Set 1: High Quality Preset, No AA, Standard Alpha, SSAO Test Set 2: Ultra Quality Preset,  4X MSAA, Enhanced Alpha, HDAO
F1 2012 Version 1.2, Direct X 11, Built-in Benchmark Test Set 1: High Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Quality, 8x MSAA
Audio/Video Encoding
HandBrake CLI Version: 0.98, Video: Video from Canon EOS 7D (1920x1080, 25 frames) 1 Minutes 22 Seconds, Audio: PCM-S16, 48,000 Hz, Two-Channel, to Video: AVC1 Audio: AAC (High Profile)
iTunes Version 10.4.1.10 x64: Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 minutes, default AAC format
LAME MP3 Version 3.98.3: Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min, convert WAV to MP3 audio format, Command: -b 160 --nores (160 Kb/s)
TotalCode Studio 2.5 Version: 2.5.0.10677, MPEG-2 to H.264, MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec, 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG-2), Audio: MPEG-2 (44.1 kHz, Two-Channel, 16-Bit, 224 Kb/s) Codec: H.264 Pro, Mode: PAL 50i (25 FPS), Profile: H.264 BD HDMV
Productivity
ABBYY FineReader Version 10.0.102.82: Read PDF save to Doc, Source: Political Economy (J. Broadhurst 1842) 111 Pages
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Version 13 x64: Filter 15.7 MB TIF Image: Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates
Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 Version 14.0 x64: Space Flyby Mentalray, 248 Frames, 1440x1080
7-Zip Version 9.28, LZMA2, Syntax "a -t7z -r -m0=LZMA2 -mx=5" Benchmark: THG-Workload-2012
WinRAR Version 4.2, RAR, Syntax "winrar a -r -m3" Benchmark: THG-Workload-2012
WinZip Version 17.0 Pro, Best Method, ZIPX Benchmark: THG-Workload-2012
Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings
3DMark 11 Version: 1.0.1, Entry, Performance, Extreme Suite
PCMark 7 Version: 1.0.4, System, Productivity, Hard Disk Drive benchmarks
SiSoftware Sandra 2013 Version: 2012 SP5c-1872, CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMedia, Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
Don Woligroski
Contributor

Don Woligroski was a former senior hardware editor for Tom's Hardware. He has covered a wide range of PC hardware topics, including CPUs, GPUs, system building, and emerging technologies.

61 Comments Comment from the forums
  • rolli59
    Keep them coming.
    Reply
  • chaospower
    I think this just shows that you don't really need more than a GTX 760 if you play on the most popular resolution of 1080p. Look how small the benefits of an Haswell are, compared to the 650$ build (HALF THE PRICE!) in games that mainly rely on GPU power.
    Overclocking haswell is a waste of money considering the amount of money you need to invest in a good MB and a good cooling, only to reach a rather tame 4.3ghz OC...
    Just buy the cheapest I5 you can buy and pair it with a GTX 760, if you play on 1080p, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
    Reply
  • DelightfulDucklings
    The more I look at these the sadder I am about the overpriced parts I have to pay for in New Zealand :( Nevertheless, another good article, keep it up
    Reply
  • silverblue
    "64 GB of cache"

    I'd have that hard drive for $70 if it was true. :P
    Reply
  • bemused_fred
    11591176 said:
    "64 GB of cache"

    I'd have that hard drive for $70 if it was true. :P

    I thought it was only....32 on the blue models. :p
    Reply
  • cmartin011
    Can't wait to see a new amd gpu in these builds got me all giddy inside!
    Reply
  • Larry Bob
    This is a complete waste of money. You spend way more on the 4670K than you would on a 3570K, and a really expensive motherboard, then you pair it with a crappy CLC where even a 212 Evo or Respire T40 would do better. You then WAY overpay on the graphics card when a 7970 offers exactly the same performance (according to Tom's research) for $60+ less.
    Reply
  • persuse
    the vengence ram Worst chip in all the model and brands !
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313399
    Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB)DDR3 2400 best P/p memory with same price better choice.
    and corsair H50 not is better whan aircooler.
    the Phanteks PH-TC12DX or V6GT with same price range the beat performance.

    for ssd i,m recomend Kingston HyperX 3K 120G with same price and beter speed.
    Reply
  • Novuake
    Good choice in PSU. Odd choice in motherboard. Does not provide THAT much for 200$.
    But most importantly, HORRIBLE choice in cooling. But ok...
    Reply
  • MANOFKRYPTONAK
    This is old tech... We nee some new stuff! Can't wait to see amds new cards, and nvidias response. Also Intel supposedly has an eight core haswell-e coming:)
    Reply