System Components List
System Builder Marathon, February 2009: The Articles
Here are links to each of the four articles in this month’s System Builder Marathon (we’ll update them as each story is published).
- Day 1: The $625 Gaming PC
- Day 2: The $1,250 Mid-Range PC
- Day 3: The $5,000 Enthusiast PC
- Day 4: Performance and Value Dissected
Introduction
Our second-to-the-last System Builder Marathon (SBM) enthusiast PC had the tried-and-true Core 2 Duo E8500 and our last system was equipped with the brand-new Core i7 920, so we have a really good idea of the strengths and weaknesses when comparing these two CPU architectures in similarly-priced systems. The short version of the conclusion is that the inexpensive and highly overclockable Core 2 Duo E8500 is still a great value choice when overclocked, as it leaves a lot of room in the budget for an expensive video card. While the Core i7 920 is the better choice for most CPU-oriented tasks, the relatively expensive processor and X58-based platform doesn't leave a lot of room for a high-end video card.
This month, we explore where the Core 2 Quad fits into the scheme of things. While Core 2 Quad processors can be just as expensive as the Core i7 920, there is an abundance of inexpensive motherboards with which to pair the processor. This leaves a lot of wiggle room for a better graphics card, among other things.
Before we go over the components, please note that, since the SBMs take a few weeks to execute, Nvidia's new GeForce GTX 295 was not yet available for purchase when we ordered the components (Ed.: tomorrow, you'll see that we cheated a little after ordering the parts right before the GTX 295 launched). Swapping out the Radeon HD 4870 X2 for a tasty new GeForce GTX 295 for the same price would have been a no-brainer, but the Radeon HD 4870 X2 will allow us to get a better apples-to-apples comparison with the E8500/4870 X2 system we built in November.
Let's look at the components. First, keep in mind that only a few weeks ago all of these components spec'd out at $1,244, which was close to our $1,250 limit. Today, the components add up to about $100 less, at $1,150. Primarily, we can thank the price drops of the Q9550 ($310 down to $274) and the Sapphire Radeon 4870 X2 ($490 down to $449) for the huge savings. It goes to show you how quickly prices can drop in the computer industry, especially when new products are launched.
| $1,250 Mid-Range System Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Component | Model | Price (USD) |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 | $274 |
| CPU Cooler | Xigmatek HDT-S1283 (& ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket) | $46 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3LR | $103 |
| RAM | G.Skill HK 2 x 2GB | $50 |
| Graphics | Sapphire Radeon 4870 X2 | $449 |
| Hard Drives | Western Digital Caviar Black 640 GB 32 MB cache | $80 |
| Sound | Integrated | 0 |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking | 0 |
| Case | Rosewill Wind Ryder RZLS142A-P YE | $30 |
| Power | Corsair 650TX | $100 |
| Optical | Lite-On 20X DVD±R SATA Model iHAS120-04 | $22 |
| Row 12 - Cell 0 | Total Price | $1,154 |
