Upgrading To First Class…On The Cheap
System Builder Marathon, December 2008: 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 $650 Gaming PC
- Day 2: The $1,250 Mid-Range PC
- Day 3: The $2,500 Enthusiast PC
- Day 4: Performance and Value Dissected
Introduction
Intel’s Core i7 release schedule forced us to omit the high-priced configuration from November’s System Builder Marathon (SBM), but the intermission gave us time to reevaluate our priorities. With a price of over $4,000, our previous elite-performance systems had become too costly for most enthusiast builders, let alone everyday value-seekers. And so we listened to your comments and dialed our highest-end configuration down a couple of notches.
A better-balanced approach was sought for this month’s SBM, with a high-end budget that would appeal to former $5,000 system builders who, given the realities of today’s economy, might have otherwise looked for an excuse to delay discretionary spending. Manufacturers have obliged with reduced-price versions of their highest-end components, while sellers are cutting deeper into profit margins simply to maintain market share. With a little effort, we’re hoping today’s $2,500 system can leave October’s $4,500 PC as a distant memory of money needlessly squandered.
| $2500 High-End System Components | ||
|---|---|---|
| Component | Model | Price (USD) |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 920 | $285 |
| CPU Cooler | Vigor Monsoon III LT | $60 |
| Motherboard | EVGA X58 3X SLI (P/N: 132-BL-E758-A) | $300 |
| RAM | Super Talent 3GB DDR3-1333 Triple-Channel Kit | $79 |
| Graphics | 3x EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition (SLI) | $780 |
| Hard Drives | 3x Samsung Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1.0 TB | $300 |
| Sound | Integrated | 0 |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking | 0 |
| Case | Cooler Master Stacker 830 Evolution (Black) | $180 |
| Power | Silverstone OP1000 Evolution | $200 |
| Optical | LG GGC-H20LK 6X Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM, 16X DVD±RW | $115 |
| Additional Fans | 2x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120 mm 1,600 RPM | $31 |
| Fan Accessories | 2x Rosewill RCW-308 3-pin Fan Extension, 12" | $2 |
| Total Price | $2,332 | |
A quick look at its components reveals that our $2,500 system does away with an "overpriced" liquid cooling system found in previous high-end builds, but when it comes to overclocking, extra cooling is often money well spent. We definitely would have chosen high-value liquid cooling components if any well-priced Core i7 water blocks had been available.
Also notice that our $2,500 component list has already dropped by over 7% in the two weeks it took us to build and test the system. This bonus value could be spent in many ways or saved for use in future upgrades.