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System Builder Marathon, Q2 2013: System Value Compared

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Results: F1 2012

F1 2012 is easy on mid-range builds, so we’re not surprised to see the $650 machine producing solid numbers. It generates a perfectly-smooth 61 FPS average at maximum details and 4800x900.

Surprisingly, the $1300 PC beats my $2500 machine at 1600x900, though we're presenting these numbers purely for the sake of comparison. Nobody buys either of those configurations to play at such a low resolution.

38 Comments Comment from the forums
  • swordrage 26 June 2013 04:07
    Finally some builds that cost nearly the same in my country India. Thanks..
    Reply
  • manitoublack 26 June 2013 05:48
    Great to see M-ITX in a SBM. The days of needing a full sized ATX are mostly over for 90% of people. M-ATO or M-ITX is the way forward.
    Reply
  • slomo4sho 26 June 2013 05:58
    The extra $1200 from the $1300 doesn't add much value in this form factor.
    Reply
  • DarkSable 26 June 2013 06:39
    Sigh. This is why I really, really dislike the system builder marathons; they do nothing but perpetuate the fallacies that already are far too common.

    Someone looking at just this article, which isn't that unlikely, would be lead to believe that an i7 is something that an "ultimate" gaming computer has, that an expensive motherboard helps, and that a $2500 PC is going to be far better than a $1500 one.
    Reply
  • slomo4sho 26 June 2013 06:46
    11041161 said:
    Sigh. This is why I really, really dislike the system builder marathons; they do nothing but perpetuate the fallacies that already are far too common.

    Someone looking at just this article, which isn't that unlikely, would be lead to believe that an i7 is something that an "ultimate" gaming computer has, that an expensive motherboard helps, and that a $2500 PC is going to be far better than a $1500 one.

    They really should include performance per dollar figures in this writeup.
    Reply
  • DarkSable 26 June 2013 06:52
    11041186 said:
    They really should include performance per dollar figures in this writeup.

    For the parts, or for the computers themselves? Either would be nice, actually.

    One thing that would go a long way is stressing how wonky their testing is - most people reading this as advice for building a computer are going to be building a gaming computer purely, rendering 70% of the test bench pointless.
    Reply
  • slicedtoad 26 June 2013 07:59
    I still don't like the bf3 benchmarks. They in no way represent the online experience and really, people that play bf3 spend at least 95% of their time on mp. I realize it's nearly impossible to generate a fair benchmark for online play but the current benchmarks are very misleading.

    And I'm not griping at tom's, all review sites seem to do this. There should be some way to create a better benchmark. Maybe host a custom server and load it up with scripted "players" or something.
    Reply
  • allanitomwesh 26 June 2013 08:00
    Cheaper is better basically :) Where's that $400 rig?
    Reply
  • Achoo22 26 June 2013 08:04
    11041210 said:
    most people reading this as advice for building a computer are going to be building a gaming computer purely, rendering 70% of the test bench pointless.

    I feel like they've modified the benchmarking suite to favor AMD as much as possible.
    Reply
  • slomo4sho 26 June 2013 09:29
    11041382 said:
    I feel like they've modified the benchmarking suite to favor AMD as much as possible.

    And when was the last time an AMD CPU made it into a SBM? Modifying benchmarks to favor a product that is never showcased is a moot point.
    Reply