System Builder Marathon: TH's $2000 Hand-Picked Build

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By Thomas Soderstrom
published

Value Conclusion

A lower overclock that we couldn't overcome really hurt the new build in a few applications, while newer graphics cards helped it in others. Will value be decided based on a tiny 4% reduction in price?

Indeed, the new system wins both at stock speed and when overclocked. The configuration deserves a bigger value win, but the replacement Core i7-950 wasn’t nearly as O/C-friendly as the original. Though we intended to use this build to show the benefits of better RAM, several pages of test results make it clear that much of the credit for this win goes to AMD’s Radeon HD 6870 CrossFire configuration.

Now that we’ve had a chance to correct any mistakes of the past, it’s time to think about what changes we might want to make for our next build.

That’s tough to do when we’re 100% satisfied with the performance of every component, yet there was one noticeable inadequacy that didn’t hurt performance: the Graphite 600T case is flimsier than even Antec's Three Hundred used way back in June. But it’s 200 mm fans and hole-free side panels made this a cool and quiet PC. Until we find a higher-quality mid-priced case that offers similar acoustic and thermal performance, we have no problem recommending this entire build as-is.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
46 Comments Comment from the forums
  • dogman_1234
    Can't Wait untill Bulldozer and Sandy Brodge Editions come out. I know it sounds cliche but...
    Reply
  • Tamz_msc
    This is probably the best way of spending 2000$ for a PC.
    Reply
  • hardcore_gamer
    Performance / watt of this build is really impressive.
    Reply
  • A price table for the new build would be nice too, so i can see how much would it cost when i remove the BD and Case.
    Reply
  • gti88
    Tamz_mscThis is probably the best way of spending 2000$ for a PC.I don't think so, considering that cheaper and less power-hungry Sandy Bridge is coming.
    Reply
  • scook9
    gti88I don't think so, considering that cheaper and less power-hungry Sandy Bridge is coming.You forgot weaker ;)
    Reply
  • scrumworks
    Decent review but it seems that in nvidia setups, even the same CPUs can somehow overclock better. And the speed of RAM has negligible or no effect on overall system performance so no point tuning that component.
    Reply
  • Luay
    "Familiarity in overclocking and a third PCIe x16 graphics card slot that operates in x8 mode when occupied are two reasons why we chose the X58A-UD3R over the similarly-priced Asus Sabertooth X58."

    Ok, fine. Wouldn't hurt to familiarize anew with a better board and that 3rd slot wasn't used anyways. Megahalems over Noctua? Seasonic over Corsair AX? :(

    Or was it last minute budget cuts to make it less than $2000?
    Reply
  • nerrawg
    scrumworksDecent review but it seems that in nvidia setups, even the same CPUs can somehow overclock better. And the speed of RAM has negligible or no effect on overall system performance so no point tuning that component.
    What do you mean, this was the same model processor but not the same one. They got a new one for this build - so how does that show that the graphics have anything to do with the overclock? If anything it says exactly what is stated in the article, that the overclockability of the i7 950 varies between each sample quite a margin.

    NVidia or for that matter AMD graphics have no effect on the CPU overclock.
    Reply
  • -Fran-
    How does a Core i5 @~4.3Ghz or a Phenom II X6 @~4Ghz stack up against the Core i7? Well, that's using the same other components, 'cept RAM and MoBo :P

    I'd like to know that.

    Cheers!
    Reply