Introduction
System Builder Marathon Q3 2015
Here are links to each of the five articles in this quarter’s System Builder Marathon (we’ll update them as each story is published). And remember, these systems are all being given away at the end of the marathon.
To enter the giveaway, please fill out this SurveyGizmo form, and be sure to read the complete rules before entering!
- $800 AMD Mini PC
- $800 Gaming PC
- $800 Prosumer PC
- Value Comparison
Value Comparison
Rather than pit three builders against each other at three different points, we took a break last quarter from our typical SBM modus operandi to focus only on the high-end. This week we’ve set right the things that went wrong last quarter.
Starting with three highly experienced system builders, we’d cut the budget in half for each machine just to make parts selection extra difficult. Compact case contributor Chris Miconi chose to focus on graphics, I chose to focus on CPU performance, and motherboard contributor Eric Vander Linden decided to tackle both fronts with a multi-core AMD platform. I up-sized the motherboard when I found a better deal on an ATX case, while Chris kept his big case even after finding a better deal on a Micro ATX motherboard. Understanding the limits of his hardware, Eric chose to go with Mini ITX from the outset. A potential win by the smallest machine might feel particularly rewarding, though we’ve already been there and done that.