System Builder Marathon, June 2012: $1000 Enthusiast PC

Features
By Don Woligroski
published

Memory, Hard Drive, And Optical Drive

Memory: AMD Performance Edition 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3-1600

We've heard concerns that 4 GB isn’t enough for a performance-oriented desktop build, particularly when 8 GB kits are so cheap. Our budget is a limiting factor here, though, and as such we don't have a problem stepping down to 4 GB.

Read Customer Reviews of AMD's Performance Edition 4 GB DDR3-1600 Kit

I have yet to see compelling benchmark evidence that 8 GB offers a practical advantage for most desktop users. And at $33.99, this dual-channel kit delivers 1600 MT/s DDR3 with 8-9-8-24-1T timings.

As for the AMD badge, these modules are simply re-branded Patriot memory at a good price.

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 750 GB

Read Customer Reviews of Seagate's Barracuda 750 GB

With very little money left over after buying our other components, we have to make some tough decisions. That means a high-performance SSD is out of the question.

With hard drive prices slowly on their way back down, we're going for Seagate’s Barracuda 750 GB model, which is a good all-around performer for $80.

Optical Drive: LG GH22NS90B OEM

Read Customer Reviews of LG's GH22NS90B

LG’s GH22NS90B is priced attractively, and it even includes the M-disk feature if you're interested in burning discs intended to last for at least 1000 years. Of course, you have to buy expensive media to take advantage of that feature. For the rest of us, this drive is a good budget workhorse for $18.

Don Woligroski
158 Comments Comment from the forums
  • esrever
    This PC is awesome.
    Reply
  • ddan49
    I personally think they went a little TOO overboard on the GPU. Sure, it'll tear through games... but at 4GB of RAM, a non-overclockable i5 CPU, and a P67 motherboard... well... meh...
    Reply
  • pistolpete31
    Should have waited for the 670
    Reply
  • ddan49
    We have two very similar systems here, and the new one has to make due with 4 GB less RAM, no SSD, and no aftermarket CPU cooler.

    May want to put "do" in there, instead ;)
    Reply
  • mayankleoboy1
    i'd put an SSD in any system i build. Its so much better than a HDD.

    Reply
  • mayankleoboy1
    not criticizing, but this build looks like a half-hearted attempt.
    Basically the whole article tests the improvements of a single channel over a dual channel RAM.
    Reply
  • mousseng
    I realize the SBM is sponsored by Newegg, so that means they're only able to get what they can from Newegg?

    Because if not, I would posit that the i5-2380p is a better CPU choice than the i5-2400:
    1) You've not got a huge need for the IGP, what with the 7970 (I could see it could still have use, but I don't think it would be that helpful)
    2) From what I've read on Newegg's page for the 2380p (which they no longer sell), the 2380p is a great overclocker (up to 4.5Ghz according to one reviewer)
    3) It costs the same as the 2400, with the same stock clocks

    Apart from that, I think it's a pretty solid build. A little too much corner-cutting compared to what I would've chosen, but I'd probably put together something rather standard and boring.
    Reply
  • ojas
    Why not use the HAF 912? Wouldn't have had a problem with the 7970.
    Reply
  • pistolpete31
    mayankleoboy1not criticizing, but this build looks like a half-hearted attempt. Basically the whole article tests the improvements of a single channel over a dual channel RAM.
    Yeah I totally agree, I would have loved to see a 3570k and a gtx 670 because those two seem like the popular choice right now. Who sets this budget anyways? "We didn't wan't to go over" umm is there like a slow painful death if you go over the budget or what? Set the budget higher then. Hope the next round of these is better.
    Reply
  • koshadows
    I'm not quite sure how I should respond to both of the system builders comment section from this week. Gtx 670 wasn't available, we know. Stop beating this dead horse. Its just like last quarter's waterfall of "why no 680????"

    As of right now at the time of this post, the sapphire 7970 o/c on newegg is at $480. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102982 So i can only assume whatever price hike has been dealt with?

    Good job on making a computer perform about the same for $250 less! I'm sure if I was to build a computer right now this would give quite a bit of breathing room. Not everyone has quarter of a grand to throw around.

    Downside is it does feel like you guys ran outta ideas on new combinations. I think I'd be kind of interested in either a SLI config 560 ti or 7850s. But the 7850 would've pushed it past budget I think. I'd still vote on the SSD though!
    Reply