SBM 1: Low Cost System

Test System & Benchmarks

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System Builder Marathon: New Low-Cost PC Component Costs
CPUIntel Core 2 Duo e6750$212
CPU CoolerCooler Master HyperTX 2$27
MotherboardAsus P5K$137
RAMWintec Ampo DDR2 PC2-6400 - 2 GB$81
GraphicsGeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB$280
Hard DriveSeagate Barracuda 320 GB SATAII$80
SoundOnboard$0
CaseRaidmax Smilodon$80
PowerFortron AX-450PN$58
DVD-RWSony NEC Optiarc 7170 SATA$35
Total Price$990
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System Builder Marathon: Old Budget Overclocker PC Component Costs
CPUIntel Core 2 Duo e4300$120
CPU CoolerThermalright XP-90 & 120mm fan$55
MotherboardAsus P5B$115
RAMWintec Ampo DDR2 PC2-6400 - 2 GB$81
GraphicsGeForce 8800GTX$500
Hard DriveWestern Digital Caviar 250 GB$63
SoundOnboard$0
CaseRaidmax Smilodon$80
PowerAerocool Zerodba 620w$125
DVD-RWSony NEC Optiarc 7170 SATA$35
Total Price$1,174

We're going to compare our new low-cost system with the budget overclocker's system we created for our overclocking marathon. Our budget overclocking system is similarly priced to our new low-cost system: it cost $1,174, compared to the new low-cost system's $990 price tag.

The single item that raised the budget overclocker's system price above $1000 was the inclusion of a Geforce 8800 GTX. Had the old budget overclocker's build sported an 8800 GTS 320mb instead of the GTX, its price would have been almost identical to the new low-cost system: about $950. It's going to be interesting to see how the old e4300 CPU/8800 GTX combo will fare against the new e6750/8800 GTS 320 MB combo in the gaming arena.

We won't be comparing the new system to the original budget system in the first system builder marathon. The original budget system was put together for $500 and is completely outclassed by our new $1000 budget champion.

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System Hardware
ProcessorIntel Core Duo e6750, 2.67 GHz, 1333 FSB, 4 MB Cache
MotherboardASUS P5K, BIOS: 0507
RAMWintec Ampo PC2-6400, 2x 1024 MB, CAS 5.0-5-5-16
Hard DriveSeagate Barracuda ST3320620AS320 GB, 7200 RPM, 16 MB Cache, SATA 300
NetworkingPCIe Gb LAN controller featuring AI NET2
Graphics CardsEVGA GeForce 8800 GTS, 320 MB RAM
Power SupplyFortron AX-450PN
System Software & Drivers
OSMicrosoft Windows XP Pro 5.1.2600
DirectX Version9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Graphics DrivernVIDIA ForceWare 162.18
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Benchmarks and Settings
3D-Games
F.E.A.RVersion: 1.0 RetailVideo Mode: 1024x768Computer: MaximumGraphics: Maximum-Custom-No SoftshadowsTest Path: Options/Performance/Test Settings
Doom 3Version: 1.3Video Mode: 1024x768Graphics: HighTest: Time Demo 1
OblivionVersion: 1.0 RetailVideo Mode: 1024x768Graphics: High, 4xAATest: Inside & Outside save files
Audio
Lame MP3Version 3.97 Beta 2 (12-22-2005)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 minwave to mp3160 kbps
OGGVersion 1.1.2 (Intel P4 MOD)Version 1.1.2 (Intel AMD MOD)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 minwave to oggQuality: 5
Video
TMPEG 3.0 ExpressVersion: 3.0.4.24 (no Audio)fist 5 Minutes DVD Terminator 2 SE (704x576) 16:9Multithreading by rendering
DivX 6.1Version: 6.1Profile: High Definition Profile1-pass, 3000 kbit/sEncoding mode: Insane QualityEnhanced multithreadingno Audio
XviD 1.1.0Version: 1.1.0 Beta 2Target qantizer: 1.00
Applications
Autodesk 3D Studio MaxVersion: 8.0Characters "Dragon_Charater_rig"rendering HTDV 1920x1080 & 1280x720
Synthetics
SPECviewperf 9Version: 9.0.3
PCMark05 ProVersion: 1.1.0System, CPU and Memory TestsWindows Media Player 10.00.00.3646Windows Media Encoder 9.00.00.2980
3DMark05Version: 1.2System Test Only
SiSoftware Sandra 2005Version 2005.7.10.60CPU Test = Arithmetic, Multimedia BenchmarksMemory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark