Synthetics, Continued
Conclusions
Here's the total cost of the system, less software and peripherals we already owned:
| High-End PC Component Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 | $975 |
| CPU Cooler | Ultra ChillTec | $130 |
| Motherboard | Asus Striker Extreme | $320 |
| RAM | Crucial Ballistix DDR2 1000 PC2-8000 - 2 GB | $220 |
| Graphics | 2x XFX GeForce 8800GTX PN: PVT80FSHF9 | $1090 |
| Hard Drive | 2x Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000YS | $320 |
| Sound | Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | $170 |
| Case | LIAN LI PC-60A PLUSII | $130 |
| Power | PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad | $200 |
| DVD-RW | Sony NEC Optiarc 7170 SATA | $35 |
| Total Price | $3,590 |
The system cost nearly three times as much as the mid-priced build. We're certainly glad we didn't go "all out" on factory-overclocked parts or redundant CPU cores, because we need to justify this expense, relative to performance in our final system build!
Author's Opinion
We all like fast parts, but none of the editors were particularly interested in specifying the high-end build. Why? Perhaps because none of us could afford to have all these parts in our personal-use systems, or more likely because removing the strict budget cap takes much of the challenge out of choosing a configuration. We still saved money in a few places where it wasn't going to make a large performance difference, but high-end buyers know they're going to be scoffed at by value seekers. If they listen closely, they might just hear envious undertones in that laughter...
Now if I can just convince Shelton to overclock these systems!
The Complete Series Of Articles
