System Builder Marathon: Day Two

3D Games

Playable framerates at a 2560x1600 pixel resolution with 4x antialiasing and 8x anisotropic filtering go way beyond the expectations of most mid-priced system buyers. Aren't you glad you build your own?

F.E.A.R. takes a bite out of framerates, but the system still pushes playable resolution to 1600x1200 using 4x antialiasing and 8x anisotropic filtering. It's also playable at up to 2560x1600 pixels with AA/AF turned off, but do you really need such enhancement at that resolution?

Oblivion is the ultimate test for any gaming card, since most hardware hasn't been able to produce smooth game-play even at moderate resolutions. Today's mid-priced system pushes back, though, enabling somewhat smooth play at 1600x1200 in the challenging outdoor scene.