MaxForce Reviewed: 3-Way SLI and 4 GHz+

[cleeve]

Solaris Computer Systems changed its name to MaxForce PC and set its top-tier Revolution GTX3 system down at our table. Let’s see how the beast measures up to some tough competition.

MaxForce Reviewed: 3-Way SLI and 4 GHz+ : Read more

 

[neiroatopelcc]

"xtras 1BG USB Flash Drive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_drive , Assassin ’s Creed (game)" on page 2 - sure u don't mean 1GB?

 

[wahdangun]

"a GDDR3 motherboard, and no less than three of the fastest video cards money can buy"

hmmm i think it have alot of typo in here

 

[random1283]

OK maybe GDDR3 is a typo but GTX280s are the fastest SINGLE GPU video cards out there and I think thats what he meant

 

[Pei-chen]

3 years warranty and water cooling don't go together. Water cooling requires too much maintenance compare with high-end air cooling.

The choice of 2GB memory and Vista 32 sounds like a joke. Think of telling your friends your $4000+ system is running 2GB and Vista 32. 4GB should be minimum and 8GB optional.

 

[Shadow703793]

Good luck for MaxForce. Hopefully their customer service comes close to Flacon.

 

[rubix_1011]

Are you kidding me? Offering 2GB of RAM and a 32 bit OS shouldn't even be a consideration when paying $4000+ for a performance machine. Give me a break: OEM builder Vista 64 is like $80 and I am sure you can get 'volume' discounts for boutique builders like these. Tossing in the other 2GB of DDR3 shouldn't set you back any more than $50 (again, volume purchase discounts).

I say OS switch-out is negligible cost. You MIGHT see minor price increase due to 4GB RAM as opposed to 2Gb...but still 4GB should be the starting point in a system with this hardware.

Running 3 280's? You are using over 1/2 your available system memory allocation due to GDDR. 64 bit only.

 

[smyter_m]

their website down? www.solaris-pc.com?

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]rubix_1011[/nom]Are you kidding me? Offering 2GB of RAM and a 32 bit OS shouldn't even be a consideration when paying $4000+ for a performance machine. [/citation]

Please tell me you're not serious. 2GB and Vista 32 is no good for a gaming machine? What are you guys smoking?

If you guys can provide some evidence that Vista 32 can't stand up to Vista 64 when gaming, I'd be real interested in seeing it. 2 GB or not.

It sounds to me like you gents are getting caught up in leetness without looking at the bottom line. Vista 64 and 8GB of RAM aren't going to supply higher framerates, gents.

I thought we were about tangible performance, not bragging rights.

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]smyter_m[/nom]their website down? www.solaris-pc.com?[/citation]

The website is www.maxforcepc.com

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]Pei-chen[/nom]3 years warranty and water cooling don't go together. Water cooling requires too much maintenance compare with high-end air cooling.[/citation]

Falcon and HP managed to do it, admittedly with a slightly lower warranty. Frankly, chances are it will keep the CPU working longer.

On a side note, MaxForce let me know that they will install custom kit like water cooling at the customer's request.

 

[rubix_1011]

rubix_1011 :

Are you kidding me? Offering 2GB of RAM and a 32 bit OS shouldn't even be a consideration when paying $4000+ for a performance machine.





Please tell me you're not serious. 2GB and Vista 32 is no good for a gaming machine? What are you guys smoking?

If you guys can provide some evidence that Vista 32 can't stand up to Vista 64 when gaming, I'd be real interested in seeing it. 2 GB or not.

It sounds to me like you gents are getting caught up in leetness without looking at the bottom line. Vista 64 and 8GB of RAM aren't going to supply higher framerates, gents.

I thought we were about tangible performance, not bragging rights.

Do you even understand the limitations of a 32 bit OS and how RAM and video memory come to factor...? That's not even beginning to say that Vista really needs 2GB minimum to perform well enough to be considered 'performance' anything. Start running CPU and GPU intensive software, which cut into that, and you see some real issues.

I never said that Vista 32 wasn't capable for gaming...but when you are paying $4000 for a PERFORMANCE machine, 32 bit OS shouldn't even be an option and 4GB RAM should be the baseline. We aren't talking about frugality and DIY on a budget. We are speaking of high-performance boutique PCs being limited by an OS due to memory allocation.

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]rubix_1011[/nom]Do you even understand the limitations of a 32 bit OS and how RAM and video memory come to factor...? [/citation]

Vague questions about what I understand is not proof that Vista 64 and 4 GB is faster, Rubix.

I've yet to see proof that it is. If I'm wrong, I'd love to see some evidence of this. From what I've seen so far tho, more RAM rarely means increased game performance, it usually means quicker loading times at best when it comes to a gaming machine.

Then again, instead of complaining how it's so deficient, let's look at the benchmarks: the MaxForce manages to school it's HP and Falcon competitors is Crysis like they're standing still... even though those competitors have Vista 64 and 4GB of RAM.

If it's me whose having trouble understanding the limitations, I invite you to provide proof that I'm so off base...

 

[rubix_1011]

Forget it, my argument was against using a 32 bit OS in a high performance machine costing $4000+ when a 64bit OS offers the ability to use more RAM for more performance...not only in gaming, but in applications in general. I don't see the purpose when these builds are meant to offer high quantities of system memory to be allocated and used by the system. I guess if you want to drum 32 bit, feel free. I think you and I are attempting to validate different points.

 

[cleeve]

I don't know if we're attempting to validate diffrent points as much as we're disagreeing on the impact 4GB and a 64-bit OS makes in 95% of applications.

I don't think you'd see a diffrence in most things - in fact, Vista 64 is still a bit slower when it comes to gaming, so Vista 32 is a solid choice for a gaming rig.

If you want a workstation, and use apps that can take advantage of a 64-bit OS and gobs of RAM, then just order the machine with Vista-64 and 8GB. Great!

But does that invalidate Vista-32 as a good choice for a high-end gaming machine? Hell no. Certainly not to the extent that you guys are slamming it so vocally.

 

[jorgisven]

[citation][nom]wahdangun[/nom]"a GDDR3 motherboard, and no less than three of the fastest video cards money can buy"hmmm i think it have alot of typo in here[/citation]
I agree. Also -"2GB (2x 1GB) Supertalent GDDR3-1800 CL7-7-7" That's not Gddr3. That's just DDR3.

Also, in reference to going to 4GB. I agree that 2GB is insufficient. However, remembering that it is DDR3, it may add a few hundred in cost, actually. Possibly 2-300, even. DDR3 is still not cheap, particularly the high quality high speed stuff. On newegg, the RAM listed above goes for $189 for the kit. A lower clocked kit (12800, instead of 14400) goes for 329. A higher clocked version, if it were available would be at least an additional $200 more. While I agree a 5% price increase for more memory would give you more than a 5% performance increase, it's nothing to sneeze at. I definitely think 2GB is laughable in a machine like this. But a RAM upgrade would not be cheap if you bought this system.

 

[stridervm]

It's kinda wierd that you are worrying about the MaxForce only using air cooling when you don't even measure it's temperatures. Just a thought.

 

[scook9]

You keep talking about air cooling and how it is going to kill the CPU over time, here is an idea, show some CPU temps! Numbers speak louder than words, and dont have opinions. That being said, a high end air cooling rig can woop a $100-$150 watercooling rig as well as save you the maintanence and risks. water cooling is still limited to the ambient air temperature in the room, so it really doesnt have much to offer that air cooling doesn't. With the new TRUE copper coming out, i'd go for that in a heartbeat over a similarly priced watercooling rig (Swiftech 120). Especially in a high airflow case like the Antec 1200 (which is dam near silent with all fans on high I'll add).Copper TRUE with 2 Scythe S-Flex's in push-pull, and for about $140, you got an air cooling rig that is really gonna beat or be on par with ANY water cooling (not including TEC of course) and NO risk to other components or maintanence. So if you are going to continue making the statement that air cooling will kill the cpu over time, please, just back it up, show us some temps from the mentioned systems, we aren't stupid, let us decide.

 

[wavebossa]

[citation][nom]Jorgisven[/nom][/citation]

Did you read the article?
Did you read the comments above?

Nothing previously stated backs up your claim. Now if this were a server computer than i would agree with you.

But this is a GAMING computer and it excels at GAMING with 2gb of ram and vista 32.

End of discussion.

 

[wavebossa]

Page 6 first line typo. MHz needs to be changed to GHz

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]scook9[/nom]We aren't stupid, let us decide.[/citation]

I never said anyone was stupid. I simply stated my opinion that watercooling is better than air cooling for a quad-core CPU at 4 GHz.

If you don't like my opinion, then it's certainly your perogative to disagree.

 

[zodiacfml]

the maxforce system is built with engineering and crysis in mind. kinda like the automotive industry, efficient.
air cooling vs watercooling - if they can overclock the processor to 4ghz reliably, then air cooling is sufficient
vista 32 - 64bit support is not much,no performance benefit
2 Gigs - for gaming alone very sufficient. for work and multitasking, it is easy to add more memory, though expensive DDR3.
those cuts allowed it to be priced cheaper compared to the falcon and HP.
if it weren't for crysis,3-sli of gtx280 is a waste.

 

[Vento]

Thank you for the continued good reviews on these boutique builders. Its nice to know there are other alternatives to the Dell's etc of the world. I am especially impressed with the warranty and the mild OC'ing to 4Ghz..I have just specced out a similiar type system on their website and may pull the trigger. Keep up the good work Tom's.

 

[Dekasav]

Excellent review. I'm glad we can play Crysis @ Very High with 4xAA now (though I detest Nvidia and would never. ever. pay $250+ for video cards.) It's good to know.

 

[cleeve]

[citation][nom]Jorgisven[/nom]I definitely think 2GB is laughable in a machine like this.[/citation]

I don't agree. Now, if someone put more than 4 GB in a Vista 32-bit machine, THAT would be laughable...