System Builder Marathon (Overclocking) Day 1

[Crashman]

Shelton spent the four days on the Day 2 system. Both links come back to this thread.

 

[americanbrian]

Warezme, I concede that I cannot remember were I saw the photo before, it very well may be from the original review discussion, posted by yourself.

I also agree with your arguements against this dell being a enthusiast PC. More like a newb (,and a rich newb at that) that wants to compete among enthusiast PC owners.

Why is it taking so long for the third article. Me wants it NOW!!

Instant gratification generation and all.

 

[Crashman]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/07/19/system_builder_marathon_day_3/ <---third article

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/07/20/overclocking_marathon_day_4/ <---Final Article

Looks like you're a few days late!

 

[morg]

the system builder intentionnally built a system to be below dell's specification picking both overpriced component, insufficient cooling and adding hardware most ppl won't really need.

why add an X-fi to the asus striker board...

System Builder Marathon 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 - 2GB $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

here's my pick
E6850 $300
coolIT Freezone CPU cooler 350$

Asus P5K Deluxe $240 ( remove the stock heatsink and watercool northbridge, southbridge AND transistors through )
Swiftech H20-220 Apex ULTRA+ ( cooling for geforce + chipset instead of CPU) $350
Crucial ballistix PC2-8500 $159
Graphics 1x EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800 Ultra Black Pearl $1000
a P182 Casefor 150$ with a 200$ PSU

+ HDD + dvd burner...
no X-FI ... anyway, i wouldn't buy 300$ speakers for my comp

 

[Crashman]

the system builder intentionnally built a system to be below dell's specification picking both overpriced component, insufficient cooling and adding hardware most ppl won't really need.

I'd see a psychologist about your need to creat conspiracy theories. The system builder marathon was built before the Dell review and came out ahead of Dell on value. Insufficient cooling? The only cooling issue was caused by the case, which was chosen based on reader input.