System Builder Marathon, Sept. 2010: $2000 Performance PC

[Crashman]

We bolstered our latest high-end build with a six-core CPU from AMD and two super-fast video cards from Nvidia. Is it possible to fit uncompromising performance within a $2000 budget? Remember, you can even enter to win this potent behemoth; just read on!

System Builder Marathon, Sept. 2010: $2000 Performance PC : Read more

 

[IzzyCraft]

Love the case choice everything else is pretty much can't really hate it or love it, but i mean you can't really hate any of the parts when they cost that much as they are all good but some just not right for some jobs.
I do not care for AMD and SLI just because you'll be using an nvidia chipset and my past experiences with them have been poor.
I also do not care for 6 cores for games although i mostly use my computer for other things which may like those 6 cores, but i don't find too many uses for 2 480's outside of gaming.

Hopefully the next one will be one i can't help but agree with, A i5-750/760 with 2 460's in sli 😀

 

[Tamz_msc]

This month's SBM is forgettable.It confirms that AMD+SLI = BIG fail.

 

[Tamz_msc]

A better option( without sacrificing GTX 480 SLI) in my opinion is:
Core i7 950 (add 100$)
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R (add 50$)
GSkill 6GB RAM(subtract 70$)

 

[proofhitter]

Big CPU fail. I love your honesty, good one Tom's! Nice try nevertheless. Keep it up!

 

[jrharbort]

The lesson here? AMD hexacores are still the best value on the market, but is still unable to keep up with the i7 in overall performance clock for clock. It's sadly not the best choice in high end systems, but it still wont stop me from recomending it to friends interested in sub-$1000 systems.

 

[sassan_88]

I dont like systems Based on AMD's chipset

 

[jj463rd]

With Sandybridge and Bulldozer just right around the corner I don't think that it makes any sense to build right now with current (especially CPU + motherboard)components.

 

[Crashman]

[citation][nom]jj463rd[/nom]With Sandybridge and Bulldozer just right around the corner I don't think that it makes any sense to build right now with current (especially CPU + motherboard)components.[/citation]
Maybe not...this system was built a couple months ago.

 

[makwy2]

Love the honesty. I think this is just shows that a MUCH cheaper AMD chip ($700 less) is close but not quite in true competition with the top of the line Intel chip. I'll stick to my AMD chips because I am not made of money.

Again, I love the honesty and straight talk TH brings with these bi-monthly features that give system builders a real idea about performance and cost-effective parts.

 

[aaron92]

I really do value the AMD Hex vs Intel, 6 cores is already cutting edge and 12 threads is going beyond a desktop computer for this year atleast.

 

[dirtmountain]

Good article, you never know how some things will work out until you try them. Kudos to Mr. Soderstrom for putting a different build together and not sticking to the same old pattern.

 

[rutoojinn]

If you looked at Tom's best CPU for the money every month. The tier list at the end of the articles shows what tier the AMD x6 is at. Basically an i5 750 or 760 cpu is ranked higher than the Phoenom II x6 cpu. They are basically the same price around $200. So around that price range it just depends which brand you would go for. I prefer the i5 and this months set up I appreciate what Tom tried to do.

 

[enzo matrix]

[citation][nom]sassan_88[/nom]I dont like systems Based on AMD's chipset[/citation]
As opposed to Nvidia's chipset of which many in the past few years are well known for their overheating and failing? I've had an 8200m fail on me completely. My friend had his 6150 in his notebook overheat so badly his battery was at less than max capacity within a year (from heat exposure).
The only good ones have been the 6100 and the 7xxx series.

 

[Stardude82]

8 GB of RAM is still excessive...

 

[ScoobyJooby-Jew]

well, all the adds i see for the amd six cores read "our six or their four?". I think a 1055 should be tested against a Hyperthreaded quad, and a non hyperthreaded quad. that would be an interesting test

 

[Christopher1]

What is with the AMD chip in this machine? I would have thought that a CoreI7 chip would have been a better choice!

 

[Judguh]

[citation][nom]Stardude82[/nom]8 GB of RAM is still excessive...[/citation]
I would actually like to see a small article on RAM usage on a PC during various uses and scenarios and to show where more RAM or faster RAM would be more beneficial.

 

[Randomacts]

They are only showing the $2000 computer? What about the $500 and $1000 one?

 

[mosu]

Just plain stupid choice of components, don't blame AMD.Why didn't you choose single Radeon 5970 and 1090T,even with 8 gigs of RAM.

 

[cangelini]

Folks,
Please bear in mind that the choices for these System Builder Marathon systems are often the product of reader feedback. We do three or four Intel-based builds in a row and everyone starts asking why we're not giving AMD a chance to shine. This quarter, Thomas wanted to address those comments.
The next two builds will come over the next two days--that's why we call it a marathon 😉
Thanks all!
Chris

 

[jgv115]

[citation][nom]Randomacts[/nom]They are only showing the $2000 computer? What about the $500 and $1000 one?[/citation]
They will do it in the coming days. 1 each day.

Just a suggestion, perhaps in the charts put which CPU each PC has. I don't know if it's just me but I keep having to think which month is which CPU xD

Prob just me

 

[ehanger]

3 GTX 470's > 2 GTX 480's and for the same price too.

Also, AMD cpu's are fail in high end systems.

 

[avatar_raq]

Lesson learned: Don't go with AMD if you are building a high end system!

 

[husker]

[citation][nom]avatar_raq[/nom]Lesson learned: Don't go with AMD if you are building a high end system![/citation]
That was a $200 AMD processor. Should we drop a $200 intel processor in it's place and see how it compares?