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System Builder Marathon, Dec. 2011: $1200 Enthusiast PC

System Builder Marathon, Dec. 2011: $1200 Enthusiast PC
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System Builder Marathon, December 2011: The Articles

Here are links to each of the four articles in this month’s System Builder Marathon (we’ll update them as each story is published). And remember, these systems are all being given away at the end of the marathon.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out this SurveyGizmo form, and be sure to read the complete rules before entering!

Day 1: The $2400 Performance PC
Day 2: The $1200 Enthusiast PC
Day 3: The $600 Gaming PC
Day 4: Performance And Value, Dissected

Introduction

We've already seen that Intel's Core i5-2500K is a great processor at this price point, and we've been using that model in our mid-range System Builder Marathon configuration since it was introduced. Needless to say, it hasn't disappointed us yet.

But we already know what Intel's Core i5-2500K is capable of achieving, and we know there are plenty of readers who want to see another option, if we're only cautiously hopeful about its potential.

With this round’s mid-range hardware budget increased by $200, we have an opportunity to see if AMD’s FX can exploit a powerful CrossFire-enabled graphics card configuration. Without further ado, here’s the parts list for the last middle-of-the-road SBM build of 2011:

$1200 Enthusiast System Components
MotherboardBiostar TA990FXE
AM3+, AND 990FX chipset
$130
ProcessorAMD FX-6100
3.3 GHz (3.9 GHz Max Turbo Core), Hexa-Core, 8 MB Shared L3 Cache
$160
CPU Cooler
Xigmatek Gaia SD1283$30
MemoryMushkin Enhanced Redline 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) 240-Pin DDR3-1600 Kit
Dual-Channel Desktop Memory Kit
$40
Graphics2 x Gigabyte Radeon HD 6950 1 GB
  1 GB GDDR5
$480
Hard DriveOCZ Vertex Plus 60 GB SATA II SSD
60 GB, SATA 3Gb/s
$80
Hard DriveWestern Digital Caviar Black 750 GB
750 GB, 7200 RPM, 32 MB Cache SATA 3Gb/s
$180
OpticalLite-On iHAS124-04
24x DVD Burner
$22
CaseRosewill Challenger-U3$50
PowerCorsair TX650 V2 650 W
ATX12V, EPS12V, 80 PLUS-Certified
$95
 Total Cost$1267


As you can see, current pricing forces our total about $67 above the original $1200 budget. We have to thank skyrocketing hard drive prices for that, as the 750 GB Western Digital Black was closer to $60 when we placed our orders last month.

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  • 1 Hide
    vx53c , 20 December 2011 12:45
    I got the same graphics card (though not crossfire) on a more potent PSU (Enermax 850). Using Sapphire trixx and disabling ULPS i have it running 24/7 at 920/1500 and stock voltages. For a single card it has advanced power needs touching 500-600 watt on my UPS without overheating. I am surprised to see you couldn't get it past an increase of +10 mhz. Either you got a bad chip or insufficient power or you did something wrong.
  • 2 Hide
    HEXiT , 21 December 2011 19:53
    it surprises me that you actually found a cpu that will bottleneck a crossfire config...
    hers me telling every 1 that any new 2.4quad or better would have enough grunt to run any sli/crossfire config without issues...
    but the reality of this build is that the above is no longer true...
    4.5 is a healthy bump but even then you can get better from stock parts form the competition is a really bad sign for amd. i cant see them as competition for intel any more and intel will have no reason to drop there prices when the performance gap is so big... which is bad for joe public in a big way...

    personally i would have went with an intel part and sacrificed a gpu to get it. i would likely get similar performance as the dual setup in most cases and save a little money and a lot of power while doing it...
    dont get me wrong the build is great for what it is. ie it shows that there is a big difference between the 2 manufacturers. and it will hopefully stop some poor shmoo from building what would be a second rate system.
  • 1 Hide
    mi1ez , 22 December 2011 05:40
    Do we have any news on the Windows hotfix that's supposed to sort out some of the FX problems?
  • 1 Hide
    mi1ez , 22 December 2011 05:43
    vx53cI got the same graphics card (though not crossfire) on a more potent PSU (Enermax 850). Using Sapphire trixx and disabling ULPS i have it running 24/7 at 920/1500 and stock voltages. For a single card it has advanced power needs touching 500-600 watt on my UPS without overheating. I am surprised to see you couldn't get it past an increase of +10 mhz. Either you got a bad chip or insufficient power or you did something wrong.

    Or it could be down to Crossfire or even temperatures on the top card.
  • 1 Hide
    HEXiT , 22 December 2011 07:39
    mi1ezDo we have any news on the Windows hotfix that's supposed to sort out some of the FX problems?

    the hotfix has been released but m.s say its in beta atm and dont recommend you download it unless you really need to... the beta will last until they decide that its fit for use as it could be a big potential vulnerability as it needs to embed itself into the structure of the o.s.
  • -1 Hide
    Anonymous , 17 May 2012 02:30
    sorry to say but 90% hardware users are so biased in there reviews without even realising that really amd dont need to compete really as AMD make there own proccesors,memory and grapics cards so really considering tht its still cheaper to buy amd proccesors than it is intel so weres the issue...plus anything over 60fps the human eye cant notice anyways so who cares i can see the intel bias is strong on all these comparison sites
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