Custom vs PrebuiltPost Date: 2009-08-05 |
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lordgray 
Newbie 
Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6 |
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 Topic: Custom vs PrebuiltPosted: 05 Aug 2009 at 12:50pm |
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I'm wanting a system that costs hopefully no more than $2500. I plan on buying a new monitor...although I haven't decided specifically what yet. I was thinking something like the Dell SX2210. Its not huge but can still do full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. Although I did wonder is there much difference between 1920 x 1080 vs 1920 x 1200? The monitor, I'm buying separately and is not part of the above price range.
I've been reading other posts and there have been quite a few requests for this price range. The main custom config I've seen posted is with OC i7 920, 6GB RAM, 2x GTX 275...price ends up being around $2300. But I was also looking at the Prebuilt "Gaming Dominator". The thing I like with it is I'm guaranteed a OC 3.8Ghz. Whereas with a custom config with OC 920...its probably only going to be between 3.33 - 3.5. The one negative I see with the prebuilt is I have to stick with a GTX 295 instead of being able to do 2x GTX 275s. I'm also trying to look to the future...so if better graphics cards come out in 2010 with DX11 and whatever else...I could always upgrade the 295 at that time. In which case wouldn't getting the faster processor be better? Since I can't really upgrade the processor. Another thought...is I want a system that will last for 3-4 years. So, if an OC 920 will still be able to hold its own for that long...then maybe I go the custom route since I can configure it more specifically to what I want. Thanks for your assistance. |
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DST4ME
DS ELITE 
Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 05 Aug 2009 at 1:02pm |
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a system we config ourselves is better, you will have better mobo and other parts that are better, for example 2 x 275 out performs a single 295 and cost less, at 1900 x 1200 you won't notice any difference in games between 3.5 and 3.8GHz.
Here you go Ticket# 317691 --- Price: $2482 (To see this build click here) Price after current promotion $2332 Copy of Specifications: Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932 Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core) Motherboard: EVGA X58 3X SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports Triple SLI or CrossFire) System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1333MHz Digital Storm Certified by mushkin enhanced (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested) Power Supply: 750W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible) Card Reader: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 896MB (Includes PhysX Technology) Add-on Card: - No Thanks Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Noctua NH-U12P High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors) Liquid Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a H20: Stage 3 Cooling System Selected Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Red) Enhancements: - No Thanks Chassis Mods: - No Thanks Boost Processor: Stage 1: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz (Requires Air Cooling Upgrade) Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) With Windows 7 Upgrade Coupon Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based) Virus Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Benchmarking: - No Thanks Install/Test Game: - No Thanks LCD Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: - No Thanks Mouse: - No Thanks External Storage: - No Thanks Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-10 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty |
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skyR
Newbie
Digital Storm Apprentice 
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2220 |
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Posted: 05 Aug 2009 at 1:30pm |
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1920 x 1200 = 16:10
1920 x 1080 = 16:9 (1080p, widescreen) Majority prefers 16:10 but there are a few that don't care or won't notice a difference with the tasks they do. 16:10 gives you more vertical space so it's better overall (viewing a4 documents, gaming, editing, etc). Black bars appear at the top and bottom while viewing HD content, some people might not like this. 16:9 is standard for television sets but sort of new to the PC market. Manufacturers recently moved to this aspect because it is cheaper to produce and it's better advertising unfortunately. You get 120 less vertical pixels so any 1080p video will take up the full screen without any black bars. It's best to pick the best panel available to you within your price range rather than picking a resolution. Most 16:9 monitors are under $300 while most 16:10 are well over $300. |
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DST4ME
DS ELITE
Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 05 Aug 2009 at 3:28pm |
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I have to have my 16:10 tho I won't lie, but skyR is 100% correct, always pick the best panel within your price range
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lordgray
Newbie
Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6 |
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Posted: 05 Aug 2009 at 3:53pm |
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Awesome. Thanks DST and skyR. Sounds like I'll go the custom route. And then make some final decisions on if I want 1080 or 1200 vertical resolution.
Also, is there much difference on the cooling options...specifically the H2O Stage 1 Asetek vs the AIR: Stage 2: Noctua NH-U12P you listed above? Or is it more of a preference thing. And I've noticed on some builds, you've added the "Memory Fan Kit Only" option. Will that provide any benefit? |
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DST4ME
DS ELITE
Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 05 Aug 2009 at 4:02pm |
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If you have the budget for the ram fan its nice to have but its not a necessity, it will help with NB temps a bit.
asetek and Noctua NH-U12P will perform the same, Noctua NH-U12P is a better way to go, if you want LC then go frostbite, otherwise go Noctua NH-U12P |
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lordgray
Newbie
Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6 |
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Posted: 07 Aug 2009 at 2:20am |
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Ordered...here she be...
 Pretty much the same as above, but I upgraded to blu-ray and added the memory fan. System Configuration: |
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DST4ME
DS ELITE
Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 07 Aug 2009 at 2:40am |
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Very nice
now thats money very well spent
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lordgray
Newbie
Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6 |
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Posted: 12 Aug 2009 at 11:37pm |
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For those interested...here are the specs...
I'd also like to note that I'm impressed by the frequency of status updates. I'm never left wondering how things are coming along. ------------------------------------------- Testing Details By: Chris ------------------------------------------- Processor Temperatures Idle: 47C Overnight Load: 72C Important Notice: Overclocked systems will definitely run hotter than stock units. Your unit has been tested to be fully stable in our stress-test facility at these temperatures. Overclocked Processor Settings Processor Speed GHz: 3.5 CPU Multiplier: 20 Voltage CPU VCore: 1.312 VDroop Control: Yes i7 - BCLK MHz: 167 i7 - Voltage QPI\DRAM: auto i7 - Voltage QPI\PLL: auto i7 - Voltage CPU VTT: auto i7 - Voltage IOH Vcore: auto i7 - Voltage ICH Vcore: auto i7 - Voltage IOH/ICH I/O: auto i7 - PWM Frequency: 800 780i/790i - Memory Clock Mode: 780i/790i - CPU FSB MHz: 780i/790i - Voltage FSB: 780i/790i - Voltage SPP: 780i/790i - Voltage MCP: Motherboard BIOS: SZ2F Video Card Driver: 190.38 Chipset Driver: CD Sound Card Driver: CD |
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DST4ME
DS ELITE
Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 13 Aug 2009 at 12:04am |
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very nice
Now its time to pray to the shipping gods 
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