High-End Buyers' Guide: May 2007
by Dave Robinet and Jarred Walton on May 29, 2007 1:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Guides
Ultra High-End Intel System
One of the most difficult decisions in this guide was choosing between the QX6700 processor and the Core 2 Extreme X6800. The X6800 is the absolute top-end gaming performer due to its slightly higher stock speed, but the additional two cores of the QX6700 will have a more substantial impact in encoding and other content creation applications. The prices between the two processors are virtually identical. Of course, if you're willing to spend even more money the QX6800 is now available (if you can find it in stock) with prices starting at around $1300 and a stock clock speed that matches the X6800 (2.93 GHz). In the end, the QX6700 gets the nod on the grounds that game and application developers are promising that multi-threading will get more attention in the future. We don't expect performance to double in anything but the most extreme cases; however, it will likely have a greater impact than the extra couple hundred megahertz in the X6800.
It's also important to remember that all of Intel's Core 2 Extreme processors have unlocked multipliers, so it's extremely easy to turn your QX6700 into a QX6800. QX6800 parts might have little bit more headroom when it comes to overclocking, but if all you're interested in is a good quad core overclocking chip we would probably take a step back to the Q6600 instead and save some money to invest in a better cooling solution and power supply. Needless to say, combining SLI with a heavily overclocked quad core processor can result in some serious power requirements. (Ed: And in the winter such computers can serve as great space heaters!)
Note that while both the QX6700 and X6800 processors cost roughly double what AMD's flagship FX-74 processor goes for, you need to purchase two FX-74 processors. Intel holds the overall performance crown, and users who want that performance will pay the price, plain and simple. Say it with us: competition is healthy for consumers.
On the subject of expensive components, the ASUS Striker Extreme is one of the highest-priced motherboards on the market today. At $307, users demand - and, fortunately, receive - the best quality and feature set of any comparable motherboard. As is the case with all of ASUS' current "Republic of Gamers" line, there is the diagnostic LCD panel, heat-piping, and SupremeFX audio. The 680i chipset ensures full x16 bandwidth to both graphics cards in an SLI configuration, and a third x16 slot is included which runs at x8 speed. An alternate motherboard selection (if you aren't going to run an SLI configuration) is the ASUS P5WDG2 WS Professional.
Two Crucial BL2KIT12864AA1065 kits bring the Intel system to 4GB of memory. Though clocked at unimpressive 5-5-5-15 timings, this RAM can typically be made to run substantially more aggressively with little effort. Even more impressive is the price - the kits can be had for $130 each (after the massive $85 mail-in rebate, that is).
The remaining components are the same as were chosen in the AMD Ultra High-End platform. The Intel system is almost always going to be faster than the current AMD Quad FX platform, as we showed in our Quad FX article, but the dual sockets and HyperTransport interconnects do allow the AMD platform to scale better in many situations when moving from dual core to quad core. Of course, the power requirements of Quad FX are also quite a bit higher than Intel's Core 2 Quad solutions.
The sweet spot in terms of price/performance for Intel lies in the "mainstream high-end" segment, while we start to see diminishing returns as we move upwards. With Intel's new P35 chipsets and Penryn processors making their introduction in the not-too-distant future, it may make sense to avoid the extreme high-end echelon of processors altogether at the moment.
| Ultra High-End Intel System | |||
| Hardware | Component | Price | Rebates |
| Processor | Core 2 Extreme QX6700 | $967 | - |
| Motherboard | ASUS Striker Extreme | $305 | - |
| Memory | 2 x Crucial Tracer Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA1065 (4x1GB) | $430 | $170 |
| Video Card | 2x MSI NX8800GTX-T2D768E-HD OC GeForce 8800GTX | $1140 | $40 |
| Hard Drive | WD Raptor WD1500ADFD plus WD 5000YS | $361 | - |
| Optical Drive | Pioneer DVR-212BK | $42 | - |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit (OEM) | $125 | - |
| System Total | $3370 | $3160 | |
| Complete Package | $3906-$5565 | $3696-$5355 | |
 |
It's also important to remember that all of Intel's Core 2 Extreme processors have unlocked multipliers, so it's extremely easy to turn your QX6700 into a QX6800. QX6800 parts might have little bit more headroom when it comes to overclocking, but if all you're interested in is a good quad core overclocking chip we would probably take a step back to the Q6600 instead and save some money to invest in a better cooling solution and power supply. Needless to say, combining SLI with a heavily overclocked quad core processor can result in some serious power requirements. (Ed: And in the winter such computers can serve as great space heaters!)
Note that while both the QX6700 and X6800 processors cost roughly double what AMD's flagship FX-74 processor goes for, you need to purchase two FX-74 processors. Intel holds the overall performance crown, and users who want that performance will pay the price, plain and simple. Say it with us: competition is healthy for consumers.
 |
Two Crucial BL2KIT12864AA1065 kits bring the Intel system to 4GB of memory. Though clocked at unimpressive 5-5-5-15 timings, this RAM can typically be made to run substantially more aggressively with little effort. Even more impressive is the price - the kits can be had for $130 each (after the massive $85 mail-in rebate, that is).
The remaining components are the same as were chosen in the AMD Ultra High-End platform. The Intel system is almost always going to be faster than the current AMD Quad FX platform, as we showed in our Quad FX article, but the dual sockets and HyperTransport interconnects do allow the AMD platform to scale better in many situations when moving from dual core to quad core. Of course, the power requirements of Quad FX are also quite a bit higher than Intel's Core 2 Quad solutions.
The sweet spot in terms of price/performance for Intel lies in the "mainstream high-end" segment, while we start to see diminishing returns as we move upwards. With Intel's new P35 chipsets and Penryn processors making their introduction in the not-too-distant future, it may make sense to avoid the extreme high-end echelon of processors altogether at the moment.
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Dantzig - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
All in all, I liked your guide. Welcome aboard to Anandtech :)Even for a "base" high-end configuration, your case and peripheral recommendations are simply not acceptable.
The Apevia Aspire X-Cruiser is a riced-out, poorly ventilated, cheaply made and simply obnoxious case. Why not recommend a much more sensible option with better ventilation and construction? You can get many quality cases sans power supply for $60. The Antec recommended in the mainstream configuration is much better suited to a high-end build (although I would still like to see something more sensible and less noisy).
Similarly, the Creative Labs 7.1 speaker system you recommended (actually the Inspire P7800, not I-Trigue 3300) is just junk. There is absolutely no reason to waste $80 on a crap 7.1 speaker system. A system with that many speakers should be done right or not at all. Also, THX and manufacturer's power ratings are just marketing mean nothing to anyone who knows jack about audio. Just recommend a decent 2.1 system that at least has tweeters. The market for real stereo systems with actual receivers starts around $250 these days. Even a low end HTIB (I like Onkyo) will outperform any computer speakers on the market.
takumsawsherman - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
So here are a couple of additional comments."The Corsair CMPSU-620HX is a solid offering from a company long known for providing excellent power supplies" - I wasn't aware that Corsair had power supplies at all before a couple of years ago. Also, Why the PC Power and Cooling product over something like a high end Seasonic?
Now, for the worst part... Thanks to the assistance of the Anandtech forums, I finally found a case that I could put into a business environment that wasn't filled with useless lights, very tasteless appointments on the exterior, or cartoon characters on the side. Antec's cases have been de-improving in terms of accessibility (witness the Sonata II and it's funky air flow system that is a pain in the rear and doesn't seem to improve temps). So I was referred to the I-Star S-8 Storm series. An excellent case, with excellent accessories (Hot swap bays, removable caddys, redundant power supplies) that retails for around $50-$60. No spiderman face, no crazy lights, and the fastest assembly I have ever done. There is one downside, in that they don't like to give you enough screws of any one type, and hopefully they will improve that. Luckily, I have tons of screws left over from other systems built for customers over the years.
I believe that part of the problem stems from reviewers praising really toy-like cases that have all of these useless features. Yes, the 14 year old gamer might think they're cool. Heck, even some 25 year old gamers may think they're cool. But I think the great majority of people would consider them to be tacky. So, how about a compromise: offer up alternatives for each. One with all the glitter, and the other with a more clean look. We should encourage manufacturers to worry more about ease of assembly and functionality, and something that can be sold to a business customer.
anandtech02148 - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
hahah this is so true most pc case are so tacky, this is why Apple can steal your money with it's well thought out designs.I still wonder why these plastics take so much space in retail stores.
The attraction is a well thought out pc case with high prices that you can at least get away with like a Lian Li.
Producing cheap plastic case to cut some cost is not a bad idea, but at least hire some designers.
Martimus - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
Most people have considered PC Power and Cooling the best PSU maker for years. They have just been so expensive, not many people usually buy them. They are kind of like the BMW of power supplies, because they don't cut any corners in the design, but you pay for that in the bottom line price. Since the other companies are now charging similar prices to PC P&C, it is much easier to consider them now. Ofcourse PC Power and Cooling was just purchased by OCZ this month (MAY 2007), so hopefully their quality won't go down to the level of OCZ power supplies.Sunrise089 - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
It's always nice to see Anandtech updating it's price guides, and if the new editor/writer follows Jarred's example then I'm sure he will do fine.A few things to maybe keep in mind: I echo the feelings of some others that a $5000 machine needs to have a soundcard. In fact, I would think it makes MUCH more sense to recommend a soundcard rather than a set of speakers for such a system. Next, why keep mentioning overclocking in the article and never advice a aftermarket HSF? I would think every PC in the $2000+ range would be well served, even if only to run it in a low-noise configuration and keep low temps. I assume a midrange guide will appear next, probably after P35 arrives. I hope to see another Overclocking subconfiguration in that atricle, since many of us to OC and the component choices can be rather different.
Finally, @ Jarred - nice fancy new title and post sig. Hopefully thought you won't be only working on notebooks and displays in the future however, even if you are passing on the Guide articles. I know many of the more unconventional articles you and Gary write are some of the best stuff to appear on the site, and I'd hate to loose you to only reviewing the new Asus notebook or Dell LCD.
Dave Robinet - Thursday, May 31, 2007 - link
Thanks for the welcome. :)You're absolutely right, both about the soundcard and the HSF. In the $5k system, though, we did include the water cooling solution - but point taken about the cooling in general terms. I'd venture that few people at the $2k range are using stock HSF solutions.
For the next guide, I'm thinking that there may be some tweaks - you're right about the overclocking part.
Thanks again!
dave
JarredWalton - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
Thanks,I'm still managing editor (i.e. posting most other articles, doing final proof-reads, etc.) so no worries. Displays and laptops are simply my primary area of focus these days, just like Derek's focus is GPUs and Gary's primary focus is... well, everything. :) I'll still contribute opinions and such to the Buyers' Guides as well (and Gary deserves plenty of credit for the recommendations in this and other Guides if you didn't know that).
takumsawsherman - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
Page 3 states that "While RAID will not markedly improve performance for the average user, it can improve either reliability (RAID 5, RAID 1), or data capacity (RAID 0)"I don't see how RAID 0 improves data capacity. Sure, it will make multiple drives appear as one volume, but the capacity is not improved. Not only that, but the reliability is decreased, as a failure of one drive leads to loss of data from both.
JarredWalton - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
That's what was meant by improving "data capacity" although it probably could have been worded better. It does improve performance in certain applications to the point that a few people might find it useful (people that worry about the latest ORB results for example....)Latyshev - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
In the main review you are clearly goiung for SLI. But in the "alternative" list you never mention any new P35 boards, which are amasing peformers.
How come?