High-End Buyers' Guide: May 2007
by Dave Robinet and Jarred Walton on May 29, 2007 1:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Guides
Alternatives and Conclusion
The possibilities in a system purchase at the high-end segment of the market are literally limitless, and readers should determine for themselves what focus their system should have. Here are some alternative components to consider for customizing your system.
Gamers will want to devote more money towards their graphics cards, while graphics designers may want more memory. Elaborate cases may not make a whole lot of sense if you aren't planning on showing off your computer, and maybe that Blu-Ray drive is just too tempting to pass up. HTPC enthusiasts might want to add a TV tuner (or two) as well, or maybe you want something really different like the Compro VideoMate V600 that will allow you to watch TV or connect any gaming console to your computer display? The video quality is very good and we have a review forthcoming; the one major drawback is that it's limited to a maximum 1680x1050/1600x1200 resolution. The choice is yours: target your spending wisely!
One area that deserves a bit of extra attention is the multimedia options. In the past, just about everyone agreed that any high-end system -- particularly for gamers -- required a discrete audio card. The situation has changed quite dramatically with Windows Vista, as Microsoft has moved to a professional model for sound. Audio drivers are no longer in Ring 0, which should prevent them from causing system instabilities. The good news is that the new Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) makes integrated audio almost as good as discrete; the bad news is that all the extra effects in most current/older games got lost. If a game supports OpenAL (Q4, Prey, BF2142, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., etc.) then you still get full hardware accelerated 3D effects, and while Creative's new ALchemy Project is working to extend EAX support for older games, many titles are still not on the officially supported list. Also worth mentioning is that ALchemy is currently only for X-Fi cards (not including the Xtreme Audio version); Audigy users may get support in the future, but at present they are left out in the cold. Game developers are currently designing Vista specific features such as offloading audio computations onto a separate core/thread, providing increased flexibility for audio effects, so long-term we may see a shift in the audio market to the point where virtually any solution will offer the same overall quality.
As mentioned in the introduction, the time to look at a new high-end system may not be perfect right now, with the P35 chipset introduction bringing DDR3 memory and a 1333MHz FSB into the mix. Intel's X38 chipset is also right around the corner, just in time for Intel's Penryn processors. Pending hardware introductions, however, will be looming every time one of these Guides are released. As has been said repeatedly in the past, the "correct" time to update your system is when you have made the decision that your computer no longer meets your needs. If that time is now, don't forget to visit the AnandTech Forums to ask any questions which you may have before making your purchase!
The possibilities in a system purchase at the high-end segment of the market are literally limitless, and readers should determine for themselves what focus their system should have. Here are some alternative components to consider for customizing your system.
| Alternative Processors | |||
| Platform | Component | Price | Rebates |
| AMD 1207 | Athlon 64 FX-72 | $329 | - |
| AMD AM2 | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ | $227 | - |
| Intel 775 | Core 2 Duo E6700 | $316 | - |
| Intel 775 | Core 2 Extreme X6800 | $969 | - |
| Intel 775 | Core 2 Extreme QX6800 | $1300 | - |
| . | |||
| Alternative Motherboards | |||
| Platform | Component | Price | Rebates |
| AMD AM2 | Foxconn nForce 590 SLI C51XEM2AA | $165 | - |
| Intel 775 | DFI LP UT NF680I LT SLI-T2 | $300 | - |
| Intel 775 | MSI Diamond P6 | $280 | - |
| Intel 775 | MSI P6N SLI Platinum | $160 | - |
| . | |||
| Alternative DDR2 Memory | |||
| Brand | Component | Price | Rebates |
| Mushkin | XP2-8000 Redline | $320 | - |
| Corsair | PC-8500 Dominator | $205 | - |
| Corsair | 2 x 4GB (2x2GB = 8GB total) XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX | $540 | $80 |
| G.Skill | F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ | $115 | - |
| . | |||
| Alternative Power Supplies | |||
| Brand | Component | Price | Rebates |
| Enermax | Enermax 850W | $260 | - |
| OCZ | OCZ700GXSSLI (700W) | $126 | - |
| SeaSonic | SeaSonic 700W | $210 | - |
| Zalman | Zalman ZM600-HP (600W) | $132 | - |
| . | |||
| Alternative Graphics Cards | |||
| Brand | Component | Price | Rebates |
| EVGA | EVGA GeForce 8800GTX Ultra | $832 | - |
| Foxconn | Foxconn GeForce 8800GTS 320MB DDR3 Overclocked | $305 | - |
| Sapphire | Radeon HD 2900 XT 512MB (100201) | $426 | - |
| XFX | XFX GeForce 8800GTX 768MB DDR3 XXX Version | $620 | - |
| . | |||
| Alternative Data Storage | |||
| Brand | Component | Price | Rebates |
| Hitachi | Deskstar 7K1000 1TB 7200RPM | $410 | - |
| Seagate | Barracuda ES ST3750640AS 750GB 7200RPM | $310 | - |
| Seagate | ST3500641AS-RK 500GB | $135 | - |
| Phillips | SPD7000 Blu-Ray Writer | $500 | - |
| . | |||
| Sound Cards and Multimedia Devices | |||
| Brand | Component | Price | Rebates |
| Auzentech | X-Meridian 7.1 (AZT-XM71) | $170 | - |
| Bluegears | b-Enspirer 7.1 | $110 | - |
| Chaintech | AV-710 | $22 | - |
| Compro | VideoMate V600 External Video Converter | $150-$160 | - |
| Creative | X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional 70SB046A00000 | $140 | $40 |
| Hauppauge | WinTV-PVR 500 MCE Tuner | $145 | - |
| NVIDIA | DualTV MCE Tuner | $160 | - |
| . | |||
Gamers will want to devote more money towards their graphics cards, while graphics designers may want more memory. Elaborate cases may not make a whole lot of sense if you aren't planning on showing off your computer, and maybe that Blu-Ray drive is just too tempting to pass up. HTPC enthusiasts might want to add a TV tuner (or two) as well, or maybe you want something really different like the Compro VideoMate V600 that will allow you to watch TV or connect any gaming console to your computer display? The video quality is very good and we have a review forthcoming; the one major drawback is that it's limited to a maximum 1680x1050/1600x1200 resolution. The choice is yours: target your spending wisely!
One area that deserves a bit of extra attention is the multimedia options. In the past, just about everyone agreed that any high-end system -- particularly for gamers -- required a discrete audio card. The situation has changed quite dramatically with Windows Vista, as Microsoft has moved to a professional model for sound. Audio drivers are no longer in Ring 0, which should prevent them from causing system instabilities. The good news is that the new Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) makes integrated audio almost as good as discrete; the bad news is that all the extra effects in most current/older games got lost. If a game supports OpenAL (Q4, Prey, BF2142, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., etc.) then you still get full hardware accelerated 3D effects, and while Creative's new ALchemy Project is working to extend EAX support for older games, many titles are still not on the officially supported list. Also worth mentioning is that ALchemy is currently only for X-Fi cards (not including the Xtreme Audio version); Audigy users may get support in the future, but at present they are left out in the cold. Game developers are currently designing Vista specific features such as offloading audio computations onto a separate core/thread, providing increased flexibility for audio effects, so long-term we may see a shift in the audio market to the point where virtually any solution will offer the same overall quality.
As mentioned in the introduction, the time to look at a new high-end system may not be perfect right now, with the P35 chipset introduction bringing DDR3 memory and a 1333MHz FSB into the mix. Intel's X38 chipset is also right around the corner, just in time for Intel's Penryn processors. Pending hardware introductions, however, will be looming every time one of these Guides are released. As has been said repeatedly in the past, the "correct" time to update your system is when you have made the decision that your computer no longer meets your needs. If that time is now, don't forget to visit the AnandTech Forums to ask any questions which you may have before making your purchase!
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dilbertcompguy - Thursday, March 13, 2008 - link
Since when are these computer speakers $5000? Am I missing something here or is this paragraph from like 4 years ago?Super Nade - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
While the Silencer is a good unit, there are several less expensive alternatives that are built equally good if not better than this one.Some that come to mind are:
-Ultra X-Pro series (Andyson)
-Silverstone Zeus ST56ZF (can run 8800GTX SLI with NO problems), 75ZF (Etasis)
-Seasonic S12/M12 nad Corsair
-Zippy GSM series (not less expensive but will out-regulate Seasonic built units)
Maybe you could have offered at least two or three options. Good job though!
S-N, OCForums
Dave Robinet - Thursday, May 31, 2007 - link
Thanks a lot, Super Nade.I actually had the Silverstone in there as one of the original suggestions, but Gary Key (having had the benefit of testing a huge quantity of these in the past) said he'd send me a bunch of dead ones if I included it in the buyer's guide. Not wanting my wife to have a bunch of dead power supplies to yell at me over, I backed off. :) Personally, though, I've not had one go South on me yet.
Your choices of supplies are really good - any of those could have been chosen for the guide. People will pick at the X-Pro's efficiency rating a bit, but honestly, the rest of it is brand preference.
dave
Super Nade - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - link
Dave,Thank you for taking the time to read through this. :)
Silverstone employ several OEM's, Enhance, Etasis, Seventeam and a relatively new but interesting Impervio Electronics from Taiwan. Not all of them are built equal. The Etasis and the Seventeam builds are based off of server platforms and are less likely to cause problems. I have not heard of mass failure but there have been problems with coil while on the DA and OP series. IMO, it does not warrant having to completely exclude Silverstone from the mix. ;)
Best wishes,
Super Nade, OCForums.
overzealot - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
I saw no such thing on the previous page. You only said that you'd choose MCE for 32bit, or Vista because everyone will change to it.
I know Vista is the future, but I live in the present - and when I spend this much on a computer I want it to work as well as it can RIGHT NOW.
Can we have an honest pro/con shootout between XP64 and Vista64?
I'm happy to start off with a few:
Vista
Pro:
Aeroglass
Better disk caching
DX10
Con:
8800 drivers still suck
No EAX, no ALchemy for anything but X-Fi
Some games/programs won't work, others don't work well
Larger footprint
Older hardware doesn't have drivers
XP64
Pro:
Drivers are as stable as XP
Games run as well as XP
Con:
Some obscure apps don't work (VoiceChanger is the only one I can think of off-hand)
Older hardware doesn't have drivers
No DX10
Personally I'm willing to sacrifice DX10 and Aero for EAX and speed now. Are you?
JarredWalton - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
Most of the cons of Vista are applicable to both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Our point is that if you're going to get DX10 hardware and a high-end system, you might as well bite the bullet and move to Vista. If you're moving to Vista, you might as well make the jump to 64-bits as well. My understanding is that the XP-64 drivers are still not as robust or available as the XP-32 drivers, so if you're going to have some driver issues anyway... might as well go the whole hog and run Vista! :)FWIW, I'm only running Vista under dual-boot mode or on certain test systems. It's okay, but there are enough nitpicks against it that I'm not ready to make a complete switch just yet.
overzealot - Friday, June 1, 2007 - link
Availability is a problem, but only as much as with Vista.They're robust, have been since about 2 months after release.
jzodda - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
We all know that what we consider to be "computer monitors" these days stops at 30" unless you are willing to shell out more then the price of a high end system just for the display alone.There is one larger display that I think bears serious consideration for a high end rig. Its the Westhinghouse LVM-37W3 37" 1080p display. The W3 version is the one that you typically will not find in stores, and makes an flat out amazing monitor.
It has an 8 ms response and 8 bit Super MVA panel made by Chi-Mei, and plays games at 1920x1080 very easily if you have a good vid card. 37" of screen space makes the 30" look small and the 24" look puny by comparison.
Its also priced around the same as the 30" screens mentioned, and usually comes in somewhat cheaper, especially when there are good deals on shipping. There is a huge thread on this display here. Amazing find, and Maximum PC recently did a little write up on this display and they loved it.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1088497">http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1088497
Kougar - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
Surprised me to see this recommended, and I got to say great call. I have one of these that just arrived infront of me, and to my surprise it has been modified to offer 2 8-pin + 2 6-pin PCIe connectors for overclocked HD 2900 Crossfire setups. You might wish to update the guide with this info. ;)I guess it explains why this PSU was certified for R600 Crossfire use, while (The otherwise excellent) 850watt GameXstream PSUs couldn't take it. Only the $285 1010watt GameXStream model PSU made the certification for R600 Crossfire, and it costs $85 higher still than the Quad Silencer. The high price is for a product that offers as much oomph as products outside it's class, and it can now power any kind of SLI or Crossfire setup that can be thrown at it.
Rike - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - link
Crucial Tracer Ballistix Rebate is a one per household rebate. If you get two, you'll need to work the system some how to get both rebates. It's a great deal, but you might want to warn folks up front.