Rated: 80% (4 votes)
Loading ...It’s Dream PC time
James Gorbold
As the guys finish off the last few pages of Issue 49 the first of this year’s Dream PCs have begun to arrive for review in Issue 50.
The Dream PC Labs test is a once a year event where we challenge a select number of manufacturers to build the fastest, most innovative and cool looking performance PC possible. We don’t set any price limit, all we ask is that the PC must be overclocked and stand out from the crowd of generic high-end PCs.
Although a Dream PC will set you back an arm and a leg, even if you don’t have that much money to spend, they are still very interesting to read about, as they have fully customised cases and cooling systems - perhaps providing you with some inspiration for what to do to your PC next.
time for a dream pc!! ? i think with all the new hardware due for release end of the year it would be silly to dream right now as the current crop of high end hardware is about to change again!
ie x38/smaller die’s on the new cpu’s/amd’s new baby’s/next gen dx10 etc! Ive just spent £700 on an aqua computers AC Extreme Lian Li PC-G70 with all the extras just to be confused as to what would be the best components to put in the beast apart from the mobo asus blitz extreme/hiper730psu as for the rest its could be stupid to throw a couple of grand in for the cpu/mem/g-cards as its all aboput to change come crimbo should i keep dreaming? and wait? or take the plunge just to find out my kits 2nd rate in the shortest of time.
it will be intresting to see what these dream pc’s will turn out like considering the fact all is about to change so soon but i have to admit change is healthy i look forward to reading next edition of Custom pc and see what the big boys send you guys in for review as i’m at a loss at the mo.
Due to the forthcoming new hardware launches this Dream PC labs test is mis-timed in late September (Novembers edition).
It would also be good to see a brief appraisal of system value for money, specifically comparing the total retail cost of all components within a system vs. the price charged for the assembled system. Vadim for example seem to charge inflated prices for components e.g. cpu’s and water-cooling systems and then additionally charge for wire management and overclocking.
I also wonder whether any of these system integrators ever tell potential clients to wait a couple of months for forthcoming hardware releases. Workstation type hardware used commercially earns money whereas enthusiast gaming hardware offers no income to offset the hefty price-tag and may ‘have the shelf-life of a banana’ if specified at the wrong time.
And whilst conjuring analogies a fifteen year old supercar still performs extraordinarily if well maintained, a fifteen year old performance PC really doesn’t!
Unfortunately Steve there are always new hardware launches just around the corner in the PC industry. The reason we picked Issue 50 was because we’ll want to focus attention on the new components individually (not in PCs) when they are released later in the year.
Re your points on cost, don’t forget, when you buy a PC from a manufacturer you’re getting more than the parts. You’re paying (in theory) someboy skilled to choose the components, assemble them and overclock them. In addition with the Dream PCs you’re paying for all the R&D, aethestics type stuff plus the all important warranty. Don’t forget those companies also have to make a profit, they wouldn’t be in business otherwise (nobody starts a PC manufacturing business as a charity).
I’m not saying you should only buy PCs, but its misleading to simply tote up the cost of components.
Thanks for the reply James.
For system integrators such as Vadim warranties are invariable applied to hardware yet so many issues (whether trivial or serious) stem from OS and driver updates e.g T-balancer bigNG fan controller bug arising from a microsoft update (see Vadim website!)
Bit tech note “Vadim admits that you could build a machine with exactly the same specifications, design, build, resource and cut chassis for around £1,000 less than the company charges.” http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/02/09/vadim_Cepheus_Q80_/12
That’s for a £5000 main unit.
Perhaps my scepticism will be proven wrong when Vadim offer their own (blastflow) high performance GPU block at a price point competing with Swiftech rather than Innovatec (and thereby increase sales of a hopefully excellent product).
Finally, have custom PC managed to tempt Falcon Northwest into submitting one of their go-faster ATI Mach V systems for the Dream PC lab test or do they exclude the UK and european markets. Their website is a lesson to all other system integrators though.
Well, without giving too much away Vadim’s system is the most expensive Dream PC sent in for this years Labs test. It is also fitted with two Blastflow waterblocks.
Unfortunately Falcon Northwest isn’t interested in getting reviews/customers outside of the USA (we did ask contact its MD), so it won’t be taking part this year.