The Rig (UNRECOMMENDED SETUP!)
Operating System 1: Windows Vista Ultimate (x64)
Operating System 2: Windows XP Professional SP2 (x64)
-DUAL BOOT FROM DRIVE 1-
Board: ASUS Striker Extreme
Processor: Intel QX6850 3.00GHz @ 3.33GHz
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W
Graphics Card 1: XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra
Graphics Card 2: XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra
-SLI CONFIGURATION-
RAM: 4GB Corsair TWIN2X-10000C5DF
-2 SETS MATCHED PAIR-
Hard Drive 1: Western Digital 500GB SATA WD5000-ABYS
Hard Drive 2: Western Digital 500GB SATA WD5000-ABYS
Hard Drive 3: Western Digital 500GB SATA WD5000-ABYS
Hard Drive 4: Western Digital 500GB SATA WD5000-ABYS
Optical Drive 1: Plextor 716SA DVD + / -RW SATA
Optical Drive 2: Plextor 716SA DVD + / -RW SATA
3DMark Score: 18733
Final Thoughts - Although the system LOOKS like a powerhouse, it is a piss poor performer all around. But, with the limitations of the BIOS drivers and of course Windows Vista / DirectX 10 bugs... this thing is probably built way before its time. No one needs this much power. And over everything... to ASSUME that this system NEEDS a 1200W power supply is just rediculous. It sucks 700W MAX under SUPER Load. (Where SUPER load is running the burn-in / stress test while burning DVD's Ripping Music, downloading software, and playing games all at once on MAX settings.) However, I am impressed with the fact that NOTHING can touch this system at the moment. HL2 Engine runs @ 600+ FPS on a 28" Samsung Monitor, Oblivion screams @ 300+ FPS, and Doom 3... don't even GO THERE! It's not your regular computer though. It's expensive and requires hell of a cooling solution... Vapor Phase cooling anyone? But would I recommend it for casual gaming? No. Absolutely not. For hardcore "YOU MUST HAVE..." hardware enthusiasts looking to pimp your PC... maybe. But for almost a screaming $8,000 (I built it myself because the PC manufacturers are con artists) it's just not what I feel it should be. Back to the drawing board I guess...
Price / Performance: 3/10
Architecture: 5/10
Reliability: 9/10
Stability: 9/10
Upgradability: N/A
Overclockability: 0/10
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