ABS Ultimate X9: Core 2 Extreme Hits a Speed Bump
by Jarred Walton on August 18, 2006 1:35 PM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Features and Price
It is always possible to configure your system differently, focusing on increasing storage capacity or tweaking various other options. Here are the specifications of the Ultimate X9 we received:
There are frequently drawbacks to purchasing a prebuilt system -- more limited BIOS options, potentially proprietary designs, slightly reduced performance in the name of stability, generic designs, etc. Thankfully, most of those concerns are not present the ABS Ultimate X9. Everything present in the system can easily be purchased online or from a local computer store (assuming the Core 2 Extreme processor is in stock). How much does it cost to put all the parts together yourself? We did a little research and came up with the following price list (from Newegg):
At first glance, there's a pretty big price discrepancy between what ABS is charging and what it would cost to purchase the parts from Newegg. The catch is that ABS charges $500 to officially support the 20% overclock of the processor; otherwise you void your warranty. The total difference in price without the ABS "System Optimization" is just over $300. That gets you a fully equipped system that can be unpacked, set up, and running within a matter of minutes once you receive it, along with a one year warranty on the entire system. How long does it take to assemble such a system on your own, and are you willing to put in the time? That's something the individual will have to decide.
To help you determine exactly what is involved in putting the system together, let's talk a bit more about the system design, build quality, features, etc.
It is always possible to configure your system differently, focusing on increasing storage capacity or tweaking various other options. Here are the specifications of the Ultimate X9 we received:
| ABS Ultimate X9 Specifications | |
| Case: | Gigabyte 3D Aurora |
| Motherboard: | Intel 975XBX (Bad Axe) |
| Processor: | Core 2 Extreme (20% overclock to 3.520 GHz) |
| Heatsink/Cooling: | Gigabyte GH-WIU01 Liquid Cooling System (CPU and GPUs) 1 x 120mm Front Fan 2 x 120mm Rear Fans 1 x 80mm CPU Fan 1 x 120mm External Radiator Fan |
| RAM: | 2 x 1024MB Corsair CM2X1024-6400C4 4-4-4-12 Timings |
| Graphics: | 1 x X1900 XT 1 x X1900 CrossFire Edition |
| Hard Drives: | 2 x 150GB Raptor 10K RPM in RAID 0 |
| Optical Drives: | Samsung 16X DVDR with DVD-RAM and LightScribe Sony 16X DVD-ROM |
| Expansion Slots: | 2 x PCIe X16 with 1x16 or 2x8 data connections 1 x PCIe X16 with X4 data connection 2 x PCI |
| Expansion Bays: | 5 x 3.5 inch internal bays 2 x 3.5 inch external 5 x 5.25 inch external |
| Audio: | Sigmatel 7.1 HD Audio onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Installed |
| Power Supply: | Enermax Liberty 620W Modular PSU 1 x 24-pin; 1 x EPS/ATX12V; 8 x SATA; 8 x 4-pin Molex; 2 x mini Molex (floppy) 2 x PCIe 6-pin |
| Operating System: | Windows XP Pro |
| Front Ports: | 2 X USB2.0 1 x 6-pin FireWire 2 X 3.5mm Audio (Headphone and Microphone) |
| Rear Ports: | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Parallel 1 x Serial 1 x Audio I/O Panel 1 x Optical S/PDIF Out Port 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Out Port 1 x RJ45 4 x USB2.0 |
| Extras: | Watercooling on CPU and GPUs Blue LED Fans 20% CPU Overclock |
There are frequently drawbacks to purchasing a prebuilt system -- more limited BIOS options, potentially proprietary designs, slightly reduced performance in the name of stability, generic designs, etc. Thankfully, most of those concerns are not present the ABS Ultimate X9. Everything present in the system can easily be purchased online or from a local computer store (assuming the Core 2 Extreme processor is in stock). How much does it cost to put all the parts together yourself? We did a little research and came up with the following price list (from Newegg):
| Component Price List | ||
| Case: | Gigabyte 3D Aurora | 140 |
| Motherboard: | Intel 975XBX (Bad Axe) | 252 |
| Processor: | Core 2 Extreme (20% overclock to 3.520 GHz) | 1150 |
| Watercooling: | Gigabyte GH-WIU01 Liquid Cooling System | 123 |
| RAM: | 2 x 1024MB Corsair CM2X1024-6400C4 4-4-4-12 Timings | 276 |
| Graphics: | X1900 XT | 326 |
| Graphics: | X1900 CrossFire Edition | 399 |
| Hard Drives: | 2 x 150GB Raptor 10K RPM | 512 |
| Optical Drive: | Samsung 16X DVDR with DVD-RAM and LightScribe | 37 |
| 2nd Optical Drive: | Sony 16X DVD-ROM | 25 |
| Audio: | Creative Soundblaster X-Fi ExtremeMusic | 122 |
| Power Suply: | Enermax Liberty 620W Modular PSU | 155 |
| Operating System: | Windows XP Pro | 143 |
| Sub Total: | 3660 | |
At first glance, there's a pretty big price discrepancy between what ABS is charging and what it would cost to purchase the parts from Newegg. The catch is that ABS charges $500 to officially support the 20% overclock of the processor; otherwise you void your warranty. The total difference in price without the ABS "System Optimization" is just over $300. That gets you a fully equipped system that can be unpacked, set up, and running within a matter of minutes once you receive it, along with a one year warranty on the entire system. How long does it take to assemble such a system on your own, and are you willing to put in the time? That's something the individual will have to decide.
To help you determine exactly what is involved in putting the system together, let's talk a bit more about the system design, build quality, features, etc.
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JarredWalton - Saturday, August 19, 2006 - link
Don't use the (bracket) H (closebracket) abbreviation in our comments - that's the code for highlight enable, which makes your text white. LOL
JarredWalton - Saturday, August 19, 2006 - link
Multiple uses cause even more troble. :p
JarredWalton - Saturday, August 19, 2006 - link
Have I shut off all text highlights yet? Enquiring minds want to know!
JarredWalton - Friday, August 18, 2006 - link
Take a look at similarly configured Alienware, Falcon NW, VoodooPC, etc. systems and see what they cost. $4500 for the ABS is an absolute bargain by comparison. And don't think that all of those systems are going to be more stable than this ABS. I tried a Quad SLI config for a while that was much, MUCH less stable than this system. The review would have been very unfavorable, but as the company basically pulled the configuration I had there was no reason to "review" a phantom product.Alienware is about $4300 without overclocking or watercooling.
FNW Talon with E6700 and 7950GX2: $6000
FNW Mach V with X6800 watercooling and CrossFire: $8230
VoodooPC Omen CrossFire: $7600
None of those come factory overclocked as far as I can tell, but I'm sure they could be. Still, there's a big difference between $4500 and $6000+. Are they more stable? I don't know - I haven't tested any of the above configurations.
As for ways to improve system reviews, I'm open for suggestions. Simply stating "be like HardOCP" doesn't really help much. What would you like to see added? Compare what this review told you about gaming to what others show, and let me know what's really different about the conclusions. Where do we fall short? I have plenty more system reviews, so if there are specific improvements to be made I'd love to try and make them.
Thanks,
Jarred Walton
Editor
AnandTech.com
yyrkoon - Friday, August 18, 2006 - link
Personally, I find your articles fine the way they are, whihc is why I'll read YOUR articles over Toms any day of the week (because you guys seem to tell it how it is, and how you'd think the company you're reviewing would want to hear it.yyrkoon - Friday, August 18, 2006 - link
err and NOT how you'd think the company you're reviewing would want to hear it (left out 'not'), sorry.MarkHark - Friday, August 18, 2006 - link
Thumbs up for you, Jarred, twice in fact!First for a well-thought, well-written review, second and most important for your last comment.
samuraiBX - Friday, August 18, 2006 - link
now if one of you will please run over me so I can get the money from my insurance... :PJarredWalton - Friday, August 18, 2006 - link
We've got a $1400 system review coming soon, for "the rest" of our readers. :)yyrkoon - Friday, August 18, 2006 - link
Sub 1,000 system review would be much bettter ;) Anyhow, nice clean looking wiring (until you look into the drive bays), additional fan on a water cooled CPU ?! 3000-4000 Price ?!Personally, I would never consider buying a OEM type system, but man even though it has semi clean wiring, neat gadgets like a Air cooling assisted water block, excellent non gaming performance, I would expect said system to be stable, offer the best gaming performance period, and to cook for me . . .