Alienware ALX

ALX
$8,588
Alienware
www.alienware.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4GHz; Motherboard: Evga nForce 790i Ultra SLI 775 (790i chipset); RAM: 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600; HDD: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Seagate Barracuda (2x; RAID 0); GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Alienware 1,200W

We expected Alienware to throw all the bells and whistles into this system, so we weren’t surprised to see the ALX with 2.6TB of storage, 4GB of Corsair Dominator DDR3 memory at 1,600MHz, and three GeForce GTX 280s. All these goodies are inside Alienware’s P2 ALX chassis, and our ALX also featured AlienFX system lighting along the grille and behind the Alienware logo.

The ALX struts some impressive cable management. The SATA and power cables for the four hard drives are hidden under or behind the drives. Additionally, the tool-less slide-out trays for the hard drives, which conveniently face the side of the case, made maintenance a breeze. We appreciate the clean design, especially for systems using 3-way SLI, because it can be difficult to work inside a packed, cable-filled case. The liquid-cooling for the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9700 uses thick tubing that’s nicely routed to prevent kinking. This ALX also comes with Alien-Ice 3.0 Video Cooling, which to our disappointment was just a fancy name for the 120mm fan on the side panel that blows air over the three video cards.

Alienware also added some nice touches to our ALX, including a 28-in-1 media card reader with Bluetooth and a 4X dual-layer BD-RE burner. Combined with the 2.6TB of storage, the ALX offers much more than just gaming prowess. The OS is installed on one of the 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptors for speedy access, and the two 1TB Seagate Barracudas provide comparatively large storage options. Alienware pads the side panels with sound-dampening foam, but a lot of fan noise came from the chassis grilles, making the ALX seem a little louder than the competition. The smooth Space Black case color looked sleek, assuming you’re willing to regularly dust fingerprints off the dark, mirrored exterior.

The ALX wasn’t the top scorer in any of our benchmarks, but the system was one of the few to produce solid scores in all tests. The 15,582 score in Cinebench displays the ALX’s quality processing power, and the 55fps in World in Conflict backed up the ALX’s gaming chops. We also saw a good balance between GPU and CPU in the ALX’s 3DMark Vantage 22789 GPU and 16393 CPU score.

Overall, the ALX was a solid system with the power to perform most any task. Alienware also provides one-year parts and labor warranty with 24/7 toll-free phone support and on-site service.

Biohazard Rapture

Rapture
$14,914
Biohazard
www.biohazard-computers.com

Specs: CPU: Dual Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 @ 4.6GHz; Motherboard: Intel D5400XS eATX (Intel 5400 chipset); RAM: 4GB SuperTalent DDR2-667; HDD: Western Digital VelociRaptor (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Hitachi Deskstar; GPU: Evga Nvidia Geforce 9800GX2 (SLI); PSU: Enermax Galaxy DXX EGX-1000EWL (1,000W)

The Biohazard Rapture is a cold rig. I’m talking two Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processors running below 0 degrees Fahrenheit cold. The Rapture shows off Biohazard’s multiple evaporator phase-change cooling system, which gives Biohazard the flexibility to freeze several CPUs or GPUs. Biohazard told us that this particular rig is designed for a PC performance enthusiast, so the builder chose to hook up the evaporators to the two Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processors (overclocked to 4.6GHz).

The Rapture certainly had a “wow” factor when we turned it on. Before the system booted, we had to wait 30 seconds or so for the cooling system to bring the processor temperature down to -20 F. A handy temperature display on the front of the case let us watch the Rapture’s temperature drop. The custom Biohazard case includes an aluminum shelf that separates the system into two chambers—the motherboard and the cooling/power chamber, respectively. A clear side panel highlights the motherboard chamber, and the red interior lighting matches the red Biohazard logo on the outside of the case.

Biohazard chose the Intel D5400XS eATX motherboard to take advantage of Intel’s Skulltrail platform. The Rapture also has two Evga 9800GX2 cards running in SLI and 4GB of SuperTalent DDR2-667 memory. An LG Super Multi BD burner (GGW-H20L) is a solid choice for the optical drive. That being said, this case has plenty of room for a second drive or a card reader, and because this Rapture is designed for a performance enthusiast, we would have liked to have seen some extra I/O hardware in the system.

The Rapture absolutely destroyed our processor benchmarks in SiSoftware Sandra Lite, and with a time of 31 seconds in Cinebench 10, it beat the second-best score by more than 20 seconds. In 3DMark Vantage, the Rapture posted the highest CPU score with 32508, but because 3DMark weighs graphics more than CPU and the 9800GX2 GPUs are obviously less powerful than systems with GTX 280s, its Overall 15,452 mark was last place. However, this Rapture configuration wasn’t designed for the hardcore gamer (though it could be), so the disparity among results isn’t surprising.

The phase-change cooling system alone made the Rapture a sweet system. This rig’s benchmarks also showed that Biohazard knows how to use cutting-edge components for a specific purpose. Biohazard offers a three-year warranty with 24/7 tech support and on-site service.

Gamer Extreme XI

Gamer Extreme XI
$5,599
CyberPower PC
www.cyberpowerpc.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4GHz; Motherboard: Evga nForce 790i Ultra SLI 775 (790i chipset); RAM: 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600; HDD: 32GB Ridata SSD (2x; RAID 0), 500GB Hitachi Deskstar (2x; RAID 0); GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Dual Thermaltake ToughPower 1000W

Standing two feet tall in a black-clad NZXT Khaos case, the Gamer Extreme XI is a spacious system that towers over most of the other Dream PCs. CyberPower packed the Gamer Extreme XI with dual Thermaltake ToughPower 1,000W PSUs, two 32GB Ridata SSDs (as well as two Hitachi 500GB Deskstars), and a NZXT Sentry LX fan controller.

A fan bracket in the center of the case holds three 120mm fans that move air over the three GTX 280 graphics processors and the 4GB of memory, while an Asetek LCLC liquid-cools the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770. We liked that CyberPower chose to locate the storage drives at the bottom of the case near the power supplies, so you don’t have to look at a bundle of cables strung throughout the case. Instead, the power and SATA cables sit neatly together and don’t obstruct your ability to reach the hardware.

Although the internal design was well thought-out, we noted the two 1,000W power supplies were a little loose when the system arrived. CyberPower indicated that it used the standard screws for the power supply mounting bracket, but in the future, the builder plans on using larger screws that can better hold the weight of the two PSUs. On the front of the system, the NZXT Sentry LX fan controller includes five fan controls and took up two 5.25-inch drive bays. The controller features both Auto and Manual modes for the fan settings and temperature alarms. The Gamer Extreme XI was fairly quiet with all the fans running, and it was nearly silent when we shut off the three center bracket fans.

As its name suggests, this system is designed for gaming, and with 22.32fps in Crysis and 59fps in World in Conflict, the Gamer Extreme XI was in the top half of the PCs in our gaming benchmarks. The P20294 Overall 3DMark Vantage score was also respectable. However, the Gamer Extreme XI trailed behind the other system in many of our other benchmarks. In particular, its 5925 Over-all PCMark Vantage score was noticeably lower than the competition.

Although price wasn't a primary concern in our Dream PC roundup, we should note that the Gamer Extreme XI, while offering similar components, comes in at lower price than many of the other dream PCs. This particular Gamer Extreme XI doesn’t have one of CyberPower’s custom paint jobs, but CyberPower indicates that it may offer paint mods in the future for this model.

Digital Storm Benchmark Crusher

Benchmark Crusher
$7,508
Digital Storm
www.digitalstormonline.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4.2GHz; Motherboard: XFX 790i Ultra (790i chipset); RAM: 2GB Corsair Dominator DHX DDR3-1800; HDD: 300GB Western Digital Veloci-Raptor (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Western Digital Caviar Green; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (2-way SLI); PSU: Corsair HX1000W

Cooling is a priority on the Bench-mark Crusher. Digital Storm’s FrostBite system, which features a single loop that runs through three radiators (two interior and one exterior), lets the builder use a 4.2MHz clock speed on the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770. The Benchmark Crusher also features a Corsair Dominator AirFlow fan on the 2GB of Corsair DDR3-1,800MHz memory, while the stock heatpipes and active cooling fan on the XFX 790i Ultra motherboard pull heat from the northbridge. To further cool the internal hardware, the Digital Storm uses a Silverstone TJ09 case. The case’s midsection air duct is ideal for drawing cool air over the two Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 video cards.

From the clear window in the Silver-stone TJ09 case, you can see the entire cooling setup. And portions of the exterior and most of the interior are coated with its StormRed automotive paint, which matches the deep red coolant in the liquid-cooling loop, as well as the red LEDs in the system fans. Although not as impressive as some of the custom paint jobs in our roundup, the subtle design elements made the Benchmark Crusher a system we’d be proud to show off. We also liked that the Benchmark Crusher includes the Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty front audio panel. This system was one of the few Dream PCs to include a dedicated sound card.

The 4.2GHz processor overclock—which, unlike most boutique builders, Digital Storm charges to do itself—put the Benchmark Crusher ahead of many of the other Dream PCs in our CPU-intensive benchmarks. The 1:27 (minutes:seconds) time in WinRAR was second-best, and the 2:56 time in Dr. DivX was third-best among our dream PCs. The Benchmark Crusher also produced top five scores in Cinebench 10, POV-Ray, and SiSoftware Sandra Lite. This rig also showed gaming prowess, with 23.46fps in Crysis, which was fourth-best. We were impressed that the Benchmark Crusher’s 2-way SLI posted competitive and often better benchmark results than systems with 3-way SLI. By comparison, the 2-way SLI BlackBird 002 seemed to fall behind the other systems in graphically demanding benchmarks.

Digital Storm told us that its builders pride themselves on stress-testing and benchmarking each system, and the Benchmark Crusher shows off Digital Storm’s ability to maximize the bleeding-edge hardware in a clean-cut, smartly designed system. Besides producing results, the Benchmark Crusher also features interior system artistry and extra perks that enthusiasts will appreciate. In short, the Benchmark Crusher is a luxury rig.

Falcon Northwest Mach V

Mach V
$15,495
Falcon Northwest
www.falcon-nw.com

Specs: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4GHz; Motherboard: Evga nForce 790i Ultra SLI 775 (790i chipset); RAM: 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600; HDD: 64GB Memoright SSD (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Hitachi Deskstar; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Silverstone SST-ST1200 (1,200W)

Falcon Northwest has never disappointed us with its custom paint jobs, and this Mach V is no different. The hand-painted “Zen” theme features iridescent Koi, water lilies, and clouds of sand and silt. Falcon Northwest told us its in-house painter used nine layers of paint to get the realistic image depth and mirrored finish. After I set this system up, co-workers were stopping in their tracks just to check out the paint job.

On the interior, the Mach V is packed with cutting-edge hardware, including 4GB of Corsair Dominator DD3-1600 memory, two 64GB Memoright SSDs, and a Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty sound card. An Asetek LCLC is used to liquid-cool the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 (overclocked to 4GHz). Falcon Northwest mounted the radiator at the top of case, which helps keep the watercooling loop out of the way. To keep the rest of interior streamlined, nearly all the cabling is run behind the motherboard or motherboard tray. The SATA and IDE cables are organized behind the drive cages and positioned so they run straight across to the motherboard. The Mach V is definitely one of the tidiest PCs of the bunch.

A LG GGW-H20L covered our BD burning needs, and a Lite-On DH20-A4H provided 20X DVD burning speed. Although we don’t usually mention mice and keyboards, the Logitech MX Revolution mouse and G15 Gaming keyboard were also painted to match the system’s “Zen” theme. We appreciate these extra luxuries. Falcon Northwest padded the bottom of the case and one of the side panels with acoustic dampening foam, but the Mach V didn’t seem any quieter than the PCs without sound-reducing options.

With 22fps in Crysis and 59fps in World in Conflict, the Mach V put up high numbers in our gaming benchmarks that put it near the top of the pack. And its 9987 Overall PCMark Vantage score was second-best among the Dream PCs. You can see the speed benefits of the 64GB Memoright SSDs in the 8059 PCMark Vantage Memories score, as well as in the 1:27 WinRAR time. We also thought the SSDs made a noticeable difference in the Mach V’s boot time vs. the other Dream PCs.

The combination of eye-catching design and solid performance leaves no doubt that the Mach V is a magnificent system. The Mach V “Zen” theme also scores points for originality and creativity.

HP Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition

Blackbird 002 Exhilaration Edition
$6,920
HP
www.hp.com/blackbird

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4GHz; Motherboard: Evga nForce 790i Ultra SLI (790i chipset); RAM: 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600; HDD: 160GB Western Digital Raptor (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7,200rpm; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (SLI); PSU: 1,100W

After several years of covering dream PCs, we've noticed that most builders pick a case and stick with it, making only slight adjustments over the years to accommodate faster and more powerful hardware. This is working just fine for HP, as the biggest innovation here is still the Blackbird’s unique case, with a side panel that clicks open like the hood of a sports car to reveal a chambered design that sanctions the 1,100W PSU, pair of GTX 280s, and Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 for superior cooling.

We liked the subtle blue-white LEDs in the front panel and bottom of the case. The case-on-a-pedestal design certainly makes the Blackbird one of the more eye-catching systems we’ve ever seen. Other highlights were the pop-up front panel ports and 15-in-1 media reader on the top panel and the tool-less HDD trays.

Speaking of storage, the Blackbird 002 features 1.32TB of hard drive space, with the two 160GB drives in a RAID 0 set aside for Windows and applications. All three optical drives (two slot-loading Super Multi-Drives, and one BD-RE and HD-DVD ROM combo drive) are vertically-mounted, which may rub some the wrong way, but our discs all survived unscathed. HP chose to up the ante in audio with Creative’s Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional card, mounted between the pair of GTX 280s. The price quoted also includes the Razer DeathAdder mouse and Razer Tarantula keyboard.

The overclocked QX9770 (4GHz) is wearing a Voodoo-logoed CoolIT pump and waterblock assembly that’s been factory-sealed so you don’t have to perform the periodic maintenance that conventional watercooling setups require. The Blackbird 002 also keeps cool with an abundance of well-hidden vents.

Unlike most other systems, The Blackbird 002 opts for standard SLI, and the P17646 score in 3DMark Vantage was toward the bottom of the group. The game tests, however, reveal that, at least with the early GeForce drivers, the difference between 2- and 3-way SLI with the GTX 280 is only worth a few fps in World in Conflict and often less than 1fps in Crysis. Overall, the Blackbird scored consistently, if slightly below average, in most tests.

HP and Voodoo’s second entrant is little more than a hardware refresh of last year’s Blackbird 002. That isn’t to say this Blackbird 002 doesn’t go toe-to-toe with the rest of the systems here. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And HP didn’t.

Hypersonic PC Sonic Boom ATS

Sonic Boom ATS
$12,384
Hypersonic
www.hypersonic-pc.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4.275GHz; Motherboard: Asus Striker II Extreme 790i SLI (790i chipset); RAM: 2GB OCZ Flex II DDR3-1800; HDD: 64GB OCZ SATA II SDD (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Western Digital 7,200rpm; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: PC Power & Cooling 1200W Turbo Cool Series

Hypersonic PC’s Sonic Boom ATS (Advanced Tactical System) uses a modified Silverstone TJ10 case that Hypersonic calls the Thunderbolt III. The case is coated in an automotive-quality Metallic Sonic Blue Reflexxion Series paint job, which added $590 to this PC's bottom line, but is well worth the expense. The side panel features a laser-etched mirrored window.

Blue is in abundance on the inside of this case, as well, with the Danger Den Hydrox Liquid Cooling setup pumping blue liquid through the CPU, memory, and northbridge. Two blue radiators feature strips of blue LEDs, and a third strip of LEDs adds a nice blue glow to the 5.25-inch acrylic reservoir that resides below the ODDs. The OCZ Flex II DDR3 contributes to the cramped interior of this PC, but having liquid-cooled memory is undeniably cool. You can add up to three additional HDDs, but the cooling system pump occupies the one spare 5.25-inch bay.

If the price tag looks scary, consider that each SSD adds more than $1,000 to the price, and Hypersonic also shipped us the OCZ NIA (Neural Impulse Actuator) device, Logitech G5 mouse, and the $1,899 Optimus Maximum OLED keyboard. Three GTX 280s account for more than $2,100 of the Sonic Boom ATS’ budget. One area Hypersonic saved money in was by using the Asus Striker II Extreme’s Supreme FX audio module, which is bundled with the motherboard. Other system highlights include a 9-in-1 combo floppy and media card reader, a BD-RE drive, and 1.1TB of storage.

With every PC, Hypersonic throws in a one-year warranty with 24/7 toll-free tech support. When running the benchmarks, though, the Sonic Boom ATS lived up to its name, literally, by being one of the loudest machines we tested, despite the liquid-cooling and foam-padded side panels. But Hypersonic managed to out-clock everybody by nudging the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 to 4.275GHz. The benchmarks tell the rest of the story.

The Sonic Boom ATS blew past PCMark Vantage, posting the highest scores in the overall and every sub-test save TV And Movies, in which it came in second. This beast also bested every other contending system with its impressive P21758 3DMark Vantage score. Sandra’s Memory Bandwidth and WinRAR were the only tests in which the Sonic Boom ATS didn’t perform well, but those tests were hardly enough to scuff the finish on this prized PC.

Considering the competition, the folks at Hypersonic deserve the win for the Sonic Boom ATS on its performance alone. That Hypersonic managed to place in the top three in a majority of the benchmarks using the same hardware as everybody else makes the feat even more impressive. It’s official: The Sonic Boom ATS sets the bar for luxury PCs.

iBuypower Gamer Dream X-9

Gamer Dream X-9
$9,499
iBuypower
www.ibuypower.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 3.8GHz; Motherboard: Asus Striker II Extreme (790i chipset); RAM: 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1333; HDD: 32GB Ridata SSD (4x; RAID 0), 1TB Western Digital Caviar Green; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1250W

We figured we’d get at least one PC with skulls on it, and iBuyPower’s Gamer Dream X-9 includes a complete skull mural on one of its side panels. This liquid-cooled rig uses Asus Striker II Extreme motherboard and sports four Ridata 32GB SSDs. The inclusion of the four SSDs and the 1TB Western Digital Caviar Green shows that the Gamer Dream X-9 has energy-efficiency, as well as processing power, in mind.

Housed in a Cooler Master Stacker 830, the Gamer Dream X-9 is powered by a Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1,250W PSU. iBuypower installed fans on the top and bottom of the case, and with the two 120mm fans in the front and one on the rear panel, the air flow in this system is good. To liquid-cool the processor, iBuyPower uses its custom Liquid Cooler gear. The stock coolers on the Striker II Extreme and Nvidia GeForce GTX 280s are left on to cool the motherboard and video card.

When the system arrived, we had to do some troubleshooting to reconnect a dislodged SATA connector. Because the three GTX 280s blocked access to SATA plugs on the motherboard and the SSDs were deeply tucked into the bottom drive cage, we found it difficult to trace any of the SATA cables. That being said, the cable routing on the interior was fairly clean. A blue cold-cathode light at the bottom of the case provides a nice lighting effect without being distracting. We also like that the Gamer Dream X-9 was one of the quieter systems we tested.

Once we got the machine running, it performed admirably in our gaming benchmarks. In particular, 23.94fps in Crysis and a 24276 GPU score in 3DMark Vantage were the second-highest in our roundup. In our other tests, the Gamer Dream X-9 lagged slightly behind the other Dream PCs. Its 3.8GHz processor clock speed puts it below much of the competition, and although a 3:20 in Dr. DivX and a 3507 mark in POV-Ray Beta were low for this roundup, the scores are still respectable. iBuypower chose to configure the four SSDs in RAID 0 for speedy access, but the X-9’s 3036 HDD score in PCMark Vantage was low for our benchmarks. iBuypower attributed this to RAID issues with the Nvidia chipset.

Despite some low scores, the Gamer Dream X-9 shows potential as a gaming machine. The inclusion of four SSDs drives up the price of this system, but we liked that iBuypower chose to go with the newest storage options in the Gamer Dream X-9.

Maingear Ephex

Ephex
$9,785.01
Maingear
www.maingear.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4.2GHz; Motherboard: Asus Striker II Extreme 790i SLI (790i chipset); RAM: 2GB Kingston HyperX DDR3-1800; HDD: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black 7,200rpm; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Silverstone DA1200

Maingear’s Ephex is available in Skull-trail, CrossFireX, and Tri-SLI configurations. We got our hands on the Tri-SLI version, which sports Maingear’s green Flamewerks paint job (well worth the $999.99); the Ephex had one of the more skillful paint jobs of the bunch. For the Ephex, Maingear uses a variation of the popular Silverstone TJ10. A green cold-cathode light mounted to the back panel eerily lights the internal components through a clear acrylic window.

Maingear “Redline’ed” the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 to 4.2GHz with the help of the X20 liquid-cooling setup that whisks heat from the CPU and northbridge. A large radiator bolted to the top panel has two 120mm fans dedicated to cooling the liquid as it flows through the loop. The CPU block and pump unit is rather plain-looking, but the green anti-kink coil wrapped around the black tubes was a nice touch. 2GB of Kingston HyperX memory features blue heatsinks that somewhat throw off the green color scheme, but at least you have the second set of DIMM slots to add more memory should you feel the need.

The three GTX 280s and Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro Series sound card are all held in place with Card-Keepers, and Maingear appears to have gone to great lengths to route cables out of the way, despite the abundance of hardware inside.

Other notable components include a multiple-format media reader, an LG GGW-H20L Super Multi Blue BD-RE/HD DVD-ROM combo drive, a popup front panel ports module embedded in the top of the case, and 1.6TB of storage. Maingear also sent us the Razer Mako 2.1 THX-certified speaker system, Razer DeathAdder gaming mouse, Razer Lycosa gaming keyboard, and a free copy of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. Maingear’s three-year standard warranty is included in the price.

Maingear’s offering managed to post the second-best World in Conflict score but only had the seventh-best Crysis score. Although we were able to run all benchmarks, we initially encountered stability issues while playing Crysis. We talked to Maingear’s technical support, who recommended we install the latest WHQL driver for the GTX 280s. We installed the new driver and didn’t encounter stability problems again.

In the benchmarks, the Ephex consistently performed above average but didn’t really shine in any one area. Maingear certainly deserves praise for building a consistent scorer in such an attractive case, even if it didn’t blow away the competition.

Overdrive PC BigBlock GTR

BigBlock GTR
$8,795
Overdrive PC
www.overdrivepc.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 4.6GHz; Motherboard: Evga nForce 790i Ultra SLI (790i chipset); RAM: 2GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1800; HDD: 32GB Mtron SSD (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Hitachi 7,200rpm; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: 1,200W Thermaltake

Velocity Micro purchased Overdrive PC last year, and our representative characterizes the latter company as VM’s Skunk Works, a reference to the expert engineers at Lockheed Martin responsible for the U-2, F-22, and SR-71 Blackbird (no relation to the Blackbird 002). With a name inspired by high-horsepower V8 engines, the BigBlock GTR also has an orange-to-purple color-shifting automotive paint job, called Purple Haze, to match, which set us back $710 but made OPC’s rather plain-looking aluminum chassis stand out.

There’s no side window here, but the BigBlock GTR had nothing to hide on the inside. This PC had the cleanest wiring we’ve seen on a high-end PC. OPC also includes a flashlight clipped to ODD bays, in case you want to figure out how the builder managed to make the cables disappear. The BigBlock GTR is also unique in that it uses a dual-core E8500 instead of one of the ubiquitous 9770s. Our representative says that going with a dual-core let OPC amp up the FSB while keeping voltages and CPU temps within manageable ranges. The result is a 3.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo HyperClocked to 4.6GHz, and OPC accomplished this, amazingly, using several 120mm fans and a Zalman CPU cooler. OPS calls it the SureCool System, but you may be wondering how it sounds. This rig was one of the quieter systems we tested, but fan noise did increase appreciably under load.

The BigBlock GTR features three GTX 280s in SLI, a BD-RE drive, and a Light-Scribe-capable DVD Multi-Recorder for your entertainment needs. The three-bay HDD module comes equipped with a pair of 32GB SSDs in RAID 0 and a 1TB Hitachi hard drive. OPC also includes a logoed polo shirt and the Razer Gaming Pack, which consists of the Razer Lycosa keyboard, Razer DeathAdder mouse, Razer Piranha headset, and Razer Destructor mouse pad.

OPC is gunning for gamers with the BigBlock GTR, and like Babe Ruth calling his shot, its representative boldly claims the system would dominate in the game benchmarks. Lo and behold, 68fps in World in Conflict and 24.45fps in Crysis were the highest and second-highest scores, respectively. Only Smooth Creations’ Neptune managed to do better in Crysis. The BigBlock GTR also scored a smokin’ 11.02GBps in Sandra’s Integer Buffered and Floating-Point Buffered Memory Bandwidth tests.

The dual-core CPU didn’t serve the BigBlock GTR well in 3DMark’s CPU tests and PCMark’s TV And Movies test, but the real-world benchmarks prove that a dual-core can still knock our socks off. The BigBlock GTR may not be an all-in-wonder, but it’s still got game in our book.

Smooth Creations Neptune

Neptune
$8,000
Smooth Creations
www.smoothcreations.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4GHz; Motherboard: Evga nForce 790i Ultra SLI (790i chipset); RAM: 4GB Kingston HyperX DDR3-1066; HDD: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (2x; RAID 0), 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black 7200rpm (2x; RAID 0); GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Silverstone DA1200

Smooth Creations initially sent us a Skulltrail system outfitted with a pair of Radeon HD 3870 X2s, but it showed up DOA. We sent it back and got the GTX 280 3-way SLI-based Neptune in return. The acrylic case features a custom paint job depicting Neptune and his scantily-clad daughter airbrushed in vivid (and somewhat NSFW) detail. Even the Silverstone PSU has a water-themed paint job. And best of all, the paint job is free with the system purchase. This case was by far the most customized of this roundup. Danger Den fully tailored its Tower 26 case to Smooth Creations’ specifications, and you can even make special orders.

Watercooling is compulsory in a system named Neptune, and SC went the whole nine yards by watercooling the CPU and all three GTX 280s, which let SC push the Intel QX9770 clock to 4GHz and the GPU core, memory, and shader clocks to 730MHz, 1,330MHz, and 1,475MHz, respectively. The liquid-cooling system consists of a Delrin fillport, CPU block, three GPU blocks, and a massive brass-shrouded radiator that extends almost the entire length of the front panel, all courtesy of Danger Den. Cooling this beast is a quartet of 120mm blue LED fans, which suck air in through the laser-cut Smooth Creations-logoed front panel. When we asked why SC went with a single-loop watercooling system, company owner and system builder Jim Saling says that it was more than sufficient for a single-processor system, even with the three GTX 280s. Sufficient, yes, but quiet, no. All those fans in the front panel made the Neptune the loudest PC we tested, even louder than the compressor-equipped Biohazard.

The pump is secured to the PSU with a square of Velcro, but it didn’t sit flush against the PSU and looked a little rushed. Wiring inside the Neptune was also a bit poorly done, with peeling electrical tape holding some of the cable sleeves in place. To be fair, SC didn’t have much time to get us this second system, and it showed in these minor details.

SC also threw in a LightScribe-capable ODD and a Blu-ray drive. Four hard drives (two VelociRaptors and two 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black HDDs) gave us an enthusiast-worthy 2.6TB of storage. The Neptune’s sticker price also includes the Logitech MX518 mouse and Logitech G15 keyboard, both painted to match. SC also includes a three-year parts and labor warranty with free shipping, free technical support, and a lifetime warranty on the paint job.

Thanks to the overclocked graphics cards, Neptune landed the third-best 3DMark Vantage score (P21265) and the best Crysis frame rate we’ve seen yet, 25.66fps. Neptune didn’t fare as well in PCMark and Sandra and only managed a middle-of-the-road 58fps in World in Conflict. Barring the few minor quibbles we had, the Neptune is an enthusiast PC that’s sure to turn heads.

Velocity Micro Raptor Signature Edition

Raptor Signature Edition
$9,225
Velocity Micro
www.velocitymicro.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 @ 4.4GHz; Motherboard: Evga nForce 790i Ultra SLI (790i chipset); RAM: 2GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1800; HDD: 64GB Mtron SSD, 1TB Hitachi 7,200rpm; GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Velocity Micro 1,200W

Velocity Micro sent us its Raptor Signature Edition PC, painted a striking shade called Lexus Royal Ruby Red Pearl ($699). The front panel consists of two hinged panels; the topmost swings out to reveal a three-bay HDD module, BD-RE drive, and DVD Multi-Recorder. VM adorned the bottommost front door with its signature arrow logo, and a 120mm LED-lit intake fan hides behind it. VM smartly takes a cue from Overdrive PC in the cable-routing department and comes away with the cleanest liquid-cooled system of the bunch. We also noticed the Molex connectors powering the ODDs were carefully twisted to make sure they were just the right length.

Aside from the paint job, LED fans are the sole extent of this system’s bling, but the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 clocked at 4.4GHz puts us in a very forgiving mood. The Raptor employs active liquid-cooling based on a custom-engineered 12 TEC Peltier cooling system to draw heat from the CPU via a Danger Den-logoed waterblock. VM also clipped off the screw posts on the Danger Den CPU block and left chipset and GPU cooling to the fans and heatsinks.

The Raptor has a spare HDD bay available in the front panel-accessible module if the 1.06TB of storage just isn’t enough. Like several systems, the Raptor relies on integrated audio for this system, though standalone audio cards are available should you choose to upgrade. Like the Overdrive PC, the Raptor’s sticker price includes a slew of Razer stuff: the Lycosa keyboard, Death Adder mouse, Piranha headset, and Destructor mouse pad.

Like most of the PCs here, the system had three GTX 280s in 3-way SLI, but the Raptor couldn’t quite keep up with the top dogs in game performance, scoring toward the bottom of the heap in Crysis and just average in World in Conflict. Thanks to the system’s insane overclock, however, the Raptor performed extremely well in the CPU-intensive tests. It nabbed the top scores in WinRAR and Dr. DivX and scored second overall in Cinebench, POV-Ray, and all of Sandra’s tests. And it’s interesting to note that it took an eight-core system (Biohazard’s Rapture) to beat the Raptor in Sandra’s Processor Arithmetic and Multi-Media tests.

Although not exactly the all-around performance PC it purports to be, non-gaming multimedia enthusiasts with deep pockets (but not Skulltrail-deep) should give the Raptor Signature Edition a close look.

Vigor Gaming Force Recon QXN

Force Recon QXN
$6,999 (as tested)
Vigor Gaming
www.vigorgaming.com

Specs: CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 @ 4GHz; Motherboard: Zotac nForce 790i Supreme; RAM: 4GB Kingston Hyper-X DDR3-1800; HDD: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (2x; RAID 0), 750GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 (2x; RAID 0); GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 (3-way SLI); PSU: Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1250W

After checking out Vigor Gaming’s Force Recon QXN in June (see page 35 in the June 2008 issue of CPU), which featured a sweet two-tone paint job, we were surprised that this Force Recon QXN wasn’t custom-painted. Vigor Gaming tells us that it recently switched the Force Recon to a Silverstone TJ10 case and couldn’t get the system painted before our deadline. Still, Vigor Gaming modded the interior of the case with plenty of blue lights in the system fans, and with a large side-panel window, the interior has a showroom feel.

Vigor Gaming cools the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 processor with its Vigor Monsoon III LT heatpipe air cooler. The Monsoon III LT has two fans on the side of the metal fins to push hot air to the case’s interior fans. We also like that the Monsoon III LT is neatly stamped with Vigor Gaming’s logo. The Force Recon QXN has a 120mm fan behind the case’s midsection air duct to draw in outside air, and there are 120mm exhaust fans at the rear and top of the case. In general, the Force Recon QXN ran a little louder than many of the other PCs in our roundup, which may be due to the three 120mm exhaust fans.

Although the 790i motherboards from Evga and Asus were popular choices in this roundup, we like that the Force Recon QXN used the Zotac nForce 790i Supreme. Besides a stock cooler, the Zotac mainboard also includes an internal 802.11b/g network adapter. We also like that the board’s SATA connectors are located above the three Nvidia GTX 280’s, making it easier to trace the cable routing. To keep the cables out of the way, the builder also ran wire tires through the open motherboard mounts and cinched the SATA and power cables flat against the side panel.

Despite using similar components as many of the other dream PCs, the Force Recon QXN ranked in the middle or lower among the systems on nearly all of our benchmarks. For instance, a time of 57 seconds in Cinebench 10 and 20.66fps in Crysis, while respectable, lagged slightly behind some of the other PCs. This rig’s best score was a P20459 mark in 3DMark Vantage.

Despite the some lower benchmarks, the Force Recon QXN’s neat interior design and affordable price tag make this system a solid choice for demanding users.

Final Word

Hardware comes and goes, but what makes or breaks builders’ reputations is how much performance they can squeeze out of today’s components, the distinctive customizations they employ, and the luxury aesthetics you can’t get anywhere else. It’s safe to say that each builder represented here has something worth recommending, but not every PC is a dream PC.

This year, several PCs stood apart from the rest for a variety of reasons. Although anybody with the right equipment and enough patience can paint a PC, the Smooth Creations Neptune, Maingear Ephex, and Falcon Northwest System Mach V are truly works of art, and they’re solid performers, as well. Undeniably, the overall performance crown goes to Hypersonic PC: The Sonic Boom ATS dominated everything we threw at it, and all other aspects of the build were stellar. Velocity Micro’s Raptor Signature Edition, Overdrive PC’s BigBlock GTR, Smooth Creations’ Neptune, and Digital Storm’s Benchmark Crusher also posted numbers worthy of honorable mention. Biohazard’s Rapture fell flat on the game tests, but stomped the competition in enough other tests that we couldn’t leave it out of our top picks.

Now it’s time to send ’em all back and start dreaming about what next year’s dream PCs might be like.

by Andrew Leibman and Nathan Lake

The Luxury Rig Scorecard

We assailed these systems with an onslaught of real-world and synthetic benchmarks to determine how they'd fare in the gauntlet of common power-user tasks and applications. As a result, you can expect a PC that performed well in all categories to muscle through anything with aplomb. Our benchmark suite also highlights which machines are better at gaming or multimedia tasks. What’s more, if the overclocks can handle these tests as well as an extended gaming session, then they’re as stable as they need to be in our book.

View Charts that accompany article.