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THE CHEAPEST CPU WE'VE EVER USED IN A DREAM MACHINE—AND PERHAPS THE FASTEST, TOO
Winston Churchill once said, “Never in the field of computing was so much power given so cheaply.” OK, we’re making that up, but if Churchill had access to Intel’s Core i7-2600K part, such a proclamation would be inevitable. And it’s not just that the Core i7-2600K is so freaking cheap, it’s also freaking fast! An overclocked quad-core Sandy Bridge chip will give even Intel’s Big Kahuna, the Core i7-990X, a run for its money in many benchmarks.
Even better, the chipset for the 2600K is modern, not the old fogey still powering LGA1366 motherboards, and if all goes as planned, it offers an upgrade path to the 22nm-based Ivy Bridge CPUs next year. For DM2011, we overclocked the 3.4GHz part to 4.8GHz, which appears to be the limit of our D2 core sample. That’s fine with us. For $317, we’ll take it and smile too.
TRI-SLI IS READY AND RARING TO RUN UNREAL ENGINE 3
For our GPU selection, we had two possible routes to take: three-single GPU cards or two dual-GPU cards. Dual dual-GPU cards are sexy, but many games simply don’t scale to four GPUs. And getting multiple GPUs to behave on a single card often requires clocks to be scaled back. That’s not the case with individual GPUs in three-way mode. It’s this thinking that led us to select three of EVGA’s GeForce GTX 580 Superclocked cards. The cards run fairly cool, even with the factory overclock, and thus don’t pump heat into a case.
RUN TRI-SLI WHILE YOU CHARGE YOUR TABLET
We’ll admit that for our purposes, Z68 gives us no performance advantage over P67. We’re not, after all, going to run SSD caching since we have two big, fat Vertex 3 SSDs in place. With three GPUs, we’re also unlikely to run the integrated graphics. Still, there’s no reason to use the end-of-life P67 if Z68 is here. And that’s what Gigabyte’s GA-Z68X-UD7-B3 gives us. It’s pretty much the same as a GA-P67-UD7 board, but with the updated chipset. The board itself has everything we need: the ability to charge high-drain devices via USB, even when the board is powered off; a crapload of SATA connectors; USB 3.0 internal headers; and not just SLI and CrossFire X, but also tri-SLI. Tri-SLI is accomplished by using an nForce 200 chip to balance the load from the single x16 PCIe 2.0 in the Sandy Bridge CPU.
SQUEEZE THE MOST OUT OF THAT 6GB/S SATA CONTROLLER
What’s faster than one SF-2281-powered SATA 6Gb/s solid-state drive? Two of ’em, in RAID 0. A single OCZ Vertex 3 can hit sustained read speeds of 550MB/s and writes of over 250MB/s; we hit nearly twice that using Intel’s onboard RAID: 1,000MB/s reads and 500MB/s writes. Two 240GB drives give us 480GB of storage for our OS and any game we care to play or app we care to install.
YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST, FOLKS
The case for this year’s Dream Machine is so new you can’t get it in stores. In fact, we barely got ours in time for this month’s issue. Cooler Master’s Cosmos II isn’t supposed to be revealed at all for another month, but given our fondness for the Cosmos S (the chassis for our 2007 Dream Machine), the company snuck us a preproduction model of the Cosmos II. Since it’s not a production model, it still has some kinks to work out, but it’s a beaut nonetheless.
The Cosmos II is fully 20 percent larger than the Cosmos S, and takes full advantage of four years’ worth of improvements in chassis tech. The PSU and six drive bays are sequestered in a compartment at the bottom of the case, while the motherboard compartment features cable-routing cutouts, hot-swap docks, more toolless drive enclosures, and room for a 360mm radiator up top. The result is a roomy, well-ventilated chassis with plenty of space to accommodate our tri-SLI setup, five hard drives, a 240mm radiator, and more, while still looking classy. And that's before we added the custom Smooth Creations paint job.
Acquiring a preproduction model of the majestic Cosmos II was plenty special in its own right, but this being Dream Machine, we had to kick it up a notch. Enter Smooth Creations. The company, which was founded in 1999, is the originator of custom graphics on boutique PCs. Smooth’s case-painting masters got their start on automobiles and custom bikes before their love of hardcore PC gaming led them to their present calling.
With any case-painting job, preparation is no small matter. A case has to be completely disassembled to properly prep all the different substrates. But our Dream Machine case presented its own unique challenges. As Smooth Creation’s CEO Jim Saling recounts, “We had never gotten a Cosmos II before and it was sent overnight from Taiwan… giving us only two days to paint it and send it out to [Maximum PC].” He adds, “Taking it apart, with all its moving parts, and putting it back together to function properly after paint required a few notes during tear down.”
As for the paint itself. It’s an automotive paint from Germany called Glasurit, which is used on high-end European sports cars. Our Dream Machine is painted Super Fly Yellow, a true Lambo color. Saling adds, “Will it make the PC faster? That’s up to the DM builders.”
Well, Jim, we think you’ll find that we did justice to your handiwork.
Comments are closed on this article
steven4570
July 11, 2011 at 2:52pm
last years dream machine they went balls to the wall with everything, if you would have read previous dream machine coverage, you wouldve know that they were going to tone it down a bit. And how can you build a machine with parts that re not available?
deadlift1
July 11, 2011 at 2:15pm
+1. Remember, water cooling is too much of a hassle for them now:
"Cooling
Not Using: A Full Custom Water-Cooling Loop
We can hear you now: how can you possibly consider anything a Dream Machine without a full custom water cooling loop? That's a good question, and shut up. The simple answer is that it makes upgrading and swapping out parts (especially video cards) a pain in the butt. And there's nothing dreamy about that. Plus, if we did the same thing every year, we'd get bored."Nothing like an air cooled Dream Machine! Wow!
ssmithT
July 11, 2011 at 1:35pm
I don't really think the graphics cards are practical. They're way too close together and running all three of those at near 100% usage would probably overheat them and cause them to reset and down clock. The 2010 dream machine was a powerhouse and I loved that it was fully water cooled. (without it, the noise of two 580's at 100% fan speed would be a nightmare)
Other than that, I really like it. The case is very sexy and the cable management is superb!
tony2tonez
July 11, 2011 at 1:30pm
I love the case. I am using the Cosmos S and its amazing. Everyone comes over and says what the hell is that? I tell them its my computer!
This new cosmos looks bad@ss. And the system is great. I just dont love the monitor setup. I didnt like it when you introduced it a couple of months ago. Everything else is amazing.
joeyjr
July 11, 2011 at 12:45pm
Thanks for posting this, I was having a hard time waiting this year. Very nice system!!! You really get alot for the money this year in looks, style, and performance. Also, the build can be upgraded in the future easily. Most, people would not need all that power to play games but what a gamer it is. One could build a slimmed down version and still be very satified on any buget. What the Dreeam Machine defines is the best avaialble now, more or less, and it is what it is, so, if September is the month for the Dream for all time, then so be it and keep them coming. It is not exactly what I would have built, but I like it very much. I would have used a sound card and a 5.1 speakers because I like suround sound. The 2011 Dream Machine lives even in this economy!! Whats your dream?
bautrey
July 11, 2011 at 12:32pm
I was hoping that would just get a prototype Bulldozer chip in there. I guess not...
Phrish
July 11, 2011 at 4:24pm
I wonder if they've invented a computer yet that will play Crysis 1. ;-)
... Crytek swing and a miss...
TerribleToaster
July 11, 2011 at 12:02pm
Called it with Smooth Creations (me and what feels like half the people who posted, anyway).
I knew you guys would go the sports car route after last years DM being a monster truck and the article about the the 9 components not included. Everything was suggesting a more slim and sleak performance build over raw muscle; and I must admit, it is quite a beauty.
RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS
July 11, 2011 at 11:40am
I pay for the magazine because I don't have a computer in the toilet. The magazine versions of these articles are usually (but not always) deeper. And I like reading magazines.
I think it's cool to read about the ultimate computer and all, but I think it's in everyone's best interest that the wrong idea isn't being promoted. A few years ago, before the economy really crapped out, video card makers and the media were clearly working together to sell hardware, and it was common to find multiple graphics cards being recommended as standard equipment. This magazine in particular promoted the idea that we simply had to have two and three video cards to play the newest games. I saw the price of a high-end PC shoot from $2K to over $5K in the space of a few months, because we simply had to have three $600 video cards, RAID drive arrays, and high-end sound cards.
Game developers were in part responsible for this, as a few titles were almost unplayable on anything less. Developers called it future-proofing. I think commercial suicide would be more accurate.
Anyway, no one needs a $12,000 PC to play video games. Anyone who buys one either has more money than sense, or is just an idiot.
These dollar figures only help drive people toward consoles, and I don't think that's good for either the computer or gaming industries--or this magazine, for that matter.
I hope these builds are kept in perspective, and that we never return to marketing gear no one can realistically afford as standard or necessary equipment.
mattman059
July 11, 2011 at 2:26pm
It's not a $12,000 PC...it's a $5,000 pc with $7,000 of peripherals...
Willers
July 11, 2011 at 12:02pm
MaxPC is meant to entertain. That's why its not a System Requirements section of a manual.
deadlift1
July 11, 2011 at 11:47am
I don't have a pc in the bathroom either, at least, not yet. The articles are posted verbatim from the magazine.
naxself
July 11, 2011 at 11:32am
Great article. I always look forward to this one.
PS. The Razer link is wrong; it's www.razerzone.com (the link omits the Z in zone).
rawrnomnom
July 11, 2011 at 11:11am
that case is SEXY... now coolermaster, be good and don't screw us on prices.... $150 is the perfect point. You did it with the HAF series...
dcrail
July 11, 2011 at 11:03am
Glad to see I'm not the only one wondering why I pay for a subsciption. The last couple of months, I get my mag in the mail, open it up and get pissed off. Realize that there are a couple of new articles/reviews, but can count on them showing up on the web in a day or two.
I wonder who thinks "yes it's a technology magazine, but what are the odds that these readers will go on the internet?" My guess is that person has nothing to do with what's in the magazine.
stringboi
July 11, 2011 at 10:46am
Hmmm...seems my sub is no longer needed. I've been getting everything I want to read up on right here, before the mag hits me in the mail, and FOR FREE!
Thanks MaxPC....I'm so happy you dont need our money anymore. You done good my friend....you done good!
Raswan
July 11, 2011 at 10:30am
By far the best line in the article: "WE SAY FILL ALL THE SLOTS AND LET GOD SORT 'EM OUT"
And the one about that ass-clown, Justin Long. Well-written article, gents.
deadlift1
July 11, 2011 at 10:25am
Remind me again why I should subscribe to your magazine?? Last month half the reviews were posted online before I received my copy in the mail. Now DM is online before print? I understand you have to move at a brisk pace to keep up with all the changes in the world of technology but is anything going to be left for your magazine? This is a slap in the face to your loyal subscribers. Take my money and then take what should be exclusive print content for the first 30 days and give it away for free? Letters to the editor and user questions about how to upgrade the ram on their HP machine are great though. Thanks and keep up the honest work.
devastator_2000
July 11, 2011 at 10:23am
Why am I paying for my magazine subscription? This article is to be in the September issue and is one of the most anticipated articles of the year. So why am I seeing it in July, on the web, before I get the magazine in the mail? As a paying subscriber you expect to see the really good articles first.
JCisKing
July 11, 2011 at 6:44pm
I have to agree with Devastator 2000 on this one. As soon as I saw this posted my heart both skipped a beat (because the Dream Machine is my favorite thing you guys do) and sank a little (Dream Machine is also the major reason I subscribe). I even went down to check the mail in the vain hope that the new issue was crazy early. Now all the people who don't directly support you financially get to see the major event of the year at the same time or before we do. I just makes me a little sad. Way to reward your loyal customers...
iceman08
July 11, 2011 at 10:28am
If you guys ever want to get rid of this bad boy, I am perfectly willing to take it off you all's hands. And desk.
