The Dream Machine Revealed--Part Two of Three!
Posted 07/07/08 at 11:45:48 AM | by David Murphy
Dream Machine 2008 Revealed! For Part One of Three, Click Here
Here we go again! It's time for our second look at what's going into the Maximum PC Dream Machine 2008! If you're just joining us, here's the skinny: once a year, the Maximum PC staff descends to its underground lair. After a number of bizarre and dark technological rituals (we sacrifice an iMac), the team emerges with a gift blessed by the Gods of Technology themselves: the Dream Machine. It is, hands-down, the single-greatest computer you could ever hope to assemble based on the year's best (and sometimes unreleased) products!
This is an epic three-part series, and you're on step number two. If you want to start from the beginning, check out our unveiling of the rig's keyboard, mouse, display and hard drive(s). If you're ready for more Dream Machine action, we're taking a look at the system's CPU(s), motherboard, optical drive, and memory this time around.
The CPU(s)
We're gluttons for speed, so we've opted to slap two of Intel's high-end Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processors in our system. You read that correctly. Two. That's 3.2 GHz of processing power split over eight cores, or at least, it would be. Did we mention we're gluttons for speed? Thanks to an awesome custom water-cooling setup (to be unveiled in the third edition of this article), we've kicked this pair of processors up to 4.0 GHz apiece.
And where will we use this power? Well, there aren't that many applications optimized for eight-cores. But there are plenty of applications that could make full use of our setup. We'd just have to run them at the same time: gaming, video encoding, disk defragmenting, a Folding@home session, a Photoshop script. The sky is the proverbial limit for what our souped-up rig will be able to handle.
The Motherboard
Astute PC enthusiasts will be able to guess this one just by the processors we used. Since we're rocking two quad-cores, it only makes sense for us to slap these on an Intel Skulltrail motherboard. Our winner in this category is Intel's D5400XS. It gives us a ton of overclocking options which we liberally sprinkled across our two steaming processors. But more than that, it's the only motherboard we've found that will run both Nvidia SLI and AMD Crossfire setups. It's an awesome way to future-proof a rig, but more than that, it allowed us to choose our video card configuration based on speeds alone.
The motherboard also comes with the typical accouterments we've come to expect and love: support for 7.1 audio, Gigabit LAN, six external USB ports, two eSATA ports, and four PCI Express 1.1 x16 slots--a perfect fit for the video cards we'll might use...
The RAM
We've opted for 8GB of Corsair FB-DIMM memory for our mighty Dream Machine. At four sticks of 2GB apiece, these 800 MHz speed-demons are primarily geared for workstation environments. Their key difference from normal DDR2 or DDR3 RAM lies in their advanced memory buffer. This gives us a serial interface between the memory controller and the memory module, allowing the RAM to use fewer wires and more memory channels than a typical parallel architecture. This, and the fact that FB-DIMM memory processes read and write requests concurrently, allows us to tap into unmatched speeds for our memory. The downside? These little sticks are more prone to latency and heat. We solve the latter by attaching a Dominator fan accessory to the hot little sticks.
The Optical Drive
HD-DVD is dead. Done. Buried. We have eschewed the combo drive route for this very fact, opting instead for the fastest possible Blu-ray burner we can get our hands on. LG's GBW-H20L allows you to read and burn your Blu-ray discs at a speedy 6x, burn your DVD titles at 16x, and burn your standard CDs at 40x. No matter your optical media of choice, you'll be in speedy hands with this awesome SATA-based optical drive.
Check back next Monday for the final unveiling of the 2008 Dream Machine's guts!
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DDR2 or DDR3
Submitted by FenixSS on Sat, 2008-07-26 18:01
I'm confused by the description of the RAM. Is it DDR2 or DDR3 that they're using?
It's fully-buffered DDR2.
Submitted by JPmatt6 on Tue, 2008-07-29 21:30
It's fully-buffered DDR2.
HP Case? $1000?
Submitted by davidst489 on Sat, 2008-07-26 12:19
What next year a Dell case? I can agree with just about everything you did except for the case.
And if the case was $250 I could let you go on this but $1000 for that case, come on !!!!!!!
Submitted by system32 on Wed, 2008-07-16 21:43
4870x 2 pwns the gtx 280. the 280 is **** compared to the 4870 x2. and two 4870x2 will be way better than two 9800 x2.
Submitted by RodneySB on Tue, 2008-07-15 13:14
"only motherboard we've found that will run both Nvidia SLI and AMD Crossfire setups"
So you ran a Crossfire over a single 280? Why? SLI?
How about 2x 280 or even a pair of 9800GX2? You don't need three way SLI to beat a pair of crossfires. Last time I checked the dream machine was never about money so the obvious best duo for the dream machine is only one of two choices
280 or 9800GX2
Drivers are more productive on gamming with the 9800GX2 but on app heavy systems / graphics the 280. Very disappointed in the choice of second rate video for a mag that I thought was unbiased. You can't reserect ATI to the top. They are happy with bringing quality for cheap. Top guns they are not and its not there aim right now.
Submitted by JPmatt6 on Wed, 2008-07-30 00:33
Oops, double post. Sorry.
Submitted by JPmatt6 on Wed, 2008-07-30 00:32
Really? Explain this: The 4870 falls somewhere between the 260 and 280 in performance across the board.
Logic means that 4 4870s will be faster than 3 GTX 280s. And considering a GTX 280 is nearly as fast as a
9800GX2, that means the 4 4870s will outperform two 9800GX2s in SLI.And explain this too: http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/15105/3
And that's with underdeveloped drivers. So, I believe the magazine remains unbiased.
Norms face is priceless.
Submitted by Kaleb34 on Sun, 2008-07-13 16:36
Norms face is priceless.
Closest Rivals
Submitted by TheDuck on Sun, 2008-07-13 15:44
I have been researching to see which OEM PC could beat (or closely rival) the Dream Machine 2008, and the results were, quite frankly, suprising. The XPS 730, Area51 ALX, and the Mac Pro were the top competitors of the Dream Machine if configured to the highest settings*.
However, Maximum PC, you still have work to do on having the most RAM- the Mac Pro beat you by a whooping 24 GB! The Dream Machine, though, does inspire me to support you guys on everything ranging from verdicts to ummm... just about everything else. Though I'm not sure why you would not use a HD DVD + Blu-Ray drive even though HD DVD is dead (HD DVD gives you enhanced DVD performance).
* Computers from HP, Voodo, or Gateway were not in the investigation.
Submitted by hortizonen on Sat, 2008-07-12 21:39
12 kw generator needed to run this thing or is al gore taken into consideration?
Submitted by Mathewpb on Sat, 2008-07-12 16:07
I would like to see full ESA setup even though the tech is still new. Mathew"
Submitted by bholstege on Fri, 2008-07-11 10:16
Is the case the HP Blackbird case?
Submitted by guoruiwu1994 on Tue, 2008-07-08 19:07
i am guessing its some sort of lian-li case.
Sounds familiar...
Submitted by Bender2000 on Tue, 2008-07-08 16:11
Dual Quad Cores? Fully Buffered RAM? Isn't that the MacPro?!?
Can we at least see the simple, clean SATA HDD installation that the MacPro uses. It's been how many years on the market and still not a standard feature in the PC case world?
Submitted by pseizure2000 on Tue, 2008-07-08 13:33
I'm curious about what audiocard you guys are going to pick.
Auzentech has a superb card compared to creative's and I've been wondering why it didn't get a kickass or best of best rating from you guys. I posted a comment about it on your review of the auzentech but never got any followup. eager to hear your thoughts on the matter.
i mean, try hooking up the digital outs and inputs of the creative card to some z-5500s and you'll see the problems I have with that damn flexijack.
Submitted by zioburosky13 on Tue, 2008-07-08 07:43
You need liquid nitrogen to cool it down! O-0
8GB Ram too much for 32 bit OS
Submitted by ericmckenna on Tue, 2008-07-08 06:51
I'm guessing one of the 64 bit M$FT OSs.
Submitted by kamman on Mon, 2008-07-07 21:34
since as far as i know 3-way is impossible on this board, i think the GPUs will either be:
two 280gtx2 in "quad" SLI
or
two 4870x2 in crossfire
Submitted by yr on Mon, 2008-07-07 20:46
This is some really cool motherboard, but I guess I can only call it a dream at $650 just for the board!!
I guess I'll just keep dreaming; maybe someday it will be affordable!
BTW this machine will probably need a 10K BTU air conditioner to keep it cool!!! ;p
Maybe MPC can make a drawing for someone to win it, like the legoPC? (Just dreaming...)
Submitted by brokenmoth08 on Tue, 2008-07-08 21:32
yeah I'm a newish reader, did you just say Lego PC?
Agreed...
Submitted by 333than on Mon, 2008-07-07 12:20
How about a pair of those Dual GPU ATI video cards.
Submitted by pellier on Mon, 2008-07-07 17:11
can you have 8 gpus with the dual gpu cards. theres four full length PCIe slots on the motherboard
Submitted by Silencer on Mon, 2008-07-07 11:57
It would be neat to see ATi's new cards on it, (4870 X2s?,) or whatever, (even if you don't pick them.)
It would be neat to see Linux on it too. I believe the biggest resistance to Linux adoption, is new game support.
Does anyone know what the 'lag time' is, for new game support on Linux, (with that TransGaming subscription service, and all that,) or whatever? And is it good (fast, accurate,) enough? Bottom line, can Linux be a real gaming platform today? If not, how much longer, or what, will it take?
P.S. Seeing as how you use it, I may have to try Corsair memory sometime.
Submitted by csdavid505 on Wed, 2008-07-09 10:51
I use open SuSE 11.0 and KDE 3.5 on Nvidia hardware. Most of the popular PC Games are already up. Thanks to the DirectX simulation, some new games pop right in, others can take up to 6 months.
I find better support for the hardware under Linux, built in RAID support, and built in 64bit support to be great advantages.
Even with Transgaming, Linux
Submitted by willsmith on Mon, 2008-07-07 12:50
Even with Transgaming, Linux isn't viable for gamers who play a lot of new titles. If you just play WoW and TF2, you're probably OK.
whatever....
Submitted by gatorXXX on Mon, 2008-07-07 11:51
This is so ridiculous...
ThE OnLy wAy 2 pLaY!
Submitted by brokenmoth08 on Mon, 2008-07-07 11:19
What case do y'all think they are using?
Submitted by austin on Mon, 2008-07-07 14:19
My money's on the Antec 1200.
Submitted by brokenmoth08 on Tue, 2008-07-08 03:27
Antec is awesome! Where can I find reveiws for the 1200?
Funny you should ask. That
Submitted by TheMurph on Tue, 2008-07-08 10:38
Funny you should ask. That review's coming out in the September issue...
Submitted by TheMurph on Mon, 2008-07-07 11:34
This should be a fun conversation thread. $20 says none of you get it right. :D
Submitted by pellier on Thu, 2008-07-10 18:54
antec 300/900
Submitted by pellier on Thu, 2008-07-10 18:54
theryre just buying a mac pro
Submitted by TheMurph on Fri, 2008-07-11 00:10
Yep. You called it. The Dream Machine 2008 is a Macbook Pro with Gordon's face custom-painted on the front: the iUng.
Submitted by brokenmoth08 on Thu, 2008-07-10 22:13
If that were true I'd be so pissed.
Submitted by pellier on Mon, 2008-07-07 17:12
its gonna be Daves cardboard box case
Submitted by TheMurph on Mon, 2008-07-07 17:55
Bless your kind words. Had only the higher-ups at the magazine granted me permission to bring back "Lil' Boxy" from the dead...
RIP
Submitted by pellier on Wed, 2008-07-09 11:09
Sadness for no cardboard case
:(
to this day, whenever i try
Submitted by Magaliiiii on Tue, 2008-07-08 16:56
to this day, whenever i try to explain which maxpc editor dave is, i just go "the one who made a cardboard box PC."
whatever man, *I* thought it was creative.
Submitted by hogkill on Mon, 2008-07-07 15:48
Alright, for my second guess I bet you guys put it in the Lian Li PC-P80R even though it has NVidia cards, and then you all get a big laugh out of it.
Submitted by TheMurph on Mon, 2008-07-07 16:05
I like that idea... we should investigate that. :D
Submitted by SpazzAttack on Mon, 2008-07-07 14:43
How about the Lian Li PC-X2000 for the case?
My Guess
Submitted by Talcum X on Mon, 2008-07-07 12:50
It's that Carbon Fiber case from Ultra. May not be the best, but it's the most unique and expensive....ok, j/k. Had to throw something in this ring...
***********
Every morning is the dawn of a new error.
Submitted by brokenmoth08 on Mon, 2008-07-07 12:25
Is it an Antec P-190?
Oh oh can I take a guess? =P
Submitted by dreamreality on Mon, 2008-07-07 12:09
Oh oh can I take a guess? =P
Submitted by hogkill on Mon, 2008-07-07 11:37
show me the money
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