星期五, 12月 17, 2010

2010 Mainstream DIY PC Set Reference-AMD Platform OC Guide

These years, the DIY PC market seems to be smaller and smaller.
The main reasons are Notebook popularized and Netbook, Apple iPad launched.
Most users just use computer for internet surfing or email.
However, the internet topic of how to build a DIY PC is still very popular so far.
Many users will search info by budget or needs to build own DIY PC.



There are many friends ask me how to build the DIY PC.
I think there are 2 kinds of mainstream PC.
One is all in one MB, which built-in GPU. The price is lower and budget is around 11000~13000NTD, 365~431USD.
The other one is discrete with graphic card for 3D online game.
The price is still the key concern. We just pick the entry model. The budget is around 14000~16000NTD, 465~531USD.
However, in my personal idea, I still recommend to add more budgets.
Some hardware like VGA or HDD, you can enhance performance and spec for just pay more few hundred NTD.
Also, you can use this PC longer.

For this kind of article, I hope I can share every year.
Last share is early 2010, Intel annual best buy Micro ATX PC with Core i3-530 boxed cooler OC guide.
Recent 2 years, AMD more emphasize in fair price.
The low price multi-core CPU strategy is more and more acceptable for end users.
This time, I set the budget at 15500NTD, around 515USD, to build a high C/P value PC for your reference.

CPU Processor
I buy the most popular entry X4 CPU - AMD Athlon II X4 640.
3.0GHz, 45nm, 2MB L2 cache, Revision C3
Recently, AMD launched X4 645, 3.1GHz, and price is a little higher.
So after considering, I still pick higher C/P X4 640. The price is 2950NTD, around 98USD.


Inside the box
Manual, sticker, cooler, Athlon II X4 640


Upper Left is cooler bottom, 100% aluminum, and thermal paste.
Lower Right is AMD Athlon II X4 640, AM3 socket and compatible with AM2+. AMD platform has better extensibility.


DRAM
DDR3 price keeps dropping. There are more and more 4GB DDR3 kit in the market.
If you have more budgets and may need 64-bit OS in the future, 4GBX2 is the better choice currently.
I use CORSAIR DDR3 1600 4GBX2, dual channel. The price is a little higher.
CORSAIR is a well known international brand and passed the dual channel stability test. The price is still acceptable.
The price is around 125USD.

CORSAIR CMX8GX3M2A1600C9


As AMD in non-OC condition, the system can run at DDR3 1600, so I choose 1600 DDR3.
If your budget is limited, you can choose DDR3 1333 or 2GX2 kit.


Mainboard
For building AMD platform, there are 2 kinds of chipset.
880G and 890GX are built-in GPU. 880G price is lower and many brands can choose.
I use GIGABYTE 880GMA-UD2H. The SB is SB850, supporting SATA3 and NEC USB3.0 technology.
The price is 3500NTD, around 116USD.

GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H


CPU PWM is 4+1 phase.
2 X PCI-E X16, supports ATI Hybrid CrossFireX and bandwidth is X16+X4.


Audio is Realtek ALC892, supports 7.1 channel and Dolby Home Theater surrounding technology.
The same chipset series, there is also one more model, 880GM-UD2H. The SB is SB710 and no SATA3 and USB3.
This model price is around 600NTD, 20USD, lower than 880GMA. If you have limited budget for MB, you also can consider this.


Power Supply
I use Antec High Current Gamer 400W, HCG series is Antec latest product line.
The price is 2490NTD, around 83USD.


80Plus Copper Certificate, Active PFC design, 12cm low acoustic fan, 3 years warranty.
If you just use for word processing and no need external graphic card, you also can consider blow 400W product.



HDD uses WD long life model, 640AAKS. The performance is not so outstanding, but the price is its main advantage.
I used to use WD 15EARS. The performance is only 75MB/s which is similar with 640AAKS.
If you have higher capacity need, currently 1T~1.5T HDD price is also only a little bit higher.
You just need to check the performance in advance.

The above components are not must.
If you don’t need such high performance, you can choose cheaper products. On the other hand, you can buy more high end one.
Base on your demand, budget and favorite brand, you can choose whatever you want. It’s the most fun for DIY PC.

Configuration
CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 640
MB: GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H
DRAM: CORSAIR CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
VGA: ATI Radeon HD 4250
HD: WD 640AAKS 640GB
POWER: Antec High Current Gamer 400W
Cooler: AMD original cooler


Default Performance
CPU 200.9MHz X 15 => 3013.7MHz
DDR3 1607.4 CL9 9-9-24 1T 1.400V

Hyper PI 32M X4 => 23m 50.367s
CPUMARK 99=> 393


Nuclearus Multi Core => 13227
Fritz Chess Benchmark => 14.94/7172


CrystalMark 2004R3 => 153603


CINEBENCH R11.5
CPU => 3.40 pts
CPU(Single Core) => 0.87 pts


Windows Experience Index - CPU 7.3


PCMark Vantage => 6222


X4 640 default frequency is 3.0GHz already, so it’s capable for most applications.
Even for the file converting performance is also good due to the quad core multi-tasking.
The original cooler is around 1670rmp under BIOS control. The acoustic is very low.
If it’s in full speed, it’s 3260rpm which is louder in bare system. The noise is acceptable inside the chassis.

Temperature
Standby - 28~31


CPU Full Speed - 62~65
Intel Burn Test v2.4,Stress Level Maximum


The standby temperature is very low. This number is satisfied.
The full speed is 62 degree C and it’s too high for bare system.
X4 640 original cooler is too slim. It may cause the temperature too high.

Power Consumption
Standby - 59W


CPU Full Speed - 150W


45nm X4 CPU power consumption is not so good, but it’s still better than the standard.
It’s still a power saving system. I hope AMD can implement 32nm to lower the power consumption.

3D Performance
Built-in GPU ATI Radeon HD 4250 560MHz
3DMARK 2006 => 1757


3DMARK VANTAGE => P302
CPU SCORE => 9919
GPU SCORE => 228


StreetFighter IV Benchmark
1024 X 768 => 20.87FPS


These years, AMD built-in GPU performance is better than the others.
Above 3D performance is still lower than entry graphic card, but compare to the other built-in GPU, the 3D performance is pretty good.
880G built-in ATI Radeon HD 4250, the 3D performance is around 20~25% lower than own 890GX HD 4290.


BIOS OC Setup
Main BIOS tuning page, called M.I.T.
CPU clock set to 300MHz, you need to adjust CPU NorthBridge Freq./HT Link Frequency.
I suggest you to set at X7, 2100MHz. It’s helpful for the stability after pulling CPU to  300MHz.


Voltage Page
DRAM Voltage control 1.300~2.500
CPU NB VID Control -0.600~+0.600V(0.025V)
CPU Voltage Control -0.600~+0.600V(0.025V)
Memory depends on DRAM quality. The range set at CPU/DDR3 as 300/1600.
CPU Voltage Control/DRAM Voltage Control bases on memory quality to adjust the voltage.
If 300MHz is not stable, you can adjust NB Voltage Control to 1.3000V.


DDR3 set up is CL7 8-7-24 1T


Built-in ATI Radeon HD 4250 Setup Page
It can share up to 512MB system memory and OC the clock from 560MHz to 830MHz.


CPU Unlock can enable X2/X3 CPU to X4 by chance.
CPU Core Control is more detail features. If X2 cannot enable to X4 stable, you have one more option to enable to X3.


PC Health Status


Previously, as my experience of using 785G, 790GX or 890GX, the AMD CPU can OC to 300MHz mostly.
For the BIOS setup and DRAM multiplier, you have to pay more attention for these setup, then you can join AMD 300MHz club.

DDR3 bandwidth comparison
DDR3 1607.2 CL9 9-9-24 1T 1.400V
ADIA64 Memory Read - 9205 MB/s
Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 12044 MB/s
MaXXMEM Memory-Copy - 10903 MB/s


DDR3 1600 CL7 8-7-24 1T 1.600V
ADIA64 Memory Read - 9557 MB/s
Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 12588 MB/s
MaXXMEM Memory-Copy - 11545 MB/s


AMD started to build in Memory Controller into CPU since K8.
During that time, it really created the better bandwidth and memory clock, However, years passed, the Core i series performance has over it.
The CORSAIR DDR3 quality is very good. The official spec is 1.400V for DDR3 1600 CL9.
I set as DDR3 1600 CL7 8-7-24 high performance parameter. It just needs 1.600V to pass all benchmark software.

OC Performance
CPU 300MHz X 12 => 3599.8MHz
DDR3 1607.4 CL9 9-9-24 1T 1.400V

Hyper PI 32M X4 => 20m 28.284s
CPUMARK 99=> 463


Nuclearus Multi Core => 15673
Fritz Chess Benchmark => 17.56/8428


CrystalMark 2004R3 => 185249


CINEBENCH R11.5
CPU => 3.86 pts
CPU(Single Core) => 1.01 pts


WindowsExperience Index - CPU 7.4


PCMark Vantage => 6314


X4 640 default clock is 3.0GHz. After OC to 3.6GHz, some benchmark improves 20%.
Windows Experience Index doesn’t improve much.
Or we can say, since the index over 7, the score cannot improve much dues to the highest score is 7.9.
PCMark Vantage is a multi-factors benchmark software, the performance improvement is not much.
For original cooler, long time run at 3.6~3.75GHz can be stable.

Temperature
Standby - 32~34


CPU Full Speed - 64~66
Intel Burn Test v2.4,Stress Level Maximum


As thermal meter, the standby and full speed temperature after OC is around 2~4 degree C comparing to default.
After OC, the temperature is a little higher than default. Maybe it’s AMD 45nm characteristic?!

Power Consumption
Standby - 68W


CPU Full Speed - 204W


3D Performance
Built-in GPU ATI Radeon HD 4250 830MHz
3DMARK 2006 => 2138


3DMARK VANTAGE => P417
CPU SCORE => 11567
GPU SCORE => 315


StreetFighter IV Benchmark
1024 X 768 => 25.88FPS


When OC the ATI Radeon HD 4250 clock from 560 to 830MHz, the 3D benchmark software improve around 30%.
880G is capable for general 3D application or games. If you need to run some professional 3D application, you better to add a grapgic card.


During the test, the pity is the revision C3 X4 CPU cannot enable L3 Cache.
Even though as my experience, the L3 Cache doesn’t improve performance much.
However, enableL3 Cache is for personal feeling. This is the main difference between C2 and C3.
Of course, C3 also has some strength. As per the internet, C3 has better memory compatibility. It’s helpful for DDR3 OC range.
As per my experience, the same voltage, C3 OC range is around 100~200MHz to C2.

AMD strategy is focus on mid-low market for years. You can see in this segment, CPU and chipset price are lower.
For the mid-end to hi-end market, the performance is lower than Core i and DDR3 performance is also lower.
I do hope AMD K10 structure ca improve this issue. However, so far AMD is still focus on multi-core and higher C/P value.


After buying Case and DVD writer, you can build your own PC. The budget is around 15500NTD.
If you have any preferences of price, performance or brand, you can adjust your budget.
If the 3D performance is not enough in the future, you just need to spend 2000~ 3000NTD for graphic card upgrade.
This DIY PC could be the mid-high performance and mid-low price choice.


After sharing AMD 2010 mainstream platform, I will share Intel platform asap.
Due to the year end, the Intel mainstream platform will be done near year end or early 2011.
Wish you keep supporting my original review article. Thanks :)

星期四, 12月 16, 2010

Intel most high end platform Core i7-950 with GIGABYTE X58A-UD3R OC Guide

I still remember Intel launched new platform in November 2008. It started the Core i7 Age.
This platform is LGA1366, and CPU is Core i7 series. The chipset is X58+ICH10R.
Half years later, Intel announced LGA 1156 platform and CPU has Core i3, i5 and i7 which is wider product range.
For LGA 1366 market position is not big impact compare to P55.



Currently, LGA 1366 platform strength are 3-channel memory and multi PCI-E x16.
The weakness is X58 power consumption is higher. The entry model is same as mid range LGA 1156 platform.
End of March, Intel announced first 32nm 6-cores 980X CPU for X58 platform to extend its’ life cycle.
Internet also has many news about next 6C12T Core i7-980X in 2011.

Back to our topic - Intel Core i7-950. Blue box is representing Intel.
The price is 9100NT, around 299USD.


Inside the box, there are CPU, original copper-bottom cooler, manual and Intel sticker.


The clock is 3.06GHz, support Turbo Boost to achieve 3.33GHz.
Physical 4 Cores with Hyper-Threading to reach 8 threading, also called 4C/8T.
45nm manufacturing, Max TDP 130W, 8MB L3 Cache. The spec above are all entry LGA 1366 CPU spec.


MB is GIGABYTE X58A-UD3R, the entry model for high end X58 chipset.
The price is around 7500NTD, 250USD.


Light blue and white colors design. The overall components and design are good.


Lower-Left Corner
2 X PCI-E X16 supports X16 and 2-Way/3-Way ATI CrossFireX/NVIDIA SLI technology.
2 X PCI-E X16 supports X8
Realtek 8111E LAN Chip
Realtek ALC889 supports 7.1 channel and High Definition Audio/Dolby Home Theater technology
Design in Taipei


Lower-Right Corner
6 X Blue SATAII, provided by ICH10R, SATA2 supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10
2 X White SATAII, provided by GIGABYTE SATA2 chip, SATA2 supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD
1 X IDE, provided by GIGABYTE SATA2 chip
2 X White SATAIII, provided by Marvell 9128, SATA3 supports RAID 0, RAID 1
Dual BIOS, dual protection


Upper-Right Corner
6 X DIMM DDR3 supports 800/1066/1333/1866/2200(OC) and the maximum capacity is DDR3 24GB.
DDR3 uses 2 phase PWM and next is 24-PIN power connector.


Upper-Left Corner
LGA 1366 CPU socket. The electroplating metal cover for better looking.
Back is 8PIN design, UD3R uses 12 phase PWM to fulfill X58 platform Core i7 power.


IO
4 X USB 2.0(Black/Yellow)
2 X USB 3.0(Blue)
1 X RJ-45 LAN port
2 X eSATA/USB 2.0 combo (Yellow)
1 X S/PDIF Fiber/Coaxial output
1 X 1394a
clr CMOS button


System Configuration
CPU: Intel Core i7-950
MB: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R
DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GTX3 DDR3-2400
VGA: GIGABYTE GTX460 OC
HD: Intel X25-V 40GB RAID 0
POWER: CORSAIR Gold AX750W
Cooler: Mega Shadow Deluxe Edition
OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit


Default performance
CPU 133.2 X 24 => 3197.8MHz 1.088V
DDR3 1865.2 CL8 9-7-24 1T 1.500V

Hyper PI 32M X8=> 17m 04.626s
CPUMARK 99=> 504


Nuclearus Multi Core => 21816
Fritz Chess Benchmark => 24.63/11822


CrystalMark 2004R3 => 257373


CINEBENCH R11.5
CPU => 5.53 pts
CPU(Single Core) => 1.12 pts


Windows Experience Index - CPU 7.5


PCMark Vantage => 15799


i7-950 spec is over 3GHz already. When user enable Turbo Boost, the clock can pull to 3.2~3.3GHz.
i7-950 can get very good scores in most common benchmark software. The CPU performance has achieved high end segment.
Also, DRAM can OC to DDR3 1866 without pulling CPU frequency and combine exclusive 3-channel technology, the overall performance can be enhanced more.

This time, I use new mid-end VGA - GTX460. I also test some 3D benchmark to compare the LGA 1366 performance.
3D Performance
3DMark Vantage => P17078
CPU SCORE => 47850
GPU SCORE => 14063


StreetFighter IV Benchmark
1920 X 1200 => 209.18FPS


DEVIL MAY CRY4
1920 X 1200 => 156.96/133.44/161.89/115.24 fps


FINAL FANTASY XIV
1920 X 1080 => 3172


LOST PLANET 2
DX11 1920 X 1200 TEST A - 37.5 fps


GTX460 is mid-end VGA market, and its performance is quite well in the above games.
OC version clock is 715MHz which is higher than normal GTX460.
3DMark Vantage is also over 17000. LOST PLANET 2, need very high 3D performance, is over 37 pages as well.

BIOS OC Setup
Main BIOS Tuning Menu, called M.I.T.


System Status and Info


CPU 200Mhz/DDR3 2000 Setup Page


Memory Setup Page


Advanced DDR3 Parameter Setup


Voltage Page
Load-Line Calibration Standard/Level1/Level2
CPU Vcore 0.50000~1.90000V
QPI/Vtt Voltage 1.075~2.015V
CPU PLL 1.300~2.520V
IOH Core 1.000~2.000V
DRAM Voltage 1.300~2.600V


Besides CPU, DDR3 quality, voltage is also important for OC.
You can see the X58A-UD3R setup pages above, QPI/Vtt Voltage is important for pulling high clock.
CPU operates at 200/2000 stable will need 1.45~1.55V.
The voltage setup is the key factor for OC X58 chipset.

DDR3 Bandwidth Comparison
DDR3 1865.2 CL8 9-7-24 1T 1.500V
Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 28574 MB/s
ADIA64 Memory Read - 16057 MB/s
MaXXMEM Memory-Copy - 21755 MB/s


DDR3 2000 CL8 9-7-24 1T 1.600V
Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 30813 MB/s
ADIA64 Memory Read - 21072 MB/s
MaXXMEM Memory-Copy - 21755 MB/s


LGA 1366 platform is the only platform supports 3-channel technology. The DDR3 bandwidth is extremely high.
Especially, when OC to DDR3 2000, the performance is almost double.
DDR3 performance increased is the key strength for Intel phase in Core i7.

OC Performance
CPU 200 X 20 => 4000MHz 1.392V
DDR3 2000 CL8 9-7-24 1T 1.600V

Hyper PI 32M X8=> 14m 04.133s
CPUMARK 99=> 628


Nuclearus Multi Core => 26426
Fritz Chess Benchmark => 30.61/14690


CrystalMark 2004R3 => 313158


CINEBENCH R11.5
CPU => 6.88 pts
CPU(Single Core) => 1.40 pts


Windows Experience Index - CPU 7.7


PCMark Vantage => 18251


After i7-950 OC to 4GHz, you can compare the detail performance difference.
The performance increases over 20% in most benchmark software.
There is only Windows Experience Index is almost the same.
It’s due to Windows Experience Index is the estimate system performance. It doesn’t test too detail items.
This system get 7.7 of 7.9 is very high score already.
I used to test several better quality Core i7, most need 1.30~1.392V to OC to 4.2GHz. Just for your reference.

3D Performance
3DMark Vantage => P17254
CPU SCORE => 54034
GPU SCORE => 14063


StreetFighter IV Benchmark
1920 X 1200 => 210.98FPS


DEVIL MAY CRY4
1920 X 1200 => 154.46/127.41/166.21/116.81 fps


FINAL FANTASY XIV
1920 X 1080 => 3209


LOST PLANET 2
DX11 1920 X 1200 TEST A - 40.1 fps


In the same GPU clock, let’s compare the performance by CPU difference.
3DMark Vantage GPU score is almost the same, but the CPU score raise around 13%.
FINAL FANTASY XIV, DEVIL MAY CRY4, StreetFighter IV Benchmark 3D performance also raise a little.
However, it doesn’t mean higher CPU clock doesn’t help 3D performance. It’s possible that CAPCOM games don’t rely on CPU.
In the market, there are many GAME needs high CPU ability.



For Intel hi-end X58 platform, the entry model price always keeps at 300USD.
Since i7-920, i7-930 and i7-950 are all in this range.
The hi-end one is 32nm 6C12T 980X Extreme to replace 45nm 4C8T 965/975 Extreme.
So if you own LAG 1366 platform, you no need to envy 2011 Sandy Bridge.
After all, LGA 1155 is 32nm 4C8T i7 product line, so far there is no news about 6C12T CPU.



LGA 1366 is long life product in Intel platform.
Since Nov 2008 launched, Intel will launch new LGA2011 chipset in 2011 Q4.
This part is not same as LGA 1156 users which need to upgrade soon.
In multi-core performance, 980X and 990X can provide upgradeable higher performance.
Although I know the price is high, but it’s still better than no 32nm 6C12T CPU can choose.

Last thing about X58 product line is X58 having wide product range in the market due to every vendor launched many models in past 2 years.
The most entry X58 chipset MB is same as X58A-UD3R around 250USD.
Compare to the other same price range P55 products, even the entry X58 products spec is still better than P55.
This is windwithme 15th LGA 1366 review in past 2 years. I hope it can be your reference data before purchasing. :)