Falcon Northwest Mach V reviewed by PC Mag
posted Jul 19th 2005 10:40AM
We're beginning to see a pattern here. It works like this:
Turbo-charged gamer rigs get into the hands of
reviewers; write-ups discuss gaming, but also comment on how the machines are perfect for other tasks; accountants and
admins across the country petition their bosses to buy them $7,000 fire-engine red boxes. At least that's what we
figure is going on with reviews like PC Mag's writeup on the $7,490 Falcon Northwest Mach V. Admittedly, this is a hot
box (figuratively and literally, which explains why the review also mentions that it's noisy — this one needs a lot of
fans), with a dual-core AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+, dual nVidia GeForce Ultra cards, 1GB RAM standard, 600GB of drive space
and dual-layer DVD burner. And we have no doubt that for hardcore gamers and animators alike it's worth every penny.
But to point out that it "was quite excellent on the Office Productivity test" is a little over the top. If you're just
running office productivity apps, dude, you know what you're getting.
And you can also cook your breakfast on it!
Keep in mind the following:
1. Maximum PC caters to performace freaks and gaming enthusiasts.
2. Said freaks and enthusiasts have an expensive habit.
3. To support that habit, one needs to hold a job that might involve productivity outside of gaming.
4. Just because a PC rocks the games doesn't mean it can't suck at productivity apps.
These gamer boxen (Alienware, Falcon NW, etc.) are comlete ripoffs. You could build the same thing for more around $2500.
Geforce 6800 ultras? Man it's already outdated!
How can they justify that price tag when it doesn't even come with 7800 GTX's?
#2:
"4. Just because a PC rocks the games doesn't mean it can't suck at productivity apps."
Ok, you find me ONE PC that can run Half Life 2 at it's highest levels that sucks at running Office.
"These gamer boxen (Alienware, Falcon NW, etc.) are comlete ripoffs. You could build the same thing for more around $2500."
I don't think you've ever actually gone to Falcon's web site and priced things out. They will be perfectly happy to build you a $2500 machine too (or even a sub-$1,000 machine, if that's what you want).
Regardless, I would like to see where you can build a machine with a dual-core Athlon 64 4800+, dual GeForce 6800 Ultra 512MB cards, 600GB of hard drive space in a RAID array that includes two WD Raptor drives, an Asus A8N-SLI Premium motherboard, 1GB Corsair TwinX RAM, a Coolermaster case and a custom paint job for $2,500. Keep in mind the PC that PC Mag is reviewing also came with a 19" LCD screen. Good luck.
Sure, you can build a great gaming PC for $2,500 or even significantly less. But not one with those specific components. And Falcon sells a whole range of systems, so I don't see anything wrong with them offering to build you one with absolute top-of-the-line parts if that's what you want (they offer the GeForce 7800 also, but there is no 512MB version and you can't do SLI).
Of course, if you just wait 3 weeks, this same system will go for half the price. But then there will be new stuff that makes this system "obsolete" in the eyes of those who would actually spend this kind of money to begin with. Hey, if you can afford it, why not?
All that for 1 gig of ram and less than 1 terabyte for storage? su><0rs...
If you're one of the people that buys this system for smacking others at Doom or Half Life, you really need to know if the system will spellcheck your email posthaste!
You want 7800GTXs? check out the review of the Velocity Micro X2 system: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1837105,00.asp
These systems aren't for home builders (present company included), they're for people that want someone else to pimp their PC, and don't mind paying for it.
Just 'cause you can build one yourself, does it mean that you will build one for your cousin, and then fix it every time your uncle puts a new version of quicken on it?
Geez, and people give Apple a hard time for being expensive! Sheesh!
Also, for some more enlightened conversation (fat chance on Engadget comments), could someone post the prices of the various components so we can see what it cost Falcon? I'm still betting this is well south of $4000, and they're making a HEFTY profit (as if they'd sell even ONE of these).
#6, You are right, $2500 is an underestimate, but $7490 is a complete ripoff. It is possible to get that exact computer for under $5000.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ $1,100
dual nVidia GeForce Ultra 512mb $700*2=$1400
I dont know what hard drives it has, so ill leave another $500 for those
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium $180
1GB Corsair TwinX RAM $200
Coolermaster case >$200
SAMSUNG 913V-Black 19" 12ms LCD Monitor $311
Dual layer dvd burner >$100
Power Supply >$200
Total = $4191
That leaves almost $800 for a custom paint job and any extra fans/liquid cooling you'll need, and still its still $2500 less than Falcon's pc.
Also, keep in mind that those are all newegg prices, Falcon would get all of the parts for significantly less than that.
That case is so ridiculously shiny. I mean, I think I can tell what DVD you have in the DVD player in your media center.
extremtech.com just built a similar system...but with dual 7800 for 5400, Falcon NW is a rip off, 2500 for tech support and fancy paint job. give me a break
their customers are rich people who dont build their own PCs
if i had the money and a limited knowledge of computers, i'd buy one
or if they offered one of their machines to me for free *cough* i'd take it