Vigor Collosus Skulltrail-based gaming rig gets reviewed

Intel's Skulltrail gaming platform (we're still refusing to call it the "Intel Dual Socket Extreme Desktop Platform") has been out for a while now, but there haven't been too many pre-built systems based on the design -- in fact, all we've seen so far is the $6,799 Vigor Colossus desktop, which Computer Shopper just had in for a review. As you'd expect from a machine powered by two $1,499 Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processors and dual CrossFireX ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics cards, it's not exactly slow -- in fact, it was the fastest machine CS has ever tested in certain tests, putting up a 21,902 score in Cinebench 10, and a 6,695 mark in the Futuremark PCMark Vantage full-system test. All that power isn't necessarily useful, though: you'll have to be running serious multithreaded apps to really flex all eight cores, which means GPU-bound games won't get that much of a boost. Plus you'll have to deal with some major fans, relatively slow boot-up times, and some serious heat -- but come on, you know you want one.

[DownBringer @ Jul 9th 2008 8:08PM]

I think you meant to type:

"but come ON, you know you want one."

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 9th 2008 8:22PM]

Typos are a staple of Engadget posts.

Embrace them.

[Flashpoint @ Jul 9th 2008 8:34PM]

OK OK

I know some of you accuse me of Apple fanboyism

and I know that this has little to do with the computer above (even though Engadget shouldn't mind)

but has anyone noticed that if you plug an iphone into your USB port, if you rub your finger on the metal apple logo on back you can feel an electric current?

[Mam00th @ Jul 9th 2008 8:55PM]

@Flashpoint

Voted you up for having the fantastic idea to reply to the first comment in order to get people to read your post!

[thatrotierkid @ Jul 9th 2008 9:49PM]

@Flashpoint

thats jobs uploading your new programming... at $20 a pop

[LC @ Jul 9th 2008 8:11PM]

If someone were to want such a high end computer, they'd probably build it.

As for dndrules: lol wut? A phone which is years behind those in japan is better then a computer with all the highest end components which could run Hackintosh if the buyer really wanted to?

Only thing worse then a fanboy, is a stupid one.

[insertAlias @ Jul 9th 2008 8:23PM]

dndrules was obviously trolling. Responding to it is the worst way to deal with it. Never feed trolls, it only makes them stronger.

[Mam00th @ Jul 9th 2008 8:47PM]

@insertAlias

Indeed, you replying to their posts is their innermost dream.

Ignore them, and they'll cry from lonelyness.

[Shinigami @ Jul 9th 2008 9:21PM]

You know how do we, PC builders, call people, who want a very powerful computer to play games but have no idea what parts they need, how much it will cost, and do not care about this?
Right. Noobs. But we've all been newbies once so we don't laugh at them, we help them. And there are also some people who want a very powerful PC, have LOTS of money and don't know any PC builders/modders/freaks. So they just buy $4,000-10,000 PC! Their existence is the proof that they are needed by some.

But yeah, any experienced PC builder will make you a better PC for much less. You can donate the rest to the PC builder, so they can upgrade their hardware (or just buy something they really really want but can not afford as a present).

[nerdtalker @ Jul 9th 2008 8:21PM]

HD 3870 X2?

Skulltrails work with SLI and Crossfire. I appreciate how fast having two HD 3870 X2s is, but I would much prefer the Geforce GTX 280 at this point...

[LC @ Jul 9th 2008 8:22PM]

I'd prefer two 4870x2s. Which are set to release on the 14th.

[nerdtalker @ Jul 9th 2008 8:23PM]

Amen LC, Amen!

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jul 9th 2008 8:25PM]

As powerful as it may be... HOLY CRAP ITS UGLY

[Striker @ Jul 9th 2008 8:34PM]

HOLY CRAP YOUR AVATAR IS UGLY!

/caps lock

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 9th 2008 8:25PM]

Quite a gem-filled history you have here:

"Well, it IS an IPHONE ripoff!!!!!!!!


iPhone anyone?


Hydrogen iPhone!!!!!!!!!!!


APPLE PRODUCTS ARE TOTALLY GNAR!!!!!!!!!!


Is it iPhone compatible?


iPhone ripoff!


@ all of you d-bags

I get it, you are all morally outraged that I used the word iPhone. Can you stop replying to my post now you bunch of Micropussies?


My new Apple laptop is totally gnar."
_______________________________

Yes, that is all just from the first page.

[BrianB @ Jul 9th 2008 8:25PM]

Does it actually make you beat your gaming opponents? Anybody tested this?

[Nexitus @ Jul 9th 2008 8:34PM]

Nice...a company who can buy parts everyone else can buy and slap a ridiculous price on it

[Sly Fox @ Jul 9th 2008 8:46PM]

really really off subject here but, I can't log onto ESO right now, do any AoM or AoE3 online players out there know wth is going on?

[ShadowKain @ Jul 9th 2008 9:05PM]

No Radeon 4850's?

[Candja... @ Jul 9th 2008 9:35PM]

"there haven't been too many pre-built systems based on the design"

Check these guys out:

http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=158571

The price is (relatively) decent; then again I know nothing about their reputation, credibility, etc. There are others, but the prices are (even more) stratospheric.

[Interpol @ Jul 9th 2008 9:42PM]

Now all they need to do is slap a Sharper Image label on it and sell it as a space heater.

[Jeremy K. @ Jul 9th 2008 9:48PM]

Pimped out, it's about $2000 more than if you made it yourself.

[Metkis @ Jul 9th 2008 11:03PM]

He does it for the attention, his mother doesn't love him nor does she realize her 12 year old posts on Engadget.

[collegekid13 @ Jul 10th 2008 1:38AM]

another day another dollar