DigitalStorm BlackOps: Almost Too Fast
by Dustin Sklavos on December 29, 2010 12:45 AM ESTGaming Performance
We were expecting gaming performance of the DigitalStorm BlackOps to be pretty impressive. After all, a pair of the fastest single-GPU card on the market should post some amazing framerates, right? So let's start with our "High" benchmark preset and see just how crazy the two 580s really are.
That seems like a little much. The only game that doesn't break 140 frames per second is StarCraft II, which seems to be largely CPU-limited given the tie between the CyberPower unit and the iBuyPower with the much faster graphics subsystem. Other than that, the BlackOps steamrolls the competition—as it should, considering it costs a lot more than any of these other systems do. Given the surplus of performance we have at these settings, maybe bringing antialiasing into the equation with our "Ultra" preset will knock the BlackOps down a peg?
Nope. At this point you could actually argue fairly convincingly that the 580s are CPU-limited by the 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-950. That would sound crazy, but the results seem to bear that out: adding antialiasing barely affects performance in any of these games. Mass Effect 2 and STALKER both take decent dives in performance, but they're both still far beyond playable. Two GeForce GTX 580s are just plain overkill for the 1080p resolution we test at [Ed: Sorry, no 30" LCD for Dustin!], but if you were planning on going 3D Vision or gaming in surround with a pair it's reasonable to assume they'd be more than up for the task.
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purrcatian - Saturday, January 1, 2011 - link
The article mentions that they used a cheap power supply, but it never mentions which one. What is it? That really matters. From the pictures it kinda looks like the CoolMax one that ZZF has for $99.99 with free shipping (currently out of stock), but everyone on Newegg said that it wouldn't last more than a year, sometimes only lasting only few weeks with the average appearing to be a few months, and it would sometimes fry some parts when it died. That could be a real deal breaker if the PSU keeps dieing, especially if it takes your data with it.Jgg@0115 - Sunday, January 2, 2011 - link
I am the type of guy who would consider a boutique computer store. I do not know enough about computer to overclock. I have tried and it does not work. Maybe its parts on the pc, maybe its my general ignornace, and/or maybe it the guide I followed.My friends who can and do build systems all advise not to over clock under any circumstances. If I take them a bunch of parts they will not do it. Si I am left with the alternative of cobbling together systems that need upgrades every other year or I can buy a more reasonably priced overclocked DS Assasin for about $2.5k.
oldscotch - Sunday, January 2, 2011 - link
You can often buy pre-overclocked video cards with full warranty, eVGA, XFX, MSI, etc - look around for reviews on specific cards to see how the performance improves.As to processors, well you still have to do that on your own if you want. But it's dead easy if you buy a black edition AMD cpu. You literally adjust one setting and that's it.
akash1988 - Sunday, January 2, 2011 - link
This is pure wastage. You can buy 11 PlayStation 3, with this amount. So 11 gamers could benefit, and can play games in HD, and also enjoy exclusives like God of War 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, Red Dead Redemption, Heavy Rain, etc.. which wont be on the PCs.So buying such a rig for PC gaming is pure foolishness.
mlambert890 - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
Yes, good comment.. PCs are ridiculous. The pS3 is all anyone needs for gaming... Now why are you on Anand?Hrel - Sunday, January 2, 2011 - link
Nice to see 1080p used in the benchmarks. Can't wait for Bench to get fully upgraded. Hopefully, at least for the $200 and lower GPU's, you'll include results for 1600x900 and 720p.